It’s All About the QBs: The QB Value Approach

It’s All About the QBs: The QB Value Approach

Note: This is the third in a series of six articles on how to approach the quarterback position in a 2QB or Superflex league. The overall strategy article appears here. The second article, “The Multiple Stud QBs Approach”, appears here.

“Well that’s the story of my life: no respect. I don’t get no respect at all.” Rodney Dangerfield’s classic victim routine drew laughs for decades. We can apply his lament to the world of fantasy football quarterbacks, selecting at a discount the undervalued but productive QBs that no one seems to want and freeing up valuable capital to use for elite players at other positions.

Again, we’ll use a SWOT analysis to appreciate the upside and challenges of this approach.

Strengths:

1. Quality, reliable QBs. You’re not punting this position; you’re looking for quality, reliable QBs who put up decent numbers most years and even near-elite numbers some years — and whom the fantasy football community often ignores. While others are spending their draft capital on elite players or chasing the next potential elite player, you’ll be set for a long time with reliable QBs at a discounted rate.
2. You can have studs at other positions. While still remaining competitive at the QB position, relying on the steady QBs avails you of the opportunity to spend your capital for studs elsewhere. You’ll be in the hunt at QB while blowing away your opponents at the other key starting spots.

Weaknesses:

1. Can be hard to compete against stud QBs. If an opponent with stud QBs can amass talent at other positions via the waiver wire, draft, and/or trade, then it can be hard to compete against them given their QB advantage.
2. Minimal trade value. The reason that you obtained these reliable veterans for cheap is also their greatest weakness: no one else seems to want them. This could make trading difficult — and it could be difficult to maximize their trade value in a rebuild.
3. Low floors. Yes, these reliable QBs have some surprisingly top-end seasons. They also carry the risk of accompanying poor seasons.

Opportunities:

1. Unique trade window. While they could be hard to trade in general, mid-range valued QBs who exceed expectations in a particular season or who move to a favorable new team in the off-season could be sold window at the price of an upside QB.
2. Focus on other positions. While your opponents are constantly juggling the hit-and-miss QBs on their roster and always looking for the next best thing, you can confidently focus on other positions and not waste draft capital on long-shot QBs.
3. Replenishing is easy. Did one of your QBs get hurt? Did you sell one of them when his value was high? Finding another QB to fill out your team should not be incredibly expensive. You can constantly apply and re-apply this strategy to your roster construction!

Threats:

1. Capped upside. Without stud QBs, you might always be good enough to compete but never good enough to win the championship against a team with stud QBs and productive players elsewhere.
2. Roster purgatory. Since you will often be competitive, you might not ever feel the need to rebuild your roster, keeping you a constant middle-of-the-road team.

Targets: Rivers, Stafford, Bortles

Dynasty target: Dalton

Next week: The Scrubs Approach