Can Ryan Fitzpatrick be a weekly starter for your fantasy team?

by Cameron Dark

By now I’m sure you know about Ryan Fitzpatrick, leader of the dynamic offense that is the Buffalo Bills (when was the last time “dynamic” and “Bills” were in the same sentence?!?). In any case, the stats cannot be ignored: 39.5 points-per-game and 422.5 yards-per-game make the Bills offense more than respectable. Fitzpatrick is the 5^th-ranked QB in standard-scoring fantasy leagues through two weeks, so his immediate fantasy relevancy is unquestionable. For the past two weeks, Buffalo’s offense, on the arm of Fitzpatrick, has been firing on all cylinders, so it’s time to ask: is Ryan Fitzpatrick going to keep this kind of production up?

I think so. Maybe not 3.5 TDs per game like he’s doing right now, but 250 yards with 2 TDs is certainly reasonable on a weekly basis. Call me biased because he helped me win last week, but I think he has what it takes to help your team win every week. However, let me stop before I get too far ahead of myself: Fitzpatrick is for those who are weak at the QB position.  He should not to be used in the place of your elite QBs. It seems obvious, but it’s worth noting anyway. He does have a pretty easy schedule, though, which includes a weak Patriots secondary twice, Cincinnati, Washington, and Denver. The only matchups I’m scared of using him in are Philadelphia and the two weeks he plays the Jets. Simply based on matchups, Fitzpatrick has plenty of opportunity to shine.

What impresses me the most about the Harvard grad is not the sheer numbers he’s putting up, it’s that the guy is actually playing the position well. He’s making previously unknown guys like Scott Chandler and David Nelson look like superstars. Through two weeks, Fitzpatrick has a Total QBR of 84.8, second only to Tom Brady. I understand two weeks is a small sample size, but 7 TD with only one INT — while leading his team to a 2-0 start for the first time in 3 years — means he’s doing something right. Fitz was able to methodically march Buffalo down the field late last week, topping off the drive with a game-winning TD pass to David Nelson, showing his leadership and presence of mind in critical situations. Buffalo has found its man at QB, and I’m a big believer as well.

Start him with confidence this week against a New England secondary that allowed Chad Henne to rack up 34 fantasy points in Week 1. Fitzpatrick is playing smart; he’s making great decisions in the pocket; and he’s playing well enough to make the Bills relevant again. Believe me when I say these past two weeks are not a fluke. I’m rolling with the hot hand this week, and you should too. After all, I nailed LeGarrette Blount’s bounce-back last week!

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