A 2QB Rookie Draft Experience: Round One

James Simpson

bridgewater

As your rookie draft approaches, you will have studied rankings, done mock drafts and read some great draft reviews. But despite the preparation, if you are headed into a 2QB rookie draft, you may not know what to expect. As I discussed in my first piece back in February, 2QB leagues are a whole different world. They are extremely enjoyable, but at times terribly unpredictable. The need for quarterbacks causes even the sanest owners to do things they would never think to do in a standard league – drafting one high, trading for one or dropping a player with great potential in order to pick up someone who they think might have the chance to start. I highly recommend the format and felt the first round of a recent draft I was involved in was worth sharing.

This is a 12 team non-PPR league, requiring two starting quarterbacks and two flex players. The first flex can be a running back or receiver, while the second can also be a tight end. Knowing what we know about the importance of quarterbacks, every owner went into the draft already equipped with two players who are expected to start in 2014. However, starters at the position are still the most valued assets in this league, and owners who have an excess of them hold the power – I did not know what to expect.

1.) Sammy Watkins, WR BUF

Taking Watkins at number one is the obvious thing to do, but is it always the right thing? Despite his outstanding skills and potential, a top quarterback would have perhaps been the most ‘valuable’ pick in this league setup. However, this was my selection and there was no way I was going to pass on him. I was not sold on any of the quarterbacks at number one, but I have complete faith in the fact Watkins will be a superstar in this league. When you score touchdowns like this on a regular basis and make it look easy, I want you on my team.

2.) Teddy Bridgewater, QB MIN

There is no transcendent quarterback this year, so the first one taken in rookie drafts will be down to personal preference and I personally think this was a great selection. In my mind, Bridgewater is the best football player available after Watkins and this selection helps to complete a wonderful turnaround in one year for the owner of this team. Last year, Michael Vick and Matt Schaub were his week one starters. At the beginning of the 2014 season, he will now start two young stars in Nick Foles and Bridgewater (assuming he wins the job). Watching a dynasty owner perform a team ‘makeover’ is a joy to behold, and one of the reasons I love this game so much.

TRADE: 1.03 for 1.09, 3.09 and QB Joe Flacco

The owner who traded up for the third overall pick is due to start next season with Josh McCown and Sam Bradford as his starting quarterbacks, so owners in the league (myself included) assumed a certain former Texas A&M quarterback would be the selection here. However, there was surprise as the selection was…

3.) Mike Evans, WR TB

In most leagues, Evans going outside the top two picks is blasphemy, so this owner saw him dropping to number three as a great opportunity to pounce. Personally, I am not at all as high on Evans as most fantasy folk – I don’t think he takes the ball away as well as someone his size should, I don’t like his on-field attitude and I think he benefited from playing with the best scrambling quarterback in college football. However, assuming he turns out to be the player that most think he will be, this is a good trade for both sides. The owner who gave up this pick gets a starting quarterback as part of the compensation, which is extremely important.

[inlinead]4.) Johnny Manziel, QB CLE

Despite already rostering three starting quarterbacks and three backups, this owner couldn’t resist adding Johnny Football to that group. When we consider fantasy ‘upside’ at the position, no one rivals Manziel. If he continues to improvise and use his legs to create extra yardage, he will be a fantasy stud. While he may have a long way to go to be a polished passer in this league, it is certainly not required in order to be a great fantasy player. Cam Newton is a perfect example of this, as it is the addition of his rushing yards that make him one of the top five dynasty quarterbacks. Manziel does not hesitate to use his feet, and those extra yards and touchdowns will play a huge part in his success.

5.) Bishop Sankey, RB TEN

Sankey and Carlos Hyde were my 1a and 1b in terms of running back talent heading into the draft, so while it is not always a good idea to assume someone who is ‘handed’ a starting running back position in the off-season will do well (see David Wilson and Lamar Miller last year), I think Sankey is good enough to step in immediately and be a top ten back. I’m a huge fan of his game, specifically the great ability to set up blockers and his exceptionally clean cuts and I think he will fit right in with the Titans. He won’t be a power guy and he needs some work in pass protection, but I believe he can be a very successful three-down back in the NFL.

6.) Odell Beckham,WR NYG

Panthers GM Dave Gettleman called Odell Beckham the “best route runner” in the draft. I wouldn’t argue with that. Nor would I argue against anyone who says he has the best hands on the draft, as he casually demonstrated from a kickoff against UAB last year – And again against Georgia. He is extremely versatile and the UAB game was a great showcase of that, where he had 136 receiving yards, a 60 yard punt return and four total touchdowns including a 100-yard missed field goal return. He will be a great pick for both the Giants and the fantasy owner who chose to invest in him here.

7.) Brandin Cooks, WR NO

Another receiver comes off the board. Cooks’ tremendous shiftiness and agility in small spaces make him an excellent route runner and the athleticism and low center of gravity lead to some absurd highlight-reel plays. He was drafted into a fantastic situation in New Orleans and I have seen valid arguments for Cooks to be taken as high as the third overall pick. While I believe he will produce much better numbers in PPR leagues (remember, this is a non-PPR, 2QB league), he provides more talent at wide receiver for this owner who was looking to upgrade the position.

8.) Blake Bortles, QB JAX

The third quarterback is taken. The owner here has Tony Romo and Andy Dalton as his projected starters going into 2014, so this is the perfect spot to take the former UCF Knight. If he becomes a starter, that’s great. In that case, he can be a bye week fill-in, push these veterans if they struggle or allow them to be used as trade bait. If he sits on the bench, this owner can comfortably start Romo and Dalton for a year and Bortles will be ready to go in 2015. I think he needs a whole lot of work before he can be a starting quarterback in this league, so anyone looking for short-term fantasy production should steer clear.

9.) Eric Ebron, TE DET

The pick acquired by trading down from third overall was spent on the best tight end on the board who is going in the top five in many leagues. Because of the ability to start two tight ends in this league, having a number of them who can contribute is a huge bonus and while rookie tight ends can’t always be relied on to produce early, investing in Ebron is a long-term move that could pay off handsomely. My concern is that while his athleticism and physical tools are great, his concentration and ability to win contested catches with focus and strength must improve. Otherwise, he will just be another great athlete who doesn’t put it all together on the field. However, his potential is tremendous and this is a great pick at number nine.

10.) Jeremy Hill, RB CIN

I am very unsure about Hill. Watching him before the draft, I saw someone who wasn’t special or flashy, but could be extremely productive if he was ‘the guy.’ However, since the Bengals drafted him I haven’t been able to work out what his value is. Giovani Bernard is a supreme talent and as long as he is in Cincinnati I am sceptical of Hill’s upside. However, Benjarvus Green-Ellis has been a consistent RB2 with a good volume of carries, and if Hill can take over that role, he has the potential to do more with it. Russell Clay is a big believer in the former LSU runner, and argues that he could provide owners with “Alfred Morris-like production.” If he sees the bulk of the short-yardage and goal line carries, he could be productive very early.

11.) Kelvin Benjamin, WR CAR

He’s 6’5”, 240 and Cam Newton’s new number one target – what’s not to love? One side of the Benjamin argument is the fact he landed in a great spot in Carolina, was selected higher than other players that most dynasty players love (Jordan Matthews and Davante Adams) and is a physical freak who can dominate in the end zone. However, as Jacob Feldman outlines in his look at rookies who are being overdrafted, Benjamin just “isn’t a complete receiver.” I saw numerous concentration drops from him at Florida State (a huge red flag for me) and I don’t believe he has the agility and body control required to run great routes. But a big body is a big body and this owner took a gamble on his upside.

12.) Jordan Matthews, WR PHI

Last season’s league winner makes perhaps the biggest ‘value’ pick of the round. Matthews fell into the perfect situation for dynasty football – a prolific offense that has just lost its most productive receiver. He will not be a DeSean Jackson replacement, as Chip Kelly plans to use him as a big body in the slot. However, as Sheil Kapadia of Birds 24/7 pointed out, the Eagles used ’11 personnel’ over 70% of the time in 2013 so Matthews’ blocking ability will help him see a lot of playing time and a lot of snaps. And mo’ snaps = mo’ points.

TRADE: Michael Vick for 2.08 and a 2015 second round pick

As the first round came to a close, a second trade was made. Despite owning Philip Rivers and Matt Ryan, one owner took a gamble on Vick winning the starting job in New York and getting back to his fantasy best. This owner must feel that he has more chance of production with Vick than any quarterback he could select in the second round, and as I continue to emphasise, a quarterback with upside and the potential to start is extremely valuable. This was quite a price to pay for an ageing injury-prone player, but in a 2QB league the quarterback desperation is real.

Knowing the league setup, which side of these trades would you take?  What do you think of the selections in general?  Let us know in the comments below.

You can talk football with James on Twitter @JS_Football

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james simpson