Finding the Right Backup QB

Photo: Daniel Powers, USA Today Sports

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:

• Josh Allen, Buf/7
• Dak Prescott, Dal/7
• Justin Herbert, LAC/7
• Lamar Jackson, Bal/8
• Tom Brady, TB/9
• Russell Wilson, Sea/9
• Kyler Murray, Ari/12
• Patrick Mahomes II, KC/12
• Aaron Rodgers, GB/13
• Ryan Tannehill, Ten/13

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.

• Jalen Hurts
• Matthew Stafford
• Joe Burrow

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

• Josh Allen, Buf/7
• Dak Prescott, Dal/7
• Justin Herbert, LAC/7

Week 8 Complementary Backups

Here are the top backups for

• Lamar Jackson, Bal/8

Week 9 Complementary Backups

Here are the top backups for

• Tom Brady, TB/9
• Russell Wilson, Sea/9

Week 12 Complementary Backups

Here are the top backups for

• Kyler Murray, Ari/12
• Patrick Mahomes II, KC/12

Week 13 Complementary Backups

Here are the top backups for

• Aaron Rodgers, GB/13
• Ryan Tannehill, Ten/13