Although quarterbacks tend to be a late round draft choice in fantasy leagues, there are still bargains to be had. Whilst it may be tempting to grab one of the big names it is far better to invest in positions of value early on and take an underrated quarterback towards the end of the draft. Here are a few names that may slip under the radar but who should be solid fantasy options.
Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
Prior to his injury in Week 9 last season, Stafford was QB6 in fantasy football. He ranked second in touchdowns, fourth in passing yards, and led the league on throws of 20+ yards. He looked comfortable in his first year under Lions offensive co-ordinator Darrell Bevell and if he can stay on the field in 2020 he should continue with his aggressive approach moving the ball downfield. Given his quality at receiver and the potential breakout candidates of T.J. Hockenson and D’Andre Swift, things look promising for the Lions offensively and for Stafford in fantasy terms.
Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns
Mayfield and the Browns never lived up to their preseason hype in 2019 and fantasy owners paid the price. This shouldn’t put you off in 2020 – with a new head coach and a much improved offensive line, the Browns look solid for the upcoming season. Mayfield was very impressive in his rookie season and there is every reason to believe that he can return to that kind of form in 2020. With an ADP of 10.09 he looks like he could provide fantastic value for a later round selection.
Drew Lock, Denver Broncos
With Lock now established as the Broncos’ starting quarterback, he looks set for a very interesting 2020 season. Everything is in place for him to succeed, with one of the most exciting young receiving corps in the league, an excellent backfield and a decent offensive line. He averaged 13.6 fantasy points per game as a starter last season and with a full offseason to develop and learn the nuances of the Broncos offense he should improve in 2020. To what extent he improves is a difficult question to answer but there is tremendous upside to a player with an ADP of 13.11.
Tyrod Taylor, Los Angeles Chargers
There is always one player at every position who surprises everyone by the end of the season with their fantasy performance. I’m not guaranteeing that will be Taylor in 2020 but he has as good a chance as anyone. Although the Chargers drafted Justin Herbert he is unlikely to start in 2020. In L.A. Taylor is gifted with a fantastic set of receivers and a great running back in Austin Ekeler. He and Anthony Lynn worked well together in Buffalo and if they can make the most of Taylor’s mobility it should mitigate their leaky offensive line.
