Former Miami star Cam Ward won the Manning Award on Wednesday as the nation's top quarterback and knows the accolade can be a springboard to good things at the next level.

In 1QB dynasty fantasy leagues, I see Ward dropping near the end of the first round or somewhere in the mid-second round depending on when and where he actually gets drafted. The first round of 1QB leagues is most likely to be littered with RBs and WRs.

It’s a pretty rapid rise for the QB, who entered the 2024 season as a potential Day 3 selection in the 2025 draft. As Pauline notes, the player’s turnaround isn’t completely dissimilar to that of Jayden Daniels, who evolved from a fringe prospect into the eventual No. 2 pick.