Superflex Quarterback Targets – Fantasy Football 2022

In Superflex fantasy football leagues, we often get caught up with making sure we land quarterbacks early and often. One key goal that I have in Superflex drafts is to come away with two starting quarterbacks before rounds four or five.

Regardless of what your goals are as you head into the draft, things don’t always work out. What happens if the draft goes how you didn’t expect it to?  If the value is there and you bypass your quarterback early, can you still grab a later, high upside, pick? There are many options late if you choose this route.

Early on, there are some good options to choose from depending on where you pick. The top half of the first round is almost always a given with the names going from Josh Allen to Joe Burrow, but what about the tier after that? How far is too far to wait? What late options do I have if I decide not to have both of my quarterbacks drafted early?

Early Targets

Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Jalen Hurts is a very popular pick this season in all formats and is a popular breakout candidate. Every season people look for the Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen type of breakout quarterbacks, and Hurts fills every box. He is mobile, and he looked very good in his limited preseason action against the Jets. The Eagles went out this offseason and made a huge splash adding AJ Brown in a trade with the Tennessee Titans. The Eagles also have 2021 1st Round pick DeVonta Smith.

Last season, Hurts threw for 3,144 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. He also rushed 139 times for 784 yards and 10 additional touchdowns. All of this while he was in his rookie season without a true WR1. Hurts is an easy high upside pick at the start of the third round, and there is a likelihood that next season we are talking about Hurts in the top five or 10 picks.

Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers

Everyone is on the Trey Lance hype this season. I almost didn’t want to have him in this column because it’s a given, but it’s hard to ignore Lance’s upside. The 49ers have committed to Lance for the future. While they still have Jimmy Garoppolo, he is not a threat at any point to take Lance’s job. In his first preseason action this year, Lance completed 4/5 passes for 92 yards with a 76-yard touchdown pass.

There was speculation all offseason that Lance’s top target, Deebo Samuel would be traded. That was put to rest when Samuel signed a three-year extension. Fellow wide receiver, Brandon Aiyuk is also primed for a breakout season. The 49ers have one of the top ranked offensive lines in football and should be able to give Lance plenty of time in the pocket. Lance is going right around the end of the second, early third round in Superflex drafts.

Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders

Derek Carr is a fantasy football sleeper every season. The Raiders made a huge addition by trading for Davante Adams. Adams and Carr played together at Fresno State, so there is a personal connection and professional connection. Last season, Carr threw for 4,804 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.

This season, Carr will be throwing to not only Adams, but also Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller. It is very realistic that Carr can throw for over 5,000 yards, and he’s being drafted at the end of the fourth round in Superflex leagues.

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Late Targets

Matt Ryan, Indianapolis Colts

Matt Ryan moved from the Atlanta Falcons to the Indianapolis Colts this offseason. Ryan goes from one of the worst teams in the league on paper to a playoff contender overnight. The Colts have a very solid future WR1 in Michael Pittman, rookie Alec Pierce, and the number one running back in football, Jonathan Taylor, to go with a top-tier offensive line.

Last season in Atlanta, Ryan threw for 3,968 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. This was while missing Calvin Ridley, his WR1. Moving to the Colts is a big step for Ryan, and the fact that he is going in round 12 in Superflex drafts is a steal. Taking Ryan as your QB3 is a no-brainer because the talent and upside are both absolutely there, making him a nice value this year.

Baker Mayfield, Carolina Panthers

Baker Mayfield is projected to be the starter for the Carolina Panthers. Mayfield was traded to the Panthers after the Browns signed Deshaun Watson. Baker played last season through a torn labrum, which is extremely painful to play through. Despite the injury, Mayfield still threw for 3,010 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. All on a Browns team that lost his top receiver, Odell Beckham. Mayfield got a bad deal with the Browns, and people seem to forget he led them to the playoffs when he was healthy.

Now Mayfield goes to a Carolina Panthers team with DJ Moore and Christian McCaffrey. When Sam Darnold was starting the first few games last season, he led them to a 3-0 start and was putting up big numbers. When McCaffrey went down, that all changed. Right now, Mayfield is going around round nine but has some upside to surprise a lot of people.

Davis Mills, Houston Texans

Davis Mills was not the starter to begin the season in 2021, but once he got the job, he played as one of, if not the best, rookie quarterbacks last season. Mills threw for 2,664 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He also completed 67% of his passes. The Texans are in rebuild mode and are seeing if the 2021 rookie is the quarterback of their future. The Texans signed Brandin Cooks to a two-year extension, and drafted rookie running back Dameon Pierce who is looking like their starter already.

Mills is playing for his job but has a very good chance to stick out this season. He is currently being drafted in the middle of the seventh round. If you need a QB2, and Mills is sitting there in that range, it’s a very safe option as there’s really no one threatening to take this job away from him this year, and the Texans should be playing from behind a lot this year.

Quarterback to Avoid

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers for years has been a very consistent and valuable fantasy football asset. This season, however, he does not have an established WR1 with the trade of Adams, and they may need to lean on the passing game more often. Right now, Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins, Christian Watson, and Romeo Doubs are his top options.

Aaron Jones and AJ Dillion should both see plenty of work out of the backfield. Still, in a season where Rodgers has so much uncertainty with his receiving corps, I don’t want to take the risk, especially when he has an ADP of round four or five in Superflex. I would rather draft Carr at that range.

Late-Round Sleeper

Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons

Desmond Ridder is not currently the starting quarterback for the Falcons, that job belongs to Marcus Mariota. But for how long? Ridder led a comeback win in his preseason debut going 10 of 22 for 103 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed six times for 59 yards. He is currently being drafted as QB31, right before the start of the 12^thround. Ridder has rushing upside, a stud tight end in Kyle Pitts, and an exciting rookie Drake London. He won’t start right away, but this is a pick that could pay off mid-season.

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