Week 4 at Houston Texans
Marcus Mariota had just 225 passing yards in a tough matchup with Seattle but tossed a pair of touchdown passes and added 27 yards on the ground. This week, he gets a Houston defense that just allowed five TD passes to Tom Brady. The Titans, however, are not the Patriots. Mariota threw for just 202 yards and failed to produce a TD at Houston last season. He's got better weapons this year and should be better than he was in that game. But he's low-end QB1 this week.
Week 3 vs. Seattle Seahawks
Marcus Mariota had 215 yards and a touchdown last week with 1 interception, adding 24 rushing yards on 6 attempts. He'll face a much stiffer test this week against Seattle, but has been solid in his last six games at home, throwing for 1,425 yards and 11 scores with just 1 interception. You can also count on some rushing yards, as well. Seattle did allow 311 passing yards on the road in Week 1, but completely shut down San Francisco's passing game last week at home. There are better options available than Mariota this week, but he might scratch out enough production to be a low-end No. 1 QB.
Week 2 at Jacksonville Jaguars
Marcus Mariota threw for 256 yards, rushed for 26 yards, and scored on the ground last week against Oakland, which made for a decent fantasy start. He threw for 232 yards and 2 scores in the first matchup with Jacksonville last season, but suffered a broken leg in the second. The Jags had 10 sacks last week against Houston, but aren't likely to do that to the Titans. The Titans probably will try to get the running game going a little more this week, which could hold Mariota's yardage totals down. But Jacksonville is nicked up in the secondary, which could result in a score or two. His running ability should make him a low-end No. 1 fantasy quarterback this week.
Week 1 vs. Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders limited Marcus Mariota to 211 yards, 0 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and 1 fumble last season in Nashville. However, Mariota was one of the few quarterbacks the Raiders had much success against last season. Mariota has grown since then and also has better weapons to work with this season. Mariota is poised for a breakout this season and it starts this week. He should be in your lineup.
Fantasy Upside
The weapons around Marcus Mariota are better now than they were in his first two seasons. And he's made improvements in each of his first two seasons, so it stands to figure he should make a big leap forward again. He threw for just under 3,500 yards and 26 scores last season and stands poised to improve on those numbers. Mariota also rushed for nearly 350 yards last season with 2 more scores.
Fantasy Downside
Mariota has been injured in each of his first two seasons. The Titans also employ a run-heavy offense that somewhat limits Mariota's overall numbers. He had just one 300-yard game last season.
2017 Bottom Line
Everything points toward Mariota breaking out this season. And he's fully recovered from a broken leg suffered in Week 16 last season. With a strong running game and improved weapons, Mariota should improve on his solid 2016 season. 4for4's current ranking has him as the fourth-best quarterback available, showing you how bullish we are on him. That's far better than his current ADP, which has him going in rounds seven through nine. Let the other guys in your league jump on the more well-known quarterbacks, as you wait them out and fill out your roster while reaping the benefits with Mariota in the later rounds.
Week 16 at Jacksonville
Mariota bounced back in terms of yardage last week, throwing for 241, but failed to produce a touchdown for the second consecutive week. Don't expect that to continue this week. Back in Week 8, he threw for 270 yards and two scores in a blowout win over Jacksonville. The Jaguars have been much easier to run against - and wait for Blake Bortles to turn it over - but Mariota should be a borderline No. 1 starter this week.
Week 15 at Kansas City
Not surprisingly, Mariota saw his multiple-TD-games streak end last week against Denver as he threw for just 88 yards. The Titans, also unsurprisingly, went run heavy. Mariota was part of that, rushing for 38 yards. This week, he gets to head to one of the toughest places to play in the league, Kansas City. The Chiefs just limited Oakland's passing game to 117 yards and no TDs through the air. And Kansas City has allowed seven passing TDs in six home games. That doesn't bode well. The Chiefs will give up some yardage, however. Mariota won't be a star this week, but should bounce back for a better performance than last week. That said, he should be on your bench.
Week 14 vs. Denver
Mariota keeps rolling along, putting up his eighth-straight game with at least two TD passes last week to go along with 226 passing yards and 46 yards on the ground. He's clearly established himself as a top-10 fantasy QB in nearly every week. Notice I wrote nearly. This is the week that Mariota's streak likely comes to an end. Denver can be run upon, but passing? The Broncos have allowed multiple TD passes in a game just twice this season and have five outings in which they didn't allow a TD pass at all. All of that makes Mariota a secondary starter this week.
Week 12 at Chicago
Mariota threw for 290 yards and two scores last week, his seventh consecutive game with at least two touchdowns. He also had five runs for 29 yards and he has quietly joined the ranks of solid fantasy starters each week regardless of matchup. The Bears have allowed 15 TD passes this season but have given up just two 300-yard passing games. You have to hope Chicago can score enough to keep Tennessee's passing game engaged in this one or Mariota's touchdown streak could come to an end. He's a decent start this week but the Titans might go run heavy.
Week 11 at Indianapolis
With 17 TD passes in his past six games, Mariota is red hot. That continued last week with a 295-yard, four-TD game last week against Green Bay. Now, he gets an Indianapolis defense that has given up 14 touchdown passes in its past six games, including six in its last two. Mariota has been a sleeper in recent weeks, but he has now advanced past sleeper mode. He's a full-fledged No. 1 start.
