The more picks there are in a fantasy draft, the greater the opportunity to separate yourself from the rest of the pack. This can go in one of two directions, a positive outcome or a negative one. We want to focus on a positive outcome. You can do this by drafting players who will make an impact that you can potentially insert into your weekly lineup. Finding the right players to draft makes all the difference. Let's take a look at late-round quarterbacks to target.
Teddy Bridgewater, Carolina
What makes Teddy Bridgewater an attractive late-round fantasy quarterback isn't necessarily his past performances or what we perceive Bridgewater to be. It's the combination of having an opportunity to prove he belongs in the league, plus the fact that he has one of the brightest offensive minds in the game orchestrating plays for the Carolina offense in Joe Brady. Looking back, Bridgewater played only one full season in the league, in 2015, for Minnesota, in a conservative offense where Stefon Diggs led the team with only 52 receptions. Bridgewater finished with 14 touchdown passes and 9 interceptions while throwing for 3,231 yards. He added 192 yards on the ground with three rushing touchdowns. All told, he finished with a ranking of 24th. That was the last time we saw him in charge of an offense in a full-time role. The following offseason he suffered a devastating knee injury that caused him to miss the next two seasons. He found his way back into an NFL huddle as a backup with the Jets and then the same role with the Saints. His performance in an undefeated 5-0 stretch with the Saints in 2019 earned him an opportunity with Carolina who needed a quarterback, after deciding to move on from Cam Newton. Carolina's newly-hired offensive coordinator, Joe Brady, has experience with Bridgewater from his time spent with the Saints in 2018. It was enough for Carolina to move forward with Bridgewater as their starting quarterback.
How can Joe Brady help Teddy Bridgewater reach new heights? This answer is simple, the same way he elevated the LSU offense and quarterback Joe Burrow. Brady guided the same LSU team that finished as the 38th best offense in FBS in 2018 and turned them into the #1 offense in 2019 while setting NCAA offensive records in the process. He made Joe Burrow, a relatively unknown transfer from Ohio State, a household name. His ingenuity of calling the right plays and utilizing the talents around him resulted in the success that LSU endured in 2019 that ultimately ended in a Championship. In one year Brady came in and transformed that team into winners. He can do the same with Teddy Bridgewater and the young, talented supporting cast that Carolina has built.
Bridgewater hasn't proven anything yet, which is why you don't want to rely on him as your starting fantasy quarterback. However, adding him to your bench as your second quarterback could pay big dividends if he does take off to new heights. He's the ultimate stash quarterback this season. The potential for greatness is there. If and when it happens, you'll be glad you invested in him.
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati
With so many fantasy-relevant quarterbacks available, it's a good draft strategy to wait on the quarterback position. One quarterback who could make an impact in his first year is Bengals quarterback, and #1 overall draft pick, Joe Burrow. I think we all can agree that the Bengals offense is projected to be better in 2020 due to the presence of Burrow, but also the return of veteran receiver A.J. Green, the return of starting left tackle, Jonah Williams, the emergence of wide receiver Tee Higgins, and the continued development of Joe Mixon, Tyler Boyd, and John Ross. Burrow set records for passing yards and passing touchdowns in 2019 at LSU. If his ability to read defenses, exploit coverages, execute the game plan, and rush when it's available, continues as a pro, he could produce high-level fantasy points as early as this season.
Gardner Minshew, Jacksonville
Do you remember when Gardner Minshew, a sixth-round rookie quarterback, surprised everyone with an impressive NFL debut where he passed for 275 yards and two touchdowns on 21-for-25 passing? He lost the game against the future Super Bowl-champion Chiefs, but the effort paved the way for an unexpected, yet telling season. Minshew played 14 games in 2019. In seven of those games, he had two or more touchdown passes. The Jaguars are projected to finish in the bottom five of the league which will likely lead to an increase in offensive snaps, particularly passing plays. The Jaguars receiving corps is led by last year's breakout talent, D.J. Chark and includes Dede Westbrook (101 targets in 2019), Chris Conley, Keelan Cole, and rookie first-round pick, Laviska Shenault. Minshew could take another step forward in 2020 due to the presence of Chark alone. If Shenault can make an immediate impact, Minshew could develop into an every-week fantasy starter as a dual-threat quarterback option. An interesting fact on Minshew, last year he and Kyler Murray joined Robert Griffin III, Cam Newton, and Russell Wilson as the only rookies in NFL history to throw 20+ touchdown passes and rush for 300 or more yards in their first season. Minshew is currently being drafted in the mid- to late-20s among quarterbacks, but he is capable of reaching much greater heights. Like Bridgewater, Minshew is an excellent bench quarterback that you can stash.
Drew Lock, Denver
Another quarterback who has drawn my attention is a second-year pro, Drew Lock in Denver. Lock overcame a thumb injury in 2019 to start the final five games where he led the Broncos to a 4-1 record. His impressive performance led Denver to stockpile offensive talent around him. He has no excuse for lack of weapons and ultimately, his outstanding supporting cast could be the key to unlock his greatness. Lock's stock rises by default with the presence of Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, K.J. Hamler, Noah Fant, and running back Melvin Gordon. Getting onboard Lock now is like getting on an elevator at the ground floor that is destined for success. His stock is rising, but it's not out of reach. In most drafts, he is available after the top 20 quarterbacks go off the board. Denver was a run-heavy offense last year, but with the incoming stable of talent, the Broncos also hired Pat Shurmur to run the offense. Shurmur is an offensive-minded veteran coach who recently made strides with Daniel Jones in New York. He will look to develop and improve Lock in a similar fashion. Look for Shurmur to utilize Denver's talented weapons in several different ways. Lock's ability to execute on those demands will determine how far Denver's offense can go in 2020. If it takes off, as some believe, Lock could become an every-week starting fantasy quarterback.
Ryan Fitzpatrick/Tua Tagovailoa, Miami
This particular strategy involves two picks, so it may not be the best move if you have a roster that includes 16 or fewer players. Rostering both Fitzpatrick and Tagovailoa assures that you can have a decent starter capable of having big weeks in Fitzpatrick, but also a rising talent capable of being a dual-threat option in Tagovailoa. Miami's offense has some playmakers in DeVante Parker, Preston Williams, Mike Gesicki, Jordan Howard, and Matt Breida. Both quarterbacks won't be short on surrounding talent. If Tagovailoa is as good as advertised and is given a clean bill of health, he could be a big spark in a league that often sees success in young, versatile quarterbacks. If it takes time for him to develop and learn the offense, Fitzpatrick can be a decent backup quarterback that you can use as a bye-week filler or when the matchup is favorable. If you elect to go with this strategy of Fitzpatrick and Tagovailoa, make sure you have a plan in place for your primary quarterback or your QB1 role on your roster. Miami does not have the best early schedule, but this plan isn't necessarily meant for opening day usage. It's more of an insurance plan while Tagovailoa gets acclimated with his role and becomes less of an injury risk, in hopes that he becomes a solid fantasy contributor this season.
