Sleepers at Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh (at LA Chargers)
Rodgers has actually accomplished the goal of improving the Steelers' pass offense and otherwise bringing the Arthur Smith offense from the whiteboard to the field. Their defense is coming off a command performance against Daniel Jones and might be able to thwart Justin Herbert and the Chargers' passing game now that they have lost left tackle Joe Alt for the season. If Pittsburgh's defense does revert to the ignominious form they have shown against the Packers, Bengals, and Jets this season, Rodgers will have to throw more to keep up. He threw a combined 10 touchdowns in those games. Even if the Steelers' defense rules the day, Rodgers could be responsible for more than one of the three team touchdowns he accounted for last week.
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota (vs Baltimore)
It wasn't always pretty, but McCarthy made the plays when he needed to last week at Detroit to secure a hard-fought division win and give fantasy teams a viable low QB1 fantasy play. The Ravens' defense looked a lot better coming out of their bye, but there are still weaknesses that Kevin O'Connell can exploit if McCarthy executes. The quarterback's confidence should be higher this week, and he is still surrounded by an excellent group of offensive weapons. McCarthy has a high ceiling if the Ravens jump out to a lead and Minnesota is forced to call more passes in a high-scoring game.
Geno Smith, Las Vegas (at Denver) **Thursday**
Smith has been a solid to great fantasy QB1 in the two games he has played with a healthy Brock Bowers this season. Is determining his fantasy outlook just that simple? We'll find out on Thursday night, when he goes into Denver to face a tough, but sometimes suspect Broncos defense that won't have shutdown corner Patrick Surtain II.
Mac Jones, San Francisco (vs LA Rams) **Monitor QB Decision**
Brock Purdy's turf toe is improving enough that the team said they want to get him more first-time reps in practice this week. It still doesn't sound like he is going to start in Week 10, which means that Jones will likely face the Rams for the second time this season. Since then, when Jones threw for 342 yards and two scores, the 49ers have gotten back George Kittle and morphed into a ball-control offense, which lowers his fantasy ceiling. The problem with that is that Matthew Stafford threw for 389 and three scores in the first matchup, and he's still red hot going into this game. The 49ers may have to rely on Jones' arm even though that is not Plan A, and we've seen what he can do against the Rams already this season - which was without Jauan Jennings in addition to Kittle, by the way.