The Tennessee Titans have confirmed that quarterback Jake Locker is benched. Rookie Zach Mettenberger will get the start against the Houston Texans in Week 8.
Zach Mettenberger named Titans starter, has low fantasy value
The Titans are going with their sixth-round rookie over Jake Locker this week. We break down the fantasy implications.
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Speaking to the media on Thursday, head coach Ken Whisenhunt said he hopes Mettenberger "provides a spark" for the 2-5 Titans. A sixth-round pick out of LSU, Mettenberger threw for 3,082 yards on a 64.9 completion percentage before tearing his ACL in the regular-season finale last year. Locker will remain the backup, and Charlie Whitehurst operates as the No. 3 quarterback on the depth chart. Locker has played in just four out of seven games this season.
Fantasy impact: The Titans' new regime is officially moving on from Locker, who is in the last year of his rookie contract. Mettenberger boasts a big arm but is a statue in the pocket, and has had back issues in addition to his ACL surgery. It's hard to imagine a bigger trial by fire than putting him behind a shaky offensive line against J.J. Watt and a possibly returning Jadeveon Clowney. Mettenberger isn't a fantasy option even in two-quarterback leagues.
As for the Titans' other offensive pieces, it's mostly a tossup. The smart money says they'll ride Bishop Sankey on the ground and use Delanie Walker as a safety valve for Mettenberger, but Tennessee's offense has been too erratic to trust in fantasy, and that probably won't change this week. Justin Hunter and Kendall Wright are even riskier bets than usual. The Texans' D/ST unit is an excellent streaming and FanDuel option this week.
