Bryce Young outlook
By: Jake Rajala
The NFC South is home to unique quarterbacks. There are gunslingers, dual-threat, and big arm QBs. Well, I’m going to take a unique angle and unfold if it’s a buy, sell, or hold for the QBs in the NFC South.
Bryce Young has blossomed since he was drafted first overall. Last season, he went 4-8, after going 2-14 as a rookie. He threw 2,403 yards and 15 TDs. Well, Young is on pace for 28 passing touchdowns, which really surpasses his sophomore season.
So, the question is: should Young be bought, sold, or held on?
I believe that he is a buy.
Young only has two games above 19 points, but he has more ammunition joining him. Jalen Coker is coming off an injury and will be a sure-fire WR2. He is a bigger threat than Xavier Legette. Coker should be back within 1-2 games.
The Panthers have yet to play their division foe, the New Orleans Saints twice and the Bucs twice. Drake Maye, Sam Darnold, and Mac Jones are three QBs that haven’t stood out in their career, yet unleashed hell against the Saints. Meanwhile, the Bucs have given up the seventh most points to their foes.
So, where do the other NFC South QBs stand?
I believe that the Saints QB Spencer Rattler is a hold.
Rattler has made impressive throws deep down the field and he’s done a fine job of not turning it over (as he has 1 int, which came on a 4th down). However, he hasn’t been a stat machine. He only has six TDs on the season.
Rattler is still improving his chemistry with Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave. Just as Kellen Moore is in his first year in the system, Rattler is in his first full season as a starter.
If Rattler can find a way to be more productive in the red zone, then he’s a sure-fire Top-15 QB in my opinion. They need to get the screen game going to Kamara and jet sweeps to Shaheed. I don’t love the fades to Chris Olave.
Michael Penix
Michael Penix may have upset the Bills and thrown quite accurate passes, but he didn’t exactly light it up. He only had 14.6 points. He only has one game above 20 points this season. He did play well against the Bucs (24 points) and he has yet to play well against a putrid Saints defense twice.
I would sell him right now. He’s coming off an enormous win, which may cloud the fact he didn’t even score 20 points.
Even with Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts, Penix hasn’t played like a Pro Bowl QB. I don’t foresee him getting even more weapons. Due to his situation and the fact he shouldn’t get more aid, I don’t love his ceiling.
Baker Mayfield
Baker is the lead candidate to win MVP. He’s an easy buy.
His worst game is 17 points, which is a good sign. However, he doesn’t have any 30 point showdowns. Mayfield and Drake Maye are similar. You can rely on them to score around 20 points, but they may not score 35 or more points.
The positive is that he’s playing well without his toys. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have been injured. Hell, even Emeka Egbuka has been hurt. Once his cast gets back from the medical room, he should be playing like a Top 5 fantasy QB in my opinion.
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