In a season full of twists and turns, the Baltimore Ravens' quarterback situation took another unexpected turn in upstate New York. Lamar Jackson injured his throwing thumb on the first offensive snap, and backup Tyler Huntley followedwith a toe injury in the second quarter.
Both quarterbacks are facing uncertain timelines, leaving Baltimore scrambling for answers. If we were to use a stock reference, they'd be seen as 'unrated'. That refers to a security without an active rating or recommendation, such as buy, hold, or sell, from financial analysts.
That's where Jackson and Huntley stand for now. Their availability is uncertain, and neither can be assigned a meaningful stock recommendation until there's more clarity about their health. Their misfortune,
however, creates an unexpected opportunity for another quarterback, someone Ravens fans fell in love with during the preseason.
Joe Fagnano, Baltimore Ravens
Grade: Long position / Long stock - The expectation that its market price will increase over time.
Jackson and Huntley are expected to miss time, putting Fagnano in position to take over Baltimore's offense. The undrafted quarterback made a strong impression during the preseason, leading all NFL quarterbacks with 509 passing yards in three games. He also threw three touchdowns, threw one interception, and finished with a 100.4 passer rating.
His NFL debut against theBuffalo Bills was much tougher. Fagnano completed 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards. He threw an interception and fumbled. However, he entered an unfavorable situation with limited preparation and faced constant pressure.
What might Fagnano look like with a full week of practice alongside the starting offense? That's the intriguing question heading into Thursday's matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. On Monday, head coach Jesse Minter said Monday that Fagnano was dealing with injuries of his own and had only a chance to play Thursday. For fans who believe in his potential, there may not be a better time to buy if they're willing to gamble. Waiting for a larger sample could mean the price rises before they get another opportunity.
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Grade: High-beta stock - Volatile, but tremendous upside
A high-beta stock swings dramatically over short periods. If that doesn't describe Burrow and the Bengals in Week 8, nothing else will.
Cincinnati struggled to put the Tennessee Titans away, and four turnovers (including three Burrow interceptions) had plenty to do with it. Here's the thing: He's so good that he can overcome even that kind of afternoon by throwing five touchdown passes and leading the Bengals to 43 points. Burrow threw for 462 yards and scored the winning touchdown on a 9-yard run.
Burrow's performance was hardly clean, but the production is impossible to dismiss. His stock remains volatile, although the upside is still substantial.
Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
HOLD: Slight decline, but still buyable
Aaron Rodgers has helped Pittsburgh reach a 6-2 record, and that cannot be ignored. However, his individual production has been less convincing lately. Against Cleveland, he threw for 172 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception.
He has 13 touchdown passes and six interceptions on the season, but his recent numbers are concerning. Rodgers hasn't thrown three touchdown passes since Week 5 and has produced just three touchdown passes against two interceptions over his last three games.
It's difficult to imagine Pittsburgh being comfortable with Rodgers simply along for the ride. The Steelers are winning, but they'll eventually need more consistent production from their quarterback.
Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
SELL: Gradual downtrend
Watson has led the decisive drives in each of Cleveland's victories, which makes his recent struggles particularly frustrating. He hasn't thrown a touchdown pass in three weeks, and his latest performance against Pittsburgh raised more questions about his ability to stay upright.
Watson was sacked eight times Sunday, marking the second time this season he's endured that kind of punishment. Cleveland's protection problems are putting its quarterback in difficult situations, and the physical toll is becoming harder to overlook.
Watson still has chances to reverse the trend, but the Browns need to protect him better and be more consistent in the passing game. Otherwise, his stock could keep sliding.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: AFC North QB stock watch: Ravens face crisis as Joe Burrow shines
