2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Rookie Profile: Spencer Rattler, QB South Carolina
The old saying goes: “A lot can change in a year.” Well, even more can change within three years. And that’s the basis of today’s rookie prospect profile, spotlighting South Carolina quarterback and devy community phenom, Spencer Rattler.
The former Oklahoma Sooner has had a roller coaster ride throughout his college career, but has generated buzz once again during the draft cycle. So, should the NFL now believe? Or disregard the hype and trust their process when it comes to Rattler?
Let’s take a closer look at his profile below.
The Stats
Courtesy: Sports Reference.
Rattler played his final two years of college football at South Carolina. At one point the most sought-after devy quarterback, Rattler plummeted to a deep nose dive in 2021 after his 28-7 touchdown-to-interception campaign in his redshirt freshman year in 2020. You may recall what followed when Rattler took a step back, got benched, then lost his job to a blue-chip freshman named Caleb Williams, and transferred out of Norman to South Carolina – all in one year.
In his two years for the Gamecocks, he has shown intriguing flashes of what made him such a hot commodity four years ago. The problem has been not being able to put it all together. For the record, he does need to be given credit for his performance during this cycle. He earned Senior Bowl MVP, then followed it up with a solid showing at the Combine. This has helped Rattler immensely and will force front office people to take a closer look before finalizing their draft boards.
The Film
This was the best game I’ve ever seen of Rattler. In this matchup, South Carolina upset the then-ranked top-five Tennessee Volunteers at home, in which Rattler threw for 360 yards and six touchdowns. For one night, he put it all together, and flashed the traits that made him such an exciting prospect three years ago.
The Measurables
Courtesy of NFL.com.
After a stellar week at the Senior Bowl, where he impressed coaches and scouts, and looked like one of the best prospects in Mobile, Rattler followed that up at the Combine. He participated in every event, measuring at an even 6 feet and 211 pounds, ran a 4.95-second forty, and showed off his strong arm and athleticism during on-field drills. I do not put much emphasis on 40 times for quarterbacks, but it should be mentioned that Rattler did average close to three rushing touchdowns in his career. His performance on the field throughout his draft preparation is what should be most noted.
Dynasty Value
Courtesy of Devy Dynasty ADP April 2021.
I mentioned earlier in this piece about Rattler once being the darling of the devy community, and here’s the proof. The snapshot above is from three years ago in April 2021, in which Rattler was the devy QB1 and a top 20 devy ADP. It is also a good reminder of how fast values change from year to year. The majority of the names on this list were/are busts, with one (Jayden Daniels) to be determined, and one major hit in CJ Stroud. The jury is still out on Bryce Young, but we will know a lot more about him after next season.
Courtesy of DLF 2024 Rookie QB Rankings.
Courtesy of DLF Superflex Rookie ADP April 2024.
Rattler’s erratic college career is reflected in the screen capture shots above. He is ranked as the rookie QB7 and the 33rd overall prospect pre-draft in this class. At his current price, he is a late-round dart throw at the back end of the third round in April’s rookie ADP.
Without knowing landing spots for another two weeks or so, it is risky to buy into Rattler even at this price. Historically, late-round quarterbacks have not paid off well and have proven to result in a negative return. However, we cannot, and should not, discredit Rattler for the resume he has written in his draft preparation. Rattler is the type of prospect who at least one team is willing to take a shot on and bank on the god-given ability. He projects as a developmental quarterback who can sit behind a starter for multiple years and hopefully be ready by the time his number is called, a la Jordan Love.
It would not surprise me, nor should it surprise you, if he ends up going on day two at this point based on his profile. He has put himself back on the map as an intriguing prospect who has a shot to get selected in the early rounds. But, depending on how the draft plays out, it also could push him into day three as the strength of this quarterback class is at the top.
