Answering 16 Preseason NFC Dynasty Questions

Photo: USA Today Sports

These 16 questions in the NFC will help to define Dynasty for years to come. See 16 AFC answers here.

Is Daniel Jones the answer at quarterback for New York Giants?

Preseason Question: This seems unlikely. The team declined to exercise his fifth-year option, and Jones had shown no growth during his career, with his first three years averaging 6.6, 6.6, and 6.7 yards per attempt as a passer. The team added Brian Daboll as head coach and Joe Schoen as general manager, who could look to pick their own starter in 2023.

Postseason Answer: This seems more likely now, but is no guarantee. Daniel Jones finished as QB9 in season-long scoring and averaged 18.2 PPG, good for QB8 for quarterbacks who played multiple games. The success is an improvement, but shares the hallmarks of a one-hit wonder: a back-half QB1 finish after year three, at 25 years old or older. The Giants made a surprise playoff trip and now face a quarterback decision similar to the one GM Joe Schoen faced when he was a staffer with the Bills after Tyrod Taylor led an improbable playoff run when the Bills chose to turn toward a rookie quarterback named Josh Allen, instead of re-upping with Tyrod Taylor.

Is Jalen Hurts a franchise quarterback?

Preseason Question: Jalen Hurts gives the Eagles a huge edge: he’s a middle-of-the-pack starting quarterback on a rookie deal. This has allowed the Eagles to make major moves, including a trade and a 100 million dollar contract for A.J. Brown, in an attempt to win a Super Bowl. That is doable with a quarterback on a rookie deal but becomes less so on a 30+ million dollar contract. The bill will come due for Hurts will due after 2023, with extension negotiations likely to begin next summer. Will Hurts play up to the cost? Will Philadelphia be willing to pay up?

Postseason Answer: Yes. Hurts was the QB1 in PPG and ranked fifth in EPA/play (.213) among NFL quarterbacks en route to a Super Bowl appearance. Expect Hurts to be extended this offseason.

Is CeeDee Lamb a WR1?

Preseason Question: CeeDee Lamb has become a top-five wide receiver in dynasty formats before posting a top-12 finish in his career. Lamb has had a more limited role than his cost would suggest. For example, in 24 games both Lamb and Michael Gallup played, Lamb has only played more snaps than Gallup in three of them. The team moved on from Amari Cooper, and Gallup is working back from an injury. This leaves Dallas dependent on Lamb producing like a WR1. If he is not, he will disappoint his dynasty cost.

Postseason Answer: Yes. Perhaps the biggest concern for Lamb entering the season was his route participation. He ran routes on 72% and 76% of Dallas’s dropbacks in his first two years while playing a majority of his total snaps in those two years in the slot. The slot work continued, with Lamb in the slot on 62.5% of his pass snaps in 2022, but he took a major jump in route participation to 95% and jumped to 2.38 yards per route run from 2.06 in 2021. Lamb finished as WR6 in total points scored and WR8 in PPG.

How is the Washington quarterback situation solved?

Preseason Question: Since drafting Dwayne Haskins in 2019, Washington has started Taylor Heinicke (15), Haskins (13 games), Case Keenum (8), Colt McCoy (1), Alex Smith (6), Kyle Allen (4), Garrett Gilbert (1), and Ryan Fitzpatrick (1). The team traded for Carson Wentz to get their franchise back on track. Wentz was better than his reputation in 2021 and turns to Washington, who ranked 22nd in yards per play and 24th in points scored per game despite starting Heinicke for 15 games. Wentz could outperform his dynasty cost, but his longevity is a question, and the team is likely better than picking at the top of the draft.

Postseason Answer: The answer was not Carson Wentz and does not appear to be Taylor Heinicke. The team turned to Sam Howell in week 18, who had 11 completions on 19 attempts, 169 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while adding a rushing touchdown in his only game action of the season. Head coach Ron Rivera did not commit to Howell as the starter but indicated he would be an option at the position in 2023. The team picks 16th and should be a player in the offseason quarterback market.

What is Chicago’s plan at quarterback?

Preseason Question: The Bears traded up for Justin Fields in the 2021 NFL Draft. Then the team fired their general manager (Ryan Pace) and head coach (Matt Nagy), before hiring new general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus. The new Bears regime has little to benefit Fields in 2022, so there is concern about the team’s commitment to him. Fields will need to play well in 2022 to fend off the team addressing the position in 2023.

Postseason Answer: The plan included a lot of Justin Fields running without much support in the passing game. Darnell Mooney was injured, and the team’s in-season trade for Chase Claypool was a failure. Fields’ passing metrics took a step back in 2022, leaving the question about his future open. The team picks first in the 2023 draft and should be a candidate to either draft a quarterback and/or trade Justin Fields or stick with Justin Fields while trading the pick.

Is Jared Goff a long-term solution at quarterback in Detroit?

Preseason Question: Jared Goff has an affordable contract for the next two years but has no guaranteed money on his contract after 2022. Goff has a good set of supporting skill players and a good offensive line. The 2022 season is a key swing year in his career. If he performs well, Goff could be a good long-term value in Dynasty. If he does not, he could find himself without a starting job.

Postseason Answer: Jared Goff played some of the best football of his career down the stretch of the season. From Week 10 on, Goff led the league in EPA/play en route to a winning season while just missing out on a playoff appearance. The team has the good fortune of selecting sixth because of the pick they acquired from the Rams in the Stafford-Goff deal, in addition to their 18th selection. The team has a good core of young talent and should consider a quarterback upgrade. Even if they do, Goff will land another starting job and is likely undervalued in Dynasty.

Who is the WR1 in Green Bay?

Preseason Question: Green Bay traded Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders in March, and now the offense has an Adams-sized hole. The team did little to address the position in free agency but drafted Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. How this hole in the offense is fixed will be a major watch in 2022.

Postseason Answer: After a turbulent start to the season, Christian Watson took off in the final eight games, averaging 6.5 targets, 3.9 receptions, 65.4 receiving yards, and 0.9 touchdowns per game. Watson finished as WR10 in fantasy scoring during that stretch and put his claim as the WR1 in the offense of the future. Romeo Doubs struggling to break out after a strong preseason push.

What is the plan at quarterback for Minnesota?

Preseason Question: Like Chicago, the Vikings have a new general manager (Kwesi Adofo-Mensah) and head coach (Kevin O’Connell). Unlike Chicago, the Vikings embraced their incumbent quarterback and agreed to a one-year extension with a no-trade clause for Kirk Cousins. Cousins is tradeable in 2023 if he agrees to it. So the direction the team goes is a major watch, particularly with Dalvin Cook lacking contractual security and Justin Jefferson approaching an extension.

Postseason Answer: Minnesota has one of the more fascinating offseasons. The team significantly overperformed expectations, and they were the first team to overperform their Pythagorean record by more than four games. The team finished 13-4 despite a -3 point differential. Minnesota faces a crossroads, with Kirk Cousins due 30 million dollars, on a 36.25-million-dollar cap hit in 2023. The team would take a dead cap hit of 48.75 million dollars if they cut him in 2023, and he is due a 20-million-dollar roster bonus on March 20th. The team could trade Cousins and save 17.5 million dollars on the cap, but he has a no-trade clause and will control his destiny. The team faces an interesting crossroads in 2023, with nearly 26 million dollars over the cap.