2017 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback

Tony Fortier-Bensen

2017 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback image

The 2017 fantasy football season is coming, and it’s time to check out rankings, highlight sleepers, and pour over cheat sheets and any other tidbit of analysis within reach to help develop your draft strategy. Your draft might be off in the horizon right now, but early bird gets the worm -- and you’ve got a fantasy league to win -- so get started right now with fantasy’s highest scoring position.

For the quarterbacks this year, the usual culprits for top-tier status stay on that pedestal (Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees), but there are several more QBs that seemed poised to either break through into the elite fantasy level for the first time (Kirk Cousins, Marcus Mariota) or return to that level once again (Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, Andrew Luck).

Even more than in past seasons, this seems like a good year to draft a quarterback in the later rounds. Several players in our top 12 have a chance to break into the elite level. Also, keep in mind that the No. 8 quarterback last season (Blake Bortles) finished just 20 points ahead of No. 18 (Ben Roethlisberger), so don’t let the relatively low rankings of some push you away when realistically there’s only a one- or two-point difference each week.

MORE RANKINGS:
Running backWide Receiver | Tight End | D/ST | Kicker | Top 200

The rankings below are bound to change throughout the preseason, so check back often for updates and analysis.

DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: Ultimate 2017 fantasy football cheat sheet

Fantasy Football 2017: Quarterback rankings

1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers. Head and shoulders above the rest, Rodgers led all fantasy quarterbacks last year, scoring at least 30 more points than the No. 2 QB, depending on your league. He was top five in pass attempts, completions and yards, first in touchdowns, and had the seventh fewest in interceptions among starting quarterbacks. The pass-happy Packers will again be pass-happy with the lack of a solid running game, and if you worry he might not be able to repeat last year,  just r-e-l-a-x. He’s been a top-two fantasy quarterback seven of the past nine years.
2. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints. The Saints savior is coming off one of his best years at age 37, posting a career high in completions (471) and his second best mark in passing yards (5,208), both highest in the NFL. Over the past three years, Brees is second to Rodgers (with a 37-point gap from third) for most fantasy points among QBs. Like usual, his offense will still have to score a ton of points to keep up with their own lack of defense. The loss of Brandin Cooks hurts, but Brees seems to turn a no-name wide receiver into a big-name fantasy player each year. By the end of the season, Brees will finish as a bona-fide top-three quarterback.
3. Tom Brady, New England Patriots. Brady hits the big 4-0 this year, but don’t expect him to slow down soon.  After being suspended for four games, Brady still managed to finish top 10 in touchdowns and completion percentage and threw only two interceptions. He averaged 21.5 points per game last year in standard leagues; project that over 16 games, he would’ve finished just past Brees and Matt Ryan for the second-best QB. Add in a (hopefully) healthy Rob Gronkowski and speedster Brandin Cooks, and Brady is poised for another big year.
4. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers. After pure domination in 2015, Newton fell and fell hard in '16.  But Newton, as evident from the many times he got hit last year, will get back up again. Many are beginning to call his MVP season an anomaly, but in the past five years, Newton finished as a top-five fantasy QB three times. He scored 21 fewer touchdowns last year than the year before. If he can get half those back, he’d be catapulted into the top-eight QBs on TDs alone, not even including the additional yardage. The Panthers addressed their offensive woes drafting Christian McCaffrey eighth overall and using second-round picks on a wide receiver (Curtis Samuel) and offensive lineman (Taylor Moton).
5. Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders. In 2015, he was a top-20 fantasy QB; in '16, he jumped to No. 11 despite missing the final week. What will '17 bring? Carr has a legitimate case for a top-five jump. Despite his receivers leading the league with 31 drops, Carr managed to have his best year with the most completions and best completion rate. Barring his Week 16 broken leg injury, he most likely would’ve had more touchdowns and passing yards and ended the season as a top-10 fantasy quarterback. Oakland keeps their strong offensive line, and they added WR Cordarrelle Patterson, TE Jared Cook and RB Marshawn Lynch. Based on his rate of improvement each of his three years, Carr’s potential for a top fantasy year is high.

WEEK 1 RANKINGS
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

6. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks. Ankle, knee, pectoral -- what didn't get hurt for Wilson in 2016? He returns fully healthy this year, and there's no reason to believe he can't get back to his true form. Wilson's injuries were most likely the reason for career lows on the ground in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns. In the air, he posted career highs in completions and yards, but he only found the end zone 21 times, second lowest in his career. Last season was the first time Wilson didn't finish as a top-10 fantasy quarterback, but now healthy again, expect a bounce-back season.
7. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons.  Ryan easily had the best season in his nine-year career, posting career marks in completion percentage, passing yards, touchdowns and fewest interceptions en route to a MVP and Super Bowl trip. With offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco now, a regression can be expected. Ryan was a top-five quarterback for the first time since 2012, so he doesn't have much experience in staying as an elite signal-caller. However, the Falcons kept all their offensive pieces from last season's high-powered offense, so Ryan should still be one of the better fantasy QBs this year.
8. Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins. Cousins sneaked into the top five for fantasy QBs in standard leagues last year after finishing No. 8 the year before. Playing under the franchise tag, he ranked third in the NFL with 4,915 passing yards, and for the second straight year, he’ll play under the same conditions. If the franchise tag didn’t scare him last year, it most likely won’t scare him again. Cousins is an accurate passer (67 percent completion rate) who also isn’t afraid to use his legs, rushing for four touchdowns last year (tied for sixth most).  He lost his top two WRs in Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson, but he still has reliable and deep weapons in free-agent pickup Terrelle Pryor and returners Jordan Reed, Jamison Crowder and Josh Doctson.
9. Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans. After the first 12 weeks of last year, Mariota actually had the fourth-most points for a quarterback, but then his season took a turn for the worst with back-to-back poor performances and an injury that ended his sophomore campaign.  He ended up as the 13th-best QB in 2016, but he easily could’ve finished top 10, maybe better. Mariota lines up behind one of the best offensive lines this year, and he still has great running ability, racking up two rushing TDs and sixth-most rushing yards among QBs. The Titans also added two WRs with free agent Eric Decker and fifth overall pick Corey Davis. For more on Mariota, check out to our QB sleeper picks.
10. Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers. Rivers is usually one of the QBs who fall to the wayside in fantasy drafts, but he consistently puts up good numbers. He ranked as the sixth-best QB in six-point touchdown leagues last year, even with a career-high of 21 interceptions. The high number can be credited to playing from behind constantly last year, but if he cut six interceptions to his usual average of 15, he would've been a top-seven QB in standard leagues. Rivers has thrown for at least 4,200 yards seven of the past eight seasons and 30-plus touchdowns three of the past four. His supporting cast is deep with Keenan Allen, rookie Mike Williams (if healthy), Tyrell Williams, Travis Benjamin and two strong tight ends in Antonio Gates and Hunter Henry.

SLEEPERS: 5 QBs | 14 RBs | 8 TEs | 11 WRs | 5 D/STsOne from each team

11. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys. Prescott played at one of the highest levels a rookie quarterback could play, finishing as the sixth-best QB in standard leagues last year. He was accurate (68 percent completion rate), efficient (23-4 TD/INT ratio), and consistent (10 straight weeks of 17-plus points).  He did damage on the ground by rushing for six touchdowns, tied for most among QBs. However, it could be argued that he reached his ceiling and he likely will regress this year, especially being on a run-first offense. He still plays behind a great offensive line, but it will be hard to repeat such a sensational rookie campaign.
12. Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Turnovers are one of the main reasons Winston stayed in the middle of the pack in fantasy last year. Despite leading the league in turnovers, he finished eighth in touchdowns and had over 4,000 passing yards, but he struggled with his accuracy  He's shown flashes of greatness, but also the exact opposite. The Bucs added a couple more pieces in rookie TE O.J. Howard in addition to Cameron Brate, and they picked up DeSean Jackson to complement Mike Evans. Winston still has the legs to produce extra fantasy points, but he needs to improve his throwing to be a solid QB1.
13. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers. Roethlisberger was either hot or cold, rarely in the middle, in 2016. In seven home starts last year, he scored at least 17 points (28-plus three times) in standard leagues, but his road starts were another story -- four starts under 10 points, only twice above 15 points. Big Ben hasn’t thrown for over 4,000 yards or 30 touchdowns since '14, which is coincidentally the last time he played a full season. He's also talked about retirement, which is usually a bad omen. He still has an arsenal of weapons with Antonio Brown, Sammie Coates, Eli Rogers, Martavis Bryant and Le’Veon Bell. If you want Big Ben, be sure to grab a decent second QB, as well.
14. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts. Taking away an injury-plagued 2015, Luck has been a top-five QB for the past four years, including No. 1 in '14. This year, Luck falls outside the top 12 because of concerns from his latest shoulder surgery. Injuries have been a big part of Luck’s career lately, and the Colts walk into the season with one of the worst offensive lines again.  But even still, Luck will get the passing yards and touchdowns (top eight in both) he always gets, and he still poses a threat with his running ability. Luck plays in a pass-first offense in a weak division, so he should still be considered a top QB1 option when on the field.
15. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions. Without Calvin Johnson for the first time, Stafford's touchdowns decreased by eight, and he produced only four games above 20 fantasy points. Stafford lowered his interceptions to a career-low 10, impressive for a team who throws the ball 64 percent of the time (third most), but he mostly hovered around the 12-17 point range in standard leagues. He keeps the same supporting cast from last year that had 28 drops, third most in the league, and barring a breakout season from one of his recent, he's most likely a borderline QB1.
16. Tyrod Taylor, Buffalo Bills. Taylor’s legs saved his fantasy season. He finished with the most rushing yards (580) and tied for the most touchdowns (6) among QBs, which catapulted him into the top 10 in standard leagues. Although his arm wasn’t that great, it wasn’t entirely his fault. Sammy Watkins only played eight games, and Buffalo's other receivers struggled, hence why they’re all gone (including Watkins). Jordan Matthews, Anquan Boldin and Zay Jones could be a good supporting cast, but clearly there are more question marks than ever for Taylor. Even in a new offensive system that should pass more, Taylor will be bouncing from QB1 to QB2 all season.
17. Eli Manning, New York Giants. It wasn’t an easy year for Manning, who finished 21st in standard leagues. The Giants took a step to cure their offensive woes by adding Brandon Marshall to complement Odell Beckham Jr. They also drafted a receiving tight end in Evan Engram. For more about Manning, view our QB sleeper picks.
18. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals. Dalton just couldn’t put the pieces together in 2016 because the pieces kept getting hurt. He only had all his weapons (A.J. Green, Tyler Eifert) for a total of three games. He threw for a career-worst 18 touchdowns, but only threw eight interceptions. Dalton usually won’t kill you (10-plus points each week), but he struggles to put together high fantasy days. For more on why Dalton could turn things around, view our QB sleeper picks
19. Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals. To be fair, Palmer was never going to repeat his great 2015 season, but Michael Floyd’s struggles and John Brown’s injuries certainly played a major part. Even so, the Cardinals were top 10 in total points scored, averaging three touchdowns a game. The team is firmly centered around running back David Johnson, but Palmer still might have something left in the tank in what is most likely his final year.

DRAFT STRATEGY AND TIERS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST

20. Jay Cutler, Miami Dolphins.  Coming out of retirement, Cutler finds himself in a good location.  He has great weapons in Jarvis Landry, Devante Parker, and Kenny Stills, but most importantly, he already has experience with head coach Adam Gase's offensive system.  Cutler and Gase worked together while in Denver and most recently in 2015 with the Bears. In 2015, he had 21 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and threw for 3659 yards, all ranking in the middle of the pack.
21. Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles. Wentz did well in his rookie year last year, but fantasy-wise, he wasn’t reliable, posting only five games over 15 points -- two in the last 12 weeks.  Wentz dealt with multiple drops, and the Eagles added solid weapons around him. We see him as a prime sleeper candidate. For more, view our QB sleeper picks.
22. Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs. Smith has never finished higher than 13th in his career in fantasy, and there’s no reason to believe he ever will. He’s a sneaky runner, finishing with second-most rushing touchdowns among QBs (5), but his conservative passing (24th in yards and 27th in touchdowns), severely limits his ceiling. Rookie Patrick Mahomes II may also be knocking on the door soon. Smith is barely a second QB in a two-QB league.
23. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans. The Texans upgraded immensely by drafting Watson at 12th overall. The former National Champion from Clemson excelled in the college ranks, finishing second in the Heisman race twice and collecting for 76 passing TDs and 21 rushing TDs as a sophomore and junior. He did throw 32 interceptions in college, but he won't be asked to do too much from the start. Right now, he is technically behind Tom Savage on the depth chart, but the Texans wouldn't have moved up in the draft to get him if they weren't planning on starting him. For more on Watson, view our QB sleeper picks.
24. Sam Bradford, Minnesota Vikings. Bradford finished with the NFL record for highest completion percentage last year, but it didn’t translate into fantasy points. For the most part, Bradford was a check-down quarterback and short four-to-six- yard passes. The Vikings replaced Adrian Peterson with Latavius Murray and Dalvin Cook, but Bradford’s conservative style of play limits his ceiling for fantasy.
25. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens. Percentage-wise, no team threw the ball more times than the Ravens, and Flacco ended up with his career best in passing yards. Still, he finished with the 20th-most points among fantasy quarterbacks thanks to a low 20 touchdowns and a high 15 interceptions. He’s only finished in the top-10 as a fantasy quarterback once in his career, back in 2010. A preseason back injury also isn't a good sign for Flacco as training camp begins.
26. Trevor Siemian, Denver Broncos. Siemian has two stud wide receivers in Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, but the seventh-round pick only posted three top-10 fantasy weeks in standard leagues. If he doesn’t do well, backup Paxton Lynch may see some action.

MORE RANKINGS:
Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker | Top 200

27. Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars
28. Brian Hoyer, San Francisco 49ers
29. Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams
30. DeShone Kizer, Cleveland Browns
31. Josh McCown, New York Jets
32. Mike Glennon, Chicago Bears

Tony Fortier-Bensen