Issue #210: Frozen
By Derrick Ernst
September 14, 2025
Quarterback
I was able to make the time on the place for two pages on all things-QBs. By the way, I never got around in our last issue giving an explanation of the title, Showing Up For Work. My wife and I were watching the slate of football games last Sunday and it was after a missed FG that my wife said, “Someone didn’t show up for work today.” We preceded to then say this guy “showed up” and “didn’t show up” for work after both good and bad plays. Funny how the little things crack you up. This certainly did. It was also funny because I had never heard that statement said before in the context of football. It’s also a bit odd to think of football as “work” but for a few thousand people, that’s reality (including those who support the front office and other admin duties). Anyways, there ya go, a new thing to say out loud to yourself when you have a game on.
Let’s start with the breaking news: B. Purdy has been ruled out 2-5 weeks. If it’s closer to the latter, I believe this will get him close to SF’s bye week. I could see that being the plan depending on how much success SF has. If they’re eking out wins without Purdy, they’re going to keep him sidelined to ensure a full recovery. His return will also align with B. Aiyuk’s projected return to action. That could really be something. If you have room on our bench to afford a stash, I suggest doing so with either Purdy or Aiyuk. I would lean Purdy, but there’s a good chance that the person who drafted him holds onto him for his return. If that’s the case, Aiyuk is a good consolation, but you’ll likely need to pick him up sooner than later. That again is assuming he wasn’t drafted.
In funny news:
Source: Facebook (BBQ Sports)
According to Google, there are approx. 2 million fantasy leagues on ESPN’s platform. That means 38,000 of them have a team with the GOAT on it. That’s pretty insane. I have to believe a lot of these are dynasty leagues? If you have two or three other QBs on roster, what’s one more, especially if that one more could probably be a top-12 option at the position if he were to suit up today.
Let’s move to Daniel Jones. There’s two things about him that I want to hit on as they pertain to fantasy:
Frozen in time. In a lot of ways we see players as if they’re talent never evolves. A good player will stay good, a mediocre player will stay mediocre, etc. If you think about it, this is largely true. It’s very rare to see a player evolve from nothing into something in their NFL career. One of the reasons being the NFL’s competitiveness and a player’s lifespan being extremely short. This is why we get excited for a performance like Jones had in week one because it’s not what we’re used to.
Not flashy. It can be argued that an NFL QB is the most prestigious title an athlete can hold in all of sports. In a league filled with guys like Mahomes, Lamar, Hurts, etc., a guy with the name Daniel Jones gets lost in the shuffle really quick. As much as it pains to have a guy like Jones top your fantasy roster, if you’re in a pickle and he’s available (and he’s working), you have to have the guts to do something others are scared of doing: taking a chance on the unpopular.
We’ve talked about this many of times in the past that sometimes it’s simply a change in scenery that is all someone needs for their true potential to flourish. Baker is a recent example. What if D. Jones proves to see this through in ’25?
Source: X (@EvinKnowsBall)
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