Backup Quarterback Week: How Carson Beck, Deshaun Watson and Drew Lock Change Your Fantasy Lineup

Week 10 is shaping up as backup-quarterback week in the NFL, and that ripples through every fantasy lineup that leans on receivers and tight ends from the affected teams. Three situations stand out heading into Sunday: a rookie making his first start in Arizona, a familiar face returning in Cleveland and a veteran fill-in staying under center for Seattle.

Here is what the latest reporting says, and how I would handle each one.

Arizona: Carson Beck Gets the Keys Against the Rams

Gardner Minshew's season is over. The Cardinals quarterback tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow and will have surgery, according to The Fantasy Footballers, which reported he was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday ^[1]. NBC Sports' Week 10 injury report also covered the loss ^[4].

That puts rookie Carson Beck in charge for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Rams ^[1]. Beck has not appeared in a regular-season game yet; in his lone preseason outing he completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown ^[1].

The bigger fantasy problem is who he will be throwing to. Wide receiver Michael Wilson suffered a neck injury in Week 9 and has been placed on injured reserve, ending his season ^[1][4]. NBC Sports expects tight end Trey McBride to soak up the extra volume ^[4].

My take: McBride stays in your lineup no matter who is throwing him the ball. A quarterback making his first start usually leans on the safety valve over the middle, and McBride is the best one Arizona has. Beck himself is a superflex or deep-league dart at best. I would not start him in a standard one-quarterback league against a division rival in his debut.

Cleveland: Deshaun Watson Returns Against His Old Team

The Browns are going back to Deshaun Watson for a home game against the Houston Texans, his former team ^[3]. Watson entered the concussion protocol after the Week 8 loss to Pittsburgh, practiced on a limited basis that Friday and passed his neurological testing on Saturday, but he was inactive for the 23-22 overtime loss to New Orleans in Week 9, when Shedeur Sanders made his first start of the season ^[2]. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Monday that Cleveland planned to start Watson this week, and The Fantasy Footballers lists him as on track to start ^[2][3].

The numbers cut both ways. RotoBaller noted that Watson topped 300 passing yards in each of his last two starts but has not thrown a touchdown pass since Oct. 11, and it rated him a low-end QB2 at best in superflex formats ^[3].

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The receiving picture matters more for most managers. In Week 9, KC Concepcion caught four of six targets for 85 yards and a touchdown, and Denzel Boston hauled in six of seven targets for 98 yards ^[2]. Boston is now dealing with a toe injury and was not expected to practice Wednesday ^[2], and RotoBaller described him as uncertain to play ^[3]. Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. was limited Wednesday with a groin issue ^[2].

My take: If Boston sits, Concepcion becomes a reasonable flex in deeper leagues, because the targets have to go somewhere. Fannin stays a starting tight end as long as he is active. Watson himself belongs only in two-quarterback leagues.

Seattle: Drew Lock Stays Under Center in Las Vegas

Sam Darnold was ruled out for Weeks 9 and 10 with quad and rib injuries, and Drew Lock is expected to start again when the Seahawks visit the Raiders, according to NBC Sports ^[4]. NBC lists Lock as working through elbow and oblique issues of his own ^[4].

My take: Lock is a fill-in for two-quarterback leagues, not a streamer in standard formats. I would lower expectations a notch for Seattle's pass catchers until Darnold is back.

The Rest of the Injury Board

A few more quarterback notes before you lock in your lineup. In Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes has been practicing in full despite his sore elbow, though NBC Sports cautioned that the pain could cut into his throwing volume ^[4]. Start him anyway; a limited Mahomes is still a better bet than most of the waiver wire.

On the other side of the Arizona game, the Rams remain without Puka Nacua, who is sidelined with knee and toe injuries suffered in Week 9 ^[4]. That keeps Los Angeles' passing game in flux too, which is one more reason to temper expectations for everyone in that matchup except McBride.

Play It in Liberty Bell Fantasy

If you are playing the free Liberty Bell Fantasy games at /fantasy, this is the week to check your lineup twice. Quarterback changes are where fantasy weeks are won and lost, and practice reports can change by Friday afternoon. Make your calls early, but check final inactives before kickoff on Sunday.