The Red Rifle may be in line for a big season.
The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback has been quietly solid through two games. Written off by many critics as a viable fantasy option prior to the season, Andy Dalton should have people's attention going forward.
Here's a quick look at what he's done in his first two games of 2015:
| Opponent | COMP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | QB Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| @ Oakland | 25/34 | 269 | 2 | 0 | 115.9 |
| vs. San Diego | 16/26 | 214 | 3 | 0 | 126.1 |
The big number is the zero under interceptions. Dalton has been prone to picks in the past, especially in 2014 where he had a 19-17 TD-INT ratio. If he can continue to limit damage by making smart throws, he'll be a great bargain option at quarterback.
One caveat: Dalton didn't throw an interception in the first two games of 2014, either. Odds are, he will have a couple duds along the way.
But Dalton didn't throw his fifth touchdown pass until Week 5 last year, so he is way ahead of schedule. Only Tom Brady, Carson Palmer, and rookie upstart Marcus Mariota have more touchdown passes so far.
His success cannot solely be attributed to his skills. Cincinnati's offensive line has done a great job protecting him. He has not been sacked. Staying upright, having time in the pocket, and getting a good look at the field will give him a path to success.
Dalton has plenty of weapons to work with. He has already hooked up with tight end Tyler Eifert three times in the end zone. A.J. Green and Marvin Jones have one touchdown apiece. Dalton has spread the ball around to eight different targets while Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill mix it up on the ground.
Cincinnati is featuring a balanced offensive attack, and it has paid off to the tune of a 2-0 start.
Dalton will be a valuable DFS asset throughout the season, but he gets his toughest challenge of the early going in Week 3. The Baltimore Ravens are a bit of an enigma, though. Peyton Manning struggled mightily against them in Week 1, but Derek Carr lit up the Ravens' secondary for 351 yards and three touchdowns in Week 2.
In 2014, Dalton played relatively well against Baltimore. In two games against his division rival, Dalton threw for 567 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
There are more favourable matchups in Week 3, but don't be surprised if Dalton has another strong showing. His cost will rise in DFS, so handcuff him with Eifert or Green while he's still at a discount.
