Every year the debate on quarterbacks in fantasy football continues, with veterans preaching waiting for the later rounds to draft their QB where others are unable to leave the most talented players in the league on the board. The fact of the matter is, neither player is wrong, and you can have a successful fantasy team with whatever route you choose. However, if you are able to save that early draft pick and get a fantastic quarterback in later rounds, you are getting the best of both worlds.
In this article, I will be highlighting three quarterbacks that I believe are being picked far too late in fantasy drafts and allow you to select running backs and wide receivers with the top picks you would have otherwise used on quarterback!
Three NFL quarterbacks that are great fantasy football values in 2022
- Dual threat quarterback
- High draft capital with a talented coach
- Strong yards after catch receiving corps
Trey Lance is going to be one of the more interesting stories to follow in the NFL this year, and while his development will certainly determine the success of the 49ers, he also has the potential to be one of the biggest steals of fantasy drafts this year. The main reason Trey Lance is such a high upside pick is his rushing ability. Just last year we saw Jalen Hurts put up a top ten quarterback season while throwing for 209 yards, 1.06 touchdowns, and 0.6 interceptions a game strictly due to his rushing upside.
While I do not project Lance to run at the rate Hurts did last season, Shanahan has shown in Lance’s limited appearances that he is not afraid to have him use his legs, especially around the end zone.
Back in 2020, the 49ers and Kyle Shanahan traded up in the draft to select Lance with the third overall pick. Though he has only appeared in a few games since then, he has flashed both his rushing ability and incredible arm strength. Looking back at Jalen Hurts’ 2021 campaign, Lance has a much more talented arm and is also surrounded by better talent at every position. When you combine the yards after catch ability of Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle with the deep ball threat, I project Lance to throw for well north of 209 yards and 1.06 touchdowns in 2022.
As a final inclusion, Kyle Shanahan managed to scheme open receivers and design plays to take a below-average quarterback like Jimmy Garapolo to the Super Bowl. With a dual-threat weapon like Lance and the unlocking of Deebo Samuel in the running game, Shanahan should have plenty of fun plays drawn up for the season. When all is said and done, Lance could be an every-week starter at the quarterback position with top-five upside and minimal draft investment.
Russell Wilson has top-five potential as quarterback of the Denver Broncos.
- Hall of fame talent
- New coach likely to defer to veteran
- Stronger offensive line suits his playstyle better
- Six potential AFC West shootouts
For the first time in many years, Russell Wilson had a relatively mediocre season in 2021, going 6-8 as the starting quarterback for the Seahawks. Now on the Broncos, Wilson is being drafted closer to his 2021 self than the quarterback that he was for nearly a decade before. Even though he is creeping up there in age and will get you virtually zero fantasy points with his legs, there is nothing stopping him from having as strong a season passing as any quarterback this year.
Though Wilson became quickly known for his ability to scramble and extend a play, in recent years he has been much more of an efficient pocket passer. Considering Denver boasts a much stronger offensive line than Seattle, this should allow Wilson the extra time he needs to throw more effectively. Additionally, Denver brings in first-time head coach Nathaniel Hackett for the 2022 season, making it likely he will defer to a veteran like Wilson to run his offense, something Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll was criticized for not doing.
If that is not enough to sell you on Wilson at his ADP, he will also get six games against AFC West opponents, which often produces incredibly high-scoring environments. All things considered, I view Wilson as an incredibly safe QB1 with top five upside at a highly discounted price.
Kirk Cousins has always been a strong fantasy football option and should continue to produce QB1 numbers under new coaching.
- History of fantasy consistency
- Elite wide receiver corps
- New coach to run more 3-wide receiver sets
While you never want to go into a fantasy football draft and end up with a player like Kirk Cousins as your quarterback, he has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the past half-decade. In the past six years, he has thrown for at least 4,000 yards in all but one season and at least 25 touchdowns in each year. Looking at his stats game by game, we see this consistency continue. Just last year he threw at least two touchdowns in all but four games and threw a touchdown in every single game. The ability to get a quarterback this late in the draft that can be safely started every week is invaluable.
Cousins finished as the QB11 last year and still has one of the strongest receiving corps in the league to go alongside an elite run game. However, the strongest case for Cousins this year is the change in head coach, with newcomer Kevin O’Connell likely to run a more pass-heavy offense, something Cousins has not really been a part of as a Viking. While Cousins will not put up monster weeks like Josh Allen or Justin Herbert, do not be surprised when he finishes the season as a top ten quarterback.
Hopefully, you found this article helpful and while these are not necessarily my top three quarterbacks on the season, they are three quarterbacks that I am confident will outperform where they are being drafted. I will also be covering running back and wide receiver in the near future, so stay tuned!