CHRIS’ FANTASY: Quaterback Rundown

TB- I am factoring in the Bruce Arians factor here; QB’s tend to take a big leap while working with Arians. There is a ton of talent for Jameis to throw to – Mike Evens, Chris Godwin, Cameron Brate and OJ Howard. Jameis becomes undervalued in fantasy because he is not a good Quarterback- but in fantasy turnovers aren’t the killer they are in real football. Jameis is going in the `0th round, but could be a top QB any given week.

NYJ- I think the entire Jets team is poised for a breakout season. Darnold will just be the one to be the face of the new look Jets. This preseason (Through 2 games) he is 9/12 for 114 yards and a TD with no picks. Le’Veon is going to be an easy check down that will always have to potential to end in a big play, The addition of Jamison Crowder will be a great safety blanket, and I like to duo on the outside of Enunwa and Anderson. Once Chris Herndon gets back in week-5 from suspension, lookout. I think Darnold will be a top-12 QB by the end of the year, and right now he is being drafted as QB25.

BAL- Lamar Jackson was QB9 weeks 11-16 (when he was a starter except his 1st start) ahead of guys like Brady, Stafford and Goff. Lamar is being drafted at QB14 and drafted in 11th round. Jackson’s dynamic legs are where he has a bunch of value for fantasy football team owners, and John Harbaugh said that he will not reign Jackson in this season running the ball.

PHI- This was going to be your MVP in 2017 before the knee injury. I’m going to chalk last year up to a lost year coming off the ACL tear and playing through a back injury. He was the 2nd highest scoring QB in 2017 before suffering that knee injury. He’s got another weapon on the outside with Desean Jackson to compliment Alshon Jeffery and Zach Ertz. Wentz is poised to get back to the 2017 form.

ATL- Ryan has finished as a top-3 QB 2 of the last 3 years, including #3 last year. He’s right around Qb5-7 depending where you are pulling your rankings from, but there is nothing tangible you can point to that would lead to a regression. Ryan should be the first QB in NFL history to start behind 5 former 1st round draft picks on the O-Line. Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Mohammad Sanu make up one of the best trio’s in the NFL. Ryan should be in the top tier conversation. Instead he is being put in the tier 2 of QB’s which is wrong!

KC- There have only been 2 other QB’s to throw for 50+ TD’s in a season; Tom Brady in 2007 and Peyton Manning in 2013. Their follow up season they threw for 28 (Brady’s following season ended week 1 with ACL tear; this was from 2009) and 39 respectively. Not saying Mahomes will have a bad season, but history shows a slight regression is expected. Mahomes is being drafted in the beginning of the 3rd round around guys like Keenan Allen, Adam Thielen, Devonta Freeman and Damien Williams. QB is the deepest position on fantasy- draft a starting RB or WR in the 3rd round- not a QB.

IND- This is a gigantic risk taking Luck as your week in week out starter. The calf/ Achilles’/ bone injury has been lingering since April, and there doesn’t seem to be any concrete news one way or another on it. This reminds me of 2017 season when the shoulder was going to bready by the start of the season, then by week 4, then by December before shutting him down for the year. He’s being drafted in the 6th round. DO NOT DO THAT. Get a guy like Russell Wilson or Jared Goff in the 9th, Lamar Jackson in the 11th, or Kyler Murray in the 12th.

NO- Looking at his 2018 numbers on the whole, and the 40 year old QB hasn’t lost a step- he was 7th in scoring among quarterbacks between weeks 1-16. But between weeks 11-16 Brees hit a wall and was 13th among QB’s, and was the 22nd QB weeks 14-16. There was a clear tail off at the end of last season that I expect to continue in 2019. Let someone else take him in the 7th round and hold off for a better player.