Dread it. Run from it. Fantasy football still arrives all the same. And now it is here.
Those might not have been the exact words The Mad Titan uttered before wiping out half of the universe, but they still ring true. It has been well passed the time to begin prepping for fantasy football drafts, but it’s okay if you haven’t. We’ve got you covered with all the rankings needed to dominate your upcoming draft or drafts.
First, I’m not a huge early-round quarterback guy. I believe in the philosophy of waiting to build depth at other, more valuable positions and grabbing a value quarterback in the mid or late rounds. Still, there are plenty who have won with the early-quarterback route.
Starting with the quarterback position, here is a look at my tiered version of rankings with some information on what you might be getting into:
Tier 1 – The probable QB1
1. Patrick Mahomes, KC (10): There is no debating who has the best chance to finish as the top quarterback in fantasy football. Even if his price is excruciatingly high (3.06), Mahomes is already in the conversation as the best quarterback in the game while leading one of the best offenses in the league. With Tyreek Hill avoiding a suspension, Mahomes is locked in as the most likely QB1, but you’ll have to pay up for him.
Tier 1 – Tier 2 – Tier 3 – Tier 4 – Tier 5 – Tier 6 – Tier 7
Tier 2 – QB1 potential
*This trio has a strong chance of making good on their draft value with the potential to be the QB1.*
2. Deshaun Watson, HOU (10): As an efficient and intelligent quarterback that can win through the air or on the ground, Watson has as good a chance as any to take the QB1 mantle from Mahomes. His price is high (5.04—QB2), but he has a strong group of wide receivers and a skill set that makes him a fantasy darling.
3. Aaron Rodgers, GB (11): Following a down year for Rodgers, the Packers fired Mike McCarthy and his bland offense in favor of Matt LaFleur. Positive regression in touchdown percentage should be in the works with a trio of promising wideouts, being led by Davante Adams. Health is the biggest concern.
4. Cam Newton, CAR (7): Most fantasy managers will have a sour taste from the second half of the 2018 season and while offseason shoulder surgery brings plenty of question marks, Newton appears to be close to where he was before the injury. Anytime he’s healthy, he has the chance to be the QB1, and his draft price (8.12—QB10) makes him an extreme value. He’s one of my favorite targets at quarterback in re-draft.
Tier 1 – Tier 2 – Tier 3 – Tier 4 – Tier 5 – Tier 6 – Tier 7
Tier 3 – High-end weekly starters
*These guys all have a case to be in Tier 2 and should be considered plug and play each week.*
5. Carson Wentz, PHI (10): With arguably the best group of weapons he’s had in his career, Wentz has the chance to find that MVP-pace we saw in 2017. He’s also a strong value in the middle rounds and would be a fantastic addition at his current ADP (8.01—QB7).
6. Andrew Luck, IND (6): The reigning Comeback Player of the Year has an extremely bright outlook in Frank Reich’s offense. The offensive line is strong, and he has wonderful weapons all around him. The lingering calf injury is a concern so make sure you’re up to date on his progress through the draft. If he’s fine by the start of the season, Luck will be as consistent as they come.
7. Matt Ryan, ATL (9): Racking up the yardage but with touchdown volatility, Ryan is still in for a huge season as Dirk Koetter takes over as offensive coordinator. He’s a strong value in the seventh round, but the biggest concern is whether his touchdown totals will stay high. If they do, he’s a good bet to be a top-six fantasy quarterback each week.
8. Baker Mayfield, CLE (7): There hasn’t been a quarterback more hyped in fantasy than Mayfield. His draft price (6.11—QB5) shows that, and that’s likely his ceiling. There’s no denying how many weapons he has around him (thanks, Dave Gettleman) or the talent he has. His ceiling is extremely high with a high chance to be a QB1 (top-12) each week. But you’re definitely going to have to pay up.
Tier 1 – Tier 2 – Tier 3 – Tier 4 – Tier 5 – Tier 6 – Tier 7
Tier 4 – Fringe QB1 starters
*These QBs all have a chance to finish as back-end QB1s each week, but there will be some volatility.*
9. Russell Wilson, SEA (11): Coming off a career-low in passing attempts and passing yards, there are some serious concerns that Wilson won’t be able to hit that incredible efficiency again in 2019. With the Seahawks wanting a run-heavy offense, Wilson is a risk, but it’s so hard to keep him out of the top 12 seeing as he’s put up elite numbers every year.
10. Lamar Jackson, BAL (8): The QB7 over the final seven games of the season, Jackson brings an incredible rushing floor that makes him basically another running back. If he can improve as a passer while keeping that high rushing floor, a top-10 finish is well within reach. He’s a potential steal in the 11th round.
11. Jared Goff, LAR (9): He was the QB2 for the first 11 weeks of the season, but his second-half left much to be desired. Don’t fret, though, Goff has as good a chance as any to finish consistently as a QB1 in arguably the league’s most dangerous offense. He’s a strong value in the ninth round.
12. Kyler Murray, ARI (12): I’m not loving that Murray is flying up draft boards (8.03—QB9), but he has a chance to be a dependable weekly starter. In what should be a high-volume offense with an expected strong rushing floor, the upside is clearly there. But there are some questions as the rookie enters the NFL with big expectations.
13. Dak Prescott, DAL (8): He’s never finished outside the top-12 in his career and now has a solid WR1 in Amari Cooper. He was the QB3 over the final six games of the season and is a perfect target in the late rounds.
14. Jameis Winston, TB (7): There is an inherent concern with Winston, who has known to be careless at times, but he’s still a strong weekly option. He’s currently a great value in the late rounds and with some serious weapons around him in a vertical Bruce Arians offense, the upside is fantastic.
15. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT (7): Losing Antonio Brown hurts and there are always injury concerns. But Big Ben is coming off a 5,000-yard season and still has some strong weapons around him. If Juju Smith Schuster and James Conner can keep the offense moving, he’s a solid value.
Tier 1 – Tier 2 – Tier 3 – Tier 4 – Tier 5 – Tier 6 – Tier 7
Tier 5 – Likely the top streamers
*These QBs will have some strong weeks, but probably not with the consistency as the Tier 4 options.*
16. Drew Brees, NO (9): The future Hall of Famer has done wonders for fantasy managers, but those days as an elite option are behind him. He will have some strong weeks, especially in the touchdown department. You could probably get by with him as your starting quarterback, but there are some better options.
17. Josh Allen, BUF (6): Of the players in this tier, Allen has the best chance to be a top-12 fantasy quarterback. His crazy rushing floor makes him a Cam Newton-lite at an extreme value. There some huge concerns with turnovers, which is why he’s so much of a risk every week. But it’s tough to find a ceiling as high as his in the late rounds.
18. Philip Rivers, LAC (12): If you want to wait until one of the final rounds to grab Rivers, that’s totally fine. He will still be one of the more consistent quarterbacks. But he’s probably not going to elevate your roster in a way that separates from the rest of your league.
19. Jimmy Garoppolo, SF (4): There is a very high chance The Handsome One finishes well above this ranking. In Kyle Shanahan’s offense, the ceiling is massive. But I want to see him do it first before pegging him as a top-12 guy. Taking him late, though, and hoping that happens isn’t a bad strategy. It could very well work out.
20. Tom Brady, NE (10): With a new extension, Brady is still going to be one of the best quarterbacks in the league. But that doesn’t mean he’s valuable for fantasy. Brady will have his weeks with big games, but it won’t be consistent enough to make you happy in drafting him.
21. Kirk Cousins, MIN (12): It appeared Cousins was locked in as a top fantasy asset as the QB6 through the first eight weeks. But with a change in offensive philosophy leading a run-first unit, Cousins is likely nothing more than a potential streamer. He was the QB18 over the final nine games of the season, which is more likely what you’ll get with some solid weeks mixed in.
22. Mitchell Trubisky, CHI (6): There is a chance Trubisky takes a step forward in Year 2 of Matt Nagy’s offense and becomes a fantasy stud. There is also the chance he gives you those stretches where he’s outside the top 20, which is what he was for the entire second half of the season. Good luck figuring out which one.
Tier 1 – Tier 2 – Tier 3 – Tier 4 – Tier 5 – Tier 6 – Tier 7
Tier 6 – Streamable but not reliable
*These guys will have a week or two, but it’s best to avoid them if possible.*
23. Derek Carr, OAK (6): He has some new weapons around him in Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams, but there still isn’t enough appeal to have confidence Carr will finish anywhere near the top 12, which he’s only done once in his career.
24. Matthew Stafford, DET (5): Typically a reliable—albeit boring—option, Stafford’s outlook for 2019 is bleak, to say the least. His safety net in Golden Tate is gone, and the offense is looking to be more run-first with Kerryon Johnson.
25. Sam Darnold, NYJ (4): A step forward could happen but not in the way that will produce immense fantasy totals. With a lack of weapons and the offense running through Le’Veon Bell, Darnold is likely a few years away from being a consistent fantasy option.
26. Andy Dalton, CIN (9): It’s becoming the time in which the Bengals move on from Dalton and with the recent injury to A.J. Green, the outlook for the Red Rifle is not one of optimism for fantasy purposes.
27. Ryan Fitzpatrick, MIA (5): Fitzmagic is back and in South Beach! While it’s been fun watching him stay relevant in the league, he’s likely a ticking time bomb until Josh Rosen takes over. He could be streamer until that happens.
28. Nick Foles, JAX (10): Leading a Jaguars offense that is expected to be extremely run-heavy and with a lack of weapons, it’s best to just steer clear of Foles.
Tier 1 – Tier 2 – Tier 3 – Tier 4 – Tier 5 – Tier 6 – Tier 7
Tier 7 – “Now you’re all in big, big trouble” – Billy Madison
*Just stay away from these guys. That’s really all I can say.*
29. Marcus Mariota, TEN (11): He’s finished better than the QB18 just once in his career. Next.
30. Eli Manning, NYG (11): Nothing but love for the quarterback I grew up watching, but that doesn’t mean I’ll put him on my roster.
31. Joe Flacco, DEN (10): Don’t talk to me if you think he’s fantasy relevant. We can’t be friends.
32. Dwayne Haskins, WAS (10): He actually has the potential to be a fantasy-relevant quarterback but not in 2019.
Tier 1 – Tier 2 – Tier 3 – Tier 4 – Tier 5 – Tier 6 – Tier 7
