THE TRAGIC DEVALUING OF THE QUARTERBACK IN FANTASY FOOTBALL

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Imagine if we threw every NFL player into free agency, and started from scratch...

Who would be chosen first overall? What position would be top priority for NFL teams?

Sure there's JJ Watt, there's Luke Kuechly, there's Antonio Brown. But I've heard nearly every NFL analyst say the same thing at one point or another...

"You can't have a successful franchise without a franchise quarterback."

If this thought experiment played out in real life, I would venture to guess 15-20 QB's would be selected in round one. Maybe I'm overestimating. But is it possible I'm underestimating?

When we translate over to fantasy football, we see a stark contrast.

More times than not, quarterbacks don't start coming off draftboards until round 2 or 3, with many owners waiting until LATE in the draft to snag a thrower…

So in most fantasy football formats quarterbacks are an afterthought.

A non-essential piece to a great fantasy team. To me, this is a problem. At the very least it's a concept that needs to be recognized, and considered for adjustment.

If in the NFL you can’t have a successful franchise without a franchise quarterback, why is it so easy to get by without one in fantasy football?

If you agree this could be a problem, we need to ask a question...

How do we make quarterbacks a top priority in our leagues again? Here's three changes to consider making in your fantasy football league.

1. Add a SuperFlex or 2nd Quarterback

This is my top choice. Positional scarcity creates a demand. And a demand promotes trading and strategy.

Mike Beckley (@BeckleyNFL) said it perfectly...

"I love active leagues with lots of trading, and I don't understand why Superflex leagues are not the standard. In most start 1QB leagues, every team has 1-2 good QBs and there is little incentive to make trades. In my opinion, the most important position in the NFL should also be important in your dynasty leagues. In most standard dynasty rookie drafts, we only pay attention to RBs and WRs. I like settings that make each skill position worth scouting.

In 12 team leagues (or larger) , I prefer Superflex to "Start 2QBs" so that teams don't get screwed on their bye weeks because there aren't enough starters. Consider Superflex for your next startup if you like trading and want each position to have trade value."

Eric Long (@BlueDemons33) offered his endorsement of SuperFlex leagues...

"As far as league settings go, I am a strong proponent of SuperFlex leagues for a few reasons.

1) QBs in most league settings are typically the highest scorers (17 of 24 top scorers in one of my leagues were QBs).

2) SuperFlex offers you more flexibility in your roster.

3) Values of QBs rise to levels of top tier WRs (Wouldn't be out of the question to pay Hopkins+ for Andrew Luck)."

2. Increase Quarterback Scoring

If you're not into multiple quarterbacks for your starting lineups, getting creative with your scoring may be a route for you. Many leagues have 4 point passing touchdowns, often in combination with PPR. I believe this devalues the quarterback position rather heavily. I'm a believer in 6 point passing touchdowns as an option to emphasize your quarterbacks.

Jen Ryan (@FFdeJENerate) weighed in with a unique solution...

"I'm big late-round QBer, but I think one way to bring back the value of the position would be to include scoring for rushing attempts for quarterbacks. Mobile QBs are becoming more of a thing each year. We have seen it with Cam Newton since he came into the league, with Russell Wilson right behind him. They are typically mid-round QB picks anyway, but with rushing attempt scoring I wonder how much that would increase Alex Smith, Tyrod Taylor, or Jameis Winston's value."

If you want your scoring to truly reflect the performance of your quarterbacks, consider this unique option...

3. Increase the number of teams in your league

Quite simply, if there are more teams in your league, there will be more quarterbacks with value. Increasing your league to 14 teams, 16 teams, and beyond will create more of a demand for a quality starting quarterback, and make backup quarterbacks an important asset. I don't have data to back it up (I never do), but I would imagine quarterback ADP only rises in leagues with more teams.