Welcome to Week 3 of the 2026 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:
Let's roll...
Matt Waldman: Which QB do you want short-term for Week 3? Which do you want for the next month?
Jeff Haseley: That Seattle matchup for Washington is a total trap. With Mike Macdonald's defense dialing up pressure and forcing quick decisions, relying on Marcus Mariota in his first full start feels like playing with fire.
On the flip side, Tyson Bagent or Case Keenum gets a much more manageable home spot against Philadelphia. Ben Johnson's system in Chicago is built to protect quarterbacks with quick-trigger throws and high-percentage passes. With a strong supporting cast surrounding the backup, Keenum or Bagent doesn't need to be a hero; they just need to distribute the ball effectively. Their rushing floor might not match Mariota's, but their environment and matchup give him a far safer fantasy floor for Week 3.
Also, if Bagent comes in and plays his butt off, and maybe elevates Colston Loveland in the process, is there a non-zero chance we talk about a quarterback controversy?
Waldman: Is there a non-zero chance? Yes, it's 0.000000000000000000000000000000000001 percent. There's no way I can imagine there's a real chance of that happening unless Bagent is so amazing that it affords the Bears to let Williams buy more time to heal fully.
Even so, that controversy would come more from the Bears' local media than from within the team. Ben Johnson took this job to work with Williams. Williams also has one of the lowest interception rates among young starters in league history and posted top-five numbers in his first year learning Johnson's offense, with most of his surrounding talent having less than three years in the league.
Haseley: So you're telling me there's a chance? Hahaha! I agree it's unlikely, but not impossible.
Waldman: True. So who is your pick for the rest of the month?
Haseley: If we're looking at the next four weeks, Mariota takes over for me. The reality with Caleb Williams is that a hamstring strain can be tricky, but he isn't expected to sit on the shelf for a month. Once Williams is cleared, Bagent (probably) goes right back to holding a clipboard.
Mariota, meanwhile, gives you guaranteed, multi-week starting volume while Jayden Daniels heals up. Even with tougher matchups sprinkled in, Mariota’s rushing floor and guaranteed starting reps make him the best long-term hold of the group. Jameis Winston brings elite vertical upside, but his tendency for turnovers makes him a wild card you can't comfortably trust week in and week out.
Gary Davenport: With Bagent in the NFL’s concussion protocol (Zombie Case Keenum, come on down!), my answer here is the same for both questions.
It’s Famous Jameis time!
We have seen Winston post some gaudy stats in the not-too-distant past—as recently as December of 2024, he torched a good Denver defense on the road for almost 500 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. Playing for the Browns. With a pass-catching corps that was…yeah.
Yes, Winston also threw three picks in that game. And the Giants may not win that many games with Winston under center. But Winston was fantasy’s top-ranked quarterback that week, and he has the potential for spike weeks that Bagent and Mariota just do not.