Fantasy Gold Mine: QBs to Target in Later Rounds of Drafts
Draft day commandment #1: wait on a quarterback, unless his name is Aaron Rodgers. Although it may be tempting to spend a high draft pick on a top 5 QB, there are plenty of others who will put up very similar production levels at a fraction of the draft day price tag. In this article we will dissect which QBs to target after 100 picks have been made that will still serve as viable QB1s for your fantasy squad.
Andrew Luck (ADP 94)- Critics say that that it has been over 18 months since Andrew Luck has thrown a pass in an NFL game, but many forget that he was amongst the top tier of NFL QBs in fantasy at that time. Now that his shoulder is said to be 100%, all signs are pointing to Luck returning to top form. At an ADP of 94, fantasy owners shouldn’t hesitate to draft Luck and the high upside that he brings to the table.
Jimmy Garappolo (ADP 97)- According to his projected full season statistics based on his performance in 5 games for the 49ers last season, Garappolo would have finished as the 7th ranked QB in 2017. He averaged over 300 passing yards per game with one of the worst receiving corps in the NFL, and is set to post even more gaudy numbers in 2018 with a healthy Pierre Garcon at his disposal. In 5 wins last season, Garappolo also averaged over 35 passing attempts per game, tied for 5th amongst NFL quarterbacks- showing that the team is committed to throw the football regardless if they are playing with a lead.
Matt Ryan (ADP 108)- After his 2016 MVP season, Matt Ryan followed up in 2017 throwing for almost 900 less yards, half the number of touchdowns, and almost double the number of INTs. Aside from the 2016 comparison, however, his season really wasn’t THAT bad, as he still eclipsed the 4,000-yard mark and had had a passer rating consistent with his career average. Considering the Falcons used their first round pick on another Alabama wideout to complement Julio Jones, Ryan will see an increase in yardage and TDs in 2018. Although Ryan’s MVP season may have very well been an outlier, his 2018 numbers will surely be better than last season and he is expected to finish in the top 10 for QBs.
Phillip Rivers (ADP 110)- Entering his 15th NFL season, Phillip Rivers has been one of the most consistent QBs of his generation. Throwing for over 4,000 yards in 9 of the last 10 years (and every year since 2012), owners should draft Rivers as a lock to be a top 12 QB in 2018.
Jared Goff (ADP 127)- After a rookie year in which Jared Goff threw more INTs than TDs, he made arguably one of the greatest statistical jumps for a QB in NFL history in year two. With the addition of Brandin Cooks to mastermind Sean McVay’s offense, Goff will continue to improve in 2018. Goff has been less talked about in comparison to his counterpart, Carson Wentz, and for that reason he will be obtained at a discounted price for lucky fantasy owners in 2018.
Honorable Mentions
Derek Carr (ADP 137)- After two consecutive career years in 2015-2016, Carr took a step back in 2017 in part due to a lingering back injury that negatively impacted his throwing motion and accuracy. Surrounded by Amari Cooper, Jordy Nelson, and Martavis Bryant, Carr will bounce back in 2018 and cement himself as a top 12 QB. Find out why Carr headlines under-drafted players heading into 2018.
Alex Smith (ADP 141)- Alex Smith finished as the 2nd ranked QB in fantasy in 2017, and will look to build upon this success in Washington. However, outside of 2017, Smith finished as a top 10 QB just one other time in his 12-year career (2013), so owners should temper their expectations. Regardless, his 2017 performance warrants him a spot on this list as an honorable mention.
Dak Prescott (ADP 151)- Despite having a “down year” in the eyes of many, Prescott still finished as a top 10 QB in fantasy in 2017. The only thing holding him back from improvement in 2018 may be inconsistent play at the WR position.