2019 Rookie Quarterback Review
In dynasty football leagues, there have been a number of teams over the past few years that have struggled to have a consistent player at quarterback. Teams such as the Browns, the Jets, and the Dolphins have all had a number of players under center. This past year, a few teams look like they have finally figured out their long term solution. We will take a look at them and give our final 2019 rookie quarterback review.
Whether you play in a Superflex or a 1QB league, finding a position you can set and forget is comforting. It allows you to spend those extra resources on getting a better flex player, instead of a QB streamer.
https://createarank.com/2020-dynasty-rookie-rankings-fantasy-football-player-value-2/
As we near the 2020 NFL Draft, let’s take a look back at the 2019 NFL Draft and those QBs selected. How many of these soon to be sophomores are, or potentially are, set it and forget it franchise pieces for your dynasty roster.
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
16 Games played: 349 completions on 542 attempts. 64.4 % completion percentage, 3,722 passing yards, 20 passing TDs, 12 INTs, 93 carries, 544 rush yards, four rushing TDs
Murray and head coach Kliff Kingsbury had their naysayers’ last offseason. Despite a poor record, it appears that Murray is a legit fantasy asset moving forward, and has a shot to be a perennial top-6 player at QB with his rushing ability. Murray finished as the QB7.
See Where Kyler Murray Ranks In Our 2020 dynasty QB Rankings
As Murray gets more experience (Kingsbury too) I would expect the efficiency numbers to increase while providing a stable rushing floor. Arizona needs help on the offensive line to help Murray reach his full potential, but man, I like this kid. Hopefully, you bought your shares last preseason when the Cards looked horrific, because I’m not sure how many first-round picks it would take in a Superflex league to acquire Murray, but it’s likely a minimum of three. In 1QB, I don’t think you should pay a premium for Murray, so keep looking into the future rookie classes for your set it and forget it QB.
2020 VERDICT: SET IT AND FORGET IT
BEYOND: ELITE ASSET
Daniel Jones, New York Giants
13 Games played: 284 completions on 459 attempts, 61.9 % completion percentage, 3,027 passing yards, 24 passing TDs, 12 INTs, 45 carries, 279 rush yards, two rushing TDs
Eli Manning was the epitome of set it and forget for an NFL franchise. An Ironman who never missed a game due to injury, Manning was solid yet unspectacular for most of his career. In the 2019 draft, the Giants selected Eli’s successor in Daniel Jones. An unpopular pick that drew the ire of Baker Mayfield, Jones actually had a pretty successful rookie season in fantasy football. Jones posted four games over 25 points in four-point per passing touchdown leagues, while finishing as the QB24.
Jones has a turnover problem (with fumbles more so than interceptions) and at times looked like a rookie trying to do too much. A new head coach in Joe Judge and new offensive coordinator in Jason Garrett will slow Jones’ development a bit as a new offense will likely be installed. This doesn’t worry me in the slightest. Jones is a smart player (the guy graduate from Duke!!) and is more than athletic enough to improvise. His athleticism is the piece that has me excited for his future in the NFL. I would actually compare him to a less accurate Joe Burrow.
2020 VERDICT: SET IT AND FORGET IT
BEYOND: PERENNIAL TOP 12 PLAYER
Dwayne Haskins, Washington Redskins
9 Games Played, 119 completions on 203 attempts, 58.6 % completion percentage, 1,365 passing yards, seven passing TDs, seven INTs 20 carries, 101 rush yards
Haskins was always going to be a project early in his NFL career. His statistics show a young QB forced into playing time too early (due to injury and poor play by two other WAS QBs). Haskins absolutely flashed at times in the NFL that showed why he broke Drew Brees Big Ten passing records during his final season at Ohio State.
2020 Dynasty Starup Mock Draft (SuperFlex)
Unlike Murray and Jones, Haskins lacks their elite athleticism. He is not a threat on the ground, and that drops his upside. I do not think Ron Rivera coming over will help Haskins jump into an elite tier, but instead will force him into more of a middling streamer type of fantasy QB. Good enough to win NFL games with a good run game and defense, but won’t give you many week winning performances in fantasy. I am really excited to watch Haskins grow with Terry McLaurin, Kelvin Harmon, and Steven Sims.
2020 VERDICT: STREAMER
BEYOND: MIDDLE OF THE ROAD STARTER
Drew Lock, Denver Broncos
5 Games played: 100 completions on 56 attempts, 64.1 % completion percentage, 1,020 passing yards, seven passing TDs, three INTs, 18 carries, 72 rush yards
Lock spent most of the season on IR due to a hand injury. After his return, he led the Broncos to a 4-1 record and flashed the talent that guided him to SEC passing records (until Joe Burrow broke them in 2019). Lock has the moxie, the talent, the draft capital, and the support of GM John Elway that should keep him in Denver for a while. He will be forced to learn a new offense again though, as the Broncos fired Rich Scangarello in favor of Pat Shurmur. With Courtland Sutton emerging as a top tier WR in the NFL, and the immense athleticism of Noah Fant at TE, Lock has a shot to be a solid yet unspectacular QB in the NFL.
2020 VERDICT: STREAMER
BEYOND: MIDDLE OF THE ROAD STARTER
Will Grier, Carolina Panthers
2 Games played: 28 completions on 52 attempts, 53.8 % completion percentage, 228 passing yards, 0 passing TDs, four INTs, seven carries, 22 rush yards
Grier started the year as the third-string QB, only getting his chance to play when second-stringer Kyle Allen was benched, after a Cam Newton season-ending injury. He then suffered an injury and Allen retook the job. The Panthers hired former Baylor head coach Matt Rhule and offensive coordinator Joe Brady to run the show in Carolina. Many experts, including myself, see a big offensive explosion in Carolina with D.J. Moore, Curtis Samuel, Ian Thomas, and Christian McCaffery as the weapons surrounding whoever the QB is. It is my belief that the Panthers are going to be in the mix for Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert with the 7th overall selection in 2020. Grier was fun, but he will not be a starter in the NFL.
2020 VERDICT: LEAVE ON WAIVERS
BEYOND: CAREER BACKUP
Jarrett Stidham, New England Patriots
2 Games Played, 2 completions on 4 attempts, 50.0 % completion percentage, 14 passing yards, 0 passing TDs, 1 INT, 2 carries, -2 rush yards
Stidham beat out Brian Hoyer to be Tom Brady’s backup for 2019. This bodes well for the former Auburn QB, as Brady’s future is up in the air with an expired contract and Brady being nearly 43 years old. I’m not sure if Stidham is the guy long term, but to earn the role of Brady’s backup means something, especially by beating out long time friend Brian Hoyer. The Patriots’ future at QB is muddy, so I would be holding Stidham.
2020 VERDICT: BENCH STASH
BEYOND: POTENTIAL MIDDLE OF THE ROAD STARTER
Easton Stick, Los Angeles Chargers
No stats
Stick sat behind Carson Wentz in college at North Dakota State and excelled when his time came. During his rookie season, Stick sat behind potential future Hall of Famer Philip Rivers. With Tyrod Taylor on the team, the path to playing time has obstacles, and some experts are forecasting the Chargers to be in on a QB in the 2020 class with the 6th overall pick. Stick is an intriguing player, but not one I believe can be a starter in the NFL.
2020 VERDICT: LEAVE ON WAIVERS
BEYOND: CAREER BACKUP
Clayton Thorson, Philadelphia Eagles
No stats
Thorson garnered some serious hype last offseason but ultimately ended up as a late fifth-round selection. He has some skills and some smarts, but won’t be more than a career backup. Thorson is currently a Dallas Cowboy.
2020 VERDICT: LEAVE ON WAIVERS
BEYOND: CAREER BACKUP
Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville Jaguars
14 Games played: 285 completions on 470 attempts, 60.6 % completion percentage, 3,271 passing yards, 21 passing TDs, six INTs, 67 carries, 344 rush yards
Minshew Mania hit the NFL in a major way in 2019. Drafted as a project backup QB to Nick Foles and his mega-contract, Minshew was expected to learn the ropes behind an older vet. Foles broke his collarbone Week 1 and opened the door for Minshew. Minshew played well in Foles’ absence but was eventually replaced by Foles once he returned from injury. I believe this was due to the money they had invested in Foles and the limited performance they saw of Foles prior to the injury. The Jaguars needed to see if they had their franchise QB, as Foles was being paid to be.
Foles fell short, and Minshew was again named the starter and looked good. Minshew developed a rapport with Pro Bowler D.J. Chark that led to some exciting finished for the Jags. The addition of West Coast OC Jay Gruden will bode well for Minshew’s style of attack. Don’t be surprised if this 6th round pick is the franchise QB the Jaguars have been searching for.
2020 VERDICT: STREAMER
BEYOND: MIDDLE OF THE ROAD STARTER
Trace McSorely, Baltimore Ravens
1 Game Played, no passing stats 1 carry, 1 rush yard
McSorely was seen as a potential Taysom Hill type of player for the Ravens. That didn’t happen. Lamar Jackson is more than enough of a threat, and Robert Griffin III is a more than capable backup. McSorely is more than likely to be out of the NFL than he is to be an NFL team’s backup.
2020 VERDICT: LEAVE ON WAIVERS
BEYOND: LEAVE ON WAIVERS
Stay tuned for the 2019 rookie RB, WR, and TE reviews!
