Fantasy Football: Quarterback ranking gets shuffled by free agency
Though Lamar Jackson remains the top DFS quarterback, the field below him has changed significantly for the upcoming fantasy draft thanks to free agency.
Free agency signings, especially Tom Brady’s move to Tampa Bay, have triggered a reassessment of NFL quarterbacks for the 2020 fantasy football season.
Since many fantasy football leagues are set up like NFL divisions as 4, 8 or 12-team formats. this article focuses on the top 12 fantasy draft quarterback prospects. The 2019 ranking of NFL quarterbacks is based on the metrics provided by the ESPN standard scoring system.
The assessments of where the quarterbacks rank entering the 2020 season is based on the recent free agent activity.
1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
- 2019 rank – No. 1
- 2019 fantasy statistics – 415.68 fantasy points, 27.7 points per game
- Team also signed – veteran offensive tackle Andre Smith
Baltimore chose to look for experienced linemen to add depth to their offensive line. Jackson, the league MVP in 2019, may face new challenges in 2020 as opposing defenses look for effective ways to stop him and shut down Derrick Henry.
2. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
- 2019 rank – No. 3
- 2019 fantasy statistics – 328.60 points, 20.5 points per game
- Team also signed – tight ends Greg Olsen & Luke Willson
Wilson climbs to No. 2, because Seattle signed more pass catchers for Wilson to target in 2020. Olsen and Willson are veterans so the learning curve should be short.
3. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
- 2019 rank – No. 7
- 2019 fantasy statistics – 287.04 points, 20.5 points per game
- Team also signed – Cornerback Antonio Hamilton
The NFL champion Chiefs went shopping for defense to give the offense more possessions. and more opportunities to put points on the scoreboard.
4. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- 2019 rank – No. 12
- 2019 fantasy statistics – 263.68 points, 16.5 points per game
- Team also signed – linebacker Kevin Minter, safety Andrew Adams
Tampa Bay seems like the perfect fit for Brady. He can throw it to wide receiver Mike Evans or slot receiver Chris Godwin. He has another great target in tight end O.J. Howard. Brady will have a variety of running backs.
5. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
- 2019 rank- No. 2
- 2019 fantasy statistics – 337.78 points, 21.1 points per game
- Team also signed – Wide receiver Amari Cooper
The Cowboys placed the franchise tag on Prescott, which will either spur him to greater numbers than last year or place a season-long wedge between him and Cowboys management. Losing Randall Cobb through free agency will hurt Dallas’ pass attack.
6. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
- 2019 rank- No. 4
- 2019 fantasy statistics – 320.98 points, 21.4 points per game
- Team also signed – Wide receiver Randall Cobb
Watson slipped in the rankings because Houston traded away their best wide receiver in DeAndre Hopkins. Randall Cobb is a talented replacement for Hopkins, but it will take tine for him to adjust to the Houston passing scheme.
7. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
- 2019 rank- No. 6
- 2019 fantasy statistics – 288.56 points, 18.0 points per game
- Team also signed – Wide receiver Stefon Diggs
Josh Allen kind of quietly climbed into the top 10 among fantasy quarterbacks last year. In 2020 he should be even better with the addition of former Viking Stefon Diggs.
8. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
- 2019 rank- No. 8
- 2019 fantasy statistics – 285.28 points, 17.8 points per game
- Team also signed – Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (via trade)
Kyler Murray will at least stay competitive with the other nine quarterbacks in the top 10 with the acquisition of Hopkins. Murray already has a quality running back in Kenyan Drake, so expect a sold year from the former Sooner quarterback.
9. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
- 2019 rank- No. 9
- 2019 fantasy statistics – 278.38 points, 17.4 points per game
- Team also signed – Offensive tackle Rick Wagner
The Packers signed Wagner to help protect Aaron Rodgers. Last year the Green Bay QB spent a lot of time scrambling to find an open pass receiver. Rodgers, being Rodgers, will still finish in the top 10 among fantasy football quarterbacks.
10. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
- 2019 rank- No. 11
- 2019 fantasy statistics – 267.34 points, 17.8 points per game
- Team also signed – Tight end Hayden Hurst
Matt Ryan, like Rodgers, is a consistent top 10 quarterback in fantasy football. Hurst joins a group of pass catchers that include Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. Adding Todd Gurley at running back should relieve some of the pressure applied to Ryan by opposing defenses.
11. Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers
- 2019 rank- No. 14
- 2019 fantasy statistics – 247.32 points, 15.5 points per game
- Team also signed – Defensive tackle Arik Armstead, safety Jimmie Ward
San Francisco has made a commitment to re-sign valuable players like Armstead and Ward. If Garoppolo avoids injury, he should be able to match or exceed his stats from last year.
12. Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles
- 2019 rank- No. 10
- 2019 fantasy statistics – 275,84 points, 18.2 points per game
- Team also signed – Cornerback Darius Slay
Wentz falls in the rankings because the Eagles lost wide receiver Nelson Agholor and running back Jordan Howard through free agency. The offensive cupboard is not completely bare, so Wentz is still a viable selection in a fantasy league with 8 or more teams.
Obviously, the quarterback who made the biggest climb in the rankings is Tom Brady and it’s no coincidence that the quarterback who suffered the biggest fall is Brady’s predecessor, Jameis Winston. Winston is still looking to sign with a team that needs a quarterback.
SLEEPER
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is this year’s “sleeper” pick. Stafford has been a top 5 quarterback in previous seasons and, if he’s fully recovered from his 2019 injuries, he could be a difference maker and productive DFS quarterback.