Best-Ball Strategy: QB/TE to Target After Round 10

July 21, 2021

Phil Clark breaks down which quarterbacks (QB) and tight ends (TE) you should target after Round 10 in best ball drafts for the 2021 fantasy football season.

We have nearly reached the onset of training camps, which has intensified our anticipation for the regular season. Many of you are devoting your time during these final weeks toward the construction of rosters in every format. That is why the team at RotoBaller is providing your pathway to draft preparations by delivering continual news updates, data-fueled analysis, and tiered rankings.

That includes our resources for managers who are participating in best-ball leagues. Anyone who has embraced this highly popular format is already aware that the decisions made during every round remain critical. Because the benefit of avoiding all forms of in-season roster management also eliminates your option of using a waiver wire if your players are sidelined, or consistently deliver substandard production. This increases the significance of each selection once your drafts have progressed into the later rounds.

Any doubts regarding the importance of capitalizing on each opportunity throughout the entire draft should be eliminated by a reminder that Joe Burrow (139), Ryan Tannehill (149), Logan Thomas (236), Robert Tonyan (302), and Justin Herbert (326) were all available after Round 10 in last year’s drafts. Here is a group of quarterbacks and tight ends to target after Round 10 of current best-ball drafts, which includes the amazing graphics that were generated by Antonio Losada (@chapulana). You can also find the breakdown of running backs and wide receivers here.

Quarterbacks

Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings (QB128/QB16)

Cousins is currently the 16th quarterback to be selected in best-ball drafts, with an ADP that places him in Round 11. He is spearheading a Minnesota offense that will remain committed to the ground game, while his limited production as a rusher has consisted of 342 yards (7.3 per game) and three touchdowns during his tenure with the Vikings. However, Cousins has performed efficiently in guiding the team’s aerial attack while finishing among the top-13 in scoring during two of his three seasons with Minnesota.

Kirk Cousins has had at least 25 passing touchdowns in each of the last six seasons, the longest active streak in the NFL and a longer streak than any quarterback currently in the Hall of Fame ever had in their career.

— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) December 7, 2020

That includes 2020 when he was QB11, finished sixth with a career-high 35 touchdowns, and was eighth in passing yardage (4,265/267 per game). Cousins was also eighth in completed air yards (2,329) even though he was 14th in intended air yards (4,103). He was also fifth in passing yardage on play-action (1,286) and ninth in Football Outsiders’ DYAR (Defense-Adjusted Yards Above Replacement).

Cousins will enter Week 1 with the luxury of locating Justin Jefferson, who just established a new rookie record for receiving yards (1,400/87.5 per game). Cousins can also deliver 100+ targets to Adam Thielen for the third time in four seasons, while Irv Smith Jr. is an emerging option at tight end.

Cousins has not missed a game due to injury since his first full season as a starter (2015) and has eclipsed 4,000 yards during five of those six seasons. He is a reliable point producer that you can target as your QB2, and remains capable of delivering QB1 results during various weeks of the year.

Justin Fields, Chicago Bears (ADP 140/QB20)

19 quarterbacks are being drafted in current best-ball leagues before Fields is selected in Round 12. This includes a blend of veterans that are being secured after Round 10 (Matt Ryan/Baker Mayfield/Carson Wentz), along with two other members of Fields’ rookie class (Trevor Lawrence/Trey Lance). It is highly recommended that you seize a signal-caller before targeting Fields. But if you are willing to exercise patience before selecting your QB2, then you will be adding a dual-threat resource who possesses the potential to generate more fantasy points than any of the other quarterbacks that were just mentioned.

The 6’3”, 130-pound Fields performed in 22 matchups during two seasons at Ohio State, while completing 396 of his 579 passes (68.7%), producing 5,373 yards (244 per game), and stockpiling 63 touchdowns through the air. Fields also averaged 9.3 yards and 10.7 air yards per attempt while leading the Big Ten in passing yards and passing touchdowns during each of his two seasons.

Fields also accumulated 867 yards (39.4 per game) on the ground while supplementing his production with 15 touchdowns. His enticing speed was also on display at Ohio State’s Pro Day, when he completed the 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.44.

QB Justin Fields clocked a 4.44 40-yard dash ?

(via @NFLBrasil)pic.twitter.com/GByEhLXXFB

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 30, 2021

Chicago’s General Manager Ryan Pace traded multiple draft picks for the opportunity to procure Fields with the 11th overall selection in April’s NFL Draft. This investment was not made with the intention of depending on Andy Dalton to spearhead the Bears’ attack.

Fields’ exceptional athleticism is unquestioned, as is his standing as Chicago’s most talented signal-caller. Any hesitation in drafting him likely involves the concern that Matt Nagy will somehow determine that Dalton should function as the Bears' starter for an excessive number of weeks. However, Fields’ immeasurable upside cannot be dismissed, as he will assemble rushing yardage while also connecting on downfield throws. Those abilities will propel him under center while presenting you with a potential component toward winning your league’s championship.

Tight Ends

Adam Trautman, New Orleans Saints (ADP 121/TE17)

If your strategy for the problematic tight end position involves securing one of the top three options (Travis Kelce/Darren Waller/George Kittle), that will require the use of a top-20 draft selection. You can also target the next four tight ends with ADPs that are contained in Rounds 3-6 (Kyle Pitts/T.J. Hockenson/Mark Andrews/Dallas Goedert). But Trautman presents a viable option in Round 11 that could keep your roster competitive at this position.

He has risen to the top of New Orleans’ depth chart at tight end following an offseason of transition. This provides Trautman with the opportunity to become a consistent point producer within an attack that is lacking dependable receiving weapons - beyond a healthy Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara.

The continued uncertainty surrounding Sean Payton’s blueprint for restructuring New Orleans’ attack has altered expectations for a unit that ranked 12th in total offense (376.4 yards per game) but just 19th in passing (234.9 yards per game) during 2020. The eventual roles for Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill remain unclear, as does the target distribution while Thomas recovers from his recent ankle surgery.

The Saints’ other wide receivers (Tre’Quan Smith/Marquez Callaway/Deonte Harris) will not elicit nightmares for upcoming opponents. Emmanuel Sanders migrated to Buffalo after finishing second on the Saints in targets (82/5.9 per game), receptions (61/4.4 per game), and receiving yards (726/51.9 per game). Jared Cook finished third in targets (60/4 per game) and receiving yardage (504/33.6 per game), but he also departed during the offseason (Chargers). This exodus of Sanders and Cook has launched Trautman into TE1 status for the Saints while placing him in a position to operate as a consistent target for Winston or Hill.

Adam Trautman hauls in the second #Saints TD of the quarter!@DrewBrees has 11 completions to 9 different receivers.

?: #NOvsTB on NBC
?: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/6yfKIAre48 pic.twitter.com/sXtIKdSaDE

— NFL (@NFL) November 9, 2020

The 6’5”, 250-pound Trautman accumulated 70 receptions, 916 yards (83.3 per game), and 14 touchdowns during his senior year (2019) and became a first-team FCS All-American. New Orleans traded up to select him during Round 3 of the NFL Draft, but his usage and output were limited in 2020 (16 targets/15 receptions/171 yards/1 touchdown). However, the runway has been cleared for Trautman to commandeer the responsibilities as New Orleans’ primary tight end. He could also function as a productive weapon in an evolving Saint offense.

Anthony Firkser, Tennessee Titans (ADP 144/TE22)

The challenges of determining when to secure your tight ends during the best-ball draft process have been discussed. But Firkser supplies managers with an additional option for anyone who remains patient with their selections at this nightmarish position. He is currently available until Round 13, even though his path has been cleared to operate as Tennessee's TE1.

Firkser enters his fourth season with unexceptional career averages of 2.3 targets, 1.7 receptions, and 19 yards per game. However, he easily established career highs in each category during 2020 - 53 targets (3.3 per game), 39 receptions (2.4 per game), and 387 yards (24.2 per game). Jonnu Smith paced Tennessee tight ends in targets (65/4.3 per game), receptions (41/2.7 per game), and receiving (448 yards/29.9 per game) while finishing with eight touchdowns. Smith also led Firkser in target share (15.5/11.5) and snap share (74.8/32.8). However, Smith will be performing with New England, which has vaulted Firkser atop the Titans’ depth chart.

.@ryantannehill1 to Anthony Firkser for the @titans TD!

?: #HOUvsTEN on CBS
?: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/Qh00dKLKr7 pic.twitter.com/8AHghcAVyD

— NFL (@NFL) October 18, 2020

Derrick Henry will operate once again as the foundation of Tennessee’s offense, as the transition from Arthur Smith to new offensive coordinator Todd Downing will not drastically alter the Titans’ successful offensive strategy. A.J. Brown and Julio Jones will form one of the league’s most talented and formidable receiving tandems, as Brown will provide fantasy managers with a prolific WR1. Jones retains the potential of performing as a high-end WR2 if he can evade protracted injuries.

However, Tennessee’s other receiving weapons remain unimposing and are unlikely to challenge Firkser as the team’s third option. He should supply Ryan Tannehill with a reliable inside weapon and should attain usage in short-yardage situations.

Only three teams targeted their tight ends with greater frequency than Tennessee last season (29.6%), which occurred during Downing’s second season as the Titans’ tight ends coach. He can be expected to keep Firkser involved on a consistent basis, resulting in target and snap shares that reach or exceed the percentages that were achieved by Smith last season. This should compel managers to consider Firkser at his ADP.

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