Whispers in Football: The Rise of QBs

Whispers have become quite the trend lately. I mean, think about it. Robert Redford was “The Horse Whisperer” in that ’98 movie, right? And Cesar Milan? He got dubbed the dog whisperer back in 2004, plus he was even called the tight end whisperer by fantasy football fans in 2017.

Being a “whisperer” is kind of a big deal. It suggests a person really knows their stuff in a specific area. So, when Liam Cohen earned the title of quarterback whisper in 2022, fans of the Jaguars and fantasy football managers began to focus on Trevor Lawrence. Could this finally be the season he breaks out?

When fantasy managers took Baker Mayfield in the 14th round in 2023, I wonder how many realized the divine intervention at play. After his trade from Carolina to Los Angeles in 2022, he clicked with Cohen, who was the Rams’ assistant quarterback coach at the time.

The duo teamed up, and beyond a modest five-game stint, Cohen’s insights helped elevate Mayfield into an efficient NFL quarterback, someone worthy of the fantasy spotlight.

Mayfield carried those lessons over to Tampa Bay in 2023, notching career-highs in passing yards, touchdowns, and completion rates. He was surprising, opening up the downfield game in ways many didn’t anticipate.

Fast forward to 2024, and Mayfield’s stats soared even higher after rejoining Cohen. Not only did he surpass his previous career bests in passing yards and touchdowns, but his 71.4% completion rate was the top figure in the league over 12 games. His 108.1 QB rating was a solid third place. Cohen’s efforts with Mayfield garnered praise across NFL circles and made him a top candidate when the Jaguars were seeking a new head coach.

Fantasy Football DVQ: A Key Draft Tool

Now, let’s talk about fantasy football. The latest version of the Fantasy Madman’s player rating system is here. After tweaking and enhancing the database, it’s more streamlined and flavorful. This is where you want to look for draft value quotients (DVQ).

So, the DVQ assesses players comprehensively, balancing their value according to the depth of their positions. Each player’s DVQ rating shows when the expected production lines up with their draft value, and it’s kind of like a race. While top-tier players might have a DVQ of 1.0, those further down could sit around 13.3. The drafting pool? It’s often tighter than you think, with only percentage points separating the players.

So buckle up, do your homework, and gear up for those drafts using the DVQ system.

Now, looking at Trevor Lawrence, his journey over the past four years in the NFL hasn’t been a smooth one. His rookie season was marred by the coaching turmoil with Urban Meyer, which kind of gave him a pass, I guess.

Things turned around under Doug Pederson in 2022, but then there was a slight regression in year three.

He showed promise; the stats looked great, yet 14 interceptions raised eyebrows. An injury-plagued season meant he only played in 10 games last year, but no one can deny his talent. Teaming up with Cohen now, many are hoping for that long-anticipated breakout.

Sure, some folks are still wary of Lawrence due to past disappointments. Yet, with an average draft position around 140, he’s poised as a QB20 in many drafts. If you trust Cohen can turn things around, he might just be a steal.

Imagine the growth Mayfield experienced, and then envision the possibilities for Lawrence.

You don’t need to reach for him as the first quarterback, but waiting a bit to grab him, especially if he falls to you in the later rounds, could pay off big by season’s end.