X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Teddy Bridgewater - A Path to Start in 2018?

Is there a chance that former first-round pick Teddy Bridgewater can climb his way back to fantasy relevance in 2018? Rotoballer's Sean Scampton dives into the quarterback stable of the New York Jets to find out.

It’s reasonable to be a little bearish on the Teddy Bridgewater’s chances of playing a real NFL snap in 2018. In fact, it’s actually a safe bet. Las Vegas sports books would agree with that assertion, by the way. Of five prominent sports books that provided futures odds on quarterbacks to win the passing yards title in 2018, none had Bridgewater as even an option, while listing teammates Josh McCown and Sam Darnold as far greater bets to take the lead heading into the season opener at Detroit on September 10th.

Truthfully, this isn’t that surprising. After all, the former Louisville Cardinal hasn’t seen meaningful game time in two full seasons while recovering from a truly devastating non-contact knee injury. Once considered Minnesota’s quarterback of the future when they traded up to select him 32nd overall in the 2014 draft, Bridgewater had been replaced not once but twice by Sam Bradford, by way of an outrageous trade with Philadelphia, and journeyman-turned-shoulda-been-Pro Bowler Case Keenum. The Vikings elected to let him and every other passer on the roster walk to make Kirk Cousins a very rich man, leaving Bridgewater to quietly sign with the New York Jets as a backup(?) veteran Josh McCown. The Jets then drafted Sam Darnold to put Teddy squarely in the back seat of fans’ collective consciousness. As it looks today, the only way the former first-rounder sees the field is a quick Josh McCown injury and a Sam Darnold bust campaign. Barring a trade to a quarterback-needy squad, a single season doesn’t seem like enough time for Bridgewater to claw his way back to the field with Gang Green.

But there is a very real chance that is exactly what he’s going to do.

Editor's Note: Explore RotoBaller’s Dynasty Fantasy Football hub for year-round dynasty rankings, trade tips, rookie analysis, and long-term player outlooks. Dominate your league with our sleepers, stash targets, and dynasty draft advice. Click here for Dynasty rankings and strategy.

 

Playing for the Jets Could Actually Be a Good Thing

Let’s start with Josh McCown. Despite going into camp as the unquestioned starter, he currently ranks on fantasy boards as the 40th quarterback, seven spots below the rookie Darnold. Suffice to say, this is the fantasy community’s way of expressing doubt in the journeyman, even coming off of the best full season in his career. Count myself and many of us at Rotoballer.com just as bearish on McCown’s chances of repeating his 18-touchdown 2017 campaign. For a deeper look…

If, or more likely when, McCown falters, fans expect Darnold to get the first look. However, there’s nothing to suggest that the Jets are chomping at throw their shiny new toy into the fire. This is probably ideal for the former Spartan’s development as a player, but obviously not helpful for his fantasy outlook in 2018. But, even if we don’t really expect Darnold to get meaningful snaps this season, let’s explore what could happen if he does.

Sam Darnold comes to the NFL after fabulous success in the NCAA with USC. He was widely expected to be the top quarterback prospect available in the 2018 draft and, while he didn’t disappoint, he didn’t excite nearly as much as Baker Mayfield, Josh Rosen, or even Lamar Jackson. He was viewed as the “safest prospect” among the passers in 2018, and the Browns surprised many with their selection of the cocky, fiery Mayfield instead of Darnold. Scouts are concerned about his decision-making and ability to fit the ball into the tightest of windows. He’s also not tremendously athletic, just very productive. I’m not going to get too deep into evaluating quarterback prospects, but the track record of teams throwing a first rounder into the top spot without much in the way of offensive talent isn’t good. Worst case scenario, Darnold gets jerked around ala’ Geno Smith, where he was given the starting job, got benched, then got the job back. I don’t know much about the psyches of professional quarterbacks, but it’s not typically a good situation for a growing player. The Jets, to their credit, seem to know this and appear to be comfortable being patient, which supports the notion that Teddy Bridgewater will take meaningful snaps in 2018.

Darnold has looked reasonably polished in preseason thus far, going completing 21 of 29 for 158 yards with a touchdown and a pick. Preseason means very little in terms of translating success to the regular season, which means that those stats mean almost nothing and there’s almost no point in going deeper. Honestly, the most important note is that Darnold doesn’t look scared, the first and most glaring sign of a bust (hi, Ryan Leaf!!).

Real quick, here’s a fun note, even though it’s not really “useful” data in regards to analyzing Sam Darnold’s fantasy value in 2018. Since the 1998 NFL Draft, 20 years ago, four or more quarterbacks were selected in the first round just six times, this season included. The list is below, but fair warning, it’s ugly.

1999: 1 Tim Couch; 2. Donovan McNabb, 3. Akili Smith, 11. Daunte Culpepper, 12. Cade McNown

2003: 1 Carson Palmer, 7 Byron Leftwich, 19 Kyle Boller, 22 Rex Grossman

2004: 1 Eli Manning, 4 Phillip Rivers, 11 Ben Roethlisberger, 22 J.P. Losman

2011: 1 Cam Newton, 8 Jake Locker, 10 Blaine Gabbert, 12 Christian Ponder

2012: 1 Andrew Luck, 2 Robert Griffin III, 3 Ryan Tannehill, 4 Brandon Weeden

2018: 1 Baker Mayfield, 3 Sam Darnold, 7 Josh Allen, 10 Josh Rosen, 32 Lamar Jackson

Of these six drafts, just two produced more than one Pro Bowl caliber quarterback. In 1999, McNabb and Culpepper set out breaking records and proving to be stars. And in 2004, Manning, Rivers, and Roethlisberger all went on to become true franchise quarterbacks and legends for teams. But… that’s all. And, yes, I know that RGIII made the Pro Bowl in 2012, but are you really going to argue that he wasn’t a massive bust? The point here is that playing quarterback is hard and picking quarterbacks that are good is hard too. Despite draft stock and college pedigree, they flame out more often than not, further adding doubt to Sam Darnold’s fantasy football stock for 2018.

Regarding Teddy Bridgewater’s preseason performance, going 17 for 23 with a pick and two scores, it’s also important to note that he did not look scared. He looked confident and crisp, even on that once decimated knee. More importantly, he has some real chemistry with the Jet’s skill players. Go back and watch highlights that include the huddle, and there’s a noticeable difference when Bridgewater is in the game versus Darnold. That’s not the kind of thing that, by itself, would lead a team to yield the starting quarterback position. But keep in mind that Todd Bowles may be fighting for his job this year. If McCown or Darnold comes out weak and that seat starts getting hotter, it wouldn’t be terribly surprising to see Bowles give the job to the guy that makes his teammates want to run through walls.

 

Could Teddy B. Really Stage a Comeback?

It’s clear that the New York Jets’ quarterback situation is, shall we say, less than stable. But the question isn’t “are all Jets QBs bad?” The question really is “can Teddy Bridgewater be good?” As in, good enough to earn the job over a rookie and the dictionary definition of a journeyman? The answer is likely yes.

Most of what we have to go on is anecdotal tales of Bridgewater’s incredible recovery from a career-threatening injury. Bridgewater has attempted exactly two passes since his knee imploded, one of them resulting in a pick. But those two passes actually tell us quite a bit. You can find video of those plays and the first thing you notice is that Bridgewater isn’t favoring his knee, he’s not trying to protect it, nor is he making uncharacteristic decisions to hide it. The first thing you realize is, frankly, he looked like himself, save for a fair amount of rust on his arm. If the former first-rounder can come out for his first action in two seasons and immediately look like he can be himself before the injury, there’s a chance he can return to the prospective franchise QB some teams thought he could be during the draft. There are multiple routes to earning the job this season and, while he might not be draftable out of the gate, the savvy owner will have Teddy B on their watch list without question.

More Draft Sleepers and Values




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Cooper Flagg

Shut Down for Rest of Summer League
LeBron James

Hasn't Requested a Trade
Quinshon Judkins

Following Quinshon Judkins Arrest, NFL Declines Comment
Travis Hunter

Earning Praise in Jaguars Camp for Work Ethic
Memphis Grizzlies

Cole Anthony, Grizzlies Agree to Contract Buyout
Edward Cabrera

Hopeful to Avoid Injured List
Oneil Cruz

Absent on Sunday
Lars Nootbaar

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Jake Burger

Scratched on Sunday
Iván Herrera

Ivan Herrera Back in Action on Sunday
Sean Manaea

Reinstated From Injured List
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Julius Chestnut

Kalel Mullings Competing for RB3 Role
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
Carlos Correa

Returns to Twins Lineup
Connor Norby

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Kimani Vidal

Fighting for No. 3 Job
Cam Hart

Recovering From Shoulder Surgery
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
Quentin Johnston

Might Not Get Many Chances to Prove Himself
Tre Harris

Officially a Holdout
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

. Should Move Up on Sunday
Ross Chastain

is a Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Josh Berry

Should Be Avoided in Fantasy at Sonoma
Chris Buescher

is A Great DFS Option to Consider for Sonoma Lineups
Riley Herbst

a Deep Sleeper at Sonoma
Joey Logano

May be A Sneaky DFS Option Who Can Pay Off for Sonoma Lineups
Austin Cindric

Could Austin Cindric Work for DFS Lineups at Sonoma?
Carson Hocevar

Is Carson Hocevar Worth Rostering For Sonoma DFS Lineups?
John Hunter Nemechek

Is John Hunter Nemechek A Sneaky DFS Play for Sonoma?
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Probably More Valuable for DFS If He Doesn't Flip the Stage
Alec Bohm

Unlikely to Play on Sunday
Travis Etienne Jr.

Needs to Bounce Back in 2025
Wan'Dale Robinson

Wants More Downfield Opportunities this Season
Brady House

Homers Twice on Saturday
Quinshon Judkins

Arrested on Saturday for Battery and Domestic Violence
Alec Bohm

Makes Early Exit on Saturday
Brandon Woodruff

Records 10 Strikeouts
Byron Buxton

Continues to Shine, Hits for Cycle in Win
Garrett Crochet

Dazzles in Complete Game Shutout of Rays
Terry McLaurin

Could be a Holdout at Training Camp
Roger McCreary

a Candidate for a Contract Extension?
Max Fried

Exits Start With Blister
Mike Evans

Buccaneers Could Have Difficult Time Retaining Mike Evans
Charles Cross

Could Sign Extension Before Training Camp
Xavier Restrepo

One to Watch Going into Training Camp
Calvin Ridley

Appears Re-Energized
Mark Andrews

Still a Key Piece in Ravens Offense
Ndamukong Suh

Officially Announces his Retirement
Jaylen Waddle

Motivated After Disappointing Season
Tre Harris

Still Unsigned
Hunter Dobbins

to Miss Rest of Season With Torn ACL
Nolan Arenado

Held Out of Lineup on Saturday
Alexandre Sarr

Plays Well in Summer League Loss to Phoenix
Yang Hansen

Looks Good on Friday Night
Carlos Correa

Sitting on Saturday
Austin Riley

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Nolan Arenado

Exits Friday's Contest With Sprained Finger
Jake Burger

Expects to Play on Saturday
Erik Karlsson

Open to Move Away From Pittsburgh
Zach Hyman

Hopes to be Ready for Start of Next Season
SJ

Jeff Skinner Joins Sharks on One-Year Contract
Kon Knueppel

Struggles in Summer League Win
Walter Clayton Jr.

Plays Well on Friday Night
Cody Williams

Scores 21 Points in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Leads the Way on Friday Night
Sauce Gardner

Wants to be Highest-Paid Cornerback
Isaiah Jackson

Signs Three-Year Extension
Marvin Bagley III

Joining the Wizards
Herbert Jones

Signing Extension with Pelicans
Jacob Toppin

Returning to Hawks
Dalton Knecht

Avoids Serious Injury
Javon Small

Signs Two-Way Deal
Ryan Reaves

Traded to Sharks
Vladislav Kolyachonok

Moves to Dallas
Matt Dumba

Lands in Pittsburgh
Mackie Samoskevich

Re-Signs with Panthers on One-Year Deal
Josh Manson

Inks Two-Year Extension with Avalanche
EDM

Isaac Howard Signs Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract With Oilers
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF