Fantasy Football 2014: Top 30 QB Rankings and Analysis

Coming into the season, there’s no doubt Manning is the top fantasy QB after his historic run last season. In fact, there was no other player who came close to Manning’s production. Using ESPN Standard scoring, Manning put up 406 points more than any other player by a wide margin. Cam Newton who was the third highest scoring QB had only 69% of that total. For comparison, Josh Gordon who was the top wide receiver had 15 receivers who put up at least that percentage of his production. In all redraft formats, Manning should go in the first round.  I would take him as high as fourth after the three elite running backs are off the board.  Grabbing Peyton in the first does shape the rest of your team, though, so make sure you plan for the ripple effect and make up for it by filling in running back as quickly as possible.   . QB. Denver Broncos. Peyton Manning. 1. player. 45

49. Rodgers didn’t have a good season last year ranking as the 21st highest scoring quarterback in ESPN Standard scoring.  He missed eight games down the stretch after a week nine injury and returned too late to get Green Bay into the playoffs.  In his eight full games though, Rodgers averaged 20.25 fantasy points which was second only to Peyton Manning’s average.  With the emergence of Eddie Lacy, you may see fewer rushing yards and goal line scores, but it should also prevent defenses from emptying the box against Rodgers and actually create opportunities for him to be even more effective . The only real question with Rodgers is if you rank him #2 or #3, but I have him slightly ahead of Brees in my QB Rankings with Peyton miles ahead at #1.. QB. Green Bay Packers. Aaron Rodgers. 2. player

player. 15. Brees was the #2 scoring QB last season and was consistently spectacular.  If the champion in your league last season didn’t have Peyton, he probably had Brees. Brees has a seemingly soft schedule this year and is lined up for another monster year.  He’s proven durable and an ideal fit for Sean Payton’s pass-heavy attack, so take him confidently as the third QB off the board.  He has dealt with a oblique injury this preseason but is expected to play Saturday in the team’s week 3 preseason game, so there is no cause for alarm at this point.  . QB. New Orleans Saints. Drew Brees. 3

QB. New England Patriots. Tom Brady. 4. player. 47. There’s a huge drop off in the QB Rankings after the top three.  There are a number of options that could fill this spot with 4-8 being very interchangeable in my mind.  If I had to take one of them, I’d actually favor Brady based on track record, improved weapons, and a very nice schedule.  Brady is still a QB1 and represents good value if you can get him lower in the draft than some other options in the same tier.  

From weeks 9 to 17 last season, no one in the league (including Peyton) scored more fantasy points than Nick Foles.  Foles fit right in to Chip Kelly’s system and can definitely be a QB1 this season.  Of the non-top 3 QB’s, he’s the most likely to finish in the top 3, but he’s had a less-than-inspiring preseason which is a little bit of cause for concern. A lot of his production is based on his playmakers and don’t forget he doesn’t have DeSean Jackson this season.  Can he and Jeremy Maclin connect? I think so, but there is definitely more risk than there is with TB12, so that’s why Foles is #5 in my QB Rankings behind Brady even though I think his ceiling is a bit higher.. QB. Philadelphia Eagles. Nick Foles. 5. player. 54

6. player. 50. Stafford could easily be four on this list, but he’s getting drafted at the top of this tier which means he doesn’t represent as much value in most drafts.  I’m not down on Stafford, but I think he’s in the middle of this tier not necessarily at the top.  He does have a new head coach (again) and a new offensive system, but his weapons are elite and he should get into plenty of shootouts which will produce bit time fantasy games.  . QB. Detroit Lions. Matthew Stafford

player. 46. Luck will throw a ton this season. The Colts rushing attack has looked extremely anemic this preseason, so any offense Indy gets will likely come on the arm of Andrew Luck.  Luck cut his interceptions in half from his rookie season to last season while improving his accuracy and matching his 23 touchdown total.  Those numbers were good enough to make him the fourth-best fantasy QB last season, and I think he’ll end up in that same range this year.  The #4-#8 in my rankings are all extremely close, but I do see a dramatic dropoff after Luck. These first eight are definite, locked-in QB1’s and whoever is the last of the eight off the board will probably represent the best value.. QB. Indianapolis Colts. Andrew Luck. 8

Atlanta Falcons. Matt Ryan. 9. player. 44. The last two QB1’s are where things get interesting. The next tier of QB’s run from 9-16 in my mind as low-end QB1’s or solid QB2’s.  Many fantasy owners will wait on a QB and get two of these options to rotate based on matchup which is a viable option if you can’t go elite.  Ryan leads this group since I see him with the most upside.  He lost his top receiver last season and Roddy White was never really healthy. Everything that could go wrong for Atlanta did last season, but Ryan has looked in good form this preseason and ready to return to the QB1 ranks.  Like Indianapolis, the Falcons will have to throw the ball a lot especially in the red zone since they lack a solid running game.. QB

Tony Romo. 10. player. 123. Even though he’s often maligned for his playoff and late season struggles,  Romo is still a good play at QB1, and his receiver corps looks well stocked with the maturation of Dez Bryant and the emergence of Terrance Williams.  Romo  has been in the top ten fantasy scoring QB’s in each of the last three seasons.  He’s shown this preseason that his offseason back surgery won’t hinder him heading into the season.. QB. Dallas Cowboys