Fantasy Football 2014: Top 30 QB Rankings and Analysis

51. Bradford has looked good this preseason coming off ACL surgery, and could finally be a fantasy factor if he can stay healthy.  He was playing well before the injury last season, but his upside is limited by the fact that the Rams run a rush-heavy attack.  . QB. St. Louis Rams. Sam Bradford. 21. player

QB. Kansas City Chiefs. Alex Smith. 22. player. 124. Smith fit right in to the Chiefs after joining first-year Coach Andy Reid in KC last season.  He doesn’t take many down the field shots or utilize his WR all that much, but he knows his strengths, takes care of the ball, and checks down efficiently.  He was the 15th best fantasy QB last season and could be a solid QB2 again this year.  Everything went right for him last year, and I think he’ll be hard-pressed to match his production this season.   

QB. Miami Dolphins. Ryan Tannehill. 23. player. 59. Tannehill was a solid QB2 last year who was on waiver wires most of the season.  He struggled a bit with turnovers but finished as the 16th best fantasy QB and had a nice stretch at the beginning of the fantasy playoffs weeks 13-15. Tannehill has definite upside, and he has looked good this preseason under new Offensive Coordinator Bill Lazor. Miami does have O-line and running back issues, so Tannehill will be asked to do a lot. In deep leagues, he’s an intriguing QB2, but he still has a ways to go before entering the QB1 conversation.  

QB. New York Giants. Eli Manning. 24. player. 31. Eli was absolutely brutal last season in a year where Mannings were after all kinds of records both positive (Peyton) and negative (Eli).  He lost Hakeem Nicks this offseason and his line has looked like a mess.  Unless you’re looking for a backup in two-QB leagues, Eli is best to stay away from until he shows a return to form.  

60. Delaying the Teddy Bridgewater show, Casell looks to be the week 1 starter for Minnesota after an impressive preseason.  The Vikings offense has some weapons and new Offensive Coordinator Norv Turner has been fantasy football gold for his QBs in the past. Cassel is an interesting sleeper pick with QB2 upside.. QB. Minnesota Vikings. Matt Cassel. 25. player

QB. New York Jets. Geno Smith. 26. player. 30. His starting job was never really threatened by Michael Vick, so Smith will be under center for the Jets again this season. He finished in the top 20 in his rookie year and finished with some strong games. There’s lots to like in Smith’s game from a fantasy perspective, but he has a ways to go before he’s a weekly starter in dual QB leagues.  The main thing he needs to improve in his consistency.  

35. Locker has been plagued by injury since joining the Titans, and last year was no exception. The Titans have put more pieces around him this offseason and look ready to give him his best shot at success in what should be a make-or-break year.  When he’s healthy, he’s actually put up solid numbers, and he could emerge as a nice QB2 option by the end of the season.  He has upside, but there are a lot of question marks as well.  . QB. Tennessee Titans. Jake Locker. 27. player

Chad Henne. 28. player. 52. Henne will be the starting QB for the Jags in week 1.  He will probably cede the job to Blake Bortles at some point this season, but his finishing kick last season does show there’s some reason to think he’ll contribute while he plays. He scored double-digit fantasy points in ESPN standard scoring in six of the Jags last seven games including four striaght 15-point efforts to finish the season.  . QB. Jacksonville Jaguars

10. Fitzpatrick has some weapons in Houston and will be the signal caller for Coach Bill O’Brien’s team to start the season.  He has been very good and very bad this preseason which is probably what fantasy owners should expect for the regular season as well.  He can put points on the board at times, but he isn’t someone you want to rely on as as starter even in 2 QB leagues.  . QB. Houston Texans. Ryan Fitzpatrick. 29. player

28. Schaub was a fantasy-relevant QB just a few years ago, but he’s tumbled quickly from the ranks of the fantasy options with a brutal season last year in Houston.  The change of scenery was supposed to help him, but he’s looked horrible this preseason and will probably lose the job to Derek Carr at some point this season.  . QB. Oakland Raiders. Matt Schaub. 30. player