Fantasy Football Week 8 Sleeper: Kyle Orton

By Michael Woolfson @Bigwoolf5 on October 24, 2014

The Buffalo Bills take on their division rival the New York Jets this week. In past years it would have been smart to stay away from Bills players for fantasy purposes against the Jets, but not this year. If your starting quarterback is Colin Kaepernick or Eli Manning, who are on byes this week, then Kyle Orton might just be your guy this week.

Let’s start with Orton himself. Since he took over the starting job from E.J Manuel in Week 5, Orton has thrown for at least 280 yards in every game with at least a touchdown in all three starts. What makes this even more impressive is who these games came against. Orton’s three starts have come against the Detroit Lions, New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings. These teams rank first, third and fourth, respectively, in limiting quarterbacks fantasy-wise. This week Orton will take on the much less stingy Jets.

The Jets, unlike Orton’s past opponents this season, have been very bad against opposing quarterbacks giving up the second-most fantasy points to opposing signal callers. Granted, the Jets have faced some of the toughest quarterbacks in the league, but their secondary is putrid and doesn’t have much talent. The Jets have given up at least two touchdowns to every quarterback they have faced so far this year, and the past three have all thrown for three touchdowns against them. Add in the fact that the Jets have only intercepted one pass all season and Orton seems like a safe play this week.

Orton will be throwing to his young stud wide receiver Sammy Watkins a lot this week, and the two of them have been on the same page lately. Watkins has 18 catches for 236 yards and two touchdowns since Orton became the starter and is coming off his best and most dominant game of the season.

If you are looking for a fill-in quarterback this week, Orton offers little risk considering how the Jets don’t force turnovers. He also offers huge potential because of the weak Jets secondary. He isn’t a must-start by any means, but he is quite the viable bye week fill-in against the Jets.