The title of this article may sound like a joke but shockingly enough people have still been asking why QB’s are important. In my case I realized it this week in one of my leagues, a big game against a huge rival. I started Peyton Manning and for the 2nd time in 2 starts this season, Peyton has let me down. In this specific league, only once have I scored more than 10 QB points in a week. Between my week 1 woes with Peyton, week 3 Big Ben going down, and now finally in week 4 with Peyton flopping again. Is it time for fantasy owners to ask themselves “Should I sell a big piece such as a top running back or wide receiver to get a consistent quarterback?”. The answer is actually simple after all.
Out With the Old, In with the New
Many fantasy owners, myself included refuse to move into the new era of QB’s. We continue to hold on the aging legends such as the Peyton Manning’s or the once elite Matthew Stafford. Guys such as Drew Brees and Ryan Tannehill have come up in these conversations repeatedly. Brees has answered the call as seen by his big game on Sunday Night Football but Tannehill, Peyton, and Stafford have all looked sub par this fantasy season. Newer, younger quarterbacks have begun to dominate fantasy leagues, most notably 2015’s second overall pick in the NFL draft: Marcus Mariota. Mariota has played great all fantasy season and is certainly a top 10 fantasy quarterback. Mariota had a bye this week which will certainly skew his position rank but he has been towards the top of fantasy players all season and certainly can build on his early success. Andy Dalton has been by far the biggest fantasy suprise as far as quarterbacks go. Dalton has really been throwing darts and hitting his targets all season. Somehow people still have more faith in their aged quarterbacks than these newer, much better ones. Just a general rule for all football players, Father Time is undefeated: You will not win that fight.
Winston was regarded much higher than Mariota prior to the season but now he has literally looked awful. Winston has played much better than Peyton Manning this season and is well in front of Matthew Stafford. Somehow despite Winston’s struggles, he has managed to play better than the old guys. This is simply because youth is better than age. To put this in perspective, if you were building an NFL franchise right now: who would you rather have this season? Between these two groups. (1)Winston, Mariota, Dalton or (2) P. Manning, Stafford, Tannehill. That question is literally the easiest test question ever written. Anyone with any football knowledge this season would easily take any of the group 1 guys over the group 2’s.
Moving Forward
For some of us it will be like breaking up with that girlfriend we’ve been dating for a year’s (Peyton for 15+) but we know our time is up. For others it will be a simple click of mouse and we will forever say goodbye to our aged quarterbacks. Ultimately no matter where you fall under the two previously mentioned groups, it is time to move forward from the aged quarterbacks. The best days are behind Manning and Stafford. Tannehill may still have some left in the tank because he is still young but is unproven at best this fantasy season. No matter what I certainly urge all fantasy owners to begin targeting Marcus Mariota and Andy Dalton as opposed to Peyton Manning and Matthew Stafford. It is time to move on fantasy owners. Make it quick and lose no more games due to lack of quarterbacks.