Tua Tagovailoa has cleared the concussion protocol, according to an NFL Network report. He won’t play this week, but he’s expected to be in the starting lineup in Week 7.
This makes Tagovailoa an intriguing short-term prospect. The Dolphins next week are hosting Pittsburgh, which is struggling defensively. The following week, Miami is at Detroit, which has been even worse. I would think Tagovailoa will throw multiple touchdowns in both of those games.
Looking longer term (which is where I’m putting the focus here), Tagovailoa is in a good spot in that he’s working with a pair of elite wide receivers, as well as an innovative coaching staff that seems more able than most to design pass plays that challenge secondaries.
On the downside, durability is a huge issue. He’s a smaller guy, and he might be more prone to concussions than other players. If Tagovailoa in a couple of weeks were to suffer another head injury, where would that put his career?
If I were walking into a dynasty draft today, Tagovailoa wouldn’t be one of the first 10 quarterbacks I would consider. But I think he becomes a possibility just outside that range. He’s a lot younger than guys like Stafford, Wilson, Carr, Brady and Rodgers. Youngsters like Justin Fields and Trey Lance (and even Malik Willis) bring a lot more to the table as runners, but none of them have shown much ability yet to operate successfully as passers.
Below see my top 50 dynasty league quarterbacks. This is operating under the assumption that we’ve got a 12-team league, with each carrying about three quarterbacks. I’m assuming standard scoring, and working under the assumption that teams would be able to hold players indefinitely.
Rookies tagged with black dots.
DYNASTY LEAGUE QUARTERBACKS | |||
---|---|---|---|
Rk | Tm | Player | Age |
1. | LAC | Justin Herbert | 24 |
2. | BUF | Josh Allen | 26 |
3. | KC | Patrick Mahomes | 27 |
4. | BAL | Lamar Jackson | 25 |
5. | CIN | Joe Burrow | 25 |
6. | PHI | Jalen Hurts | 24 |
7. | CLE | Deshaun Watson | 27 |
8. | MIN | Kirk Cousins | 34 |
9. | DAL | Dak Prescott | 29 |
10. | JAC | Trevor Lawrence | 23 |
11. | ARI | Kyler Murray | 25 |
12. | LAR | Matthew Stafford | 34 |
13. | GB | Aaron Rodgers | 38 |
14. | MIA | Tua Tagovailoa | 24 |
15. | DEN | Russell Wilson | 33 |
16. | LV | Derek Carr | 31 |
17. | TB | Tom Brady | 45 |
18. | PIT | • Kenny Pickett | 24 |
19. | CHI | Justin Fields | 23 |
20. | SF | Trey Lance | 22 |
21. | NYG | Daniel Jones | 25 |
22. | NE | Mac Jones | 24 |
23. | DET | Jared Goff | 28 |
24. | SEA | Geno Smith | 32 |
25. | TEN | Ryan Tannehill | 34 |
26. | WAS | Carson Wentz | 29 |
27. | NO | Jameis Winston | 28 |
28. | NYJ | Zach Wilson | 23 |
29. | SF | Jimmy Garoppolo | 30 |
30. | HOU | Davis Mills | 23 |
31. | ATL | • Desmond Ridder | 23 |
32. | TEN | • Malik Willis | 23 |
33. | IND | Matt Ryan | 37 |
34. | ATL | Marcus Mariota | 28 |
35. | PHI | Gardner Minshew | 27 |
36. | MIA | Teddy Bridgewater | 29 |
37. | CLE | Jacoby Brissett | 29 |
38. | BAL | Tyler Huntley | 24 |
39. | CAR | Baker Mayfield | 27 |
40. | GB | Jordan Love | 23 |
41. | NYG | Tyrod Taylor | 33 |
42. | NO | Andy Dalton | 34 |
43. | IND | Sam Ehlinger | 24 |
44. | SEA | Drew Lock | 25 |
45. | DAL | Cooper Rush | 28 |
46. | NE | • Bailey Zappe | 23 |
47. | BUF | Case Keenum | 34 |
48. | WAS | Taylor Heinicke | 29 |
49. | PIT | Mitchell Trubisky | 28 |
50. | NYJ | Joe Flacco | 37 |
I turn my attention to dynasty leagues each Saturday, rotating between the four notable positions. To see previous versions, use the “past issues” navigation box.
Last week: Wide receivers.
Next week: Running backs.
—Ian Allan