Quarterbacks

Joe Flacco – (18.2% Owned)

Joe Flacco has officially become a viable fantasy option at the quarterback position. Yes, we are still in 2023 which makes that statement even more baffling but the stats speak for themselves. Flacco has finished no worse than QB13 in his three games with the Cleveland Browns. He is still very much a gunslinger which means there will be mistakes but the production will be there. If you have Trevor Lawrence and are worried about his concussion you should pick up Flacco as a safety option.

Running Backs

Clyde Edwards-Helaire – (36.5% Owned)

Fellow running back Jerick McKinnon may be getting the buzz this week but Edwards-Helaire is the better option going forward. Edwards-Helaire out-touched McKinnon 17 to 7 and had 101 total yards in Sunday’s win over the Patriots. If you’re stuck deciding between the two just remember that Edwards-Helaire can also be a threat in the passing game.

Wide Receivers

Curtis Samuel – (39.7% Owned)

Playing any wide receiver in the Commanders offense is risky at this point but Samuel has been the most consistent this season. He grabbed another 2 receiving touchdowns on Sunday on 9 targets for Washington. As of now, it looks like quarterback Sam Howell will finish the season as the starter (which is the right move). If that’s the case Howell has developed a nice chemistry with Samuel and I see that continuing.

Tight Ends

Hunter Henry – (20.8% Owned)

There aren’t many options at the tight end position on the waiver wire but Henry is the best option if available. Henry has now finished back-to-back weeks inside the top 5 for tight ends including 3 receiving touchdowns in that span. He also has an excellent matchup this week with the Broncos who are giving up an average of 10.6 fantasy points per game to tight ends. If you’re thin at tight end go and grab Henry.

The post Week 16 Waiver Wire Pickups appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The New York Jets unequivocally had the most impressive win in Week 2 in my opinion. The Jets were facing a well-rounded Cleveland Browns team with their back-up QB Joe Flacco. Yet, the Jets were able to sneak out with an unusually impressive comeback victory by a score of 31-30. With that said, I’m going to untwine five takeaways from the Jets-Browns showdown.

• Joe Flacco

In a ricky Ricky Gervais-like tone, I want to say “what the hell happened to Joe Flacco?”. Flacco clearly took it upon himself to look like Patrick Mahomes this weekend by unveiling four passing touchdowns against the Cleveland Browns. Flacco may be 37 years old, but he can absolutely sling the rock with a potent group of weapons (which the Jets possess).

• Garrett Wilson

The Jets 10th overall pick in the 2022 draft Garrett Wilson wasn’t exactly a slouch in Week 2. The former OSU WR ousted 102 yards and two touchdowns against the Browns. It’s safe to say that Wilson entered himself into the OROY conversation.

• Browns edge rushers

I’m positive that the Browns fans couldn’t be delighted that Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney were both productive faces in Week 2. Each former first overall pick notched a sack against the Jets. Hopefully, Clowney can stay healthy and look to meet at the QB across from Garrett more often moving forward.

• Corey Davis

Besides the Garrett Wilson show being in full effect, Corey Davis was able to partake in the excitement on Sunday. Davis unleashed 83 yards and a TD on two catches — which is an impressive feat to say the least. It’s clear that Robert Saleh’s plan is proceeding as a expected at the WR spot.

• Ashtyn Davis

One of the Jets x-factors, Ashtyn Davis, made his presence felt against CLE. He nicely snagged an interception against Jacoby Brissett to seal the victory.

All in all, it was clear that Joe Namath and the ghost of Buddy Ryan couldn’t be more proud of the performance by the Jets in Week 2.

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By: Jake Rajala

Football is back & Scott Hanson is also back! Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season kicks off with the reigning Super Bowl Champions (Los Angeles Rams) squaring off against the 2022 Super Bowl favorite (Buffalo Bills) tonight!

There are also other intriguing match-ups on the plate this weekend —- such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs the Dallas Cowboys, the Green Bay Packers at the Minnesota Vikings, and the Las Vegas Raiders at the Los Angeles Chargers. Well, I’m going to take an exotic angle by delivering five bold predictions for Week 1.

• The Chargers edge out the Raiders by 21+ points

I picked the Chargers to win the frigid AFC West this season and I believe they will make an unusually positive early impression by blowing out the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. I expect Justin Herbert (5,014 passing yards and 38 passing touchdowns in 2021) to be a potent MVP candidate & the Chargers defense to be a cream-of-the-crop unit with Khalil Mack and J.C. Jackson leading the charge.

• Jameis Winston throws five touchdown passes

The Saints were seen as a mediocre NFC team by countless analysts in February. Over the past couple of weeks, Peter King pegged the Saints to be the first seed in the NFC and Bart Scott believes Jameis Winston will win MVP. With that said, I expect Winston to blow the roof off the Falcons in their first battle. He has a Top-5 WR trio (Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry, and Chris Olave) and he’s facing a medicore Atlanta Falcons defense.

• The Carolina Panthers win by 21 points

“The best revenge is massive success” – Frank Sinatra

The Carolina Panthers may be the third-best team in the NFC South, but they could sneak into the playoff dance with a healthy Christian McCaffrey and a hungry Baker Mayfield. Mayfield and “Reunion” by Bon Jovi are lacing up their cleats for a fight against the Deshaun Watson-less Cleveland Browns this weekend. I simply believe an extremely blood-thirsty QB-RB tandem on the Panthers will lead them to mop the floor against the Browns.

• The Jets lose by a field goal

Joe Flacco will also have a taste of revenge this weekend – as he faces the superb and somewhat confusing Baltimore Ravens. It doesn’t appear that Lamar Jackson’s mind is completely devoted to the Ravens. Furthermore, I expect the Jets to have a ton of energy at home, and with new offensive toys (Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson). I foresee the Jets losing against the Ravens, but I wouldn’t be shocked if they only lose by a field goal (yes, it makes a (slight) difference).

• Trevor Lawrence throws 5+ touchdown passes

The Jaguars possess a maniac with a lot of upside in Trevor Lawrence. T-Lawrence was gifted Evan Engram, a healthy Travis Etienne, and Zay Jones in the 2022 off-season. I really expect the former Clemson unearthly signal-caller to hit the ground running against the less-than-talented Washington Commanders in Week 1 by unveiling 5+ touchdown passes!

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By: Jake Rajala

The New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson dodged a bullet (also known as an ACL tear), but he could still miss Week 1’s match-up against the Baltimore Ravens. Hence, it makes a ton of sense to expect that Joe Flacco could start against his former team. Flacco may be laid-back, but I’m sure he will have a chip on his shoulder to beat the team that helped him land in a brutal, rebuilding situation. With that stated, I’m going to untwine five interesting facts about Flacco.

• He went to the University of Delaware

Flacco shined as the signal-caller for the University of Delaware. Per Blue Hens, he still has the record for most passing yards in a season (4,263), 300-yard passing games (11), and career completion percentage (.634). Other notable alumni from the University of Delaware include President Joe Biden, Adam Osborne, and Rich Gannon.

• Baseball

It shouldn’t be a surprise to hear that Flacco had a knack for excelling in baseball. He was a former State Championship pitcher & he even contemplated on playing baseball in the summer before his senior year. Although, Flacco’s football coach convinced him that he should focus on football and that he has a legitimate chance to play in the NFL.

• Flacco hasn’t made it to the Pro Bowl

The Ravens signal-caller has won a Super Bowl ring, led the Ravens to five 10+ win seasons, but he hasn’t garnered a Pro Bowl nod. With that said, he’s undoubtedly the best QB to fail to make the Pro Bowl in his career.

• Flacco is an ITSJ personality type

Flacco is pegged as an ISTJ personality type – which is sincerely an authentic MBTI. ISTJ stands for introverted, thinking, sensory, and judgment. ISTJs are comprised of 11.6% of the population. Other MBTIs of notable QBs are ENFP for Tom Brady, ENFP for Drew Brees, and Patrick Mahomes. It’s clear that Flacco is a unique individual and an authentic QB.

• Flacco has a brother that was a professional quarterback

It’s clear that arm talent is in the Flacco blood – as Joe has a younger brother, Tom, who played in the CFL with the Ottawa Redblacks. Tom played at Western Michigan University prior to his jump to the professional level. He is 27 years old (which is a decade younger than Joe).

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By: Jake Rajala

The former Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton surprised John Harbaugh when he was available for BAL to snatch at 14th overall. The Notre Dame royalty will be a valuable asset to the Ravens secondary that currently features Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, and Marcus Williams. It wouldn’t be a total surprise if the Ravens flexed the top pass defense in the NFL with Hamilton in their defensive unit.

Hamilton was a special draft prospect, to say the least. Hamilton notched three interceptions, two sacks, and 34 tackles in seven games in 2021. The 21-year-old was the eighth-best prospect on Pro Football Focus’s big board. His combination of size, versatility, and production made him a special draft profile. Hamilton has been often compared to the mythical Kam Chancellor.

Hamilton was projected to be selected by many teams in the Top 12 of the draft, such as Atlanta, Carolina, and Washington. Yet, Hamilton fell in the Ravens hands outside of the Top 12. The Hamilton selection by the Ravens was an enormous reason why CBS Sports dubbed the Ravens as one of the main draft winners. It was obvious that the fact that Hamilton slid to pick 14 wasn’t as surprising that Malik Willis fell to the Titans in the third round, but it was still bizarre that the Ravens were able to add another elite chess piece to their pass defense in Hamilton.

The rookie safety can be a key factor in imminent, prime-time matchups against key AFC contenders like Buffalo, Kansas City, and Cincinnati. The Ravens can’t rely on Lamar Jackson unveiling miracle 2-minute performances in the AFC playoffs. Joe Flacco won Super Bowl MVP as a Raven, but his defense put the most steam in the engine in their successful 2012-2013 road to the big dance. Perhaps Hamilton can be a noticeable spark to the Ravens defense and the Ravens can be the next darkhorse AFC team to play in the Super Bowl.

The post Was Kyle Hamilton the steal of the 2022 NFL Draft? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The New York Jets were desperate for quarterback help in 2021, as they traded for former Jets QB Joe Flacco. Recently, the Jets brought back Joe Cool to the Big Apple. The Jets second-year head coach Robert Saleh carries Zach Wilson, Flacco, and Mike White on the roster at this moment.

I don’t expect the Jets to draft a QB in the 2022 NFL Draft, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they add a more talented veteran QB this offseason. I believe Flacco was a cheap, familiar competition, but I’d be surprised if they don’t consider adding a QB that can really push Wilson for the Week 1 starting gig. With that said, here are a few free agent-signal callers that the Jets could ink this offseason.

• A.J. McCarron

A.J. McCarron provides immediate starting ability and potential at 31 years old. McCarron had a 2-1 record as a rookie starter in 2015, but he hasn’t quite had another chance to prove himself as an NFL starter. He may not be the next Matthew Stafford if he switches teams, but he could be a modest late bloomer like Taysom Hill in a new, comfortable situation.

• Andy Dalton

The red rifle is carefully looking for a different home in 2022. Dalton hasn’t been a Pro Bowl QB since the Jurassic period, but he does have great experience and arm talent at 34 years old. To be fair, he has been stuck in Alcatraz, also known as Matt Nagy’s paradise. He might be highly motivated to bounce back in a location that could offer him the keys to a starting QB gig. If he doesn’t turn around his career, he will be pinned as Ryan Fitzpatrick 2.0.

• Cam Newton

The former Panthers great QB Cam Newton has lost his spark, but he could be an interesting addition to the Jets offense. He could have special packages in the Jets offense, while potentially being an upgrade as a QB2 over Flacco. Newton and the Big Apple would be an interesting combination, as well.

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By: Jake Rajala

The former second overall pick by the Chicago Bears Mitchell Trubisky has 10,652 passing yards, 64 passing touchdowns, and 38 interceptions in his career. Trubisky escaped Alcatraz, also known as Matt Nagy island, in the 2021 offseason. The former Bears QB suited up for the Buffalo Bills as a backup QB in the 2021-2022 season.

Trubisky gained time to sharpen his skillset and football mind as a young, backup QB. After a season of playing in Bills Mafia, Trubisky is facing free agency and ready to show he’s capable of starting in the NFL again. Bruce Wayne went to the Tibetan Himalayas to gain wisdom and physical strength in “Batman Begins”. It was safe to say that Wayne returned home with more confidence and ass-kicking ability. It’s time for Trubisky to follow a similar path as the caped crusader that beats up villains in Gotham.

The Bills QB can return as a backup QB to Josh Allen in the 2022 offseason or he can opt to join a team where he has a better opportunity to start. Here are a few clubs that would make the most sense to ink Trubisky.

Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns will more than likely divorce with Baker Mayfield this offseason. Whether or not the Browns draft a QB in round one, it would be smart for Andrew Barry to sign a veteran QB. There is a sharp idea that Kevin Stefanski acquires his old QB Kirk Cousins, as well. Trubisky would be the best value QB in free agency that would be on the table for the third place AFC North squad. It’s also not a stretch to suggest that Trubisky could be an upgrade over their recent QB ability. Interestingly, here is a closer look at how Trubisky’s performance from 2020 compares to the Browns QB performance in 2021.

Mitchell Trubisky (10 games):

• 205.5 passing YPG
• 16 passing touchdowns
• 8 interceptions

Baker Mayfield (14 games):

• 215 passing YPG
• 17 passing touchdowns
• 13 interceptions

Trubisky could take the reigns in Browns and potentially be a more talented version of Baker and himself. The former Bear would have Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Jarvis Landry, and a defense led by Myles Garrett to help him reach the playoffs.

New York Jets

The New York Jets were so desperate for QB help in 2021 that they traded for their former mediocre signal-caller, Joe Flacco. The former Super Bowl MVP wasn’t the answer to their woes. The 2021 rookie Zach Wilson also vastly struggled last season with nine passing touchdowns to 11 interceptions. In Wilson’s favor, the Jets yielded a brutal supporting cast for the former BYU QB.

The Jets will need to add offensive line talent and a shiny weapon around their QB spot, but they will surely look to upgrade their QB position itself. Mekhi Becton, who was the Jets best offensive player in 2020, also missed 16 games in 2021. He has been rumored to be traded this offseason. The outlook for Wilson is very murky and they will need to bring in quality competition at the vital position. Flacco, who is 37 years old and many years removed from impressive production, is not the profile that should make Wilson sweat in a QB battle. The Jets should bring in Trubisky on a short-term deal and allow him to wreak havoc on his former AFC East squad. The Jets could even ink Trubisky’s former number one wideout in Allen Robinson.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a risky situation with Ben Roethlisberger retiring. Dwayne Haskins and Mason Rudolph left standing post Big Ben’s retirement, so the question mark is bigger than ever for Mike Tomlin. The Steelers have been linked to Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 draft, but it’s far from a guarantee if he will be remaining on the draft board at the 20th pick.

The AFC North squad that was gifted a holiday miracle with their ticket to the playoffs, could look to retool and not “rebuild” in the 2022 offseason. They proudly boast the 2022 Defensive Player of The Year T.J. Watt and weapons around the QB spot on offense (Najee Harris, Dionate Johnson, and Chase Claypool).

If the Steelers have a quality QB in 2022 like the old version of Andy Dalton in his early Cincinnati days, or the Alex Smith in his Kansas City Chiefs tenure, they would hold a high chance of returning to the playoffs. The more mature Mitchell Trubisky could utilize the Steelers weapons well and lead the Steelers to successful seasons ahead. The question is: how comfortable are the Steelers with his ceiling?

Honorable mentions:

Buffalo Bills

The Bills have to love the idea of bringing back Trubisky as the backup QB. According to Pro Football Rumors, the Bills want Trubisky back as the number two QB. He’s one of the top backup QBs in the NFL. The Bills are also a strong Super Bowl contender and it is logical for them to want a strong replacement for Josh Allen if he faces an unexpected injury. With that stated, it’s also wouldn’t be a major surprise if Allen misses time from an injury. The Bills starting QB commonly runs with the ball, so he easily faces endures countless big hits in the open field. Nick Foles was able to properly fill in for the Eagles when Carson Wentz went down with an injury. Trubisky has the potential to be a backup QB that can win pivotal playoff games if Allen suffers a devastating injury.

If a team like the Jets acquire a QB like Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota, Trubisky could consider returning to his current elite organization. If the Steelers or Saints feel comfortable with a rookie QB joining their current QB room, then Trubisky could be passed on by those potential suitors. Although, I do expect Trubisk to first look at joining a team where he can sign a big deal and have a strong chance of having the keys to the starting offense.

New Orleans Saints

I expect the New Orleans Saints, who retained long-time Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael as the offensive coordinator, to keep Jameis Winston in the building for 2022 and potentially beyond. Although, there’s a chance that Winston is lured by a different team in free agency. If Winston is out, I would really foresee the Saints being aggressive for Mitchell Trubisky.

Carmichael would most likely prefer Trubisky’s pocket passing skills and age over the signing of Marcus Mariota or Tyrod Taylor. The Saints have been rumored to select a QB in round one for each of the past several years. They may need a talented rookie QB now more than ever, but they should ink Winston or Trubisky regardless of selecting a rookie QB in an early-round this year. They have a roster surrounding the QB position that is still built to compete for a Super Bowl trophy in the near future.

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By: Andy Davies

The San Francisco 49ers are one of the most successful franchises in NFL history. Only the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers (both 6) have more Super Bowl wins than the 49ers (5). The 49ers’ five Super Bowls all came between the years of 1981 and 1994. They have lost two since, in the 2012 and 2019 seasons. The quarterbacks that led the 49ers to the Lombardi Trophy were Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Steve Young. Three of those five wins saw Montana as the starter and Young as the backup.

Young is seen by many as the best backup quarterback in history, considering the gold jacket that he earned despite many years as the backup to Montana. He would win a Super Bowl as the starter after the franchise moved on from Montana. Ever since Young decided to hang up his cleats, the 49ers have struggled to find his replacement. Have they found the guy in Trey Lance?

Perhaps, but here is why the quarterback situation involving Lance and current starter Jimmy Garoppolo could prevent the 49ers from winning the NFC West during the 2021 season.

Struggles Since Young

Jeff Garcia was the man to come in for Young. During his five seasons in the Bay, he threw for 113 touchdowns and 56 interceptions as well as 16,408 passing yards. He had a 35-36 record as a starter for the 49ers in the regular season and a 1-2 record in the postseason, meaning he never hit the heights of his predecessor.

Alex Smith was the number one overall pick in 2005, shattering Aaron Rodgers’ dreams. However, he was a good quarterback, not a great quarterback. Colin Kaepernick replaced Smith and took the 49ers to the Super Bowl. They ended up losing to the Baltimore Ravens in a game often called the ”˜Blackout Bowl’. Kaepernick failed to live up to the standards he set that season.

He would be kicked out of the league for taking the knee in a protest against police brutality in 2016. He has not played a snap in the NFL since. Jimmy Garoppolo was traded from the Patriots to the 49ers midway through the 2017 season. He gave hope to the organization after winning all five of the games he started in 2017. The fanbase had hope going into the 2018 season.

Many non-49ers fans had San Francisco down as their dark horse for the season. A season-ending injury to Garoppolo in Week 3 saw the starting role shared between Nick Mullens and C.J. Beathard. However, the 49ers finished 4-12 as they went into 2019 with the second overall pick. Nick Bosa was selected and transformed the defense of San Francisco and Jimmy G had the best season of his career. He threw for 3,978 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Despite these stats, Garoppolo saw his production limited in the NFC Championship game as the coaching staff decided to use more of their running game. This led to many questions leading to the Super Bowl. The 49ers threw away a ten-point lead in the fourth quarter as they would end up losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 54.

Garoppolo was criticized heavily for an overthrown pass to Emmanuel Sanders that would have given San Francisco back the lead. His 2020 season saw a mixture of poor form and injury. During the 2021 offseason, the 49ers traded up with the Miami Dolphins to gain the number three overall pick. They took Lance with the pick, showcasing their intentions to eventually move off from Garoppolo. There is now talk of whether San Francisco and head coach Kyle Shanahan will start Lance in week one. The other scenarios discussed are either Lance coming in mid-season or sitting out the whole campaign as the backup to Garoppolo. The uncertainty will have a significant impact on the 49ers’ season.

The Strength of the NFC West

This is a problem that will affect all four teams in the best division in the NFL. There is a chance that all four teams can make the playoffs. Los Angeles has an exciting new quarterback in 2009 first overall pick Matthew Stafford. Both the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals have quarterbacks in Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray that they would never dream of trading away. Meanwhile, the 49ers’ starting quarterback is largely unpopular by fans, due to a mixture of the overthrown pass in the Super Bowl, his poor 2020 campaign and his injury record.

San Francisco has the least trusted quarterback in the division. With the position being one of the most crucial in all sports, it does not bode well for a team when there is uncertainty in the position. Garoppolo may be benched at some point during the season for Lance. However, the 49ers would be putting a rookie that will still be learning the system into the toughest division in the NFL.

Learning From Mahomes, Jackson, Tua and Burrow

If San Francisco are to help Lance succeed, they will need to take some lessons from recent draft classes. Patrick Mahomes, widely seen as the best quarterback in the league, spent all but one game of his 2017 rookie season as a backup to Alex Smith. The Chiefs then traded Smith the following offseason and Mahomes has never looked back. In his first three full seasons as a starter in the NFL, he has reached two Super Bowls, winning one. He has also been crowned MVP and Super Bowl MVP and reached three successive AFC Championship games. All three have been at home. On the flip side, 2020 first overall pick Joe Burrow started in week one of his rookie year. He wouldn’t last the season, only playing ten games before injury curtailed his first NFL campaign. He was impressive before his injury but there are no guarantees he will be the same player when he returns.

Lamar Jackson was a backup to Joe Flacco during his 2018 rookie year but won the starting role midseason. He has since gone on to win an MVP award and is the future of the franchise. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins brought Tua Tagovailoa in mid-season but he struggled in his rookie season. He is seen to already be on the hot seat, with many feeling the Dolphins rushed him in. These examples all show there are reasons for the 49ers to be hasty when it comes to choosing when to bring Lance into the starting role.

Lance Or Garoppolo In 2021?

The 49ers will have to decide soon who their starter will be in 2021. Considering Lance has only played one full season (2019), he is likely to start the season as the backup. He only threw for a combined total of 31 passing attempts, two touchdowns and 1 interception across the 2018 and 2020 seasons, albeit the latter campaign being disrupted by the pandemic. He is likely to be a work in progress but his 28 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in 2019 mean that he is one for the future.

Garoppolo will likely start in week one but it was clear from the NFC Championship game that Shanahan doesn’t completely trust him.

Jimmy G is a capable quarterback but his health is a concern. Expect Garoppolo to remain as the starter provided the 49ers are winning games but for Lance to come in should Garoppolo either be injured or start the season poorly.

Should this happen, this will be the end of Garoppolo’s time in San Francisco. Depending on timing, he will then be traded either before the deadline or in the 2022 offseason.

Can The 49ers Returning Players Avoid A Repeat Of 2020?

This is key if the 49ers are to challenge for both the NFC West and the NFC. After earning the number one seed and reaching Super Bowl 54 during the 2019 campaign, San Francisco finished 6-10 in 2020 and bottom of the division. A ”˜Super Bowl Hangover’ played its part but the main cause of such a decline was down to a colossal amount of injuries the team suffered. Along with the aforementioned Garoppolo, the 49ers also saw Bosa, Dee Ford, George Kittle, Raheem Mostert, Deebo Samuel and Solomon Thomas miss large chunks of the 2020 season due to injury.

San Francisco had 33 players reported questionable and there were 186 occasions when the 49ers reported a player on injured reserve. They had the second-most injuries of any team in the NFL over the past twenty years. Should all these players come back, then this 49ers roster will be one of the best in the league. This will make life much easier for whoever the San Francisco starting quarterback is.

However, from the strength of the division to the uncertainty at quarterback, San Francisco will find it tough to win the NFC West.

The post Why the QB situation may prevent the 49ers from winning the NFC West appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Pat Pitts

The Eagles decided to put all of their eggs in the Hurts basket by trading away Carson Wentz. The second-rounder takes the reigns leading this offense back to Super Bowl contention, or not?

Joe Flacco agreed to a one year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. It is understood that he will back up and mentor Jalen Hurts to close his career. However, the Eagles have been use to a QB carousel over the past few seasons. Is it possible we are graced by the presence of Joe “Elite” Flacco?

Allow me.

Can Joe Flacco replicate his 2012 playff performance this season?

In 2012, Joe Flacco entertained football fans with one of the greatest postseason performances in history. He threw 77 passes for 1140 yards and 11 touchdowns; he did not throw a single interception. Hoisting the Lombardi to conclude the dominance only seemed fitting. 

He signed an extension making him the highest player in the league a few months later. Joe Flacco became the talk of the sports realm. 

Flacco’s contract gave analysts a copious amount of time to compare him to guys like Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and his holiness, Tom Brady. But his play was comparable to that of Sam Bradford and Brock Oswieler. 

Joe Flacco derailed the Baltimore train beginning in 2013 when he snapped the team’s playoff streak for the first time since 2007. It snowballed into more missed playoff appearances, the first time in consecutive seasons since 2004-05. He may be elite, but not clutch. 

Since his time in Baltimore, Flacco has bounced from the team hoping to have one last chance. It has not worked out so well. Things are different in Philadelphia. 

How possible is it for Flacco to start this season?

A hall of fame athlete once told the world anything is possible. Yes, even Flacco taking snaps. 

I believe in Jalen Hurts. I believe he can take over this offense, eventually leading the charge when battling in the playoffs. Hurts received some brotherly love from the front office when they selected him sixth overall in the draft. Miles Sanders saw an increase in total yards from a year prior. Things are looking up. 

The only scenario for Flacco to make an appearance of even start is Jalen being hurt. The coaching staff cannot be fickle about the decision. Dive in headfirst, Nick. 

Flacco’s impact will be off the field. Whether it is the film room or the sidelines, Flacco will be in the sophomore’s ear after every bad throw. He will sit with him on the bench to review the playbook. He will be the teacher; Hurts must take the role as the student. 

Joe Flacco has floated around the NFL for over a decade. He joins the crew of Newton, Rodgers and Stafford as the old-timers. The guys who have seen and done it all, but cannot hang it up. The hope for another shot dwindles down day by day.

Flacco does deserve one more chance for glory but Hurts deserves it a bit more.

The post Could Joe Flacco really start for the Eagles? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Jacob Keppen

It seems quarterback controversy never leaves Philadelphia. Last week I took a look at the top five Eagles quarterbacks since 2000, and the consistent theme I noticed was quarterback controversy. Even with his success in Philadelphia, bringing the Eagles to multiple conference championships, there was still a bit of a contentious relationship with the fans and Donovan McNabb. There was almost a yearly quarterback controversy after McNabb too, Philadelphia loves a quarterback controversy.

We all hoped the madness would stop in 2016. The hope was that Carson Wentz would be the guy in Philadelphia for the foreseeable future. Wentz would be the next McNabb, but with more of the fanbase behind him. Sadly this did not turn out to be the case, the fanbase almost divided in half on Carson Wentz by the end of his tenure in Philadelphia. 

Here we are about two months to the draft, slightly unsure of where to go as a franchise moving forward. I’m proposing an idea though. How about, we don’t have a quarterback controversy. For once, let’s throw all of our support as an organization and fanbase behind one guy. Let’s give Jalen Hurts a real chance to prove that he can be our next franchise quarterback.

Jalen Hurts is the perfect embodiment of Philadelphia. He is tough as nails. He does not back down from pressure, doesn’t cower from adversity. Hurts has seen his fair share of adversity, a lot more than the average quarterback prospect. 

In 2016, Jalen Hurts became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Alabama since 1984. He led the Crimson Tide to the National Championship where they would lose to Deshaun Watson’s Clemson Tigers. The next year at the National Championship, Hurts would be benched at halftime. His spot as a starter at Alabama was no more. He didn’t create controversy, sticking with Alabama the next year before transferring to Oklahoma for the 2019 season. Given a chance to be a starter again, Hurts brought the Sooners to the college football playoffs and finished second in the Heisman race.

Jalen Hurts showed throughout college why he has the intangibles to be a star quarterback in the NFL. There’s much more to being a quarterback in the NFL than just straight up on field ability. You have to have the intangibles as well. You have to be able to rally your men and lead them to victory. Jalen Hurts the past year has been praised tremendously for his great leadership. Hurts has been praised by coaches, teammates, and nearly every media member who has come into contact with him.

Philadelphia is one of the hardest places to play in. As Jason Peters said, Philadelphia will eat you up if you don’t bring it. You need to be able to bring it every down, have the mental and physical toughness, leadership ability, and overall it-factor. Ultimately Jalen Hurts has proven over the years that he is bred to thrive in a place like Philadelphia.

Of course you need to be able to play the game of football. Just being a great guy and leader doesn’t make you a starting quarterback. You still have to show something on the field. I believe that given his small sample size, with the situation he was in, Jalen Hurts showed enough to warrant a shot at the job.

Despite not having the best of receivers, an injury ridden offensive line, and head coach that was on his way out of the door, Jalen Hurts still managed to have some magical moments in his 3 ½ games as the Eagles starter. In his first game as a starter, he willed the Eagles to a 24-21 win over the then 10-2 New Orleans Saints. He has over 100 yards  on the ground.

The next week he battled Kyler Murray and the Cardinals, throwing for over 300 yards and three touchdowns in a close loss. The next game against Dallas wasn’t his best, maybe calling only six rushing plays in the 2nd half wasn’t the best idea, but he still battled and threw for over 300 yards. It wasn’t all pretty but he was a young quarterback without a preseason, thrown into the fire without much help who showed a lot of grit and good play.

Is Jalen Hurts the future of the Philadelphia Eagles? Is he the next star franchise quarterback who’s going to lead the Eagles back to greatness? In all honesty, nobody knows yet. Nobody knows that he isn’t that possible franchise quarterback for the Eagles though. No player can be judged based on just four starts. Peyton Manning threw 11 interceptions in his first four games. Russell Wilson threw as many interceptions as touchdowns and did not eclipse 200 passing yards in any of his first four games. 

Maybe Jalen Hurts isn’t going to be as good those guys, but imagine if they were written off after just four games. Imagine if no quarterback was given time to grow and develop. Hurts has shown you a lot of bright things though a ton of uncertainty and he deserves the shot to prove himself next year.

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