A few days ago I ran through some RB battles to monitor this month. While this year’s QB competitions won’t have the same fantasy impact, when considering potential fantasy spot-starters and 2-QB starters, it’s good to know who's worth keeping on the radar and who's probably not.
• Robert Griffin III vs. Josh McCown vs. Cody Kessler: RGIII has reportedly won this battle comfortably. That has less to do with the former AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and more to do with his competition. McCown—who has the highest floor of the three—is on the trading block as Cleveland looks to the future. Kessler might not be starter-ready all year (or even all decade). Don’t rule out the Browns keeping McCown and inserting the 37-year-old into the starting lineup if RGIII struggles. Maybe RGIII will surprise me and flourish after a change in scenery. But this is the same guy who struggled to move the ball two seasons ago playing alongside Alfred Morris, DeSean Jackson, and Pierre Garcon in their primes. . . the last time he saw game action.
• Mark Sanchez vs. Trevor Siemian vs. Paxton Lynch: Sanchez should win this QB competition. Siemian and Lynch have about one NFL play between them, and neither enter the season as unquestionably NFL-ready talent. But the conditional seventh-round pick Denver “sacrificed” for Sanchez this offseason says everything we need to know: this is a wide-open battle. I believe Sanchez has the edge because a return to the Super Bowl hinges almost entirely on a stout defense and a proficient running game. The team proved last season they need little more than a game manager to keep them in contention.
• Sam Bradford vs. Carson Wentz: The Eagles won’t make the playoffs this season. This is one of those years when, at some point, management will want to see what they have heading into 2017. The once-promising, often-injured Bradford sputtered last year, and there’s no reason to believe his numbers will improve in 2016. Some say Wentz will sit out his rookie year to learn the ropes. I think the team will reach a tipping point midseason when it no longer makes sense to keep their future franchise QB sidelined. I’m watching these two in August not to determine who will start Week 1, but to see whether Wentz shows enough talent and comfort level to earn him consideration in November.
• Jared Goff vs. Case Keenum: Goff should start Week 1. There’s really no reason for the Rams to delay the inevitable. Peyton Manning was awful in his rookie campaign. This is to be expected when a franchise is in flat-out rebuilding mode. Yet perennial backup Keenum sits atop the depth chart. Maybe the Rams are trying to motivate Goff; or maybe they don’t want to throw Goff out there until he’s more NFL-ready. It’s not my team, so what do I know. But only one of these guys has a shot to be fantasy relevant in 2-QB leagues by midseason, and that’s Goff. Games against the Dolphins, Saints, Falcons, and 49ers in weeks 11-16 scream 200-yard, 2-TD potential. I’m still betting on Goff to open the season on the field.
• Blaine Gabbert vs. Colin Kaepernick: Although Gabbert is mostly expected to win the Niners' QB competition, San Francisco probably won't win six games. At some point--like when the team is 2-7--they'll have to determine whether free-agent-to-be Gabbbert is their QB of the future. He likely isn't, which makes him a very risky 2-QB league draft pick. Kaepernick actually has more upside, though let's be clear: neither guy will average better than bottom-10 weekly QB numbers.
• Robert Griffin III vs. Josh McCown vs. Cody Kessler: RGIII has reportedly won this battle comfortably. That has less to do with the former AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and more to do with his competition. McCown—who has the highest floor of the three—is on the trading block as Cleveland looks to the future. Kessler might not be starter-ready all year (or even all decade). Don’t rule out the Browns keeping McCown and inserting the 37-year-old into the starting lineup if RGIII struggles. Maybe RGIII will surprise me and flourish after a change in scenery. But this is the same guy who struggled to move the ball two seasons ago playing alongside Alfred Morris, DeSean Jackson, and Pierre Garcon in their primes. . . the last time he saw game action.
• Mark Sanchez vs. Trevor Siemian vs. Paxton Lynch: Sanchez should win this QB competition. Siemian and Lynch have about one NFL play between them, and neither enter the season as unquestionably NFL-ready talent. But the conditional seventh-round pick Denver “sacrificed” for Sanchez this offseason says everything we need to know: this is a wide-open battle. I believe Sanchez has the edge because a return to the Super Bowl hinges almost entirely on a stout defense and a proficient running game. The team proved last season they need little more than a game manager to keep them in contention.
• Sam Bradford vs. Carson Wentz: The Eagles won’t make the playoffs this season. This is one of those years when, at some point, management will want to see what they have heading into 2017. The once-promising, often-injured Bradford sputtered last year, and there’s no reason to believe his numbers will improve in 2016. Some say Wentz will sit out his rookie year to learn the ropes. I think the team will reach a tipping point midseason when it no longer makes sense to keep their future franchise QB sidelined. I’m watching these two in August not to determine who will start Week 1, but to see whether Wentz shows enough talent and comfort level to earn him consideration in November.
• Jared Goff vs. Case Keenum: Goff should start Week 1. There’s really no reason for the Rams to delay the inevitable. Peyton Manning was awful in his rookie campaign. This is to be expected when a franchise is in flat-out rebuilding mode. Yet perennial backup Keenum sits atop the depth chart. Maybe the Rams are trying to motivate Goff; or maybe they don’t want to throw Goff out there until he’s more NFL-ready. It’s not my team, so what do I know. But only one of these guys has a shot to be fantasy relevant in 2-QB leagues by midseason, and that’s Goff. Games against the Dolphins, Saints, Falcons, and 49ers in weeks 11-16 scream 200-yard, 2-TD potential. I’m still betting on Goff to open the season on the field.
• Blaine Gabbert vs. Colin Kaepernick: Although Gabbert is mostly expected to win the Niners' QB competition, San Francisco probably won't win six games. At some point--like when the team is 2-7--they'll have to determine whether free-agent-to-be Gabbbert is their QB of the future. He likely isn't, which makes him a very risky 2-QB league draft pick. Kaepernick actually has more upside, though let's be clear: neither guy will average better than bottom-10 weekly QB numbers.