Fantasy, betting implications of Sam Darnold getting mono

We might have the craziest story of Week 2. The New York Jets announced on Thursday morning that quarterback Sam Darnold will not play this coming Monday against the Cleveland Browns because he has contracted mono. His status is uncertain beyond that given the timeline for recovery from mono.

Fantasy implications: Trevor Siemian takes over as the starting QB, having not thrown a pass since 2017. The team will add some competition, but Jets players are all huge downgrades without Darnold. The second-year QB had a strong rookie season with hopes he could take a big step forward in year two. He could still do it, but for the short term, players like Robby Anderson, Demaryius Thomas, and other pass-catchers take a hit. Le’Veon Bell is having his shoulder looked at, but his life does not get any easier with more eight-man boxes.

Betting implications: The Jets opened as a 2.5-point underdog at the DraftKings Sportsbook, and the line now sits at 4.5 points after the news. Few positions result in big line changes, but the quarterback position is an obvious exception. The Browns looked atrocious last week, and it’s hard to not take the points at home if the line continues to climb. I’d stay away from actually betting on this game, but the Jets might offer value if Bell plays.

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