Fantasy football is the most infuriating thing on this Earth that, at the end of the day, truly is inconsequential.
But we do it anyway. Each fall, getting together with our friends, drafting our teams and hoping that this year we will secure the glory that long has evaded us. (OK, I'm just talking about myself on that last part. I'm sure some of you actually win your leagues. Must be nice.)
The most frustrating part of torturing ourselves for 17 Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays each fall, is the injuries that inevitably befall your team, taking you from hopeful contender to waiver wire hunter.
Such was the case Sunday when both Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and New Orleans Saints signal-caller Drew Brees went down with injuries. On Monday, it was revealed both would miss significant time. The Steelers announced Roethlisberger would undergo surgery on his elbow and would be out for the season. As for Brees, he tore a ligament in his thumb and will be sidelined for at least six weeks.
While these are big blows for both the Steelers and Saints, they also could have huge implications for your fantasy team.
Since you don't want to be headed to the loser's bracket after Week 2, let's look at five quarterbacks to pick up on waivers to replace Roethlisberger or Brees.
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 49ers (48 percent owned in Yahoo! leagues)
Jimmy G was shaky in his first start back from his torn ACL, but he looked a lot sharper in the 49ers' Week 2 demolition over the Bengals.
Sports
In two games, Garoppolo has thrown for 463 yards, four touchdowns and only one interception and only will get more comfortable as the season wears on. Couple that with the offensive genius of head coach Kyle Shanahan, star tight end George Kittle and rookie receiver Deebo Samuel, Garoppolo could be primed to put up big numbers.
Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions (35 percent owned)
Ever the gunslinger, Stafford has been slinging the ball around in two games with new offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. Through two games, Stafford has completed 65 percent of his passes while amassing 630 yards and five touchdowns.
Now, 385 of those yards and three touchdowns came in Week 1's tie against the Cardinals, so perhaps Stafford is more of the guy that showed up Sunday against the Chargers (245 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions) than the Week 1 version. Beggars can't be choosers.
Josh Allen, QB, Bills (40 percent owned)
With Allen, you get the added bonus of him also being a running threat. The passing continues to come and go, as he's only thrown for 507 yards and two touchdowns so far this season. But he's also ran for two scores, meaning he has some upside if the kinks in the Bills' passing game gets figured out.
Gardner Minshew, QB, Jaguars (5 percent owned)
The Mississipi Mustache can sling the rock, he just needs head coach Doug Marrone to let him spin. After starting quarterback Nick Foles went out with a broken collarbone in Week 1, Minshew has stepped in and thrown for 488 yards and three touchdowns while completing 77 percent of his passes. Believe in the legend.
[RELATED: 49ers' Samuel among Week 3 waiver-wire targets]
Mason Rudolph, QB, Steelers (1 percent)
If you still believe the Steelers have a viable offense, then you might as well pick up the guy who's going to be slinging it around for the rest of the season. Rudolph was a dynamic passer in college at Oklahoma State and the Steelers also drafted James Washington who was Rudolph's favored target during his days in Stillwater, Okla.
