While there have been plenty of notable fantasy football performances from unexpected quarterbacks this NFL season (Sam Darnold and Taylor Heinicke, just to name a couple), the reality is that most weeks the top 10 or so quarterbacks in our rankings are going to be a pretty consistent group.
If you figure that Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Kyler Murray, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott, Jalen Hurts, Matthew Stafford and Justin Herbert are likely to land in those 10-ish spots (in some order), it lines up that in a 10-team league, you don't see much quarterback movement.
But on Thursday night of Week 5, Wilson went down with a finger injury that is likely going to cost him as few as four weeks but perhaps a bit longer. Wilson being out is literally uncharted territory -- he hasn't even missed a practice in his career -- and has a trickle-down impact in fantasy. The most direct one is how those who have been starting Wilson will fill their quarterback voids.
Here's to hoping Wilson makes a speedy and full recovery, as the game is always better off when he is at his best.
Until he returns, we'll deliver the names you need to know at quarterback and otherwise.
Here's the Week 6 ESPN fantasy football waiver wire.
Note: All players in this column are available in more than 50% of leagues on ESPN.
Week 6 byes: 49ers, Falcons, Jets, Saints
Kadarius Toney, WR, New York Giants (10.7% rostered): The Giants have been decimated by injuries on offense in a way that is hard to believe. They finished Week 5 without Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton on the field, prompting even more opportunity for the already exciting rookie ankle breaker. He finished with an electric 10 catches for 189 yards, despite leaving the game once because of injury (which we'll monitor through this week) and again after being ejected for punching an opposing player. The talent is way too obvious, and the opportunity should be there now too. Add!