In a bad fantasy football situation, this quarterback might be your best in week Nine

No one loves weather in the mid-40s and cloudy. It’s bland, depressing and not completely comfortable — not quite cold enough to bundle up, not warm enough to avoid some layering. And it is just a few degrees either way from requiring significantly different attire.

Yet, it isn’t awful. You’re not shivering or sweating. It doesn’t take a lot of preparation to go from inside to outside. It normally doesn’t lend itself to the worst of weather.

So as fall brings its brisker climate to the East Coast, it is a good time for fantasy managers to get comfortable with mid-40s-and-cloudy quarterback option Sam Howell.

The Week 9 quarterback forecast was already ugly just based on the schedule — with Jared Goff, Trevor Lawrence, Russell Wilson and Brock Purdy all on byes.

Then some unfortunate events has brought more turbulence to this week’s outlook. The big fantasy blow was Kirk Cousins being lost for the season with a torn Achilles. But other deep-league options have some issues as well.

Joshua Dobbs was traded from Arizona to the Vikings to replace Cousins. But this week will be Jaren Hall under center for Minnesota while Dobbs gets coached up on the system. Replacing Dobbs in Arizona will be Clayton Tune, at least until Kyler Murray returns from last season ACL injury. The fantasy forecast for both those options is polar-vortex-type chilling.

The fantasy outlook isn’t quite as cold in Atlanta, where Atlanta’s Desmond Ridder was benched in favor of Taylor Heinicke. Maybe the wind chill isn’t as severe, but Heinicke is still an uncomfortable option.

Matthew Stafford is dealing with a thumb injury. That makes the fantasy Doppler go a bit haywire. A QB with a bad thumb, or backup Brett Rypien? Either way, it sounds like some sloppy fantasy weather when the Rams visit Green Bay.

Daniel Jones returns this week, but he hasn’t provided habitable fantasy environment when healthy. Zach Wilson, Bryce Young, Baker Mayfield, they all are the Fargo, N.D., of the fantasy world.

Maybe Derek Carr this week against the terrible Bears defense? I mean, it’s sort of like sailing to Alaska during the warmer months expecting to get a tan, but at least it isn’t a bone-chilling option.

But wouldn’t it give you less shivers to find a more comfortable landing spot? Something in the mid-40s, even if cloudy?

The weather hasn’t always been calm for Howell. He had two brutal games — Week 7 against the Giants and vs. the Bills in Week 3. In the other six, he has averaged 21.8 fantasy points — that would be in the realm of Justin Herbert. Now, we can’t pretend the two duds didn’t happen, but we’re battling some QB climate change this week, and there are no soothing tropical options.

Now, the Patriots aren’t a bask-in-the-sun-by-the-pool matchup, but we also don’t think they’re good enough to send Howell to the fantasy desert.

In a tough QB week, we can get cozy with an option like Howell, who provides at least a degree of warmth.

Big weeks

Deshaun Watson QB, Browns, vs. Cardinals (FanDuel $7,000/DraftKings $5,400)

Bear in mind, this isn’t as much a tout for Watson as it is a declaration of the dearth at quarterback this week. Cards rank in bottom third vs. QBs and have given up at least one passing TD in every game.

Josh Downs WR, Colts, at Panthers (FD $6,400/DK $5,200)

Sort of a homecoming for the Tar Heels receiver. Don’t be surprised if the Colts find a way for him to find the end zone against a generous Panthers defense, assuming his knee holds up.

Demario Douglas WR, Patriots, at Browns (FD $5,400/DK $4,000)

Feel like everyone is in love with this guy, and it makes too much sense to dispute. Someone will need to step up with Kendrick Bourne out. Douglas has 13 targets the past two weeks to JuJu Smith-Schuster’s five. The Commanders have given up the second-most PPR points to WRs.

Brandin Cooks WR, Cowboys, at Eagles (FD $5,600/DK $4,400)

The only team to give up more to WRs than the Commanders? The Eagles. Cooks has a TD in two straight games. Don’t sleep on Michael Gallup, either.

Small weaks

Tony Pollard RB, Cowboys, at Eagles (FD $6,600/DK $6,800)

It has been an underwhelming fantasy season so far for Pollard. We expect it to pick up soon, but likely not this week against the stiffest defense vs. fantasy RBs.

Chris Godwin WR, Buccaneers, at Texans (FD $6,700/DK $7,000)

Houston has given up just two touchdowns to WRs all season. We feel like if a Bucs WR finds the end zone, it more likely will be Mike Evans.

Christian Watson WR, Packers, vs. Rams (FD $6,000/DK $4,900)

We’ve been on the buy-low train for Watson, but he is a buy-low for a reason. Wait for him to burn you once on the bench before you put him in your lineup.

Trey McBride TE, Cardinals, at Browns (FD $5,300/DK $3,700)

Feel great about McBride’s prospects the rest of the season, but tough matchup this week. The Browns have given up zero TDs to any tight end not named Mark Andrews. Plus, McBride has an inexperienced Clayton Tune at QB this week.

Daily Duel

Drew Loftis and Jarad Wilk submit dueling rosters into a DFS contest:

Site: DraftKings
Slate: Sun. main (10 games)
Type: $12 tourney
Top prize: $20K
Pot: $200K

Drew’s Crew

QB: C.J. Stroud — Hou (vs. TB) $6,200

RB: Alvin Kamara — NO (vs. Chi) $8,100

RB: Saquon Barkley — NYG (at LV) $7,900

WR: Nico Collins — Hou (vs. TB) $5,800

WR: Demario Douglas — NE (vs. Was) $4,000

WR: Brandin Cooks — Dal (at Phi) $4,400

TE: Logan Thomas — Was (at NE) $3,500

Flex: Adam Thielen —Car (vs. Ind) $7,500

DST: Giants — NYG (at LV) $2,300

Wilk’s Warriors

QB: Derek Carr — NO (vs. Chi) $5,700

RB: Alvin Kamara — NO (vs. Chi) $8,100

RB: Jonathan Taylor — Ind (at Car) $6,400

WR: CeeDee Lamb — Dal (at Phi) $8,200

WR: Demario Douglas — NE (vs. Was) $4,000

WR: Jonathan Mingo — Car (vs. Ind) $3,400

TE: Cade Otton — TB (at Hou) $3,000

Flex: Saquon Barkley — NYG (at LV) $7,900

DST: Patriots — NE (vs. Was) $2,900

For late changes to Daily Duel rosters, follow @NYPost_Loftis on X

Season risked: $80
Season’s winnings: Drew $58, Jarad $9