Finding the Right Backup QB

Clayton Gray's Finding the Right Backup QB Clayton Gray Published 08/24/2021

This article makes two assumptions:

  • You want to have a Top 10 quarterback
  • You want to start that quarterback every week he plays

If that doesn't describe you, go check out our quarterback by committee (QBBC) article.

Now that all those committee players are out of here let's get down to business and find your backup quarterback.

Top 10 Quarterbacks

If you're drafting a Top 10 signal-caller, that means you're looking at one of these guys:

And that guy is your every-week starter. All season long. Well, except for that pesky bye week. In most leagues, you'll want to grab a backup and come out of the draft with two quarterbacks.

Borderline Starters

By most accounts, there is a trio of quarterbacks just below the Top 10.

We won't count these three guys as potential backups. They will be worth starting at least a few times regardless of your starting quarterback.

But everyone else is on the table.

Finding Backups

Finding the right backup quarterback will be based on three things:

  • Bye week compatibility - This seems obvious, but your backup quarterback can't have the same bye week as your starter.
  • Projected fantasy points scored - Better players make for better backups, so quarterbacks projected to score more points will generally be higher on the complementary backup list.
  • Strength of schedule - Weaker opponents make for better performances, so quarterbacks facing weak defenses will generally be higher on the complementary backup list.

Using the Draft Dominator

Before we go any further, know that the following work is based on a standard scoring system. It's not bad to go with standard scoring, but you can do better. The Draft Dominator will find complementary quarterbacks (and every other position, for that matter) and do it based on your custom scoring.

To find complementary players, all you have to do is click/tap the "* More" menu just above the player list in the Draft Dominator.

Week 7 Complementary Backups

Here are the top backups for

Backup Quarterback
Fantasy Points
Backup Quarterback
Fantasy Points
Tua Tagovailoa - Mia 25.19 Bridgewater/Lock - Den 21.84
Derek Carr - LV 23.19 Fields/Dalton - Chi 21.07
Newton/Jones - NE 22.08 Lance/Garoppolo - SF 19.51
Winston/Hill - NO 21.94 Matt Ryan - Atl 19.27

Week 8 Complementary Backups

Here are the top backups for

Backup Quarterback
Fantasy Points
Backup Quarterback
Fantasy Points
Trevor Lawrence - Jac 25.35 Ben Roethlisberger - Pit 22.35
Carson Wentz - Ind 24.86 Newton/Jones - NE 21.61
Sam Darnold - Car 23.59 Tua Tagovailoa - Mia 21.50
Kirk Cousins - Min 23.15 Jared Goff - Det 20.82

Week 9 Complementary Backups

Here are the top backups for

Backup Quarterback
Fantasy Points
Backup Quarterback
Fantasy Points
Tua Tagovailoa - Mia 24.77 Trevor Lawrence - Jac 21.89
Lance/Garoppolo - SF 22.45 Kirk Cousins - Min 21.35
Carson Wentz - Ind 22.43 Bridgewater/Lock - Den 21.33
Winston/Hill - NO 22.20 Daniel Jones - NYG 20.50

Week 12 Complementary Backups

Here are the top backups for

Backup Quarterback
Fantasy Points
Backup Quarterback
Fantasy Points
Fields/Dalton - Chi 27.54 Ryan Fitzpatrick - Was 24.06
Trevor Lawrence - Jac 25.65 Zach Wilson - NYJ 22.7
Matt Ryan - Atl 24.91 Derek Carr - LV 22.62
Newton/Jones - NE 24.47 Daniel Jones - NYG 22.19

Week 13 Complementary Backups

Here are the top backups for

Kirk Cousins - Min 27.22 Zach Wilson - NYJ 21.56
Lance/Garoppolo - SF 24.74 Ryan Fitzpatrick - Was 21.02
Carson Wentz - Ind 23.6 Winston/Hill - NO 20.23
Fields/Dalton - Chi 23.05 Newton/Jones - NE 20.17

Photos provided by Imagn Images

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