Where do you have Colin Kaepernick in your 2013 QB rankings and in what round you would draft him after his huge performance vs. Green Bay?
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- Michael Fabiano NFL.com Fantasy Editor
Driving the Kaepernick bandwagon
I've been on the Kaepernick bandwagon ever since he took over the starting job in San Francisco, so I'm not surprised that he cut through the Green Bay Packers defense like a hot knife through butter. I already had him ranked among my top 10 quarterbacks for 2013, and his divisional round performance just makes me more confident in his skills and statistical potential. No, Kaepernick is not among the elite fantasy quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees or Tom Brady - he's not even in the top five overall when you consider the likes of Cam Newton and Peyton Manning as well -- but I would absolutely love to draft him in the fourth or fifth round as a No. 1 option. This kid is the real deal, not just a fluke. Mark it down now!
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- Jason Smith NFL.com Fantasy Analyst
Kaepernick is a top six QB
The top four QBs will remain unchanged on my board: Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers. Maybe the order amongst them may move, but they're my top four. Then we get to a group of Peyton Manning, Robert Griffin III, Colin Kaepernick, Russell Wilson, Matthew Stafford, Andrew Luck, Tony Romo and Matt Ryan. So if you're in a 12-team league, you're virtually assured of getting one of those players no matter where you draft them. The top four will all come off the board by the middle of Round 2. Then the QBs come off the board for me in this order: Stafford, Kaepernick, RG3, Manning, Luck, Ryan, Wilson, Romo. I believe it's going to be a big bounce-back year for Stafford, who still threw for almost 5,000 yards in a down season. Then it's Kaepernick, because of his ability to break out a 50-yard touchdown run at any given time. So I'd take Kaepernick by the fifth round at the latest, the fourth if you want to be more assured of getting him. He's my sixth-ranked QB right now and he'll likely stay right there all the way until August.
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- Marcas Grant NFL.com Fantasy Editor
Kaepernick takes over for RG3
This isn't earth-shattering news, but Kaepernick hasn't broken into the top five of fantasy quarterbacks yet. But he is sitting right at the top of the list of second-tier options. Certainly there will be owners who reach for Kaepernick in the second or third round next season, but I'd have no problem taking him in the fourth (another reminder that you can wait on QBs in favor of grabbing a top-tier RB). And I certainly have no problem making him the sixth quarterback off the board. Previously I had Robert Griffin III in that spot, but injury concerns have me reconsidering that. Kaepernick can do all the things RG3 does...without having to worry if his knees will hold up.
Colin Kaepernick's advancement to the NFC Championship Game adds to his fantasy value because it gives him more experience in pressure situations. In the 2013 divisional round against the Green Bay Packers he scored 46 fantasy points, dazzling the Packers defense both his legs and his arm. That versatility will make him a coveted commodity in next season's drafts. Because of his supporting cast in coach Jim Harbaugh, Michael Crabtree and Frank Gore, I would draft Kaepernick in the third round.
I would take Colin Kaepernick in the fourth, fifth, or sixth round, depending on where I selected in those rounds and who had been selected. For example, if I were at the top of the fourth round, it would be very difficult for me to take him - even with his tremendous upside - at, say, 32nd or 34th overall. However, I think the top of the fifth round is a good spot for him with the sixth round being a bargain. Here's the deal on Kaepernick: he appears to be a top 10 fantasy quarterback (at least) given his rushing ability as well as penchant for getting into the end zone as a runner. Obviously that's two extra points for your fantasy team every time he does that. But with only eight career starts under his belt, we have a very thin catalog of work to go by. I'd like to see 3-4 more starts from the Niners quarterback. Another issue working against him is the fact that quarterback is the richest position group in fantasy. If I were to draft him, I would definitely grab a quarterback nearby in the draft so as to give myself a soft pillow to land on in the event Kaepernick doesn't work out or defenses catch on to what San Francisco does offensively. Give yourself two quarterbacks who can start. Either way, let's hope the 49ers advance to the Super Bowl so that we can see a little more of this guy!
Watching Kaepernick breeze past Packers defenders on Saturday night was just plain stunning - and it inspired me to nickname him "The Blu-Ray", because he makes every coach with a more traditional QB feel like he has a VHS player. I know Green Bay's D won't ever be confused with the '85 Bears, but those guys are world-class athletes ... and he made 'em look like mannequins. The Blu-Ray is the future, and the future is now ... especially with an emerging receiver like Michael Crabtree to target all next season. I encourage you to take him no later than the end of the second round.
