The Perfect Pair - Finding a QB1 Duo

Whether you subscribe to the best quarterback philosophy or the late-round quarterback philosophy, we are having the same goal in mind. We want the players most likely to get us the win, on a week-to-week basis as well as the season-long championship. The likes of Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers will help you for sure. But at what cost?

For those of us who want to build the most solid roster possible, this may not be the best path forward. We would rather have a quarterback or two who will provide nearly as much scoring potential on a weekly basis and get better players in other areas, thereby gaining a bigger advantage over those who draft the quarterbacks going too early in drafts.

If you are going to wait on a quarterback and take a duo of later-round players, there are some keys. The first being to get someone with some safety. It is great to have the rush ability of Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson. However if the rushing game doesn’t pan out and you end up relying on the passing game, their ceiling is capped. This is why along with one of these players you want someone with the passing upside as well, with a player such as Kirk Cousins or Ben Roethlisberger. Make sure you have a mixture of a solid mid-level floor along with your extreme ceiling play. So, who is the perfect pair for this game plan? Here is one duo to look at.

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The Safe Guy: Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers

ADP: QB14, Pick 10.09

Despite Patrick Mahomes getting all the headlines last season, Philip Rivers had a treat of a season also.

While not as flashy as Mahomes, he led the Chargers to a playoff berth and was actually far more consistent than any other quarterback in 2018. In 16 games, he threw for 4,308 yards and had 32 touchdowns. He was also the last quarterback in the NFL to not throw for at least two touchdowns in a game. That's a feat he completed in his first 11 games last season. Did he have the 450 yards and four touchdowns game we have seen from him in the past? No. But remember, he is our safe pick, and this is a great floor play each week.

The schedule starts off a bit tough for the Chargers. They have to go against two rather good defenses in the first three weeks in Indianapolis and Houston. But with Keenan Allen and company, they are going to score points anyway. Within their division, they get to play the Chiefs Defense and Raiders Defense twice. Yes, please. Rivers is a great value in the late 10th round of fantasy drafts. Is he a steal? No. But this is more due to the fact no quarterback should be taken high and therefore none are a true steal late either.

Getting Rivers as your QB one for fantasy is a solid play which gives you wonderful opportunity to get elite players at another position with your earlier picks instead of a quarterback. If Melvin Gordon keeps holding out or is traded, they will rely on the passing game more than ever, which only improves Rivers' stock.

The Flier Pick: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

ADP: QB17, Pick 11.12

This may not seem as much of a flier. Well, you are right, at least when compared to Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson. But this is where the key is: Prescott is being drafted in the same range as those players but presents a much higher floor.

More importantly, he also nearly the same type of rushing ability as either of the other guys but with a caveat: he can throw the ball. Oh, and he has good receivers also.

John Brown, Robert Foster and Willie Snead may be nice players, but they are not Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. The Ravens and Bills also do not have one of the proven top offensive lines in the NFL like the Cowboys. A line only made better with the return of Travis Frederick this season.

Yes, Baltimore and Buffalo have large running back rooms. But no one is as elite as Ezekiel Elliott who, although not now, will be there for Week 1. With a player like Elliott in the backfield along with a top-15 receiver in Cooper out wide, Dak Prescott could take a big jump this season. A big jump is a good thing considering up to this point in his career, he has never finished outside the top-12 for fantasy at the position. This means a finish inside the top-10 is not out of the question for Prescott.

I mentioned his running ability. I am not going to beat this to death as everyone knows the stat. But it is still important to bring up as it does add to his upside. He has never finished with less than six rush touchdowns in any season of his career. This means even last season when Elliott had 300 rush attempts and 80 receptions, Prescott still had that floor. If you can add six rush touchdowns to go along with his 3,800 pass yards and 28 touchdowns this boosts his value.

The last pick of the 11th round is a small price to pay for a player poised to enter the top-10 fantasy ranks at the quarterback position. If you pair him with a player like Rivers, you are set at the position.

Oh, and by the way. Where Philip Rivers has a tough opening schedule? Prescott? Well, not so much. He opens the season with games against the Giants, Redskins, and Dolphins.

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