2018 NFL Quarterbacks Spinning On Carousel

by Fairway Jay  

The opening week of preseason action kicks off and the regular season is just over a month away. NFL Preseason betting draws interest but the approach to preseason play is much different than the regular season. Understanding the intricacies of NFL quarterbacks is imperative if you’re going to wager on the games that don’t count in the standings.

While preseason football isn't as intense as regular season action, the competition is still fierce for many players trying to make the team and others working their way into starting spots. Much of the focus by the media and fans interest is on the quarterbacks, but the starters see limited action during the preseason. So if you’re wagering, there should be more focus on the backup quarterbacks, specifically the capability and experience of the #2 and #3 quarterbacks.

The coach’s philosophies and intentions can change from game to game during the NFL preseason. There is uncertainty of players and much learning during the preseason, especially for new players learning new systems, schemes and playbooks. The difficulty in knowing what to expect is evident in the betting marketplace is as well, as the sportsbooks uncertainty of the games is also evident. A majority of the games are lined near 3-points. In the first full week of this year’s preseason action, 12 of the 16 games are lined between 2 and 3.5 points. The highest posted total is 37 points, which is well below what you will see during the regular season. That’s because starting quarterbacks play so little during the NFL preseason, and other key players also see less playing time.

Yet as bettors and sportsbooks gear up for football season, there is plenty of interest in preseason play. New additions, rookies and free agents draw interest, and understand that evaluating players for most coaches takes priority over winning. Plenty of storylines as the preseason progresses, but try to tune out the media hype and focus on the strategies and what coaches, players and teams are trying to accomplish.

The health of players and especially key starters and No. 1 quarterbacks is of most importance to coachers and teams during the NFL preseason. So recognizing QB rotations and finding out as much as possible about potential playing time is a main factor if you’re wagering on preseason contests.

Here are the 2018 quarterback depth charts for each team. The number in parentheses next to the team is the number of new quarterbacks on the roster compared to 2017. Bold is a new opening week starter.

There are 11 new projected opening week starters from last season. Not included in the 11 are both Andrew Luck (Colts) and Ryan Tannehill (Dolphins), who return to the starting lineup after missing all of last season with injury. Three teams have 4 new QB’s on their roster – Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings.

2018 NFL Preseason Quarterback Depth Charts

Team QB 1 QB 2 QB 3 QB 4 Arizona (4) Sam Bradford Josh Rosen * Mike Glennon Chad Kanoff * Atlanta (2) Matt Ryan Matt Schaub Garrett Grayson Kurt Benkert * Baltimore (2) Joe Flacco Lamar Jackson * Robert Griffin III Josh Woodrum Buffalo (2) AJ McCarron Josh Allen * Nathan Peterman Carolina (2) Cam Newton Garrett Gilbert Taylor Heinicke  Kyle Allen * Chicago (2) Mitch Trubisky Chase Daniel Byler Bray Cincinnati (2) Andy Dalton Matt Barkley Jeff Driskel Logan Woodside * Cleveland (4) Tyrod Taylor Baker Mayfield * Drew Stanton Brogan Roback * Dallas (2) Dak Prescott Cooper Rush Mike White * Dalton Sturm * Denver (1) Case Keenum Paxton Lynch Chad Kelly Detroit (1) Matthew Stafford Jake Rudock Matt Cassel Green Bay (2) Aaron Rodgers Brett Hundley DeShone Kizer Tim Boyle * Houston (2) Deshaun Watson Brandon Weeden Joe Webb Stephen Morris Indianapolis (1) Andrew Luck Jacoby Brissett Brad Kaaya  Phillip Walker Jacksonville (2) Blake Bortles Cody Kessler Tanner Lee * Kansas City (3) Patrick Mahomes Chad Henne Matt McGloin Chase Litton * Los Angeles Rams (2) Jared Goff Sean Mannion Brandon Allen Luis Perez * Miami (1) Ryan Tannehill Brock Osweiler David Fales Minnesota (4) Kirk Cousins Trevor Siemian Kyle Sloter Peter Pujals * New England (2) Tom Brady Brian Hoyer Danny Etling * New Orleans (3) Drew Brees Tom Savage Taysom Hill JT Barrett * NY Giants (3) Eli Manning Davis Webb Kyle Lauletta * Alex Tanney NY Jets (2) Josh McCown Teddy Bridgewater Sam Darnold * Oakland (0) Derek Carr Connor Cook EJ Manuel Philadelphia (2) Carson Wentz Nick Foles Nate Sudfeld Joe Callahan Pittsburgh (2) Ben Roethlisberger Landry Jones Mason Rudolph * Joshua Dobbs Los Angeles Chargers (2) Philip Rivers Geno Smith Cardale Jones Nic Shimonek * San Francisco (2) Jimmy Garoppolo CJ Beathard Nick Mullens Jack Heneghan Seattle (1) Russell Wilson Austin Davis Alex McGough * Tampa Bay (1) Ryan Fitzpatrick Jameis Winston (susp) Ryan Griffin Austin Allen * Tennessee (2) Marcus Mariota Blaine Gabbert Luke Falk * Washington (2) Alex Smith Colt McCoy Kevin Hogan

(#) of new QB's on team bold represents new starter * represents rookie