Last week, our bench list was dominated by running backs with unfavorable matchups. This week, we turn our attention to a few quarterbacks, particularly a handful of signal callers that play in pass-heavy systems.
Bench
Mason Fine, QB-North Texas at Cal
Consider: Fine started the season on a high note, throwing for 383 yards and tossing four touchdown passes in the opener, but he stumbled quite a bit in the Mean Green’s Week 2 matchup at SMU. Things won’t get any easier this weekend, when North Texas travels west to face a Cal team fresh off an upset win at Washington.
Cole McDonald, QB-Hawaii at Washington
Consider: McDonald was spectacular in last week’s 31-28 win over Oregon State, passing for 421 yards and four touchdowns. However, it’s the four interceptions he threw in the opener against Arizona that casts a shadow of a doubt over his Week 3 fantasy potential. The last thing we want to see is McDonald getting benched, but we wouldn’t bet against it when the Warriors travel to Washington and take on a Huskies team looking to regroup after an upset loss to Cal last weekend.
Logan Bonner, QB-Arkansas State at Georgia
Consider: After two games, Bonner is averaging over 300 yards passing per game and has accounted for seven touchdowns. This weekend, the Red Wolves travel to Athens, Georgia to face one of the better defense in the country. We have no doubt that the junior quarterback will make good on his 2019 fantasy potential, but owners are better off keeping him on the bench against the Bulldogs.
James Blackman, QB-Florida State at Virginia
Consider: James Blackman’s 2019 season is off to a solid start, as he has thrown three touchdown passes in back-to-back games. For the first time this year, though, the Seminoles new-look offense takes to the road, and while the Wahoos’ defense may not be one of the best in the country, they certainly have the look of being one of the best in the conference.
Eno Benjamin, RB-Arizona State at Michigan State
Consider: This is a tough one for us to publish, but it seems like the smart play. The Sun Devils run game has stalled out of the gate, with Benjamin totaling only 171 yards on 46 carries, and now they face, statistically, the best rushing defense in the country after two weeks. Benjamin has given his owners more fantasy points as a receiver than a runner, and the only argument we can make for starting the junior back is in PPR formats.
Start
Quentin Harris, QB-Duke at Middle Tennessee
Consider: Harris’ performance against Alabama in Week 1 scared off many of his fantasy owners going into the Blue Devils’ Week 2 game against North Carolina A&T. In that game, Harris completed 30-of-42 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns, while adding 83 yards and a score on the ground. Now, Middle Tennessee isn’t exactly NC A&T, but they are far from Alabama, too. Playing on the road in Murfreesboro, expect Harris to keep the offense plugged in for 60 minutes.
Isaiah Spiller, RB-Texas A&M vs Lamar
Consider: We found out earlier in the week that Jashaun Corbin will miss the remainder of the 2019 after suffering a hamstring injury in last Saturday’s game at Clemson. Isaiah Spiller, a true freshman, will now step into the lead role at running back for the Aggies. In a Week 1 win over Texas State, Spiller led the team with 106 yards rushing on seven carries and broke away for an 85-yard scamper.
Tony Jones, RB-Notre Dame vs New Mexico
Consider: Jones assumed the role as Notre Dame’s primary ball carrier in the season opener after starter Jafar Armstrong was forced out of action due to a groin injury. In that game, the junior running back carried the ball 15 times for 100 yards and a touchdown. Armstrong is expected to miss several weeks and now it seems sophomore running back Jahmir Smith is banged up, too. The depth at running back is thin leading up to a Week 4 showdown at Georgia, so we don’t expect Jones to get overworked this weekend, but he should be able to do some damage early in the contest against New Mexico.
Juwan Washington, RB-San Diego State at New Mexico State
Consider: To mention that San Diego State running back Juwan Washington has gotten off to a slow start in 2019 would be an understatement. In two games against UCLA and Weber State, Washington carried the ball 42 times for only 96 yards. 33 players in the FBS have carried the ball at least 33 times in 2019 and Washington is the only one in that group not to have at least 100 yards rushing. However, now is not the time to sit and wait, so if you have Washington, a Week 3 matchup against New Mexico State is one to take advantage of, as the Aggies are giving up over 200 yards per game on the ground. UPDATE: Washington is questionable with an ankle injury.
Johnny Ford, WR-South Florida vs South Carolina State
Consider: The Bulls offense has only scored one touchdown in two games, a 20-yard touchdown reception by Johnny Ford from redshirt freshman quarterback Jordan McCloud, last week. McCloud has played in both games so far and there is a chance he gets his first start this weekend. For obvious reasons, South Florida needs to get the ball in the hands of guys that can make plays, like Ford. Expect offensive coordinator Kerwin Ball to utilize Ford as both a runner and receiver in this week’s matchup against South Carolina State.
Jauan Jennings, WR-Tennessee vs Chattanooga
Consider: Lost in the Volunteers’ 0-2 start is the fact we might have a decent fantasy receiver emerging in Knoxville. Junior Jauan Jennings has totaled eleven receptions in two games and has topped the 80-yard mark and scored in consecutive weeks. Head coach Jeremy Pruitt needs a win, so don’t expect the Vols to take their foot off the glass too soon against Chattanooga this weekend.