Welcome to Week 3 of the 2025 Footballguys Roundtable. Our intrepid panel of fantasy pundits discusses and debates four topics every week. We split the conversation into separate features.
This week's roundtable features these four topics:
- The Bengals without Burrow
- Brian Thomas Jr.; Time to Panic?
- Backup QB Roulette
- Unsustainable Hot Starts
Matt Waldman: Consider these four backups likely to start in Week 3:
Who has the highest fantasy floor? Who has the highest fantasy ceiling? Let's begin wth the highest floor.
Colton Dodgson: Mac Jones. This system will put him in a position week in and week out to keep fantasy managers afloat.
His first start was in line with what I anticipated in terms of the approach. His air yards per attempt were a modest 6.5 yards. 2.6 percent of his attempts were throws of 20 or more air yards. Over half of his 279 passing yards came after the catch.
Essentially, we're looking at a low-risk approach predicated on limiting negative plays. Jones only needs to operate that system effectively to flirt with QB1 production.
He'll see the Cardinals in Week 3, a group with a relatively banged-up secondary. Jones is a fine target in one QB leagues if you lost a starter to injury and a nice QB2 in superflex with Brock Purdy sidelined.
Josh Fahlsing: Mac Jones has the highest fantasy floor, although we're talking about a basement floor -- or like a walkout. It's a ranch-style house, I think, is what I'm saying.
Don't expect sweeping views. Jones steps into an offense devoid of weapons but with a head coach adept at getting fantasy points out of backup quarterbacks. I think these factors will limit his upside, but also help his consistency while he is at the helm for the 49ers.
Jeff Haseley: Mac Jones. The decision to target and sign Jones in the offseason is already paying dividends for the 49ers.
Let's not forget that Jones was the one Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch had interest in, along with Trey Lance, in the 2021 NFL Draft. Signing Jones in the offseason gives them a second chance to make the right decision.
So far, Jones has answered the bell with a successful first start (on the road, even) that included 279 yards passing and 3 touchdown passes. Shanahan has a knack for getting players to have success in his system, and the matchup this week vs Arizona, a home divisional opponent, bodes well for his continued success.
Meng Song: I think the backup quarterback with the highest fantasy floor in Week 3 is Carson Wentz. We saw last year that even Sam Darnold was able to produce in Kevin O'Connell's offense. While J.J. McCarthy struggled to throw on the Falcons due to a high ankle sprain and offensive line injuries, the Bengals are a much softer defense against the pass.
Through two weeks, Cincinnati has allowed the sixth-most passing yards to opponents. Wentz should be able to move the ball through the air without much resistance.
The only reason Wentz may not have a massive fantasy ceiling this week is that the Vikings could let Jordan Mason pound the rock and chew clock in the second half if we don't see much pushback from Browning and the Bengals. He was able to keep things interesting against an equally poor Jaguars defense this past week despite tossing three interceptions.
Brian Flores could and should stymie Browning behind a bottom-three offensive line. As of this writing, the Cincinnati at Minnesota game has one of the lowest projected totals of the week, at only 41.5.
Jason Wood: Mac Jones has the high fantasy floor because he's playing on a veteran team with a proven, well-coached offensive system. Jones currently ranked 6th on a per-game basis after Week Two's strong performance, and there was nothing particularly unusual with the way the San Francisco game script played out. As long as Christian McCaffrey, Ricky Pearsall, and Jauan Jennings are healthy, Jones will be a safe start regardless of defensive matchup.
Andy Hicks: The system in San Francisco does a lot of the work for Mac Jones. Production is almost certain with the talent at receiver.
The presence of Christian McCaffrey is also a determining factor in ensuring opposing defenses aren't teeing off on the backup quarterback. Jones also has arguably the calmest demeanour of any guy listed here.
Out of the players listed here, he is also the one with the most recent extended playing time. He had eight starts to close out the 2024 season with Jacksonville.
Matt Montgomery: Mac Jones has the highest fantasy floor. Playing within a Shanahan system that has proven to us time and time again that it is virtually quarterback-proof is enough for me to take the chance here.
Jones, as a player, has also shown us an ability to play bigger than his name. It wasn't too long ago that he took an abysmal offense and produced 3,800 yards passing with 22 touchdowns. If he has stable coaching and the weapons around him remain healthy, he's a weekly starter that you can rely on.
Gary Davenport: This is where we are at quarterback, and it's still September??? Ugh...
For the highest floor, give me Jones. The 49ers have been chewed to pieces on offense by injuries, but Jones threw for 279 yards and three scores last week against the Saints, and Arizona just made Bryce Young of the Panthers look like an NFL quarterback.
Waldman: Who has the highest fantasy ceiling? Is your high-ceiling guy also in a basement or a ranch, Josh?