Updated: July 11, 2010
Original Release: August 4, 2003
David Garrard, Carson Palmer, Kyle Orton, and Matt Hasselbeck are all quarterbacks that can be had
much later in your draft than some of the higher profile names. While each of these QBs have a question
mark next to their name, they also have the potential to hold their own to allow you to select fantasy football
players at other positions where the pickings get slim real fast. Therein lies the upside in this draft strategy, which will serve you
well in virtually any fantasy football scoring system and league
setup. The only exceptions being extreme leagues that require multiple quarterback starts (two or more each week) or leagues that
are composed of a large number of teams (20 or more). However, by in large, this is a nice draft strategy to keep in mind. Without
further ado, let's discuss what we like to affectionately refer to as, "The Quarterback Free-Fall" (someone cue Tom Petty please):
The Concept
The problem with drafting is that you can only have one player at a time and you have to wait your turn. Inevitably, you
have to wait to fill certain positions. The question is - which position do you let "slide"? A common answer to this question
for most fantasy football scoring systems is to strap on your skydiving goggles and do a "Quarterback Free-Fall."
If you are planning a "Quarterback Free-Fall", you're gambling that you will be able to pick-up a quarterback several rounds
later in your draft than your fellow competitors and only lose a few fantasy points in production in the difference. Meanwhile, as you are letting the quarterback position slide during your draft,
you are gobbling up positions such as running back and wide receiver, which typically show more separation in fantasy points from the elite players to the middle to lower tier
players. The end result is stacking the odds a little better in your favor that your team's aggregate fantasy points will exceed those of your opponents (i.e. the sight hit taken in fantasy point production
at your quarterback position is exceeded by the gain in fantasy point production by selecting higher quality players at other positions). The real trick is to know when to pull
your ripcord, thus stopping your free-fall by grabbing your starting quarterback before all the decent options are taken.
One of the best ways to find the right players is to compare Fantasy Football Average Draft Position (ADP) to our
fantasy football player rankings.
You might find some solid players that the rest of the world is ignoring. That is exactly what our Fantasy Football Draft Software does, as it generates custom player rankings based on your fantasy league scoring system and league setup while showing you the latest and greatest ADP information.
Why Quarterback?
Every year there are a number of quarterbacks ranked from about 7 to roughly 20 that could perform very nicely for your
team. Granted they are a bit more risky than your elite quarterbacks, but that is why you will be able to get them later in the draft. As noted above, typically in most fantasy football scoring systems the
fantasy point differential between the middle-tier quarterbacks relative to the upper-tier quarterbacks is not as great as compared to other positions such as running back and wide receiver. As such, the
quarterback position makes a perfect target to let slide during your draft.
So whether you are placing your bets on an older, proven veteran rebounding for a big season or a younger gun ready
to light up opposing secondaries due to acquiring some key off-season additions at receiver, there are a load of
candidates that could post solid years ranked in the top 20 or so. However, be warned. Don't wait too long to grab your quarterback. For the
exact same reason you are considering a "Quarterback Free-Fall", your opponents will be considering grabbing one of these
lottery ticket players as a backup. An explosive, but often injured quarterback as a backup sounds pretty nice to that
"quarterback guy" in your league. If things work out for that owner and this is the year that quarterback happens to stay healthy, a nice piece of
trade bait would have been acquired for upgrading a weaker performing position later in the season.
The Danger
The emotions that a "Quarterback Free-Fall" will generate during your draft can be tough to handle. Your emotions will fill with excitement,
exhilaration, and fear. Your competitor's emotions will range from indifference to hatred. Oh yes, hatred is where the
danger lies. Others in your league will be keeping an eye on you, and they will stop you if you fall too far. League mates
may begin a back-up quarterback run that will devastate your Quarterback Free-Fall. If the back-up quarterbacks start to
fall off the board before you get your starter, you may find your team being led by a sub-standard quarterback and find yourself saying,
"This is not a beautiful life and this is not a beautiful fantasy football quarterback!"
The Benefits
If you are planning a "Quarterback Free-Fall" for your fantasy football draft, you are conceding that your team will not be led by any of the top quarterbacks listed
in our Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets. Depending on the size of your league, you will have anywhere from two to eight more teams that will need
quarterbacks after the elite quarterbacks are drafted. If you don't select one of these elite quarterbacks, you are probably hoping to get a
mid-range quarterback to fill your quarterback slot. If you are able to grab a jewel of a quarterback later than other teams in your league,
you will have a significant advantage with all of the other positions you have filled while "free-falling" (Maybe three top
running backs and two top wide receivers in the first five rounds).
The Jist
If you pull off your "Quarterback Free-Fall" successfully, you will find your fantasy football team loaded with a good stable of running
backs, wide receivers, maybe an elite tight end, and a quarterback that will keep you close to the big boys. However, if things don't go
your way and you fail to pull your ripcord in time, you will find your team splattered across the preverbal fantasy pavement - led by a
quarterback who couldn't hit a barn with a pass or find the end zone with a map.
