Four quarterback rooms, four different moves
This board is ordered by certainty as of early Friday. Recheck Cleveland's final designation before Sunday.
Carson Wentz starts for Kyler Murray on Monday night
Minnesota will start Wentz against Buffalo after ruling Murray out with a hamstring injury. The Vikings are calling Murray week-to-week and are not planning to place him on injured reserve, which makes Wentz a short-term bridge rather than a season-long answer.
Wentz has already made one start this season and has thrown three touchdowns without an interception across 39 attempts. That gives him enough functional volume for Superflex, but not enough rushing or long-term certainty to displace a healthy top-12 quarterback in standard leagues.
Carson Wentz
SUPERFLEX QB2Start him over backup quarterbacks who may not play, but keep established one-QB options in the lineup. Because Minnesota plays Monday, roster Max Brosmer only as emergency protection if your league offers no other late-game quarterback.
The move: Compare Wentz with available starters on the live quarterback wire; do not burn a long-term asset for a one-week rental.
Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson
KEEP STARTINGQuarterback downgrades lower touchdown expectation, but elite target earners remain difficult to bench. Jefferson stays in WR1 lineups; Hockenson remains a low-end TE1 in a position where volume is scarce.
The adjustment: Lower the ceiling, not the usage. Treat secondary Vikings receivers as flex plays rather than automatic starts.
Shedeur Sanders is preparing while Deshaun Watson remains in protocol
Cleveland placed Watson in the concussion protocol Wednesday after he reported delayed symptoms from a Week 8 hit. The Browns gave Sanders first-team work and extra walkthrough reps, but head coach Todd Monken had not ruled out Watson when the team described the plan.
This is the least settled quarterback room on the board. Sanders has only three completions in two brief appearances this season, so his fantasy case rests on projected playing time rather than an NFL production sample.
Shedeur Sanders
CONDITIONAL STARTHe belongs on Superflex rosters if Cleveland rules out Watson. In one-quarterback leagues, the unknown efficiency and limited rushing floor make Sanders a watch-list player, not a preferred streamer.
The move: Wait for the official designation. If Sanders starts, use him over non-starters—not over a secure top-15 option.
KC Concepcion and Browns pass-catchers
DOWNGRADEA first start can produce concentrated targets, but it also raises sack, turnover and drive-stall risk. Keep high-volume options in deeper lineups while moving fringe Cleveland receivers behind comparable players with stable quarterbacks.
The adjustment: Check Cleveland's live movement on the Browns trend page before making a Sunday decision.
Drew Lock is expected to replace Sam Darnold
Seattle ruled Darnold out with a quadriceps injury and also disclosed that he played through a fractured rib Monday. The team expects Lock to start against Arizona, though Lock has been limited by an elbow injury and Jalen Milroe is also receiving practice reps.
The good news is that Lock has already produced in this offense: the Seahawks said he completed 72.9 percent of his passes for 422 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions over his extended Week 1 action and Week 2 start. The concern is health and the possibility that Seattle has to protect him with a narrower plan.
Drew Lock
RISKY QB2Lock is playable in Superflex because the matchup and prior results create a path to two touchdowns. He is not a safe one-QB streamer while the elbow remains a management issue.
The move: Start in Superflex if Friday practice confirms he is on track. Keep a contingency because Milroe is also being prepared.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
KEEP STARTINGSeattle's primary target remains a lineup fixture. The quarterback change adds volatility, but a player who wins volume should not leave fantasy lineups because of a one-week backup.
The adjustment: Keep Smith-Njigba in; downgrade ancillary Seattle receivers. Follow the Seahawks trend page for late movement.
Lamar Jackson is an IR hold; Jacoby Brissett is the stash
Baltimore placed Jackson and Tyler Huntley on injured reserve Thursday. Both must miss at least four games. Jackson's right-thumb injury could cost him more time, but the Ravens have not declared his season over.
Joe Fagnano's Thursday start has already passed, so the forward-looking fantasy move is Brissett. Baltimore is finalizing a trade for the veteran, and team reporting said he would not be eligible to debut until Week 10 against the Chargers. Brissett has 73 career starts and threw for 1,719 yards and 10 touchdowns in eight Arizona starts this season.
Jacoby Brissett
SUPERFLEX STASHHe is the best rest-of-season bet in this article because Baltimore needs a multi-week starter and traded for an experienced quarterback. Do not use him for Week 9; stash him for the next scoring period.
The move: Add in Superflex before Week 10 waivers if roster space permits. In one-QB leagues, monitor rather than force the add.
Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews
HOLD / LOWER CEILINGThe offensive environment loses rushing pressure and scoring upside without Jackson. Flowers still earns enough volume to start, while Andrews remains usable at a thin position. Both become more matchup-sensitive until the quarterback play stabilizes.
The adjustment: Hold the talent and lower the projection. Track Baltimore on the Ravens trend page.
One-QB and Superflex rules for injury chaos
- One-QB: Do not confuse a real-life starter with a fantasy must-start. Wentz, Lock and Sanders are streamers behind secure top-12 options.
- Superflex: Playing time is the scarce asset. Wentz and Lock are QB2s; Sanders becomes one only if Watson is ruled out.
- Late games: Minnesota plays Monday. Managers using Wentz should keep a Monday quarterback contingency whenever roster rules allow.
- Pass-catchers: Keep elite target earners in lineups, downgrade secondary options first, and avoid overreacting to the backup's name alone.
- Rest of season: Stash Brissett where starting quarterbacks carry value, and use an IR slot on Jackson rather than dropping him.
Bottom line
Week 9 is not a week to chase quarterback upside blindly. Wentz and Lock are useful because they are expected to start; Sanders is useful only if Cleveland confirms the job; Brissett matters because Baltimore's need extends beyond one game. Preserve elite pass-catcher volume, lower expectations for secondary receivers, and let league format—not name recognition—drive the quarterback decision.
Still working through the rest of the roster? The Week 9 waiver board covers the earlier claim cycle, while the live wide-receiver wire can surface a late pivot.
Sources and update policy
This article reflects official team and league information available at 4:00 a.m. Pacific on Friday, November 6, 2026. Cleveland's quarterback designation and Seattle's final practice report remain important Friday checkpoints.