FantasyPros has its consensus rankings from the experts for fantasy football. In a standard 12-team league, you’re generally going to carry two quarterbacks, meaning 24 should be available.
Since there could be some debate among those top 24, I’ll break down the top 30 quarterbacks in fantasy football, and decide whether they could make the grade, or disappoint.
24. Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
This is about where I would expect to see Smith. He’s never going to be a consistent starter in fantasy football. But there are times where he puts up legitimate fantasy points, thanks to his ability to rush for touchdowns.
Overall, though, he’s pretty plain when it comes to his skill-set and upside. And this year, he doesn’t have his top deep threat Jeremy Maclin to at least give the perception that he may throw deep. He’s a lame-duck quarterback once again in his career, so I actually see this season as being a little less decent for Smith. He’s at the bottom of the two-deep in expert rankings for a reason, and I’d actually put him lower. — Verdict: Stay away
23. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
Here’s another player I’ve been an apologist for in the past. Flacco has the tools to be a successful quarterback. He has the weapons around him, too, with Maclin, Mike Wallace and up-and-coming Breshad Perriman. He also has the volume, too, as he was second in the NFL in pass attempts per game last season at 40.
But for some reason, he just doesn’t have the production. He finished 20th in fantasy scoring last year, thanks to 15 interceptions against just 20 touchdowns. In the last two seasons he has just 34 touchdowns total, after a 2014 campaign where he hurled 27 touchdowns.
I’m a stubborn man for a reason, so I’m sticking with the stats. He has the volume and the weapons, so the touchdowns will come back. — Verdict: Easily at least a backup
22. Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins
Is this Tannehill’s last chance in Miami? He had surgery and now’s the time for the Dolphins to take a step toward competing in the AFC East. But can Tannehill do it?
He’s been marginal at best, resembling more of what Smith does in Kansas City, than any top-15 quarterback. And in terms of fantasy, I’m still waiting on him to produce at a level worth starting. Last year, he finished 27th among quarterbacks in fantasy scoring while missing the last four games of the season.
He’s a dink and dunker who relies on throwing touchdowns. But, everything being written about him in the offseason suggests he will be able to throw it downfield more, and he has the weapons to do that. He’s definitely a backup with high upside. — Verdict: Possible starter
21. Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals
I was a big doubter in Palmer last season. And I’m not changing my tune this year. However, at this ranking, I would feel good about him as a plug and play backup.
I’m concerned about Palmer’s durability and the aging weapons around him. This is David Johnson’s team now. But with that, Johnson is exceptional at catching the ball out of the backfield, so he adds another weapon for Palmer. If John Brown can bounce back and Larry Fitzgerald can beat father time again, Palmer is actually not a bad option. If he stays healthy, he’s a solid backup. — Verdict: Solid matchup backup
20. Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Blake Bortles fantasy train ends this season. Bortles is one of those quarterbacks who non-fantasy football fans get tired of hearing about. He’s not good, but yet he scores at such a high clip in fantasy that NFL people talk about him in somewhat glowing terms.
But his value was tied to Jacksonville’s ability to get down big early and then Bortles just slinging it all over the yard. That won’t happen this year. Jacksonville has the opportunity to have one of the best defenses in the AFC and the running game may finally be taking shape.
They don’t need Bortles to average the fourth-most pass attempts in the NFL anymore (like he did last year). They need him to manage the game. That’s good for the Jaguars, but bad for fantasy owners. — Verdict: Draft low as a backup
19. Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are going all-in on giving Wentz weapons. The receiving corps features Alshon Jeffery, Torrey Smith and Jordan Matthews. Even if Wentz is marginal, he can’t possibly screw up bad enough to be off the radar as at least a backup in fantasy football.
The sophomore slump sometimes has me concerned about quarterbacks, and it does a little with Wentz. He was the hottest thing going in the early season last year, but fizzled at the end. Wentz brings that unknown, where we don’t exactly know what we’re going to get.
But if his average draft position doesn’t go too much higher than this ranking, he would be a sure bet as a backup, with high upside. — Verdict: High upside backup
Best of the Bunch
Joe Flacco — I know that he’s going to be a high-volume passer. If he can produce more touchdowns, he can be a starter.
Sleeper
Carson Wentz — Wentz has the most upside of the group, but probably has the most downside. His weapons are top-notch, so now’s the time to put up big fantasy points.
Worst of the Bunch
Alex Smith — This isn’t even close.
