Thursday, March 28, 2024

Fantasy Football

Rookie QB Rankings: 2020

This is one of the best rookie QB classes in a long time. I have listed eight of my favorite guys here, and I wouldn’t be surprised if five of them were starting QB in this league next year. The QB position is changing however, having an elite pocket passer is a thing of the past. With elite pass rushers and new defensive schemes, QB’s are now required to have the ability to escape the pocket and extend the player. A perfect example of this is Russell Wilson.

Wilson has a great arm but more importantly can extend plays. I expect three, possibly four QB to be selected on Day 1 of the NFL Draft. These QB’s have the talent and have what it takes to be great fantasy producers. Owning rookie picks in dynasty leagues is a great feeling right now, and these rookie QB’s will rise in ADP of redraft leagues as we get closer to the season.

1. Joe Burrow, LSU

Coming off a National Championship at LSU, Burrow is projected to be the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Cincinnati would be foolish not to take the QB that just threw for 60 TD this season. It was very interesting to watch Burrow in 2019. I knew the kid was special when he threw seven TD in the first half of the Oklahoma game. Burrow will be welcomed by Tyler Boyd who has shown that he could make the transition much smoother for the Heisman winner. It is still in question if A.J. Green will return to the team, but the current news is that the Bengals are leaning to franchise tag him.

Green has been riddled with injuries over the past three years but can produce fantasy points if healthy. I would assume that Burrow won’t be the only offensive rookie to be drafted by the Bengals as they will try to bring in one of the stud wide receivers in this draft class. Will the Bengals be able to bring in Justin Jefferson, Burrow’s top receiver in college? Burrow and Jefferson connected for 1,540 yards and 18 TD in 2019. Burrow should be the first overall pick in rookie drafts, Superflex and 2QB. I would even consider him at the first overall selection in standard rookie drafts. Burrow has all the tangibles to be the next star QB in this league.

2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

Oct 12, 2019; College Station, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) drops back to pass during the first quarter against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: John Glaser-USA TODAY Sports

After taking over for Jalen Hurts in the second half of the 2018 National Championship, many knew how great of a player he could be. Tua has had an unfortunate time with injuries the past two years, however, I don’t believe that it has hurt his draft stock. After undergoing hip surgery, Tua will be ready to throw for teams in April. Tua recently underwent a checkup and just four months since the surgery his hip is looking good and trending towards full recovery. I see Tua Tagovalioa being selected by the Miami Dolphins with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 Draft.

Tua will most likely get some young talent alongside him with the Dolphins having two more selections in the first round. He will also be welcomed by DeVante Parker who was a fantasy stud that helped owners win fantasy championships in 2019. Not to mention young receivers in Preston Williams and Mike Gesicki. There are concerns over whether Tagovailoa can remain healthy, however, if he can, there is a good chance that he can be a star in this league.

I think that Dolphins will take a long look at Jonathan Taylor. Pairing arguably the two most pro-ready guys in the draft could spell early success for the Dolphins. Despite, JT being a prolific runner, he would help take the pressure off of Tua immediately. Whether we will see Tua play this season is still up in the air. However, he is still unquestionably the second-best QB in this group. Taking Tua at the right spots in drafts could pay off those who believe in him. Tua will compete with Burrow to be the top rookie QB in dynasty drafts this summer.

3. Justin Herbert, Oregon

Herbert and the Oregon Ducks played in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. He played great despite his team being down most of the game. Showing off his legs he ran for three rushing TDs as they went on to beat the Wisconsin Badgers. His pure arm talent, ability to read defenses and his athleticism will make him a top 10 pick.

Herbert was one of the hottest QB names before the 2019 NFL Draft before he decided to return to Oregon. I believe this may have hurt his draft stock a bit, but he still will be a first-round pick. I even believe that he will be a Top 10 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. One of Herbert’s downsides is that he gets rattled under pressure and this leads to ill-advised decisions and inaccurate throws. Herbert is very athletic though and can use his legs to escape the pocket and scramble for a 1st down. My question is, will the Chargers pick him to take over for Rivers?

The Chargers have 3 picks within the top 75 selections. I believe they will use one of them to replace Rivers by selecting Justin Hebert. Herbert would be welcomed by one of the best route runners in the league, Keenan Allen. Although, Chargers do have young talent that can catch the ball such as Mike Williams & Hunter Henry, and a sneaky pass catcher of the backfield, Austin Ekeler. Justin Herbert would be a top dynasty value for me if he lands on the Chargers. The talent around him in Los Angeles would help him become a great fantasy star even as a rookie QB.

4. Jordan Love, Utah State

Jordan Love is an incoming rookie out of Utah State. He is projected to be a first-round pick and either the third or fourth QB off the board. Love had an impressive 2018 season at Utah State throwing for 3,567 with a 32/6 TD/INT ratio. These numbers are great for Love, but this past Fall Love took a dip in stats. 2019 he finished with 3402 yards and 20/17 TD/INT. Love has anything you could ask for in a QB. He has accuracy, arm strength, and great size. Love does struggle reading the defense and finds himself throwing into double coverage more often than not.

Scouts claim that Love lost a lot of talent throughout those years which resulted in a negative 2019 season. The hope for him in the NFL is too use his rocket arm and playmaking ability, similar to Patrick Mahomes, to extend drives. I am not comparing these two QB’s talent, I am saying the style of play is most comparable to Mahomes. Love should go in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if he is selected on Day 1. If Love can fall to the right system and coaches, he can be an excellent sleeper candidate for fantasy teams. Love has what it takes to be a top rookie QB.

5. Jake Fromm, Georgia

Looking just at Fromm’s stats is a mistake. Digging deeper into Fromm’s tape makes me excited about what this kid can bring to the league. Fromm has a natural feel in the pocket which helps him because he has an accurate arm with good ball placement. He holds the school record at Georgia for the highest completion percentage. Jake is one of the smartest QB in this draft as he has a natural ability to read defenses.

Sean Payton will take a good look at Fromm this offseason. He would be a perfect fit as a back-up behind Brees. Brees will be very helpful for Fromm’s development. Saints will most likely lose Teddy in free agency and Hill may request more money than the Saints want to give him. Fromm will be available in the third to the fourth round in rookie drafts. A year under Brees would help Fromm become a franchise QB and that is what the Saints are looking for going forward. If Fromm is only a backup in 2020, he would go down in my rookie QB rankings.

6. Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma

Ok, hear me out. There is a chance that Hurts could be the top rookie QB in this class. No, not because of his arm talent. Hurts is a dual-threat playmaker and knows how to move an offense. For those who play college fantasy football, Hurts was the highest scorer in 2019. He did it with a combination of both his arm and legs. Under Lincoln Riley, Hurts played his best season of football. After seeing Lamar Jackson win the 2019 NFL MVP award, teams may be interested in a mobile QB like Hurts.

Jalen Hurts has played in big-time games at Alabama and Oklahoma and also plays in a Power 5 conference. If a team is willing to take Hurts and have full commitment to his style of player, great things can happen. To look at Hurts just for his legs is a mistake as well. He threw for 32 TD in 2019 as him and Ceedee Lamb were a powerful connection. I have no prediction of where Hurts will land because no teams have made any buzz towards him, yet. I think he won’t get much buzz because teams want to keep quiet on him as many did with Lamar Jackson. The style of QB play is transitioning and Hurts may be the next QB to be successful with that approach in the NFL.

7. Jacob Eason, Washington

Jacob Eason had a rocky collegiate career after suffering a knee injury at UGA. He lost his starting job to Fromm which made Eason hit the transfer portal. Eason then took his talent to his home state Washington. Eason finished his Junior year with 23 TD, 8 INT, and 3132 passing yards. Many scouts believe Eason has all the tangible tools to be a great QB, but he lacks leadership qualities and that doesn’t sit well in the NFL, an example would be Josh Rosen.

Eason has a great arm and has the touch for short passes, but can’t thread the needle in the intermediate to deep game. His longer passing game is inconsistent and is a big worry for me. However, with all this being said, Eason is still predicted to be a first-round QB. If a solid structured franchise, such as the Patriots or Saints selects him; Eason would learn under some of the best coaches who can work him into a franchise guy. For dynasty value post-combine, Eason is a deep rookie QB stash for now.

8. Anthony Gordon, Washington State

Anthony Gordon was the leader in passing yards in Division 1 football in 2019. At Washington State under Mike Leach, he was pure gun-slinger. I do believe Gordon has what it takes to be a QB in this league. He won’t get many looks until the fifth round. However, I think many teams should take a chance on him. Anthony Gordon has elite arm strength and can put the ball in any spot on the field. Playing under Coach Leach is a great way to boost your stock as a QB. Watch out for K.J. Costello in 2020.

There have been questions about his character, however. Teammates and analysts have stated that when games wouldn’t go in Gordon’s favor, he would isolate and distance himself from the team. Possessing the right attitude to lead a team full of grown men is essential in the NFL, especially at the QB position. I would love the Chicago Bears to take a chance on him. He could help teams with his pure arm talent and ability to light up the scoreboard. In rookie drafts, I would take him in the fourth or fifth round of rookie drafts and hold on to him as he has the tangibles to compete for a starting job somewhere. If Gordon lands on a team where he can start, I wouldn’t doubt in jumps into the Top 5 of rookie QB.

Don’t forget to check out where I ranked my full dynasty QB (Post Combine):1-2526-44

Check out my 2020 Dynasty RB Ranking: 70-6160-5150-4140-3130-2120-1110-

Catch up with the WR I am ranking in March: 80-7170-61; 60-51

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