'18 Way-Too-Early Fantasy Football Rankings- QB's
1) Aaron Rodgers
2017: 1,675 Passing Yards, 16 Passing TDs, 6 Interceptions, 126 Rushing Yards, 0 Rushing TDs = 129.6 FP (QB28) (7 Games Played) (NFL.com Standard Scoring)
Analysis: This is pretty self-explanatory isn't it at this point? Rodgers is the class of the position with a rocket for an arm and a very under appreciated ability to run. If Rodgers plays all 16 games, he will finish in the top 3 at the position, period. Chalk him up for 4,300 yards and 35 TDs.
2) Russell Wilson
2017: 3,983 Passing Yards, 34 Passing TDs, 11 Interceptions, 586 Rushing Yards, 3 Rushing TDs = 347.9 FP (QB1) (16 Games Played) (NFL.com Standard Scoring)
Analysis: Wilson is the Seattle Seahawks offense, which is actually a bad thing in this case. Wilson shoulders too much of the load for this team and Wilson's teammates must step up in order for him to reach his ceiling. Hopefully their first round pick, RB Rashaad Penny, can help take some pressure on his star QB. Nevertheless, Wilson's talent can overcome subpar offensive lines and lackluster WR talent, as he showed last year when he finished #1 among all fantasy play-callers. Wilson should reach 4,100 yards with 29 TDs and 500 more yards on the ground.
3) Tom Brady
2017: 4,577 Passing Yards, 32 Passing TDs, 8 Interceptions, 28 Rushing Yards, 0 Rushing TDs = 295.88 FP (QB3) (16 Games Played) (NFL.com Standard Scoring)
Analysis: Brady keeps on rolling, posting a top 3 finish in his age-40 season. Now at age 41, Brady will try to continue to defy father time. And I tell you that there doesn't seem like any reason Brady will hit that wall. He is still the GOAT and still has good weapons at his disposal--it will be interesting to see how dynamic rookie Sony Michel gets used in the Pats offense. Brady should side-step the inevitable age decline for one more season; he'll finish with over 4,400 yards and 30 TDs.
4) Cam Newton
2017: 3,302 Passing Yards, 22 Passing TDs, 16 Interceptions, 754 Rushing Yards, 6 Rushing TDs = 299.5 FP (QB2) (16 Games Played) (NFL.com Standard Scoring)
Analysis: Cam had been one of my favorite QBs to pick in early mock drafts this year as he has about as high as a ceiling as any other QB in the league. The guy threw for a meager 3,300 yards (in today's age of football) with a pretty high amount of interceptions and still was able to finish 2nd at the position. I'm not really sure why he's being slept on so much after such a high finish. Folks, take advantage of this lapse of reasoning and cash in on a draft-day steal. I see a line of 3,800/25/13/580/5 in Newton's future.
5) Deshaun Watson
2017: 1,699 Passing Yards, 19 Passing TDs, 8 Interceptions, 269 Rushing Yards, 2 Rushing TDs = 168.9 FP (QB26) (7 Games Played) (NFL.com Standard Scoring)
Analysis: Watson showed what he was capable of in 2017 as he torched opposing defenses like a seasoned vet. Now, fantasy owners are drooling over the Clemson product's upside. A Cam Newton-esque player, if everything clicks this year like it did last year for Watson, he could finish as the highest scoring player in all of fantasy football. An ACL injury is scary but Watson showed that he can beat teams with his arm just as much as he can with his legs. While I do not think that he can repeat the pace he showed last season, his dual threat ability makes him a safe bet to finish in the top 10. 3,785/25/13/375/4 should be in the cards for Watson in '18.
6) Carson Wentz
2017: 3,296 Passing Yards, 33 Passing TDs, 7 Interceptions, 299 Rushing Yards, 0 Rushing TDs = 281.7 FP (QB5) (13 Games Played) (NFL.com Standard Scoring)
Analysis: Wentz would have easily been the MVP if he had just stayed healthy and played the final 3 games of the year. But, the lack of the hardware should not take away from the greatness of his season. He looks to be on track to start Week 1 which is a bit worrisome but he was automatic last season and is in a favorable situation in Philadelphia. I mean just look at what Nick Foles was able to do in the Super Bowl with this team. Wentz was tremendous last year and as long as he is healthy, there shouldn't be any reason he doesn't reach 4,000 yards and 28 TDs.
7) Drew Brees
2017: 4,334 Passing Yards, 23 Passing TDs, 8 Interceptions, 12 Rushing Yards, 2 Rushing TDs = 262.6 FP (QB9) (16 Games Played) (NFL.com Standard Scoring)
Analysis: Brees had a down year last season and still finished in the top 10. He is a shoe in to reach 4,300 yards and should increase his 23 TDs from a year ago as the Saints rushing prowess and efficiency should relent at least a bit. Plus with RB Mark Ingram suspended for the first four games, Brees should handle more work through the air. There's really not much more to say about Brees as his track record speaks for itself. He'll finish with close to 4,500 yards and 28 TDs.
8) Dak Prescott
2017: 3,324 Passing Yards, 22 Passing TDs, 13 Interceptions, 357 Rushing Yards, 6 Rushing TDs = 260.7 FP (QB11) (16 Games Played) (NFL.com Standard Scoring)
Analysis: Many are down on Dak for the upcoming year and it shows in his preseason fantasy QB ranking in the high teens. I get it, the Cowboys are starved of big-name WRs and the offense will surely rely on the legs of star RB Ezekiell Elliott. But, Allen Hurns, Terrence Williams, Cole Beasley, and rookie Michael Gallup should have enough talent to make Dak productive. It wasn't too long ago that Hurns posted 1,031 yards and 10 TDs with Blake Bortles. Also despite a supposed broken season, Prescott still was able to salvage it and make himself a QB1 in 12 team leagues. And lastly, in the first 8 games of the season in which Zeke played alongside Dak, Prescott averaged 21.5 fantasy points per game, which was just barely behind #1 QB Russell Wilson' 21.7 fantasy points per game. Don't sleep on Dak this year as I think he is a big-time sleeper. I see him posting 3,700 yards with 26 TDs and 300 yards on the ground.
9) Jimmy Garoppolo
2017: 1,560 Passing Yards, 7 Passing TDs, 5 Interceptions, 11 Rushing Yards, 1 Rushing TD = 86.9 FP (QB32) (6 Games Played) (NFL.com Standard Scoring)
Analysis: Garoppolo balled out last year and still boasts a perfect record in games that he starts. It is obvious that the 49ers are all in and showed that they are going to rely heavily on his right arm. As a result, stats should come in bunches in San Fransisco. It also doesn't hurt to have one of the brightest offensive minds calling plays in Kyle Shanahan. All this equals a great fantasy season for Jimmy GQ. He could flirt with 4,500 yards and 25 TDs.
10) Kirk Cousins
2017: 4,093 Passing Yards, 27 Passing TDs, 13 Interceptions, 179 Rushing Yards, 4 Rushing TDs = 277.62 FP (QB6) (16 Games Played) (NFL.com Standard Scoring)
Analysis: Cousins has been consistently a top 10 fantasy QB in years past and his situation looks to be better in 2018. He is surrounded by talent all over the field in promising young RB Dalvin Cook, and talented pass-catchers in Adam Theilen, Stefon Diggs, and Kyle Rudolph. Not to mention he'll be playing his home games in a dome now. Cousins isn't a sexy pick but he is a pretty consistent pick, throwing for at least 4,000 yards and 25 TDs in each of the last three years. Now in Minnesota, I think Cousins can eclipse 4,300 yards and 26 TDs.
Just Missed: Andrew Luck (N/A), Matt Ryan (QB15), Matthew Stafford (QB7)