Is Bryce Young a Top 20 Fantasy QB?

Carolina's rookie quarterback is rated a little higher than one would expect.

Sports Illustrated fantasy football expert Michael Fabiano has tabbed Carolina Panthers rookie quarterback Bryce Young as QB21 in his position-by-position fantasy rankings.

The quarterbacks that Young is listed ahead of?

Matthew Stafford (LAR), Derek Carr (NO), Kenny Pickett (PIT), C.J. Stroud (HOU), Jimmy Garoppolo (LV), Anthony Richardson (IND), Ryan Tannehill (TEN), Mac Jones (NE), Desmond Ridder (ATL), Sam Howell (WAS), Trey Lance (SF), Baker Mayfield (TB), Gardner Minshew (IND), Will Levis (TEN), Kyle Trask (TB), Jameis Winston (NO), Bailey Zappe (NE), Davis Mills (HOU), and Zach Wilson (NYJ).

I'm honestly a little surprised Fabs has Young so high on this list. It's not that I doubt Bryce's ability to be successful as a rookie but we have no clue how long it will take before he not only starts (likely Week 1) but feels comfortable in the offense. Derek Carr is the biggest surprise for me. I wouldn't have ranked Young higher, at least not at the start of the season.

Here's a little input from Fabiano in regard to Young's value as a fantasy QB.

"In all, just eight quarterbacks at 6’ or shorter have scored more than 200 fantasy points in a single season in the Super Bowl era. The most prominent are Brees, who did it 17 times, and Wilson, who has scored 200-plus points 11 times.

"These stats and facts are of great interest to NFL and fantasy fans this season because the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, Bryce Young, is smaller than that duo … and every other quarterback who has ever been drafted No. 1 overall.

"Maybe Young will be an exception to the rule. Maybe he can follow in the footsteps of guys like Brees, Wilson, and Murray, who were all 6’ or shorter. But if NFL history is an indication, he has a tall mountain to climb to find fantasy success."

Panthers in Fabiano's Pos-by-Pos FF Rankings

Quarterbacks

QB21 Bryce Young

Running Backs

RB23 Miles Sanders

RB59 Chuba Hubbard

Wide Receivers

WR49 Adam Thielen

WR56 DJ Chark

Tight Ends

TE23 Hayden Hurst

Kickers

K17 Eddy Pineiro

Defense

DEF27 Carolina

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