Ten Backup Quarterbacks You Should Consider Joining in Superflex Dynasty Leagues

In Superflex leagues, quarterbacks are your team’s main asset, but acquiring top-tier QB talent can be difficult and expensive. A less expensive way to cover yourself and set your team up for success is to look for quality replacements who could potentially take the field for multiple reasons. An injury to the QB1, a demotion for poor play or simply a change in order to spark the offense are some of the reasons why a backup could end up in the starting lineup, whether temporarily or for the rest of the season .

Backup quarterbacks frequently change teams in today’s game, so it is sometimes difficult to identify which backup quarterbacks you should look to acquire, either through a trade or through a removal of the waiver wire. The number of backup QBs listed in your league can depend on the score, the number of teams in your league and especially the number of spots available on your bench.

As a dynasty manager, here are my top priorities when recruiting backup quarterbacks: Talent, Opportunity, Quality offenseAnd Insurance. The following backup QBs are the ones I list according to the categories shown above.

TALENT

Justin Fields, QB PIT

After fizzled out in Chicago and with the Bears having the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft — they selected quarterback Caleb Williams — Fields found himself expendable. He was traded this offseason to Pittsburgh, which seemed like the perfect place to revamp his career, but the Steelers also signed former Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson.

Early reports indicate that the QB1 position is Wilson’s to lose. Even if that’s the case, Fields is simply too talented not to belong in dynasty leagues. Fields could still be the long-term option as QB1 in Pittsburgh. But if he isn’t re-signed after this season, it’s hard to see Fields never getting another chance to start somewhere at some point. Even though he’s listed as a backup, Fields still isn’t cheap to acquire. He will likely cost at least a second round pick in rookie drafts and maybe more.

The risk is certainly real with Fields, but I’m willing to take it with a player who has so much fantasy. Rushing ability alone sets Fields apart from most fantasy quarterbacks. Is there a chance that Fields will be on the bench all year and then be pushed aside to finish his career as QB2 for life? Yes. But there’s just as much chance that Fields will get the chance to start for the Steelers at some point and completely restart his career. I’m willing to bet the latter scenario will happen.

OPPORTUNITY

Jacoby Brissett, QB NE

Nowadays, whenever a quarterback is selected in the first round of the NFL draft, he is expected to start immediately or at least at some point during his rookie season. Drake Maye was selected by the Patriots with the third overall pick in April. If he does indeed start, Brissett will be a good backup in case the young gun struggles. There are also rumors that Brissett could have the top spot at the starting job. Either way, Brissett is a QB I want to draft.

Sam Darnold, QB MIN

Darnold is basically in the same situation as Brissett. The Vikings selected JJ McCarthy with pick 10 in the draft. Will Minnesota trust McCarthy from the start? Is he really ready to start in the NFL? These are questions the Vikings will have to answer. Darnold has proven to be a good starter in the NFL when given the opportunity. If he starts, bonus, if not, he’ll be nice to have on the roster in case something bad happens with McCarthy.

Drew Lock, NYG QB

Lock has been primarily a career backup during his four seasons in the league. He was originally a second round pick of the Denver Broncos. He was then traded to Seattle in the Russell Wilson deal. Lock has only played in 28 career games, but the guy can throw it. His biggest problem has been his career TD/INT ratio. Lock has 28 TDs and 23 INTs.

But fortunately for Lock, he is now Daniel Jones’ backup in New York. The Giants selected Jones fifth overall in 2019, the same draft class as Lock. Jones has struggled with turnovers throughout his career and is coming off a season-ending neck injury last year.

Jones might have a short leash this season under head coach Brian Daboll. If Jones struggles to get out of the net or suffers another injury, Lock has the ability to come in and put up stats for a Giants team that is expected to play from behind a lot this season and no longer has the starting point guard. Saquan Barkley ball to lean on. .

Mason Rudolph, QB TEN

Last year’s second-round pick, Will Levis, will be the Titans’ starter. They will use this season to evaluate what they have in the former Kentucky product.

Rudolph comes to Tennessee after spending the first four years of his career in Pittsburgh after being a third-round pick in 2019. Rudolph was never able to fill the QB1 position, but he helped the Steelers win the last three matches from last season. year to help the team qualify for the playoffs. Rudolph was 53 for 71 passes for 716 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in those starts. Rudolph can throw the ball downfield. He has talent but has been inconsistent throughout his career. If Levis hesitates, I see Rudolph having an opportunity.

QUALITY VIOLATION

Sam Howell, QB MER

In his second NFL season, Howell started 17 games for the Washington Commanders. But the team decided to move on from Howell, trading him to the Seahawks and selecting quarterback Jayden Daniels with the second overall pick. Howell threw for nearly 4,000 yards last season, but also had 21 INTs and 21 touchdowns. He was also the most sacked QB in the league.

Howell is not going to beat incumbent Gino Smith for the starting spot. But if Smith suffers an injury, Howell is the type of player who can step in immediately and produce a very good Seahawks offense that features wide receivers DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Jameis Winston, KEY QB

Famous Jameis, the former No. 1 overall pick, has sat on the bench the past four seasons in New Orleans after starting for five years in Tampa Bay. Winston has been a turnover machine throughout his career, but he has also put up some pretty good fantasy numbers over the years, including 5,000 yards, 33 TDs, and 30 INTs during his final season with the Buccaneers.

Starter Deshaun Watson has only played in 12 games over the past two seasons since signing with Cleveland. He has suffered multiple injuries and has yet to return to the form he showed in Houston to start his career. Joe Flacco showed us last season that this Browns offense can be explosive. The veteran Flacco was signed during the season and ultimately started the final five games of the year. Flacco threw for over 300 yards in four of those five games and added 13 touchdown passes. If Watson gets hurt again or struggles, Winston could be fantasy gold in what has become a team-friendly offense with a ton of weapons.

INSURANCE

Joe Flacco, IND QB

As previously noted, Flacco took over for the Browns last season and lit things up. So much so that he was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year. After Gardner Minshew was signed by the Raiders with a chance to start this season, the Colts turned to Flacco. Second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson was spectacular in terms of fantasy in his limited action last season before a season-ending shoulder injury knocked him out in Week 4. L Richardson’s rushing advantage is what makes him such an intriguing fantasy asset. But this whole race comes with risks. He was knocked out of two different games last season after taking big hits on running plays.

If I own Richardson, I’ll get Flacco or trade for him. I don’t want to be left empty-handed if Richardson has another injury-riddled season. Flacco showed he still had something left in the tank. If pushed into action, he should be able to help soften the blow of losing Richardson in your lineup.

Mike White, MIA quarterback

Starter Tua Tagovailoa played in all 17 games last season for the first time in his four-year career. His injury history is well documented, including multiple concussions. He missed six games in his rookie season and four games each season thereafter. Miami’s offense is explosive, and with Tagovailoa’s injury history, I make sure to roster White on every team where I have Tua.

White has had some big games in his career when given the chance to start. He’s obviously downgraded to QB, but he still has solid ability with an offensive-minded head coach and talent around him. He can ease the pain if Tagovailoa misses at any time.

Jake Browning, CIN QB

The Bengals proved last season that it’s a good idea to have your franchise’s backup quarterback on your roster. Many fantastic seasons fell through last year when Cincinnati starter Joe Burrow went down in Week 11 and was lost for the season. But owners who already had backup Jake Browning on their roster or quickly picked him up off the waiver wire still had a chance to make the playoffs.

Browning showed last year that he can be a capable starter when necessary for fantasy reasons. It may be too late to get Browning off waivers, but if you own Burrow, you might want to try and acquire him in case another nightmare occurs.