Wherever and however
you are viewing this today thank you for making this part of your day. Fantasy
Football is HERE! And we are talking drafting that needed quarterback number
two. I wanted to analyze two guys with similar stats, but with different potential
for your fantasy team. And how do you play fantasy football? Just ask coach
Herm Edwards “Hello!? You play to win the game.” So let’s roll!
Flacco vs.
Dalton
When it comes to
quarterback’s in fantasy football there are a few strategies to when exactly
you should draft one. In any draft when
your pick comes up you have to ask three questions. One who is the best player
available? Does he fit my draft strategy? Is he better than my targeted player?
Be sure that whatever strategy you make stick to it on draft day, but be
flexible. Here is the scenario you have decided to follow a draft strategy of
taking three running backs in the first four rounds of the draft. Next you
would select a wide receiver before a QB unless someone named Brees, Brady, or
Rodgers dropped in your lap in round three. Just to be clear the plan is to
select running backs in the first and second round. Let’s fast forward to the 11th round, note
with this plan you would draft two quarterbacks and play the best match up,
time for QB2. On the board you see Andy Dalton of the Bengals and Joe Flacco of the Ravens. To most the untrained this
would seem easy. Flacco is in the playoffs, he has that great defense, he has a
great running back in Ray Rice, and he has a deep threat in Tory Smith. To the
trained eye Dalton vs. Flacco warrants a closer comparison. We need to analyze
the situation for each player on their respective team. First cancel out the defenses because the
Bengals have also been solid. Next take a look at the running back position,
the Bengals have a committee approach which means the offense relies more on Dalton
then with Flacco who shares the load with star Ray Rice. When you look to the
wide outs ask who is better A.J. Green or Tory Smith. I give the advantage to
Green mostly due to his size (6ft 4” Green/6ft 1” Smith) both players have
speed, however Smith was prone to dropping the ball last season. Lastly, so no
one thinks I forgot, making the playoffs year to year can be bad for fantasy
owners. The Bengals historically have to fight their way in which means Dalton
plays week 16 and 17. While Flacco may rest for the playoffs leaving the guy
who drafted him high in dry during the fantasy playoffs.
Lastly look at the
numbers of the two quarterbacks. Dalton
3,398 yards, 20TD/13INT, rushing 37ATT/152yrds 1TD, and a 58% completion
percentage as a rookie. Flacco 3,610 yards 20TD/12INT, rushing 39ATT/88yrds
1TD, and a 57% completion percentage in his 5th year. My point is
this Dalton in year one is as good as Flacco in year five. While Flacco has
been consistent over the years in Fantasy it’s about making the best choice to
win the championship. In that case you roll with the upside which is more in
favor of Andy Dalton.
Others may disagree
taking a young QB over a veteran like Flacco, but not me. Dalton will only get
better while I see Flacco staying the same year to year. While he won’t kill
your team, Flacco isn’t going to win you the week either. I see Dalton as the
superior quarterback out of the two and a guy with more potential going in to
the 2012 NFL season. Thank you for making this part of your day. If you have
questions or comments please feel free to email me at chrisgrayarea@gmail.com
and if that isn’t enough you can follow on twitter @IntoTheGray.
-Gray Out!
