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.
Here’s the fantasy football quarterbacks ranked from 12 to seven.
12. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Prescott was the biggest fantasy coup of all last season with a sixth-place finish among quarterbacks in fantasy scoring. I mistakenly passed on Prescott during the fantasy draft and subsequent waiver wire weeks, based purely on his rookie status.
My biggest sleeper quarterback coming into 2016 was Tony Romo, thanks to having a dominant offensive line. That helped propel Prescott into fantasy gold in 2016. Will that gold continue in 2017? I’m not as sold as others.
Prescott was a great story and still has that great offensive line, but as with all young quarterbacks, the learning curve becomes steeper as the years go by. Defenses have now had a year to catch up with Prescott, and that could spell doom for a player that was not highly touted out of college. His biggest weapon last year wasn’t his running. While that is a nice addition, his best attribute was his ability to not throw interceptions. He had only four interceptions against 23 touchdown passes. I don’t see that continuing.
He faded a bit down the stretch last season and I see that fade continuing. — Verdict: High-upside backup
11. Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders
Carr was explosive last year for a team that seems poised to keep it together this year. Despite missing a game, he still finished in the top-10 in fantasy scoring and went for almost 4,000 yards passing, while throwing 28 touchdowns.
Even with all his attempts, he still only turned the ball over nine times.
His weapons are back and his offensive line is one of the best in the NFL. The only drawback could be the addition of a more bruising type of running game with Marshawn Lynch. Lynch may gobble up some carries once provided to Carr as pass attempts.
There’s also that injury that derailed his season at the end of the year last season, too. He should come back just as good as he was last season, and should put up solid weekly fantasy numbers. — Verdict: Mid-tier starter
10. Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If Winston is going to be that franchise level quarterback, this is the year to prove it. He’s in his third season, which has traditionally been a big leap year for great quarterbacks.
Ranking him this high is a sign that many experts believe the way that I do in thinking the Buccaneers will be much better, with Winston leading the way. He’s never been a starting fantasy option in his career, yet, but with the weapons around him, and the maturity gained in recent years, Winston can be a dominant force on a weekly basis.
DeSean Jackson will pair nicely with Mike Evans on the outside. The Bucs have two capable scoring tight ends, and the running game is good enough that it can serve as a nice compliment to Tampa Bay’s passing attack.
I believe in Winston’s ability, but at some point, the coaching staff is going to have to let him throw more. He averaged the 16-most attempts last season among quarterbacks, which isn’t going to be good enough to put him as a top-10 option.
He should throw more and with better accuracy in 2017. — Verdict: Mid-tier starter
9. Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans
Mariota and Winston will forever be linked based on their NFL draft position, and now with both showing signs of growth, they’re expected to take that next step in 2017.
Mariota has good upside, based on his ability to not only run, but pass with accuracy. He has over a 60 percent completion rate, which is solid based on his rushing prowess. He can score touchdowns in several different ways, despite limited weapons.
With all my love for Mariota, I don’t love his regular injury issues, which have already forced him to sit out of games in his young career. I also don’t love the lack of weapons employed with the Titans. He has the chance to be a top-10 fantasy quarterback, but I’m not going all in. — Verdict: Low-end starter
8. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
Was there a bigger bust than Newton last season? He was the biggest fantasy weapon in 2015 and then turned around in 2016 and faltered. He showed why he was drafted No. 1 in the NFL draft in 2015, and showed why people don’t know what to make of him in 2016.
So which version will we get in 2017?
I’m thinking more along the lines of 2015.
Carolina has the playmakers, who can not only gobble up yards, but can score touchdowns. That helps Newton’s value because he’s always a threat to score with his legs, too.
It all comes down to accuracy for Newton. He had a 52.9 percent completion rate in 2016. He had a 59.8 percent completion rate in 2015. If he’s more accurate, he’s going to be a top-three fantasy play. If he’s inaccurate, he’s going to be outside the top-12.
He’s a high risk, high-reward option. In 2017, he should provide plenty of rewards. — Verdict: High-end starter
7. Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins
Who would have ever believed experts would rank Cousins ahead of Newton? In the strange world of Cousins’ ascent to greatness in fantasy football, experts believe he can be in the conversation for weekly production.
And in the last few years, he’s produced. He went for almost 5,000 yards last season with 29 total touchdowns. His biggest strike against him was his 12 interceptions. He fits that mold of a Drew Brees-type player, who will throw for a ton of yards, but can throw in a complete stinker every now and then.
I’d like to see his touchdowns increase, though, before I completely roll out the red carpet for Cousins. He threw for a ton of yards, but finished 13th among quarterbacks in touchdowns.
That likely won’t get better with the lack of playmakers at his disposal. He may dink and dunk his way to some solid weeks, but I’m not buying his continued dominance as a fantasy option. — Verdict: Low-end starter
Best of the Bunch
Cam Newton — He also is in contention for worst of the bunch, too, based on the possibility of being inaccurate again. His upside is way higher than the rest, though, so draft a good backup if taking Newton, and hope for good results.
Sleeper
Jameis Winston — If Winston throws more, he could easily sneak into the top-five as a fantasy quarterback. Keep an eye on his average draft position. If it’s lower than some of the names listed above, he’s a steal.
Worst of the Bunch
Dak Prescott — I’m all in on the sophomore slump for Prescott.
