By now, fantasy football draft prep should be starting up, so it’s time to dig deep and figure out who you should focus on at each position … and who you should avoid whether it’s based on average draft position or other reasons.
That’s what this series of posts is meant to be. We started with running backs, covered wide receivers and now it’s on to quarterbacks, one of the deepest positions in fantasy. It’s worth noting: this is mostly a guide for non-superflex leagues.
Here’s how to approach the position at draft time, along with some sleepers and busts to remember:
Strategy
If you read my fantasy takes year to year, there’s a very obvious theme: taking quarterbacks high — even in two-quarterback leagues, and I’d say it’s different if you’re in a superflex league — is silly. Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes might be awesome once again but because the price is so high to pay to draft them, you’re better off waiting until much later to pick up a QB2-type with upside, which is what Jackson was last year, and look at how that turned out! There are a bunch of solid-to-great options once you get beyond the top 10 QBs or so, which is why I wait and wait and wait some more.
Sleepers
Daniel Jones, New York Giants
He ran for 279 yards in 13 games, and running QBs in fantasy have added value. Plus, his team will be playing from behind more (which means more passing volume) and he’ll have a full receiving corps healthy. Love the upside here.
Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams
Yes, the offensive line is a concern, but I want to point out he wasn’t THAT bad last year. The yardage was there and I bet the touchdowns go back up. I’d take a flier at his price.
Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns
It all went wrong last year, with Mayfield tossing 21 interceptions. But his supporting cast is still talented and still there. And then there’s the coaching change, which can serve as a re-set button. I’ll be drafting him as one of my QBs in the hopes for more of what we saw his rookie year.
Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars
I wish I could have done one of those blind statlines, but bet you couldn’t guess his numbers from last year if I asked you for them. So here you go: 3,271 yards through the air, 21 touchdowns, just 6 INTs and 344 yards on the ground. That’s really good! Soooo much value here.
Busts
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
I worry the rushing touchdowns (17 total in his first two seasons) aren’t sustainable and that the passing volume may not be there, and that his struggles with deep passes will catch up at some point.
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
The Packers run the ball more, which means less volume for Rodgers. Plus, he doesn’t run as much as he used to.
Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
It’s sort of the same as Rodgers: age + the team running the ball more. The last time he played nearly 15 games in 2018, he threw the fewest pass attempts of his career since 2005. The touchdowns might still be there, but the yardage might not be, and you’d be surprised how much that affects week-to-week value.
Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
Do you think he does that again? Me neither.
