In 2024, Justin Herbert was the QB12 with 288 fantasy points. That total would have seen him finish as the half-PPR RB5, WR2 and TE1. If we take the QB24 in points per game (Dak Prescott at 15.6), that pace over 17 games would’ve been enough to finish as the RB6, WR3, and still be the TE1.
Even a replacement-level quarterback is a difference maker for fantasy football and provides an advantage (purely on points) compared to any positional player beyond the elite of the elite. In superflex leagues, where you have the ability to start two QBs, that advantage is heightened.
But with a standard 12-man league, there are not enough starting QBs to go round for every manager to have three. That means we have to take risks on signal callers who aren’t currently starting and hope for them to break out in the future. Some backups have the chance to grab the starting role, but even if they can’t, they can still provide brief value to your team, whether that’s through being able to start them or just heightened value, meaning you can get some value in return.
Here are four backups you need to roster in superflex leagues.
It seems strange to be suggesting a quarterback who’s about to turn 37, coming off his worst season (throwing his highest ever number of interceptions despite only playing 14 games), who just got benched for a first-round QB, as a priority backup to roster. However, it’s important to note a few things in context with Cousins. First of all, he was coming off a torn Achilles last season. Achilles tears are incredibly disruptive for quarterbacks, especially with Cousins' injury being on his plant foot. An extra year away from the injury will significantly help his recovery, even if he’s now steadily approaching 40.
On top of this, there were a significant number of trade rumours circling about Cousins this off-season. It was basically impossible for the Falcons to cut him before June 1st, which would have seen a $75m dead cap hit - the largest in NFL history. But with his roster bonus paid out, a trade would now only see $12.5m in dead cap, which is a much easier number for the Falcons to stomach. Given his history of performance in the NFL, even looking as recently as 2023 before his injury, Cousins will be the first name that an NFL franchise looks to move for if they find themselves in a QB crisis or want someone to compete for the job. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him starting again by the end of this season, so he’s someone that needs to be rostered.
Per DLF Superflex startup ADP, Cousins is currently going off the board as the QB38 in the 15th round. He’s available incredibly cheaply in dynasty leagues but that value will skyrocket if he’s traded this season.
