In this series, I am going to list difference makers at each position for your dynasty teams. These are the players that simply separate themselves from the rest of the pack in fantasy scoring one way or another. If your team has one of these players on it, more than likely you have been pleasantly surprised or are receiving exactly what you expected. More than likely these players are outperforming their ADP and may be less recognized due to the teams they are on underperforming.
Kyler Murray – Arizona Cardinals
This is an obvious choice seeing that he is number one in fantasy scoring and was expected to break out all summer going into the season, especially with the addition of Deandre Hopkins. Murray brings something special to your roster. Not only is he fun to watch every single week because you know at any moment he can scamper for ten yards untouched, but he also has been extremely consistent; he has never scored fewer than 21 points in any single week and scores 30 points on average. If you are a rebuilding team or a contender, grabbing someone like Murray who has outscored Lamar Jackson on the year by almost 80 points through half the season will only support your dynasty team’s direction.
A perfect highlight of Murray’s boost for your team is his last two games. Scoring over 37 points in both contests, he was able to run the ball 25 times for 173 yards and two scores. Any quarterback putting up runningback two numbers aside from his passing production is going to be hard to pry from any team, but overpaying for him will not feel awful in a few seasons when he is consistently producing in Kliff Kingsbury’s air raid system. I would target Murray in single quarterback leagues, but in a superflex, it will be nearly impossible to get him on your roster outside of new startup drafts in the coming offseason.Â
If a quarterback who has doubled his rushing touchdown total from last year and matched his rushing yards through eight games doesn’t sound like a difference-maker, then I don’t know what is. I understand he is the obvious choice for this positional category, but Kyler is having an incredible season. His schedule going forward provides for a smooth run through the playoffs and should be on many fantasy championship rosters.Â
Justin Herbert – Los Angeles Chargers
The rookie that everyone put third in the draft class has been quite the surprise since taking over for Tyrod Taylor after his unfortunate injury. Herbert has averaged 24.3 points per game and thrown for a minimum of 25 attempts in each game he has started as a rookie. He is not only vying for rookie of the year, but he’s also on pace to break the rookie passing touchdown record. All of this production comes without Austin Ekeler who is set to return soon and will become an outlet for Herbert.
With two fewer starts, Herbert finds himself two points shy of Matt Ryan in points on the season, and if you ignore Week 1 where Herbert didn’t see the field, Herbert would be fifth in the quarterback standings. Stats can look skewed for someone who has started so few games in the NFL, but when watching Herbert play, he looks like he is able to make every throw needed at the NFL level and more. At times he is reminiscent of Mahomes, making throws off of his back foot or on the run with receivers in traffic. If it weren’t for the Chargers’ close game losses, Herbert would be getting much more attention than he already is.
Through the last five games, Herbert has averaged three passing touchdowns per game and only three total interceptions. Rookies typically do not display that level of talent this early, but with Herbert, it looks natural and I believe it will continue. Grabbing him as your quarterback of the future for a one quarterback team or trading future firsts in next year’s draft plus something extra for Herbert in a superflex league would be an advisable move to make. Â
Teddy Bridgewater – Carolina Panthers
I’ll have to do some convincing with this selection. However, if I told you Teddy Bridgewater was 11th in fantasy scoring through nine weeks of the season you probably would have scoffed. The difference that Teddy makes is consistency. I am not telling you to go acquire him for your single quarterback rosters, but in a superflex, Teddy B provides a comfortable floor for your team. He’s a safety net almost like Jarvis Landry was for PPR players a few years ago at the WR position. He hasn’t scored a crazy amount of touchdowns but always gets you nearly 250 yards and two touchdowns.
Bridgewater has not scored more than two touchdowns in any game this year, but he does have a small rushing floor that also fills the hole of an extra passing touchdown. He is surrounded by talent with Christian McCaffrey returning, Robby Anderson reuniting with his old head coach, D.J. Moore still the young superstar that he is, and a gadget player in Curtis Samuel. This offense just needs to see more time together, and the numbers for Teddy will increase from where they currently are.
Even now he is currently ranked lower in dynasty than his actual in-season production. He just signed a contract this past offseason for three years, ensuring his future with the Panthers for a few seasons as long as he stays healthy. If Teddy is given more time with Matt Rhule, I believe his production will only get better moving forward. The Panthers have the seventh most snaps as an offense through nine weeks. The return of McCaffery will further help him on the field. In two-quarterback or superflex leagues, Bridgewater may be undervalued by some seeing that his dynasty rank doesn’t match what he has been doing for your fantasy team, and he is still young and recovered from past injuries.Â
Quarterbacks in single quarterback leagues can be an afterthought due to the fact that there are usually options to be had on the waiver, and teams are also willing to trade quarterbacks knowing another option will come along. I urge you to go find a difference-maker at the position that you can shape your team around for the future. I didn’t follow this thought process and treated quarterbacks like a lesser position, but it is similar to having one of the elite tight ends. It can be a huge difference-maker, especially when matchups are decided by a few points. All Dak Prescott managers this year can certainly attest to this thought process. In superflex leagues, players already know that the position is valuable, but having one of these players allows you to separate from every other team. Give your team a chance in the playoffs or for a proper rebuild.
Ask me any questions @DFF_MattBull or any of us over a Dynasty Football Factory. We would love to help you win the championship or get the perfect rebuild underway.
