Top Draft Picks vs Top Fantasy Performers 2010-2020
138 - Top Draft Picks vs Top Fantasy Performers 2010-2020 156
Hello Heat Seekers welcome to episode 138 of Sully’s 2 Cents Fantasy Football Podcast. I am your host; I am Rob Sullivan. The Sully’s 2 Cents Fantasy Football Podcast is a proud member of the RotoHeat family of podcasts.
For those that have been listening to this podcast for a while will know that I bring you an annual hit rates episode. Those episodes take a look at historical data from seasons past in order to predict the percentage of those drafted likelihood to be fantasy relevant in their careers. Have a listen to episode 135 for this year’s version if you are interested. In the three years that I have done these studies, nothing has changed the percentages for the most part are consistent each and every season.
The top players selected at each skill position in this year’s NFL draft currently occupy the top ranking at their position in my rankings. Trevor Lawrence, Najee Harris, Ja’Marr Chase, and Kyle Pitts. I believe it is safe to say that my top ranked players are ranked this way by many. There may be some differences out there, but I feel its safe to say these are the consensus top ranked players at their position.
I thought it would be interesting to use the same historical data that I use to determine hit rates, to determine how often the first selected QB, RB, WR, and TE were indeed the right players to select first in your rookie drafts. Simply put I want to know how often the top players selected by NFL General Managers, turned out to be the top fantasy players in their draft class.
That is what episode 138 sets out to find out and we start it off by looking at the quarterback position
Quarterbacks
Top Draft Picks vs Top Fantasy Performers 2010-2020
Of the 11 first selected quarterbacks from 2010-2020, eight of them were the first overall selection in their NFL draft. Sam Bradford, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, Jameis Winston, Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, and Joe Burrow. In addition to these eight, EJ Manual, Blake Bortles, and Mitchell Trubisky were also the first QB selected. Manual was the 16th overall selection in 2013, Bortles 3rd overall in, 2014 and Trubisky was second overall in 2017.
Top Draft Picks vs Top Fantasy Performers 2010-2020
Now as one would expect the eight members of this QB group that were selected first overall for the most part have gone on to have successful careers. Four of the eight were the top fantasy QB in their rookie season, the four that were not, were Andrew Luck, in 2012, who finished as the QB9 in his rookie season, behind Robert Griffen III who was QB5. EJ Manual finished his rookie season as the QB28, second in the class to Geno Smith who finished at QB20 in 2013, Jared Goff finished as the 4th highest scoring in 2016, behind Dak Prescott, Carson Wentz, and Cody Kessler. In 2017 Mitchell Trubisky finished as the third highest scoring rookie QB, behind Deshaun Watson, and DeShone Kizer.
Top Draft Picks vs Top Fantasy Performers 2010-2020
45% of the top drafted QBs turned out to deliver the top fantasy rookie season. When we look at the span of their careers, Sam Bradford, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, Jameis Winston, and Kyler Murray all the first QB taken in their respective drafts have had the best careers to date relative to those in their draft class.
Geno Smith (drafted 2nd) was the best of a terrible 2013 class, Derek Carr (drafted 4th), the best of the 2014 class,