My strategy for the Quarterback position is to completely look past Peyton Manning and his magic season. Yes, Peyton Manning is the man but statistically he usually scores less points than Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers. Plus the guy is almost 40 and one neck injury away from a quick retirement.
So we've got Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, and Peyton likely going in Rounds 2 - 3. I mean, that's great and it's really debatable whether that's a correct move or not.
Yes, there are plenty other Quarterbacks out of the big three that throw for 30 Touchdowns each year. But it seems to change EVERY YEAR, that's why they aren't in the 'BIg 3' Matt Stafford is so close to being there but he went from throwing 40 Touchdowns to less than 30 Touchdowns and really torched me that 2nd season. Don't get me wrong his yardage was through the roof but Touchdowns win games.
Either way, ideally we want a guy who can lead the league in Touchdowns at this position. Matt Stafford and Matt Ryan are the few outliers that I think given their supporting cast have the capability to do that. I think Romo has the talent but needs one more explosive talent outside of Williams and Bryant. He's a lock for about 30 at least.
But at some point, you've got to consider your Running Quarterbacks in Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick, Robert Griffin III, and Cam Newton. For whatever reason, every year weird things happen in drafts and for whatever reason I always have a few creepy drafts where Cam Newton falls just far enough for me to grab him. It's usually late 3rd / 4th round, where you just blink in surprise as everyone else has also decided to wait for a Quarterback.
That's the thing about Fantasty Football, your starting Quarterback is the barometer for your team. If you take him early and he busts, well that's tough sailing for you. Likewise, if you can wait out a few rounds and stock up depth at RB / WR it's going to benefit your team greatly.
I remember getting Kurt Warner a few years back and really believing he could support a decent Offense with Fitzgerald and Bolden. He pulled it off. If you don't take a Quarterback in Rounds 1 - 5, you really have to have faith in this sleeper pick. Believe me, you will have insane depth up and down your lineup. Maybe you think this is the year Colin Kaepernick explodes and throws for 25+ Touchdowns to go with his rushing stats?
Don't forget about the Golden Boy though. Tom Brady has to be considered early on. Look at his 2nd half stats and tell me he can't produce at a high level anymore. Patriots attempt a lot of passes.
Personally, I'd take Colin Kaepernick over Cam Newton. Even if this Rookie does step up, his ceiling is like 25 Passing Touchdowns. I feel like Kaepernick could wing it for 30 Touchdowns with his current Offense and no one would bat an eye. I wouldn't mind having him a few leagues. If the Seahawks plan to run as much as they have in the past, then Russell Wilson is off my draft board. They ranked dead last in the past, yeah, I want that guy as my Fantasy Quarterback.
Philip Rivers, Andrew Luck, and Ben Roethlisberger make up this weird tier of guys that have upside and average floors. I put my money on Luck to outscore both those guys though and you have to consider taking him in the Colin Kaeperick, Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III territory.
Then you've got those veterans like Carson Palmer who looks to have a decent Offense out there in the desert. You've got Michael Vick fighting off Geno Smith. We all know we want to see Michael Vick play in New York, ripping Touchdown passes to Eric Decker. If he starts, he'll be on every team I draft. He's hilarious to watch play when he's starting as your fantasy Quarterback. It's usually either really awesome or really terrible.
"Michael Vick scores 2 Touchdowns in the first half and leave the game with an injury."
Then you got your 'hurt' guys. Like Jay Cutler or Aaron Rodgers. Yeah, they're bad ### but it's the most annoying feeling in the world when you read they left at halftime. Drew Brees doesn't do that.
There's a weird haze of guys that you want nothing to do with. Joe Flacco. Yeah, no thanks bud. Sam Bradford, woo hoo! Championship. Nick Foles. Throws for 7 Touchdowns (against the Raiders). What I dislike about Nick Foles is his 220YPG. If he played a full season that's only 3,520 yards.
Yeah OK, the Eagles run more plays than anyone else and Nick Foles is only getting 220 yards a game. If he has a bad Touchdown year, the yards won't be there to support that. I really like Mathews. If the Eagles Offense is high scoring, it will be because Jordan Mathews is producing and I would gamble on that before I gambled on Nick Foles as my starting Quarterback.
Josh McCown, Matt Schaub, Andy Dalton, Chad Henne.
The problem here is that Chad Henne has more upside than all of these guys. Andy Dalton is under a new Head Coach who loves to throw the ball. Winging the ball is cool and all against lesser competition but come playoff time they need to dominate in the trenches. I think the Bengals become a Seattle Seahawks knockoff.
Jacksonville on the other side has some very interesting Wide Receiver prospects and the Defense will give Chad Henne plenty of shootout opportunities. I'm not saying he should be your starter but if they play the Broncos or the Cowboys he's potentially throwing for 3 - 4 Touchdowns that week. Again, love his new Wide Receiving core. Even without Blackmon.
There's a crew of young players:
EJ Manuel, Jake Locker, Geno Smith, Teddy Bridgewater that have decent weapons around them. But their upside doesn't scratch that of the top 10 - 12 players at the position. Feels like your pick at scraps at this point. Might as well take a chance on Ryan Fitzpatrick than these guys. Brian Hoyer gets the throw to the best Wide Receiver in the league and he's from New England, ooh, aah.
Who am I missing? Alex Smith. Eli Manning. Josh McCown? Those are guys that you've got to see how they're playing. If McCown still has a little Chicago magic in him, sure I'll take him to cover Drew Brees bye week. I'd love to have Eli Manning as a backup to Andrew Luck. Alex Smith, I don't even.
So we've got Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, and Peyton likely going in Rounds 2 - 3. I mean, that's great and it's really debatable whether that's a correct move or not.
Yes, there are plenty other Quarterbacks out of the big three that throw for 30 Touchdowns each year. But it seems to change EVERY YEAR, that's why they aren't in the 'BIg 3' Matt Stafford is so close to being there but he went from throwing 40 Touchdowns to less than 30 Touchdowns and really torched me that 2nd season. Don't get me wrong his yardage was through the roof but Touchdowns win games.
Either way, ideally we want a guy who can lead the league in Touchdowns at this position. Matt Stafford and Matt Ryan are the few outliers that I think given their supporting cast have the capability to do that. I think Romo has the talent but needs one more explosive talent outside of Williams and Bryant. He's a lock for about 30 at least.
But at some point, you've got to consider your Running Quarterbacks in Russell Wilson, Colin Kaepernick, Robert Griffin III, and Cam Newton. For whatever reason, every year weird things happen in drafts and for whatever reason I always have a few creepy drafts where Cam Newton falls just far enough for me to grab him. It's usually late 3rd / 4th round, where you just blink in surprise as everyone else has also decided to wait for a Quarterback.
That's the thing about Fantasty Football, your starting Quarterback is the barometer for your team. If you take him early and he busts, well that's tough sailing for you. Likewise, if you can wait out a few rounds and stock up depth at RB / WR it's going to benefit your team greatly.
I remember getting Kurt Warner a few years back and really believing he could support a decent Offense with Fitzgerald and Bolden. He pulled it off. If you don't take a Quarterback in Rounds 1 - 5, you really have to have faith in this sleeper pick. Believe me, you will have insane depth up and down your lineup. Maybe you think this is the year Colin Kaepernick explodes and throws for 25+ Touchdowns to go with his rushing stats?
Don't forget about the Golden Boy though. Tom Brady has to be considered early on. Look at his 2nd half stats and tell me he can't produce at a high level anymore. Patriots attempt a lot of passes.
Personally, I'd take Colin Kaepernick over Cam Newton. Even if this Rookie does step up, his ceiling is like 25 Passing Touchdowns. I feel like Kaepernick could wing it for 30 Touchdowns with his current Offense and no one would bat an eye. I wouldn't mind having him a few leagues. If the Seahawks plan to run as much as they have in the past, then Russell Wilson is off my draft board. They ranked dead last in the past, yeah, I want that guy as my Fantasy Quarterback.
Philip Rivers, Andrew Luck, and Ben Roethlisberger make up this weird tier of guys that have upside and average floors. I put my money on Luck to outscore both those guys though and you have to consider taking him in the Colin Kaeperick, Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III territory.
Then you've got those veterans like Carson Palmer who looks to have a decent Offense out there in the desert. You've got Michael Vick fighting off Geno Smith. We all know we want to see Michael Vick play in New York, ripping Touchdown passes to Eric Decker. If he starts, he'll be on every team I draft. He's hilarious to watch play when he's starting as your fantasy Quarterback. It's usually either really awesome or really terrible.
"Michael Vick scores 2 Touchdowns in the first half and leave the game with an injury."
Then you got your 'hurt' guys. Like Jay Cutler or Aaron Rodgers. Yeah, they're bad ### but it's the most annoying feeling in the world when you read they left at halftime. Drew Brees doesn't do that.
There's a weird haze of guys that you want nothing to do with. Joe Flacco. Yeah, no thanks bud. Sam Bradford, woo hoo! Championship. Nick Foles. Throws for 7 Touchdowns (against the Raiders). What I dislike about Nick Foles is his 220YPG. If he played a full season that's only 3,520 yards.
Yeah OK, the Eagles run more plays than anyone else and Nick Foles is only getting 220 yards a game. If he has a bad Touchdown year, the yards won't be there to support that. I really like Mathews. If the Eagles Offense is high scoring, it will be because Jordan Mathews is producing and I would gamble on that before I gambled on Nick Foles as my starting Quarterback.
Josh McCown, Matt Schaub, Andy Dalton, Chad Henne.
The problem here is that Chad Henne has more upside than all of these guys. Andy Dalton is under a new Head Coach who loves to throw the ball. Winging the ball is cool and all against lesser competition but come playoff time they need to dominate in the trenches. I think the Bengals become a Seattle Seahawks knockoff.
Jacksonville on the other side has some very interesting Wide Receiver prospects and the Defense will give Chad Henne plenty of shootout opportunities. I'm not saying he should be your starter but if they play the Broncos or the Cowboys he's potentially throwing for 3 - 4 Touchdowns that week. Again, love his new Wide Receiving core. Even without Blackmon.
There's a crew of young players:
EJ Manuel, Jake Locker, Geno Smith, Teddy Bridgewater that have decent weapons around them. But their upside doesn't scratch that of the top 10 - 12 players at the position. Feels like your pick at scraps at this point. Might as well take a chance on Ryan Fitzpatrick than these guys. Brian Hoyer gets the throw to the best Wide Receiver in the league and he's from New England, ooh, aah.
Who am I missing? Alex Smith. Eli Manning. Josh McCown? Those are guys that you've got to see how they're playing. If McCown still has a little Chicago magic in him, sure I'll take him to cover Drew Brees bye week. I'd love to have Eli Manning as a backup to Andrew Luck. Alex Smith, I don't even.
