Four undervalued quarterbacks for Week 1

Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals (@Indy)

31% owned in Yahoo! Leagues, 21.2% owned in ESPN Leagues

Who are Nate Hairston and Kenny Moore? You don’t know. They’re the Colts’ starting cornerbacks. Yes, they do have Malik Hooker roaming centerfield, however, he can’t cover A.J. Green, John Ross, Tyler Boyd, Josh Malone, Tyler Eifert, Giovani Bernard, and Joe Mixon — all real receiving threats — at the same time. Dalton and his wideouts (along with everyone else) should feast this week. Start him confidently as a QB1.

Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars (@NYG)

33% owned in Yahoo! Leagues, 11.4% owned in ESPN Leagues

Bortles tees off against a vulnerable New York Giants pass defense that lost Jason Pierre-Paul in the offseason and will be without Olivier Vernon (ankle). It’s possible Bortles is able to rumble for a few yards on the ground as well, something (the GOAT) Evan Silva has discussed frequently this offseason (both in his season-long and weekly previews) and on Ross Tucker’s Fantasy Feast: Eatin’ Podcast.

Tyrod Taylor, Cleveland Browns (vs. Pit)

12% owned in Yahoo! Leagues, 33.6% owned in ESPN Leagues

Tyrod Taylor faces off against a Pittsburgh defense that struggles to contain mobile quarterbacks. Tyrod has always been a high-floor QB but he’s now surrounded by the strongest supporting cast he’s ever had. He will be a fine QB streaming option for Week 1 in what should amount to a shootout in the Dawg Pound.

*Update 9/8/18: According to Fabiano, it’ll be a rainy, windy day in Cleveland tomorrow. I think this likely drops Tyrod’s ability to produce through the air but boosts his rushing floor. That being said, he has played well in inclement weather in Buffalo for years. If anyone’s equipped for this situation, it’s him.

Alex Smith, The Washington Football Team (@ARI)

63% owned in Yahoo! Leagues, 73.6% owned in ESPN Leagues

Alex Smith has a somewhat high ownership (coming in as the 19^th-most-owned QB in Yahoo!, 16^th-most-owned in ESPN), however, he’s noteworthy given his consecutive-week usage. He gets a favorable matchup this week against Arizona and next week he gets the Matchup of All Matchups with the Indianapolis Colts. I expect Smith to be a Top 15 QB this week and easily finish in the Top 10 next week. Two weeks of QB usage makes Smith a prime streaming option for savvy, late-round QB drafters.