If there’s one thing I try to do every year as a fantasy analyst, it’s to try and get more and more people to play Superflex leagues.
The quarterback position in a single-quarterback setting is so replaceable that it really doesn’t matter where you pick your quarterback. Adding a second roster spot to flex an additional quarterback drives up the quarterback value and actually forces you to make decisions at the position. Those decisions are further amplified in Superflex dynasty leagues where you have additional bench space and can harbor several up-and-coming quarterbacks. Finding the right quarterbacks to stash can help flip a squad into a legitimate contender overnight. Nick Foles is a perfect example of that this year. He had little value in Philadelphia as a backup, but with the contract he signed in Jacksonville this offseason, he’s now the foreseeable starter.
I’m going to avoid suggesting any of this year’s class of rookies as stashes. Most dynasty leaguers still have rookie fever and won’t want to part with quarterbacks they spent draft capital on just a few weeks ago. Even in 12-team Superflex leagues, most of these rookies are being rostered. Instead, I’ll provide names of current vets and journeymen that have a few years under their belts (and have lost the rookie shine) that I’m currently looking at as potential stashes for this year and beyond.
Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis Colts
Jacoby Brissett’s career has been an interesting one to follow. Entering the league as a 24-year-old third-round pick, Brissett saw playing time in three games with New England with underwhelming results. After a terrific preseason in 2017, the Patriots traded Brissett to Indianapolis (for Phillip Dorsett) in a year they didn’t expect Andrew Luck to play at all. Unfortunately, Brissett didn’t translate that preseason success to the regular season0 in Indy. He had an underwhelming 2.8% touchdown rate, completed just 58.8% of his dropbacks, and was sacked a league-high 52 times.
So why is he considered a Superflex stash? Well, the Colts did an incredible job surrounding whoever plays under center with playmakers. Adding the big-bodied Devin Funchess (6’-4”, 232 pounds) and underneath speedster Parris Campbell (4.31 speed) to a Pro Bowl cast of T.Y. Hilton and Eric Ebron, gives the quarterback plenty of receiving options that are capable of winning one-on-one battles. Offensive Coordinator Nick Sirianni’s entire offensive scheme is built around taking advantage of mismatches and the front office has done a terrific job supplying him with weapons capable of doing just that. Brissett’s rushing ability was his usual crutch when pressure overwhelmed him (hence the sacks), but with so many weapons at his disposal in this offense, it should turn into a rising tide lifts all boats scenario.
Speaking of the front office, General Manager Chris Ballard is set on retaining Brissett for the remainder of his rookie contract (expires end of this season). Luck’s injury history probably plays a significant role in that decision, but this squad is also set up to make a deep run in the playoffs. Brissett only helps their case given his previous playing time as a starter and his knowledge of the offense after a couple years in the system. Brissett has value this season if anything were to happen to Luck, but it’s his value in 2020 — after his rookie contract expires — that makes him an interesting stash now for Superflex leagues.
Tyrod Taylor, Los Angles Chargers
Last year’s opening starting quarterback for the Browns, Tyrod Taylor signed a two-year, $11M contract ($6M guaranteed) with the Chargers this offseason. Like Brissett, Taylor enters a situation in LA where the offense is flooded with playmakers at the skill position players. Philip Rivers enters his age-38 season but has been a model of perfect health throughout his career, starting all 16 games for 13-straight seasons — 208 consecutive games. If he makes it to Week 3 this year, he’ll trail only Brett Favre (297) in most consecutive starts for a quarterback.
That doesn’t spell a lot of opportunity for Taylor. Taylor’s entering his age-30 season, but unlike the last few backups the Chargers threw darts at — Cardale Jones and Geno Smith — Taylor’s shown consistent success at the NFL level. “Quarterback Wins” are not a thing, but there’s something to be said for Taylor’s ability to a) not turn the ball over (career 1.5% interception rate) and b) pick up first downs consistently either through the air or with his rushing ability. Those positive traits are what make him a superior backup option in case anything were to happen to Rivers. Backed by a strong defense and surrounded with tons of offensive talent, you could do worse than stashing Taylor.
Josh Dobbs, Pittsburgh Steelers
A 2017 fourth-round draft pick out of Tennessee, Josh Dobbs is another player that falls into a great offensive situation. Noticing a trend here? Whether these stashes are rookies or journeymen, one thing to help put them in immediate situations to succeed is by surrounding them with offensive playmakers. Pittsburgh added Donte Moncrief and Diontae Johnson to help bolster a receiving corps of JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington, and Ryan Switzer. Last year’s biggest breakout fantasy players was James Conner, who can be relied on as the engine of this offense (easing the pressure for Dobbs) and as a potential outlet for when he sees literal pressure from opposing pass rushers. 37-year-old Ben Roethlisberger has flirted with retirement in the past, and with Antonio Brown now out of the picture, perhaps we see that timeline speed up.
Dobbs has looked sharp in preseason action whenever his number’s been called. In the three games he played last year, he had an adjusted completion rate — factoring out throwaways, batted balls, spikes — of 72.1%, while sporting an aggressive 13.3 average depth of target. He threw for four passing touchdowns and picked up a 10-64-1 rushing stat line. Former quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner was promoted to OC last season, so he spent a full season working with Dobbs (2017) before taking over his current position. He knows his strengths and weaknesses and if anything were to happen to Big Ben, don’t be surprised if Dobbs plays some quality football.
Blake Bortles, Los Angeles Rams
Okay, I saved this for last for those of you about to “x” out of the tab and move onto something else, but hear me out. Prior to Sean McVay going to the Rams, Jared Goff was coming off a historically bad season. His 2016 season was one for the books.
| Year | G | Cmp | Att | Cmp% | Yds | TD | TD% | Int | Int% | Y/A | AY/A | Rate | QBR | Sk | Sk% |
| 2016 | 7 | 112 | 205 | 54.6% | 1089 | 5 | 2.4% | 7 | 3.4% | 5.3 | 4.3 | 63.6 | 18.9 | 26 | 11.3 |
| 2017 | 15 | 296 | 477 | 62.1% | 3804 | 28 | 5.9% | 7 | 1.5% | 8 | 8.5 | 100.5 | 52.1 | 25 | 5 |
| 2018 | 16 | 364 | 561 | 64.9% | 4688 | 32 | 5.7% | 12 | 2.1% | 8.4 | 8.5 | 101.1 | 65.4 | 33 | 5.6 |
Over the last decade, Goff’s 2016 season was bottom-12 in Yds/Att, AY/A, and QB Rating among all quarterbacks with at least 200 attempts. He also sported the lowest DVOA without Pressure (since 2010) by a whopping margin during this rookie year:
If McVay can turn around a project like Goff and drastically increase his numbers across the board, perhaps this is the exact environment Blake Bortles needs. The Rams have a quality offensive line, a plethora of receiving options, and after this year’s draft, an incredible one-two punch at the running back position. Bortles’ biggest issue with pressure (62.8 QBR under these situations) should be alleviated somewhat by an offensive line that allowed the ninth-fewest quarterback hits and eighth-fewest sacks. Jacksonville ranked top-five in both categories last year. There’s a lot of issues here for McVay and QB Coach/Pass Game Coordinator Shane Waldrum to iron out with Bortles, but the Rams offense is so well-constructed, perhaps even Bortles can find success here.
Coming off a rough year where he was finally cut from the franchise that took him No. 3 overall, now’s a great time to buy Bortles on the cheap in hopes that McVay can turn around Bortles’ career much like he did for Goff. That being said, it’s Blake Bortles. Temper expecations and don’t spend a third-round pick to acquire him. But if he’s available on waiver wires in Superflex leagues, he might be worth the stash down the road.
