After recently releasing my rookie rankings, I wanted to open up the floor to constructive criticism. I also wanted to see where I was not aligned with other DFF analysts. So, we conducted a round table discussion. This discussion is now a 10-part series of informal articles. In these articles, analysts debate why some of their favorite rookie(s) should be moved up. And in one case, moved down!
We debated the rankings on Jalen Reagor, Henry Ruggs, Tee Higgins, Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa, AJ Dillon, Bryan Edwards, Antonio Gandy-Golden, Zack Moss, and Joshua Kelley. We also touched upon players in their range, and who should be ascending or descending. I want to give a big thanks to everyone who contributed to this series of articles. I urge you to go follow them on twitter. Read the whole series for a number of opinions on players who could win you fantasy championships for years to come.
This is Part 4 of the series, where @DynastyTripp and I discuss rookies Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa.
Rookie Joe Burrow and Rookie Tua Tagovailoa, overall rank 13 & 14, QB1 & QB2
Question from @DynastyTripp: why are the QBs ranked over some high-profile players in 1QB format?
@DYNASTYDIAGNOS1 response:
I do have Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa higher than many. I’ll admit this might be a factor of my superflex bias. However, I believe having the top two quarterbacks slotted in the 2.01 and 2.02 slots is very defendable. I must make one assumption here though: I am making these rankings based on a 12 team, 25 player roster, as dynasty leagues have deeper rosters than redraft leagues.
In a 12-team league that rosters 25 players on average, every starting QB in the NFL is rostered. This is true even though only one can be started. This will become even more crucial for one quarterback dynasty players next year because we will be transitioning to a 17-game season. This season will likely include two team byes rather than one. It may also include more player rest, similar to the NBA’s load management.
Backup level quarterbacks will certainly be easier to buy in one quarterback leagues than they will be in superflex. However, smart owners will put themselves in a position to not need to move their very valuable running backs and receivers in order to get a bye-week fill in. We also have the given that the teams slotted in the 2.01 and 2.02 slots finished in the last two the season prior. As such, they are in a rebuilding situation.
I can think of no better way to turn a rebuilding team into a contender than by starting with a Jonathan Taylor or CEH. I would follow that up with either the most efficient quarterback in college history in Tua, or the most prolific one-season quarterback in Burrow. Tagovailoa has a more impressive profile and skill set for the NFL. However, I believe that Burrow’s weapons in Cincinnati are undebatably better. I would also take Burrow and Tagovailoa over some players who will have immediate impacts. Players like Pittman, Mims, and Gibson. Burrow’s and Tagovailoa’s potential points over replacements on lower-end teams will be more valuable as a quarterback than they would be as a flex option. While both are streamable, quarterback scoring is much more predictable week-to-week. So, I would take these players and choose to stream my flex.
Conclusion
Drafting a quarterback this high would be largely dependant on team needs. Teams in rebuild situations would be best off drafting a cornerstone QB like Burrow or Tagovailoa in the early second round. This way, they don’t risk losing out on the position come their third-round pick.
Thank you for reading our article! If you would like to debate any of the above, reach out to us on twitter. And I hope you join me and @DFF_Ztrain for Rookie Round Table Part 5: AJ Dillon.
The rest of this informal Rookie Round Table Discussion can be found here: Part 1: Jalen Reagor, Part 2: Henry Ruggs III, Part 3: Tee Higgins,
Keep an eye out for my future articles. You can find my previous articles in the Dynasty Football Factory archive. You can also follow us on Twitter. @DynastyDiagnos1,@RookieWhisper, @ff_walrus, @WillieBeamanDFF, @DynastyTripp, @DFF_Ztrain, @ff_spaceman, @DFF_Karp, and @CKarayannides.
