2020 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks
Here we are. One of my favorite parts of fall… Fantasy Football. I have been playing Fantasy Football religiously since I was in 3rd grade, so were talking like 2003. I did it before it was cool. When your draft was everyone in a room with a whiteboard. Real deal Holyfield.
These rankings are based on PPR rankings so make your adjustments accordingly. This is organized by EARLIEST Round I would feel taking these guys and then the order I would consider them.
Round 3
1) Lamar Jackson- The reigning MVP is hard not to put at #1. I do not think he will win MVP this year but its hard to count out his running ability. 1200+ rushing yards is more then most RBs get. Really splitting hairs with Lamar and Mahomes so its really your decision. But for me the running ability, in fantasy football is huge. Also Lamar has more weapons this year with the additions of Duvernay and Proche. I also expect a big jump from Marquise Brown in year two. The injury risk of a running QB does concern me but risk/reward its worth it here to me.
2) Patrick Mahomes- I think Mahomes is going to be the MVP this year. The KC offense is going to torch the league this year and Mahomes is going to tear it up. This is really a 1A more then a 2 because its splitting hairs between the two. The addition of Clyde Edwards-Helaire I think might be overhyped. Im not sure how much more his output is going to be over Wiliams but this offense is going to be explosive.
Round 5
3) Russell Wilson- Wilson gets it done year in and year out. He is always disrespected in ESPNs rankings. DK Metcalf is going to make a big jump in year 2. Hes going to get his chunk yardage rushing and always gets down to avoid injury.
Round 6
4) Deshaun Watson- This one scares me because Bill O’brien is a wild card. Now Hopkins is out and is replaced with Brandin Cooks. Now, Cooks has had multiple 1000 yard seasons, Will Fuller has flashed some huge games, and Kenny Stills is a deep threat. So he still has weapons, just not a go to WR. I do think they upgraded at RB with David Johnson who is also a pass catching threat. Add in Watsons running ability and he is going to be a solid fantasy QB
5) Dak Prescott- If Dak isnt a 5000 yard 40+ TD passer this year, then hes not the guy. This offense is loaded. They have the best WR core, top 3 RB, and likely the best Offensive Line in football. Throw in a competent defense and he should have plenty of opportunity to score. If he isnt a top 5 QB statistically, DO NOT PAY HIM.
6) Tom Brady- Really hard not to put Brady higher especially since Im a Brady guy. Just understand that this is statistically going to be the best season we have seen from Brady since the famous 2007 season. Also remember that everyone is saying he can’t throw the deep ball anymore and that Bruce Arians offense focuses a ton on deep passes. Brady is going to prove that theory wrong. Super pumped to hear Max Kellerman keep telling us how big of a cliff hes going to fall off though.
Round 7
7) Kyler Murray- Most websites are higher on Kyler than I am. The offensive line isnt as good as Id like but he of course did get one of the most dangerous weapons in the game in DeAndre Hopkins. The 20 TDs/12 Ints to me is a bit concerning. I do expect him to take a year 2 jump. Im just not as high on him as websites.
8) Aaron Rogers- I think this is the first year we start to see the end of Rogers in Green Bay. Getting a backup QB and backup RB in the first two rounds of the draft I think was an awful move. Devin Funchess opts out of the season and all of the sudden youre looking at Allen Lazard as your second WR. Jace Sternberger played in 8 games last year (including playoffs) and started two of those games and had 1 catch for 3 yards and hes probably your starting TE. All that being said Rogers is still Rogers and Rogers puts up big numbers.
Round 8
9) Matthew Stafford- I know this might be kind of a homer pick, but there is a lot to be excited about with Stafford this year. Last year prior to injury he was in the MVP conversation and on pace for around 5000 yards and 40 TDs. Hes back healthy and the team around him is improved. The Lions have made improvements on the offensive line at G and RT. DeAndre Swift was drafted in the second round and many looked at him as the best RB in the draft. He is a receiving threat out of the backfield as well. Kerryon Johnson is back healthy and will have to carry less of the load. Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay are entering contract years. Golladay is looking for big money after back to back 1000 yard seasons and leading the league in TDs last season. Finally TJ Hockenson, who was compared to Rob Gronkowki and former teammate George Kittle coming out of college, is entering year 2 where TEs usually make a big jump in production. So a lot of interesting stuff going on around Stafford this year.
10) Matt Ryan- This could be a bounce back year for Matty Ice. He of course still has Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. They also traded for Hayden Hurst who is not proven but was drafted high and apparently looks good in camp. Now is Todd Gurley going to be Offensive player of the year Gurley or are his knee issues too much to overcome? That is going to make or break this offense.
11) Drew Brees- Maybe a little low for Brees here, but you can only throw slants to Michael Thomas so much. I think big time regression in what is probably Brees last year playing. The Emmanuel Sanders addition is interesting, but I think this is mostly going to be a conservative dink and dunk offense. I also expect Taysom Hill to be used more and even for Jameis Winston to be used a little.
12) Carson Wentz- Ive always been a big Wentz guy but injuries have always affected him. He could really be a steal here if his WRs stay healthy. At one point last year he was down to Greg Ward, JJ Arceiga-Whiteside, and Im pretty sure Josh McKown, so not a lot to work with. Hes got Zach Ertz at TE and Miles Sanders will take over full time at RB, but he needs production from the WRs to be consistent in Fantasy. If DJax can stay healthy and Jalen Reagor is what they drafted him to be I think Wentz is a steal.
Round 9
13) Josh Allen- This is where things start to get dicey. Allen is interesting cause hes not afraid to run the ball and does score quite a bit on the ground, but isnt efficient or consistent as a passer. It doesn’t help that his best receiver hes thrown to has been John Brown, and the Bills did trade for Stefon Diggs this year which will be his best target hes ever had. We will see if he can put it together this year but I haven’t been convinced yet.
14) Ben Roethlisberger- Ben is back and supposedly healthy. I think most of Pittsburghs issues last year were their terrible QB play once Ben went down. Now that hes back, expect Juju, Diontae Johnson, and James Washington to all look much better this season. The addition of Eric Ebron is slept on. This also should help James Connor return to form. A lot of ifs but could prove to be a solid back up QB if youre in a jam.
15) Cam Newton- Probably the most boom or bust QB this year. A former league MVP and a QB that can run. I don’t like his targets he has with an aging Julian Edelman being his best target. I think this is a down year for the Patriots and Im really interested to see what this offense looks like.
Round 10+
A popular strategy I have used in the past is to wait until the round 10+ to grab a QB and stack up on RB and WR depth early. There are quite a few good QBs that I think could slip down here that would be worth taking.
16) Kirk Cousins- The Vikings lean heavily on their running game and defense but Cousins still has his games.
17) Baker Mayfield- Baker might have the most talent on offense besides Dak and the Cowboys. I would put him in the same category as Dak that if he can’t put it together this year he probably isnt the guy. Could be a real steal if he slips this far though.
18) Daniel Jones- Jones had a few really games last year and a few really bad ones. I still don’t know what to think about him to be honest but he has upside.
19) Derek Carr- The Raiders made a lot of moves on offense and have a lot of weapons. Carr is also entering a contract year but has Marcus Mariota behind him if he doesn’t take advantage.
20) Philip Rivers- This one could be a steal. Great situation in Indianapolis for Phil but I think they are going to rely heavy on the run game. Really high on him as a backup QB just in case though.
21) Joe Burrow- AJ Green and Tee Higgins are already hurt, John Ross has been out of training camp tending to his kid that has COVID, and he plays for the Bengals. Loved BD Joe in college and he has a lot of talent but is playing behind one of the lesser lines in football.
22) Jimmy Garroppolo- The 49ers ran the ball so well in the playoffs last year Jimmy G averaged 142 passing yards per game. They wont dominate like that every game but Jimmy G slinging it all over the field isnt exactly what the 49ers are built on and fantasy is more so about consistency.
23) Jared Goff- I have no clue what to think of the Rams heading into this year. The offensive line does not look good and Todd Gurley is gone. Goff was 13th in fantasy points last year but I expect him to take a step back.
24) Drew Lock- Really talented roster on offense, but there hasn’t been a good sample size of Lock. Another guy I would consider as a QB 2 just in case.
25) Teddy Bridgewater- Rebuilding year for the Panthers but Bridgewater is a veteran and has one of the best playmakers in the league.
26) Ryan Tannehill- Not sold on Tannehill. AJ Brown looks good and Corey Davis flashes on occasion, but this team lives and dies on Henry
27) Sam Darnold- Who is he going to throw to?
28) Gardner Minshew- Didn’t Mineshew get benched twice for Nick Foles? Way too much is put behind this guys mustache, but I think the Jags are looking at another way down year.
29) Tyrod Taylor- Who knows?
30) Ryan Fitzpatrick- Fitzmagic? Does he still have a few big games in him? Maybe. But I expect to see Tua at some point before midseason
