Fantasy Football Rankings – The Top 30 Quarterbacks
1. Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints
The Saints still can’t run the ball and their defense is not strong meaning that Brees will be forced to pass for big yards in every game.
2. Peyton Manning – Denver Broncos
Denver plays plenty of easy defenses and the Broncos have improved their passing corps by signing Wes Welker in the offseason.
3. Tom Brady – New England Patriots
Everyone is worried because of Welker leaving, Hernandez being arrested, and Gronkowski being hobbled but Brady pencils in scrubs year after year and makes them into stars.
4. Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers
The Packers are going to have offensive line issues this year, but Green Bay can’t run the ball and Rodgers will be forced to pass a lot.
5. Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons
Last season was the first year that Atlanta switched to a vertical passing attack and Ryan should be even better in year 2.
6. Colin Kaepernick – San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are going to rely on Kaepernick’s arm and his legs this year and he is one of the few running QBs in the NFL that can stay healthy.
7. Robert Griffin III – Washington Redskins
Griffin III will put up big numbers as long as he can stay on the field but you have to wonder how he’ll bounce back from knee surgery.
8. Eli Manning – New York Giants
A healthy Hakeem Nicks should be all Eli needs to bounce back into the top 10 fantasy quarterback rankings.
9. Cam Newton – Carolina Panthers
Newton is a much better fantasy quarterback than NFL quarterback and he should again run for yards and touchdowns while costing the Panthers wins with his turnovers.
10. Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions
The Lions lost Titus Young which hurts them but Stafford still has Calvin Johnson for big plays.
11. Tony Romo – Dallas Cowboys
Dallas should be a better team on both sides of the ball this year and Romo will put up stats if you don’t mind the high interceptions.
12. Sam Bradford – St. Louis Rams
St. Louis is planning on passing a ton this year and they have a number of young speedsters for Bradford to find open.
13. Andrew Luck – Indianapolis Colts
Luck should have another strong year and you have to like the fact that the Colts play numerous poor defenses.
14. Jay Cutler – Chicago Bears
Cutler and the Bears offense struggled last season but the playmakers are still around and they should rebound.
15. Philip Rivers – San Diego Chargers
Rivers is going to need to pass to keep his team in games since the defense doesn’t look very good in San Diego this year.
16. Alex Smith – Kansas City Chiefs
I have Smith higher than most and it’s because of Andy Reid’s offense that has consistently produced big passing results in Philadelphia.
17. Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh will look to establish the run more this year which will make Roethlisberger more of a fantasy backup than a starter.
18. Andy Dalton – Cincinnati Bengals
Dalton makes too many mistakes but the Bengals have excellent pass catchers and this guy is also capable of running.
19. Joe Flacco – Baltimore Ravens
Flacco lost Boldin and now Dennis Pitta at tight end and he’ll struggle more without his most consistent weapons.
20. Carson Palmer – Arizona Cardinals
Getting out of Oakland and having Larry Fitzgerald to pass to should make Palmer a backup fantasy QB worth owning this season.
21. Matt Flynn – Oakland Raiders
Flynn will have plenty of speedy weapons to throw to if the offensive line can keep him off his back long enough to look downfield.
22. Josh Freeman – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Freeman is in danger of losing his starting job and Doug Martin is the focal point of the offense but this gunslinger could be top 15 if he doesn’t get replaced.
23. Matt Schaub – Houston Texans
The Texans simply don’t pass enough for Schaub to have more value, but he’s a very consistent quarterback.
24. Jake Locker – Tennessee Titans
Locker will make mistakes, but he’s capable of making plays with his legs which helps his fantasy football value.
25. Christian Ponder – Minnesota Vikings
Opposing defenses will be focused on stopping the running game which should open up the field for Ponder.
26. Michael Vick – Philadelphia Eagles
Vick has a chance to be higher but there is really no reason to believe he starts more than 8 games since he isn’t a smart quarterback and gets himself injured regularly.
27. Brandon Weeden – Cleveland Browns
The Browns are an up and coming team and Weeden would be ranked higher if he didn’t have to face the Steelers and Ravens 4 times a year.
28. Mark Sanchez – New York Jets
The Jets won’t pass that well but Sanchez should win the starting job and be a capable fantasy backup in deep leagues.
29. Ryan Tannehill – Miami Dolphins
Miami is going to be terrible and Tannehill won’t have time to throw even with some nice new weapons available to him at wide receiver.
30. Blaine Gabbert – Jacksonville Jaguars
Gabbert has the arm strength but he lacks the football smarts and many are giving up hope he’ll acquire them anytime soon.