The Cincinnati Bengals are shoring up quarterback depth behind Jake Browning. After adding Brett Rypien to the 53-man roster, Cincinnati signed Mike White and Sean Clifford to the practice squad, but none are proven starters. The club is weighing several external options—Malik Willis from Green Bay, Jameis Winston from New York, Will Grier from Dallas, and Tyler Huntley from Baltimore—while also considering pricier veteran routes and speculative fits like Kirk Cousins or Giants’ Russell Wilson/Jaxson Dart. Goal: solid insurance at a low cost, not a Browning upgrade.

NFL teams increasingly rely on capable backups as the league's quarterback depth becomes a defining edge. The league-wide ranking spotlights 12 signal-callers who would step into a starting role with meaningful fantasy value, led by Kirk Cousins’s high-floor approach and Jake Browning’s improved sizing of Burrow’s Bengals. The piece weighs recent performance, supporting cast, and o-line strength to separate reliable veterans from high-variance upshots, framing Week 3 as a potential turning point for fantasy rosters.

From Jaxson Dart’s rookie upside to Marcus Mariota’s steady fill-in floor and Tanner McKee’s elevated camp vibes translating to the field, the list blends proven production with upside. The discussion also considers Anthony Richardson’s high ceiling despite a limited track record and Jacoby Brissett’s bridge-class efficiency, creating a practical guide for managers tracking backups across all leagues.

As Burrow’s injury reframes Cincinnati’s short-term outlook, the landscape for Week 3 and beyond hinges on how these backups leverage opportunity, line support, and big-play receivers. The analysis helps fantasy managers gauge which backups could emerge as weekly starters or high-floor DFS plays when the top signal-caller is unavailable.