Quarterback By Waiver Wire (QBBWW): Week 14

Dec 03, 2013

I don’t mean to oversimplify the sometimes complex process of working the waiver wire for quarterbacks, but sometimes it’s as simple as trusting a system, and the numbers.

I’ve ranted and raved for the better part of seven months about the fantasy potential of Marc Trestman’s offensive scheme. I introduced this Quarterback By Waiver Wire series with a review of Trestman’s quarterback success, especially in Oakland a decade ago, when he transformed journeyman Rich Gannon into an elite fantasy commodity.

The bespectacled offensive genius has now done the same for Josh McCown, an unheralded career backup with no blatantly special skill set, but a guy who has now posted three top-10 performances in Jay Cutler’s stead. McCown most recently ripped the Vikings’ heinous secondary for 355 yards and two scores, in case you missed it.

Trestman’s quarterbacks have been the staple of our QBBWW series for much of 2013, and we’ll continue with the quarterback whisperer as we enter the fantasy playoffs.

Our other Week 13 QBBWW candidates, Carson Palmer (17.9 points) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (15.5 points) fared just fine in their favorable matchups, though Palmer’s penchant for picks marred an otherwise fantastic stat line (302 yards and three touchdowns).

My QBBWW selections, through 12 weeks, are averaging 17 fantasy points per game, or QB7 numbers. Optimal QBBWW plays have scored an average of 21.4 points per game, or QB2 numbers.