Salary Cap Leagues, Should You Target a Value QB?

Footballguys Staff's Salary Cap Leagues, Should You Target a Value QB? Footballguys Staff Published 07/26/2023

Last year quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Dak Prescott were thought to be mid-tier values at quarterback but performed poorly.

Is there still value to be found after the top seven (Patrick Mahomes II, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, and Justin Fields) with guys like Trevor Lawrence, Deshaun Watson, Daniel Jones, Kirk Cousins, and Geno Smith?

Or is this becoming more like the running back dead zone that we want to avoid?

Our staff answers these questions to help you decide which direction to take.

Note: All answers assume the following criteria:

  • Start 1 QB
  • 4-point passing TDs
  • $200 cap
  • 12 teams

Related: Should You Pay Up for an Elite QB?

Jeff Bell: Lawrence and Watson have the ceiling to land in the top tier. If that is the target, the goal is walking out with both or at least adding Anthony Richardson and one of the others. Given the current values on Footballguys, spending $8 to combine Lawrence and Watson lets you double your chances of one delivering and playing favorable matchups if both do for less than QB8. A wide tier encompassing Jones, Cousins, Smith, Tua Tagovailoa, Dak Prescott, Jared Goff, Aaron Rodgers, and Russell Wilson would be $1 bids on my board. The wildcard is Kyler Murray. Sharper leagues have been more willing to stomach that risk, but a salary cap format with a strong QB1 option is the perfect place to slide him through as a player who can accumulate value.

Dan Hindery: There is value in this mid-tier. Trevor Lawrence stands out the most. He made the leap to superstardom down the stretch last season, and there is a chance that the addition of Calvin Ridley takes this offense to the next level.

Already a subscriber?

Continue reading this content with a ELITE subscription.

An ELITE subscription is required to access content for Salary Cap leagues. If this league is not a Salary Cap league, you can edit your leagues here.

Photos provided by Imagn Images
Share This Article

More by Footballguys Staff

 

The Most Fun (and Realistic) 2026 NFL Draft Landing Spots For Fantasy Football

Dave Kluge

Breaking down the best 2026 NFL Draft landing spots for fantasy football rookies, including QB, RB, WR, and TE fits that could swing fantasy value.

04/13/26 Read More
 

2026 Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: Head-to-Head Superflex Version 2.0

Mike Kashuba

Jeff Bell in the blue corner. Mike Kashuba is in the red. They draft head-to-head in another 2026 dynasty rookie mock draft.

04/13/26 Read More
 

Ideal Pre-Draft Fantasy Landing Spots: RBs

Gary Davenport

Gary Davenport looks at the ideal landing spots for the top RB prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.

04/13/26 Read More
 

Hurts in the Headlines? Don't Worry, Make Plans: The Fantasy Notebook

Bob Harris

Sorting out the chaos with a big-picture look at fantasy-specific news, notes, and analysis from around the NFL.

04/12/26 Read More
 

Drafters ADP Movement: How Best-Ball ADP Is Changing

Clayton Gray

Drafters ADP: A look at the current state of Best-Ball ADP and how it is moving.

04/11/26 Read More
 

Cincinnati Bengals Questions Answered

Jason Wood

A conversation about the most debatable components of the Cincinnati Bengals preseason projections.

04/10/26 Read More