Week 8 could be when we see the Tennessee Titans rookie QB Will Levis for the first time this season. Levis has yet to play a game for the Titans in the regular season after they took him in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
However, with Ryan Tannehill struggling with an ankle injury, Levis could be in line to make his first start as the Titans come off their bye week. Is he an option that fantasy football managers should be targeting this week?
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Should Will Levis Be a Fantasy Waiver Wire Add in Week 8?
Early in the week, Titans offensive lineman Taylor Lewan gave an indication that Levis could be set to start in Week 8. That was then confirmed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Wednesday morning. The question now is whether Levis can help fantasy teams this week, or is he a player that is better avoided?
Levis has been the subject of much discussion over the past 12 months or so. His rise to be considered among the elite QB options in last year’s draft was exciting to follow, and his fall into Day 2 was somewhat unexpected.
Ultimately, some of the concerns in Levis’ scouting profile caused that fall, but there are also many strengths to his game that could see him succeed in the NFL.
Of the rookie QBs to take snaps this year, Levis compares most closely to Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, and their seasons so far outline the potential highs and lows we could see if he starts this week. Stroud sits as the QB13 (17.0) on a per-game basis in 2023, while Young is down at QB25 (11.8).
Young has struggled more of the two, with just one game over 15 fantasy points and two performances below 10 points. Stroud has flashed greater upside, with three games over 20 fantasy points. However, he has also had one game under 10 points and three total games under 15.
That 15-point mark is what it takes to be in the region of a starting QB in 12 to 16-team leagues on a weekly basis. Between them, Stroud and Young have a 37% hit rate achieving that. That’s not a bad return for a pair of rookies, but Young and Stroud have had the advantage of essentially being QB1 in their team’s eyes for the majority of the time since they’ve been drafted.
Levis has been taking reps with the second-team or third-team offense in training camp and then performing scout team duties during the early part of the season. That’s going to make it tougher for him to come in and immediately provide fantasy value. It’s not impossible by any means, but it’s not odds on.
In a 14-team Superflex league or deeper, Levis should be a waiver wire target if he isn’t already rostered. At the very least, he could be a solid bye week fill-in down the line as a Superflex option. The bar for that is significantly lower than that 15-point mark we discussed, and it’s something he has the potential to achieve with some talented offensive players around him.
MORE: Fantasy Week 8 QB Start/Sit
In 1QB formats, you’re most likely not rushing to roster Levis outside of a 20-team format where you need a potential fill-in for Week 9 or 10. However, even in those scenarios, there is no guarantee he’ll be starting this time next week.
Ultimately, unless your fantasy roster is dealing with injury issues, this is not a great week for Levis to have fantasy relevance. No teams are on a bye in Week 8, meaning that in most cases, Levis will not be a starting option. In those deeper Superflex formats, fantasy managers may consider rostering him if they have a bench spot to spare, but for now, that would be the extent of his fantasy value.