Week 12 at Houston Texans
If Marcus Mariota can't go this week, which is looking likely, Blaine Gabbert would get the start at Houston. He relieved an injured Mariota against the Texans earlier this season and threw for just 115 yards and a touchdown. Gabbert should not be in your lineup if he does play.
Week 15 at Washington
Blaine Gabbert and the rest of the Cardinals offense struggled heavily last week against the Titans. Gabbert finished the game with only 178 yards on 26 passing attempts, and he was sacked 8 times. While Washington just gave up 319 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Philip Rivers and the Chargers last week, there should be better options available than Gabbert in most fantasy leagues. In a good matchup, he has some low-end QB2 potential, but in most leagues, he should be left on waivers.
Week 14 vs. Tennessee Titans
Blaine Gabbert had a rough game against the Rams last week, throwing for 221 yards, a touchdown, and 2 interceptions in a lopsided loss for the Cardinals. Gabbert has now thrown 6 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in three games as a starter. While he’s moved the ball well at times, there’s no reason to expect significant fantasy production for the rest of the season. Gabbert will face a below-average Titans pass defense this week, but there should be better options available, even for fantasy owners streaming the quarterback position.
Week 13 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Blaine Gabbert has played pretty well the past couple of weeks as the starter in Arizona. After throwing 3 touchdown passes against the Texans in his first start as a Cardinal, Gabbert threw two more last week in an upset victory over the Jaguars. Gabbert has thrown 3 picks in his two starts, but is moving the ball effectively and has shown some upside for the rest of the season.
This may not be the best week to rely on Gabbert, however, as he’ll face a tough divisional opponent in the Rams. Los Angeles has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this year. Gabbert has some upside with how he’s been playing and the weapons he has in the Arizona offense, but fantasy owners should look elsewhere this week if possible.
Week 12 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Blaine Gabbert had 3 touchdowns and 257 yards passing against the Texans last week, but he also threw a pair of interceptions and the Cardinals lost the game. Gabbert has some interesting weapons to work with in Arizona if he can hold on to the job the rest of the season, but this week against the Jaguars, there’s no reason to have him in your lineup. The Jaguars are giving up the least amount of fantasy points in the league to the quarterback position and lead the league with 40 sacks. It’s going to be a long day for Gabbert against the team that drafted him.
Week 11 at Houston Texans
Blaine Gabbert hasn’t done much during his career, and there isn’t any reason to assume he’s going to turn things around in his first start with the Cardinals. However, there is some reason for hope. Gabbert is on easily the most talented team he’s ever been on, with several excellent options in the passing game. Additionally, he’s facing a Texans defense that has been decimated by injuries this year and has allowed more points per game to opposing teams than anyone outside of Indianapolis.
I’m not saying to trust Gabbert. But if you’re feeling a little crazy, and you are desperately in need of a streaming option, Gabbert has some very risky boom/bust upside.
Week 5 vs. Arizona
Gabbert threw for 196 yards, one touchdown and one interception last week against Dallas in what has become a pretty typical stat line for him. He also scrambled for another 27 yards but he's not going to get a lot done in that respect. Last week was Gabbert's third game under 200 yards passing this season. That's unlikely to change much this week against Arizona, which has allowed just four TD passes in four games. Gabbert did have 318 yards and a TD in the last meeting between these two teams, though it only added up to 13 points for the 49ers. You can do better.
Week 4 vs. Dallas
Gabbert and company struggled mightily last week, as he threw for just 119 yards with an interception at Seattle. He did scramble five times for 22 yards, but that didn't salvage a day to forget. Gabbert shouldn't be a consideration for your starting lineup unless about half the quarterbacks in the league go down with torn ACLs, even against a Dallas defense that is 28th in fantasy points allowed to QBs.
Week 3 at Seattle
Back-to-back road games against two of the league's more physical defenses is not a recipe for success, especially for an offensively challenged team such as San Francisco. Gabbert was OK last week, throwing for 243 yards and a pair of TDs while also rushing for 10 yards and a score, but don't count on that against the Seahawks, who have allowed 19 points in two games in addition to allowing a league-low 248.5 yards per game.
Week 2 at Carolina
Gabbert didn't exactly light the Rams up at home last week, throwing for 170 yards on 35 pass attempts. He did have one TD pass, but he's a game manager, nothing else. That's not going to get it done in Carolina. He did have 43 rushing yards, as well. But you can do much, much better than Gabbert this week.
