As we start rolling out our fantasy football rankings here at Faceoff Sports Network, what better way to go out and “explain yourself” as to why you have them ranked there. When I initially put together my rankings, DeShaun Watson was at eight and Tom Brady wasn’t even listed (he was at 11). With what’s going on, Watson has dropped out and Brady is in.
The fun of writing these pieces now is we are going off what they did last season along with free-agency signings and the NFL Draft. Even as I was writing it, players were moving up and down. I like Konami-code quarterbacks (dual-threats) and always push them up in my rankings. Can you believe I had Russell Wilson at four when I first started? Yeah, me neither!
Anyways, here are my not-too-early quarterback rankings!
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1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
This should come as no surprise for anyone. Allen is the back-to-back QB1 and this off-season, including the draft, shows no intentions of slowing down. The addition of O.J. Howard in free agency, the extension of star wide receiver Stefon Diggs and drafting a third-down running back in James Cook are all systems go for the 25-year-old quarterback.
Allen led all quarterbacks by an average of over two fantasy points per game over the next closest signal-caller and had close to 30 fantasy PPG in 6 points for passing touchdown leagues. He won as a dual-threat who was third in rushing attempts (122), rushing yards (763), and touchdowns (6). I expect a downtime here with the drafting of Cook, but expect the pass attempts to stay up as he was top-five with 646. The uptick in passing and downtick in rushing should help Allen keep his efficiency up and should be the safest quarterback to draft for the upcoming season.
2. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert was one of two quarterbacks to throw over 5,000 yards last season. The other one? Tom Brady. Who says Herbert can’t do it again with the way the AFC West is looking? Herbert has thrown for 9,350 yards and 69 touchdowns in 32 career games, the most productive start to any quarterback’s career. While Herbert doesn’t run like Allen, he has scored eight rushing touchdowns over his two-year career.
Many will think Herbert won’t have to throw as much with the improved defense. With the AFC West upgraded as a whole, I just don’t see that happening. We could easily see another 5,000-yard season coming from Herbert and I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him finish as the QB1 this upcoming season.
3. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
With the loss of Tyreek Hill, it should be an interesting season for Patrick Mahomes. The additions of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and the drafting of Skyy Moore will have to make up for the difference of Hill not being there. Travis Kelce and Mecole Hardman are still on the roster, but Mahomes is going to have to adjust.
This will be an interesting season for Mahomes. I see him still being an elite quarterback, even with the loss of Hill. The additions by subtraction should keep Mahomes as a top-three quarterback, which is why I have him here. Many will hinder taking him at three when he finished as QB4 last year with the new-look team, but the upside to finish as the QB1 is still there.
4. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
Through the first half of the season, Jalen Hurts was not only a QB1 but THE QB1. Hurts had then-rookie Devonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert as the reception leaders, and nothing else. The NFL Draft came and it had some excitement at the Tennessee Titans pick.
Tennessee traded AJ Brown to the Eagles for the 18th pick. While Hurts and Brown did not play together in their collegiate days, they do have preexisting ties. Hurts recruited Brown to play at Alabama, but instead, the gifted wideout elected to take his talents to Ole Miss. The pair remained close friends and will now get to play together in Philly.
In the wake of the Brown trade, it is clear that the Eagles are going all-in on Hurts. Hurts and the Eagles have the third-easiest schedule per FantasyPros at the quarterback position. He should be able to take the next step in the passing game with a more complete team around him. His bread and butter is the ground game as he had 139 rush attempts last season and should be more efficient this year with what’s now around him.
5. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
With a forgettable 2021 season, Lamar Jackson wraps up my top five quarterbacks. Sure he lost Marquise Brown to the Arizona Cardinals, but the coaching staff has said they plan on returning to a pre-2021 offense. That type of offense Jackson accelerates at.
We may never see the MVP version of Jackson this season, but the rushing upside is just too hard to pass up. Many will detour away from him, thinking his passing numbers will take a big dip with no Brown. Don’t pass him up, he still has week winning upside to himself.
6. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
DeAndre Hopkins is suspended for the first six games of the NFL season which is why I have Kyler Murray here at six. Since the start of Murray’s career with Hopkins, he has a passer rating of 98.6, 6753 passing yards, 45 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions in the 26 games they have played together.
The addition of Marquise Brown will help, but it’s a tale of two Kylers that we get every season. He starts off the first half hot, then falls apart in the second half. Which one will we get this season with no Hopkins for the first six games? Can Murray hold up a whole season? These questions are the reason why I have him here at six.
7. Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos
A change of scenery may be what Russell Wilson needed as he was traded from the Seattle Seahawks to the Denver Broncos. Going from D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett to the trio of Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy and Tim Patrick which many may say is a lateral move, but I see it as an overall improvement.
Wilson finally has a team built around him. Nathaniel Hackett hasn’t been known to run a pass-happy offense, but Aaron Rodgers has been a top-10 quarterback over the last three years with Hackett as his offensive coordinator. Who says he won’t get the best out of Wilson? The dip from last year puts him here at seven, which is a great value for Wilson who has top-3 potential.
8. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow is one of those quarterbacks that I struggle with moving up in my rankings. If Ja’Marr Chase is a top-three wide receiver and Tee Higgins is a sure-fire WR2, then why is Burrow not top-five? Burrow had only three games under 20 fantasy points, with two over 40 points. In the final two games of the regular season, Burrow put up around an additional 100 fantasy points which made up for 24% of his final numbers.
Additionally, the Bengals will have a whole new look this season. Upgraded the offensive line which allowed 51 sacks on Burrow, which was third-most in the league. They also added our friend of the Faceoff brand and Mental Health Podathon star Hayden Hurst. Year two with Chase and company has me excited to take Burrow as a back-end QB1.
9. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Outside of Dak Prescott‘s 2020 injury season, has finished as a top-10 quarterback five of the last six years. Losing Amari Cooper to Cleveland and the status of Michael Gallup throws up a couple of red flags as to how this receiving core will produce. Although it didn’t feel like Prescott did well fantasy-wise, he still managed 4,400 yards and 37 touchdowns last season. CeeDee Lamb will now step up as the alpha WR1 in this offense and Dalton Schultz is another great weapon.
News from camp is that the Cowboys would like to give him more rushing attempts. Last season he had 48 attempts for 146 yards, and one touchdown, the lowest of his six-year career. If he sees 60 attempts, about 300 rushing yards, and 4-5 rushing touchdowns, he could be back in the top-five conversation by end of the season.
10. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Next up is Tom Brady, the ageless wonder. He has me by seven years but makes me feel old, rounds out my top-10. How? How at 44 years old is Brady still doing this? Ever since he arrived in Tampa Bay, all he has done is produce over 25 fantasy points per game.
Finishing as the QB3 in fantasy last year, Brady produced 5,316 passing yards, 43 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions off a league-leading 719 pass attempts. That’s an average of 42 pass attempts per game and I don’t see that repeating. In 2020 he finished as the QB8 and I see that as a more realistic finish for Brady because Father Time has to catch up, right?
Who did I miss? What’s your top-10 look like? Hit me up on Twitter @RyanMiner_FFB and let’s discuss!
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