2021 Fantasy Football Draft Prep: Teddy Bridgewater will start for the Broncos. How much does it matter?

We’re nonetheless ready to seek out out who will win the beginning quarterback jobs for groups such because the Patriots and Saints, and it is nonetheless not clear precisely who will begin for Washington and San Francisco amongst others as we head into the ultimate week of coaching camp. However we did discover out who will likely be beginning for 2 groups on Wednesday, and whereas it got here as no shock in anyway that Trevor Lawrence was named the starter for the Jaguars, the Broncos saying that Teddy Bridgewater will begin definitely has some ramifications for the Fantasy prospects of the Broncos bevy of proficient younger playmakers. 

This is what you want to know in regards to the Jaguars beginning Lawrence: Duh. He was the No. 1 total decide within the NFL Draft, and regardless of City Meyer’s protestations on the contrary, he was all the time going to begin Week 1 barring a catastrophe. Lawrence hasn’t been terribly spectacular in preseason motion to this point — and we have heard a number of the similar from observe — however there isn’t any cause to begin Gardner Minshew over him. 

Lawrence could undergo some rising pains in his first yr because the starter, however he additionally unquestionably  brings a ton of upside to the Jaguars passing sport. D.J. Chark, Laviska Shenault, and Marvin Jones are all being drafted within the WR3/4 vary, and all three should go there as potential breakout gamers.

Now that that is out of the best way, let’s speak in regards to the Broncos naming Bridgewater their beginning quarterback and what it means for his or her offense.

For one factor, it implies that Drew Lock did not present the development the Broncos wanted to see. He bought the primary reps in observe and began the primary preseason game, and it certain regarded just like the staff was going to provide him each likelihood to win the job. It was a contest, but when he did what he wanted to do, he would have received it. That he did not means that Lock nearly definitely is not a part of the Broncos long-term plans, which makes it much more curious that they did not take a QB within the first spherical this yr, however that is one other subject. 

The variations between Lock and Bridgewater could not be extra stark. Lock is your basic gunslinger — 8.8 supposed air yards per try final season, third highest amongst starters — and Bridgewater is your basic sport supervisor — 7.1 IAY/A. All by camp, Lock has talked about enhancing his determination making and eliminating a number of the errors in his sport, however he has additionally acknowledged that he is all the time going to be the type of quarterback who’s keen to take dangers. That gave him the upper ceiling on this competitors, and gave the Broncos offense the next ceiling in consequence. 

What Bridgewater brings to the desk is stability. The next flooring, in different phrases. Bridgewater is unlikely to show this into an elite offense, after all. The ability place expertise is there, and the offensive line is sweet sufficient, which is why many within the Fantasy group — myself included — have been rooting for Lock to take the job. If he might handle to restrict the errors, his downfield tendencies might have confirmed extraordinarily priceless. Bridgewater brings a way of predictability. You recognize what you are going to get from him. 

Traditionally, that has meant environment friendly play with few errors, but in addition only a few touchdowns. His 3.4% profession landing price is among the many lowest of any quarterback with at the least 1,500 move makes an attempt this decade. Even final season, with dynamic playmakers like D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, and Curtis Samuel round him, Bridgewater had only a 3.0% landing price. I might guess he’ll enhance on that in 2021, however it’s not like Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and Noah Fant are that a lot higher than the Panthers trio Bridgewater performed with final season. 

With Bridgewater in at QB as an alternative of Lock, I am growing the staff’s yards per try on passing performs, since you determine completion percentages needs to be larger throughout the board. I will decrease yards per catch for Jeudy and Sutton barely, as a result of Bridgewater is not going to push the ball down the sector as usually as Lock does, although I nonetheless suppose each ought to hit on loads of massive performs — it simply would possibly take some extra work after the catch. Jeudy and Sutton transfer up only a tad within the rankings, as does Fant, and I believe you can make a case that Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon would possibly deserve a bump, too — fewer passing touchdowns within the purple zone probably means extra dashing touchdowns. 

Total, I am pondering this will likely be a comparatively small change in total worth for the Broncos’ ability gamers, regardless of the very completely different approaches and ability units of Lock and Bridgewater. Partially that is as a result of, whereas they go about it other ways, Lock and Bridgewater aren’t all that far aside in my estimate — although Bridgewater is higher. But it surely’s additionally as a result of the vary of outcomes is a bit narrower now. If Lock had made a leap, this offense had top-10 potential, however it might even have gone very poorly if he performed like he did a yr in the past. 

That is an thrilling offense, and what Bridgewater lacks in pleasure himself, he makes up for by being a gradual hand on the wheel. With this sort of expertise round him, that could possibly be sufficient for this offense to take a step ahead. 

So which sleepers, breakouts and busts do you have to goal and fade? And which QB shocks the NFL with a top-five efficiency? Visit SportsLine now to get Fantasy cheat sheets for every single position, all from the model that called Josh Allen’s huge season, and discover out.