Image courtesy of Adam Cutler. Creative Commons License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/legalcode
If you are a fan of waiting to draft a quarterback, then brother, your 2014 fantasy football draft will have some values you can’t pass up!
When it comes to drafting quarterbacks early vs. later, there isn’t much middle ground for you to stand on. You are either drafting Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers within your first few picks, or you are waiting until the seventh and eighth rounds to find your starter. You could be one of those people on the fence, drafting Matthew Stafford and Andrew Luck in the fourth and fifth rounds, but those individuals are far and few between.
I am a fan of the big three(Manning, Brees and Rodgers), but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a bargain when I see it. Using data from Fantasy Football Calculator, I found that waiting for a quarterback this season may not necessarily be a bad thing.
12-Team League ADP
Cam Newton: ADP- 7.12
2013 Standard Scoring Rank: Third
Granted, if Rodgers had stayed healthy he would have pushed Newton down a notch, but finishing in the top five is nothing to sneeze at(Not really sure what that means but I like the saying). His receiving core has been decimated and he his offseason surgery has many worrying about his mobility, but things aren’t bad enough to completely pass up Newton. He will have Greg Olsen return as a reliable option, and Jerricho Cotchery proved to be a red zone threat in Pittsburgh last season. Rookie receiver Kelvin Benjamin could also develop into a strong weapon as well, so the Panthers’ offense will still survive even with the loss of Steve Smith. The difference between the third-highest scoring quarterback and the fifth-highest scoring quarterback in 2013 was 5 points. That is it. For a player that can finish in the top five, Newton is a steal in the seventh round.
Philip Rivers: ADP- 10.02
2013 Standard Scoring Rank: Sixth
I have a very rocky relationship with Mr.Rivers. After three years of relying on him, I had to distance myself from him and gave Tom Brady the keys to my team. We all know how that turned out. Several rocky seasons made Rivers look like a lost cause, but he was rejuvenated with the arrival of new coach Mike McCoy. The 32-year old quarterback finished the 2013 season with the fourth-most touchdown passes, the fifth-most passing yards and the fifth-most passing completions. The Chargers found a nice rhythm in its rushing attack, and the offense looked much more balanced than in previous seasons. Rivers finds himself with Keenan Allen, Malcom Floyd, Antonio Gates and Ladarius Green as his major weapons, along with Danny Woodhead and his pass-catching abilities.
Eli Manning: ADP- 13.01
2013 Standard Scoring Rank: 21st
With Manning being available until the 13th round, you shouldn’t have too many concerns about giving him a spot on your bench. I can’t say I trust him enough to have him as the first quarterback I draft, but I have no problem making him a backup. He will either be in full swing on a decline, or he can rally back and dramatically improve his numbers from last season. Much like Rivers, Manning could see a resurgence under new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. With a potentially more consistent rushing attack, a new offensive weapon in Odell Beckham and a new playbook, Manning has a chance to become a top-ten quarterback in 2014.
Categories: Fantasy Football
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