Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) makes a lateral pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) makes a lateral pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)
A good quarterback is getting hard to find.
Lamar Jackson injured his ankle. Joe Burrow had his top two receivers go down. Jaxson Dart is long gone. And Justin Herbert officially stinks
To make matters worse, perennial MVP Patrick Mahomes and 2026 breakout star Bryce Young are off on the NFL’s first bye week of the season.
So many of you fantasy mavens need a quarterback this week. And you’ll be hitting the waiver wires in desperation. Fortunately, there are a handful of decent options who have looked good at times this season, and who have tasty Week 5 matchups:
Kirk Cousins (Raiders) – Surprise! It’s the NFL leader with 11 touchdown passes (tied with the 49ers’ Brock Purdy). It’s clear now that Las Vegas is a playoff contender, so Fernando Mendoza will stay on the bench watching the former Viking, who threw for 365 yards Sunday against Kansas City. Captain Kirk will still be in command this week against New England.
C.J. Stroud (Texans) – Houston’s QB has been flying under the radar since his disastrous playoff showing, but he has thrown five TD passes and is fifth in the league with 1,141 passing yards. .He looked much better Sunday with a healthy Nico Collins back on the field. Stroud soars this week as they get their first victory over winless Tennessee.
Jacoby Brissett (Cardinals) – Arizona’s tough early slate has limited his numbers. But the veteran still is averaging more than 200 passing yards per game and has accounted for seven touchdowns, one of them on the ground. He’ll pad his stats against Detroit.
Aaron Rodgers (Steelers) – The renowned medical expert is showing no ill effects from all that ayahuasca he has been guzzling. He has passed for about 1,000 yards and has three TD passes each of the past two weeks. He’ll be similarly productive against Indianapolis .
Sitting stars
It’s growing more obvious that Philly QB Jalen Hurts is now Tush Push TD dependant. … It’s concerning for backers of Tampa Bay’s Bucky Irving that both of the Bucs’ RB scores Sunday were by his teammates. … Miami’s Ollie Gordon may have looked good against the Vikings, but he’ll appear much less so versus Cincinnati. … Dallas WR CeeDee Lamb was all-world in Week 4, while George Pickens was a bystander. … In a similar vein, the return of the Rams’ Puka Nacua quickly brought the numbers of Davante Adams down to earth. … And with all the good tight end options available, there’s little reason to hang onto Buffalo’s Dalton Kincaid,
Matchup game
Turns out reports of the demise of New England quarterback Drake Maye were a bit exaggerated, and he could be in a shootout this week against Las Vegas. … D’Andre Swift fans stewed during Kyle Monangai’s 146-yard, two-TD game Sunday. Get used to it. … Giants QB Jameis Winston finally was able to find Malik Nabers downfield, so you can go back to starting the standout receiver. … Arizona’s Michael Wilson might now be a top-12 WR, and he’ll be mostly uncovered by the Lions’ ravaged secondary. … And Tennessee’s Carnell Tate has reminded folks why he’s considered the most talented rookie pass catcher.
Injury watch
You cannot expect Saquon Barkley to contribute much Sunday, even if he makes the flight to London. … Kansas City is especially wanting at the receiver position after Rashee Rice’s replacement, Tyquan Thornton capped off his two-touchdown breakout game Sunday by dislocating his ankle. Will that lead the Chiefs to get former star Tyreek Hill on speed dial? … On a similar note, will the knee injury suffered by Washington QB Marcus Mariota lead the Commanders to rush back Jayden Daniels? … We’’ll need to keep an eye out this week for the slew of standouts who missed all or part of Week 4 (Vikings WR Justin Jefferson, Jets RB Breece Hall, Buffalo WR D.J. Moore, Eagles wideout Devonta Smith and Chicago QB Caleb Williams).
The deepest sleeper
No player has sunk deeper, on and off the field, over the past few years than Deshaun Watson. The Cleveland quarterback has been a punch line for a while now, but the Browns’ recent foes have not been laughing. He has led the AFC North co-leaders to three consecutive victories, tallying more than 210 yards passing with six TD passes. Why should you hold your nose and grab him this week? He’s playing the New York Jets. Enough said …
The Thursday pick
Buccaneers at Cowboys (-9½):
Pick: Cowboys by 11
Breaking news
We’ll be updating our column, based on the latest injuries and innuendo, right up until Sunday’s kickoff. Go to TwinCities.com/theloop.
You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X– @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray (1) pas the ball against the \mio\ in the first quarter of an NFL football game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray (1) pas the ball against the \mio\ in the first quarter of an NFL football game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)