I think we’re at the point where it’s fair to conclude Carolina made a mistake in selecting Bryce Young No. 1 overall. Not that I’m writing him off after four pro starts, but both C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson both look a lot better.
Size will always be a factor. Young is generously listed at 5-foot-10 and 204 pounds. That makes him more of a durability risk, and he has problems operating out of the pocket – not being able to see and having more passes batted down. He doesn’t have elite mobility.
More notably, Stroud and Richardson look like they’re for real. Paired with a cutting-edge coordinator (Bobby Slowik), Stroud is averaging 292 passing yards per game, with 7 TDs and no interceptions. And at 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds, he’s got the kind of size teams are looking for.
Richardson, I think, might be even better than Stroud. With his size and mobility, he’s looking like he might be another Josh Allen or Cam Newton. Richardson is shelved for a month now with a shoulder injury, but the Colts have to be thrilled with what they’ve seen so far.
Which brings us to dynasty rankings. If we’re in such a league (with fantasy teams holding the rights to players indefinitely) I think both Stroud and Richardson would be worthy candidates to be among the first 10 quarterbacks chosen. I think they’re going to be good sooner rather than later, and I think they’re going to be around for a long time.
To me, Young looks more like a speculative second quarterback. He probably would be a second quarterback for some (fantasy) team, but without any certainty that he’d ever amount to much.
Each Saturday during the regular season, I turn my focus to dynasty leagues, rotating between the four notable positions. I’m operating under the assumption that there would be about 12 teams, with each rostering about three quarterbacks (and holding onto those players for as long as they wanted them). Standard scoring.
In the chart below, first-year players are tagged with black dots.
To see the last ratings at other positions, use the “past issues” navigation box on this page.
Last week: Tight ends.
Next week: Running backs.
DYNASTY QUARTERBACKS | |||
---|---|---|---|
Rk | Tm | Player | Age |
1. | KC | Patrick Mahomes | 28.1 |
2. | BUF | Josh Allen | 27.4 |
3. | CIN | Joe Burrow | 26.8 |
4. | LAC | Justin Herbert | 25.6 |
5. | JAC | Trevor Lawrence | 24.0 |
6. | PHI | Jalen Hurts | 25.2 |
7. | BAL | Lamar Jackson | 26.7 |
8. | SF | Brock Purdy | 23.8 |
9. | HOU | • C.J. Stroud | 22.0 |
10. | IND | • Anthony Richardson | 21.4 |
11. | MIA | Tua Tagovailoa | 25.6 |
12. | DET | Jared Goff | 29.0 |
13. | CLE | Deshaun Watson | 28.1 |
14. | MIN | Kirk Cousins | 35.2 |
15. | CHI | Justin Fields | 24.6 |
16. | SEA | Geno Smith | 33.0 |
17. | CAR | • Bryce Young | 22.2 |
18. | DAL | Dak Prescott | 30.2 |
19. | GB | Jordan Love | 24.9 |
20. | PIT | Kenny Pickett | 25.4 |
21. | NYG | Daniel Jones | 26.4 |
22. | LAR | Matthew Stafford | 35.7 |
23. | ARI | Kyler Murray | 26.2 |
24. | DEN | Russell Wilson | 34.9 |
25. | TB | Baker Mayfield | 28.5 |
26. | NO | Derek Carr | 32.5 |
27. | ATL | Desmond Ridder | 24.1 |
28. | WAS | Sam Howell | 23.1 |
29. | NE | Mac Jones | 25.1 |
30. | LV | Jimmy Garoppolo | 31.9 |
31. | NYJ | Aaron Rodgers | 39.9 |
32. | LV | • Aidan O'Connell | 25.1 |
33. | NYJ | Zach Wilson | 24.2 |
34. | TEN | • Will Levis | 24.3 |
35. | TEN | Ryan Tannehill | 35.2 |
36. | IND | Gardner Minshew | 28.4 |
37. | WAS | Jacoby Brissett | 30.8 |
38. | DEN | Jarrett Stidham | 27.2 |
39. | ATL | Taylor Heinicke | 30.6 |
40. | MIA | Mike White | 28.6 |
—Ian Allan