Only one game remains in the 2015 NFL season, so we’re turning that sad reality into our way too early look at the 2016 fantasy football draft.

In this edition of looking ahead to 2016, we’re looking at five quarterbacks who finished lower than 25th in fantasy points. We’ll see what their chances are next season in putting up more points for fantasy owners.

Joe Flacco should bounce back next sesason. Flickr/http://bit.ly/1hvmOnE/Keith Allison
Joe Flacco should bounce back next sesason. Flickr/http://bit.ly/1hvmOnE/Keith Allison

26. Joe Flacco, Baltimore, 161.94 points

Hype train: All aboard

The expectations will be the bargain basement for Flacco. That’s why we’re hopping aboard this hype train.

Flacco had an awful season this past year, but he did so without starting running backs and wide receivers, and he missed six games due to an injury.

Baltimore will bounce back. That’s what good organizations do. No team felt the injury bug like the Ravens did this past season, so we’re confident the team and Flacco will come back much better than this past season.

Flacco has put up more than 20 touchdowns in five of eight seasons, and in 2014, he threw for the most touchdowns in his career with 27. If he has weapons, he can produce fantasy points. We like him as a late-round pickup as a solid backup.

Andrew Luck's injury set the tone for the Colts. Flickr/http://bit.ly/1PcfOIe/Erik Drost
Andrew Luck’s injury set the tone for the Colts. Flickr/http://bit.ly/1PcfOIe/Erik Drost

28. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis, 130.84 points

Hype train: Just right

The hype will return for Luck next season, with a little less fanfare.

He was supposed to be a first-round grade as a quarterback this past season. But even before his injury, he showed some inability to stop throwing interceptions. That should have been corrected by now, so that’s worth keeping an eye on for fantasy owners.

But with a late second-round grade, which we expect him to have next year, that’s the right place to take him. Despite having multiple interceptions in several games, Luck still went over the 17-point mark in four of eight games.

He’ll have plenty of opportunities at touchdowns, which is a solid indicator of fantasy success. If he can limit the turnovers, he will be a massive weapon for any fantasy roster.

Don’t waste a first-round pick on him, but after that, he should be fair game.

Colin Kaepernick was a bad play this past season. Flickr/http://bit.ly/1i8oaG8/Mike Morbeck
Colin Kaepernick was a bad play this past season. Flickr/http://bit.ly/1i8oaG8/Mike Morbeck

31. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco, 110.20 points

Hype train: Confusing

We’re every bit as confused as some fantasy owners will be with Kaepernick heading into the 2016 season. He was once a top-flight item, and even last year, he entered the season as the 17th-ranked quarterback.

He has the talent, but this past season was a dud. How much of that was because of coaching? And how much falls on Kaepernick’s shoulders?

What makes this intriguing is that Chip Kelly is the new coach and he utilized mobile quarterbacks in college. Kaepernick fits that mold, so we expect some fantasy owners to draft Kaepernick, despite the lack of certainty surrounding his starting status.

The upside is massive. If Kelly is an offensive genius and just needed a mobile quarterback, then Kaepernick could put up major points. If Kelly and Kaepernick aren’t the talents that some people perceive, it will turn into nothing.

It’s difficult to judge where to take Kaepernick, because some fantasy owners will likely take a flier on him just in case. But if you don’t have a strong starting option at QB, then beware of the strong possibility of no return on your investment.

Quarterback Peyton Manning had a tough season, but the Broncos were one of the NFL's best. Flickr/https://www.flickr.com/photos/craigindenver/8238961319/in/photolist-dy3Qae-aTBaE4-d9b3ho-pppGJN-7ypUrS-dcfpbi-oKxfcz-qjCBFT-fL7Eao-qAqNze-98ZGLU-5rQAhU-dcfrWD-dcfsbB-jHcR8R-qAqPnM-dcfwJ2-dPGmqA-bCTopP-7ypMdd-d9b1Vy-d9aHJG-d9az7W-9eKL1L-cMFPbA-9eGHaT-9mxw8R-9eKN1S-fL8gMz-8Z2cYq-dPAJer-dZUL2j-9mAx2f-8YY8NF-5TGkRM-32ZDDg-9mAyPJ-9mxwZc-9eKQfw-gVwzYr-dyrXL7-9mAybo-d9aUDA-445G7E-d9aCZQ-d9azzS-7jRsJ2-mfY1Qf-XmAVu-7vidft
Quarterback Peyton Manning had a tough season, but the Broncos were one of the NFL’s best. Flickr

34. Peyton Manning, Denver, 91.36 points

Hype train: Hop off

We already hopped off the hype train going into this year with a “no draft” strategy. For some reason experts were still listing Manning as a top-five fantasy option, despite loads of evidence to point to the contrary.

We will give Manning credit, though. He came in during the playoffs and did what he needed to do to help Denver get the win. He’s not needed to win games anymore, but he did enough not to lose them, which is saying a lot for some quarterbacks.

Manning isn’t a viable option if he comes back. The offense doesn’t need him and the ability to throw a downfield ball isn’t there anymore. We doubt he will even be an option next year, but if he is, stay away.

42. Tony Romo, Dallas, 40.66 points

Hype train: All aboard

We’re all aboard with a caveat. Our strategy last year was to take Sam Bradford in the late rounds, but to also make sure we have a capable backup for our fantasy roster.

We did that because we couldn’t trust Bradford’s injury history. We should have been more concerned with his inability to produce fantasy points.

But, if Romo is your guy, we’d implore you to take that strategy. Romo is an injury liability, but that shouldn’t decrease his value too much. He can put up major fantasy points when healthy and we believe that many fantasy owners will downgrade him to later in the draft.

That means that he could be a steal as a mid-range quarterback.

But if you don’t want to use a higher-than-intended pick on a backup, don’t complain about Romo being injured.

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