Fantasy Football: 5 Potential Rookie QB Stars in 2014

2014 Fantasy Football: Rookie QB Stars

It's no surprise that the past few quarterback draft classes have completely revolutionized fantasy football. Suddenly, rookie quarterbacks are able to become some of the highest-scoring players throughout the entire game.

In my 2011 draft, almost everyone gave the guy who drafted Cam Newton in the fifth round a hard time. By the end of the year, however, we all had our tails between our legs when he was playing for the championship. Newton was unbelievable in his rookie season by throwing for 4,051 yards, rushing for 706 yards, throwing 21 touchdowns and scoring 14 rushing touchdowns. Most people thought that Newton's rookie performance could not be matched, but 2012 welcomed in a new class of talented rookie quarterbacks.

In 2012, two rookie signal callers finished as top-10 fantasy quarterbacks, and one finished 11th. Much like Newton, Robert Griffin III was a dual-threat quarterback who ran for 826 yards and scored seven rushing touchdowns. While Andrew Luck was not as big of a threat on the ground, he still had a great year with 4,374 passing yards, threw 23 passing touchdowns, rushed for 255 yards and scored five rushing touchdowns.

While not as hyped up as Luck or Griffin, Russell Wilson was still able to have a great rookie season in 2012. Wilson threw for 26 touchdowns, and he also rushed for 489 yards with four rushing touchdowns. Wilson also had a great 2013 campaign by finishing as the eighth-highest scoring fantasy football quarterback.

The 2014 NFL Draft class may be the newest breeding ground for star quarterbacks. There may only be one or two quarterbacks who are fantasy relevant in 2014, but Wilson proved that any rookie can lead a team when given the opportunity.

I think that A.J. McCarron and Teddy Bridgewater can have good NFL seasons, but I feel that their fantasy production will be low. Bridgewater will be focused on limiting turnovers and making the right decision instead of being flashy, and McCarron will be a game manager much like Alex Smith. Neither of these approaches will lead to a high-scoring fantasy season.

Here are my potential rookie fantasy football quarterback stars in 2014.

5. Aaron Murray

People are skeptical of Aaron Murray because of his ACL injury, but his knee surgery should not distract teams from his terrific college career. Between 2012 to 2013, Murray passed for 6,968 yards, threw 62 touchdown passes and only threw 19 interceptions. Murray has faced some of the toughest opponents that college football had to offer, and his excellent spiral will help him become a must start in fantasy football.

4. Jimmy Garoppolo

Jimmy Garoppolo may have not been a well-known name before the 2014 NFL Combine, but fantasy players will want to quickly become familiar with the young quarterback. He has been compared to Tony Romo, and his great vision and understanding of the game will quickly make him a valuable addition to any offense that needs a quarterback. The fact that Garoppolo threw 53 touchdowns in 2013 should have most teams drooling.

3. Derek Carr

For you older fantasy football players, please do not hold a grudge against Derek Carr because his brother David Carr cost you a fantasy season at some point. One of the biggest concerns for teams is the fact that Carr normally played out of the shotgun. With great arm strength and athleticism, however, Carr should be able to prove his talent in his rookie season. In 2013, he threw for 50 touchdowns and 5,082 passing yards.

2. Blake Bortles

If you draft Blake Bortles, you are potentially drafting the next Andrew Luck. Bortles showed his ability to throw the ball in 2013 with 25 touchdown passes, but he also scored six rushing touchdowns and ran for 272 yards. Bortles will get the chance to run whatever team drafts him, and he would be a solid quarterback to have on your bench.

1. Johnny Manziel

It should come as no surprise that Johnny Manziel should be the best rookie quarterback in fantasy football by the end of the 2014 season. With 759 rushing yards and 4,114 passing yards in 2013, Manziel is a dual-threat quarterback that fantasy owners will love.

2014 Fantasy Football: Rookie QB Stars

It's no surprise that the past few quarterback draft classes have completely revolutionized fantasy football. Suddenly, rookie quarterbacks are able to become some of the highest-scoring players throughout the entire game.

In my 2011 draft, almost everyone gave the guy who drafted Cam Newton in the fifth round a hard time. By the end of the year, however, we all had our tails between our legs when he was playing for the championship. Newton was unbelievable in his rookie season by throwing for 4,051 yards, rushing for 706 yards, throwing 21 touchdowns and scoring 14 rushing touchdowns. Most people thought that Newton's rookie performance could not be matched, but 2012 welcomed in a new class of talented rookie quarterbacks.

In 2012, two rookie signal callers finished as top-10 fantasy quarterbacks, and one finished 11th. Much like Newton, Robert Griffin III was a dual-threat quarterback who ran for 826 yards and scored seven rushing touchdowns. While Andrew Luck was not as big of a threat on the ground, he still had a great year with 4,374 passing yards, threw 23 passing touchdowns, rushed for 255 yards and scored five rushing touchdowns.

While not as hyped up as Luck or Griffin, Russell Wilson was still able to have a great rookie season in 2012. Wilson threw for 26 touchdowns, and he also rushed for 489 yards with four rushing touchdowns. Wilson also had a great 2013 campaign by finishing as the eighth-highest scoring fantasy football quarterback.

The 2014 NFL Draft class may be the newest breeding ground for star quarterbacks. There may only be one or two quarterbacks who are fantasy relevant in 2014, but Wilson proved that any rookie can lead a team when given the opportunity.

I think that A.J. McCarron and Teddy Bridgewater can have good NFL seasons, but I feel that their fantasy production will be low. Bridgewater will be focused on limiting turnovers and making the right decision instead of being flashy, and McCarron will be a game manager much like Alex Smith. Neither of these approaches will lead to a high-scoring fantasy season.

Here are my potential rookie fantasy football quarterback stars in 2014.

5. Aaron Murray

People are skeptical of Aaron Murray because of his ACL injury, but his knee surgery should not distract teams from his terrific college career. Between 2012 to 2013, Murray passed for 6,968 yards, threw 62 touchdown passes and only threw 19 interceptions. Murray has faced some of the toughest opponents that college football had to offer, and his excellent spiral will help him become a must start in fantasy football.

4. Jimmy Garoppolo

Jimmy Garoppolo may have not been a well-known name before the 2014 NFL Combine, but fantasy players will want to quickly become familiar with the young quarterback. He has been compared to Tony Romo, and his great vision and understanding of the game will quickly make him a valuable addition to any offense that needs a quarterback. The fact that Garoppolo threw 53 touchdowns in 2013 should have most teams drooling.

3. Derek Carr

For you older fantasy football players, please do not hold a grudge against Derek Carr because his brother David Carr cost you a fantasy season at some point. One of the biggest concerns for teams is the fact that Carr normally played out of the shotgun. With great arm strength and athleticism, however, Carr should be able to prove his talent in his rookie season. In 2013, he threw for 50 touchdowns and 5,082 passing yards.

2. Blake Bortles

If you draft Blake Bortles, you are potentially drafting the next Andrew Luck. Bortles showed his ability to throw the ball in 2013 with 25 touchdown passes, but he also scored six rushing touchdowns and ran for 272 yards. Bortles will get the chance to run whatever team drafts him, and he would be a solid quarterback to have on your bench.

1. Johnny Manziel

It should come as no surprise that Johnny Manziel should be the best rookie quarterback in fantasy football by the end of the 2014 season. With 759 rushing yards and 4,114 passing yards in 2013, Manziel is a dual-threat quarterback that fantasy owners will love.