Top 30 NFL Fantasy Football Quarterbacks For 2015
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
The NFL Preseason has now officially begun which means that we're just a few short weeks away from the start of a new season. There is something other than training camp and the preseason that gets football fans worked into a frenzy at this time of year, and that thing is fantasy football.
Whether you are a seasoned veteran or a first-time player, there is something about playing fantasy football that just amazing and unmatched by any other fantasy sport out there.
Over the next few weeks we're going to help get you ready for your fantasy football drafts by ranking the top players at each position and giving some hints as to which players may be sleepers or busts in the upcoming season.
For help with other positions, check out our Top 50 NFL Fantasy Football Running Backs, our Top 70 NFL Fantasy Football Wide Receivers, our Top 30 NFL Fantasy Football Tight Ends, our Top NFL Fantasy Football Sleepers and Busts and our Top NFL Fantasy Football Rookies.
Now let's take a look at the top 30 fantasy quarterbacks for 2015.
1- Aaron Rodgers
Last season's NFL Most Valuable Player is poised for another big year in 2015. He has three extremely talented receivers to throw to in Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams but the emergence of running back Eddie Lacy will keep opposing defenses honest and stop them from cheating to cover the pass.
2- Andrew Luck
After blossoming in his third NFL season, throwing as many touchdown passes in 2014 than he had in his first two years combined, Luck has now been surrounded with even better playmakers that should keep him at the top of the quarterback food chain. The additions of Andre Johnson and Frank Gore only add to Luck's arsenal that already included T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief and the tight end one-two punch of Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener.
3- Peyton Manning
Manning had one of his best statistical seasons in 2014 but some fantasy owners are concerned about his late-season struggles. It's worth noting that he was playing through a torn right quadriceps which is now healed up. The loss of tight end Julius Thomas and lack of receiver star power behind Demaryius Thomas is also troubling but Manning has always had a knack for elevating the talent of those around him.
4- Russell Wilson
Fantasy owners tend to shy away from Wilson on draft day due to his lack of gaudy passing numbers, but they fail to realize that he's going to make up for that with his rushing stats. Wilson also has a brand new elite tight end in Jimmy Graham and runs one of the more efficient offenses in the league.
5- Drew Brees
It's hard to go wrong with Drew Brees as your QB1. During his nine years in New Orleans, Brees has averaged 4,858 passing yards and 35 touchdowns per season. During the last four years he's averaging 5,192 yards and 40 touchdowns as well. He tied for the NFL lead in passing yards last season while placing first in completions and attempts, finishing as a top three fantasy QB for the fifth time in six years. Brees thrives while playing in domes and 12 of his 16 games in 2015 will be played indoors.
6- Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben surprised a lot of people last year by having his best statistical season as a pro. He finished with career highs in touchdown passes, passing yards, completions and attempts while finishing as the sixth rated fantasy quarterback. Coming off of two straight strong seasons, Roethlisberger could have another big year in 2015 with receiver Antonio Brown and running back LeVeon Bell, who caught 83 passes out of the backfield last season.
7- Cam Newton
Newton is always a threat as a running quarterback, which is evident by the 33 rushing touchdowns during his four-year career. After struggling through an injury filled 2014, Newton is poised for a bounce-back season. The Panthers have surrounded him with strong targets in 2015, with reliable veteran tight end Greg Olsen and second-year wideout Kelvin Benjamin joined by second round pick Devin Funchess.
8- Matt Ryan
Ryan has been strong and consistent throughout his career and had another strong year in 2014 despite losing four of his five starting offensive lineman by midseason. The o-line is still a question mark heading into this season, as are the weapons around Ryan. Julio Jones is a beast but Roddy White has become injury prone and unreliable.
9- Tony Romo
Romo didn't have as big of year in 2014 as fans have grown accustomed to. The Cowboys were very run-heavy with DeMarco Murray last season but that isn't going to be the case this time around as Murray has moved on to the Eagles. Between Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, Terrance Williams and Cole Beasley, Romo has plenty of solid options to distribute the ball to.
10- Tom Brady
The dark cloud hanging over Brady at current time is the four-game suspension handed to him by the NFL for his role in the DeflateGate scandal. He's also 38-years-old and has been sacked more times (61) than he's thrown touchdown passes (58) during the past two years. He's still a top quarterback in the league coming off a Super Bowl win, but until the suspension is dealt with fantasy owners should draft with caution.
11- Ryan Tannehill
Tannehill took big strides last season under first-year offensive coordinator Bill Lazor. Entering his fourth season in the NFL, Tannehill has improved every year and is poised for a breakout season. The Dolphins have surrounded him with players that fit his skillset, with speedy receiver Kenny Stills, veteran Greg Jennings, tight end Jordan Cameron and first-round WR DeVante Parker joining second-year wideout Jarvis Landry and thousand-yard running back Lamar Miller.
12- Eli Manning
After a disastrous year in 2013, Manning bounced back in a big way under new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. A great year from then-rookie receiver Odell Beckham Jr. also played a big role in Manning being the eighth-best fantasy QB last season. A healthy Victor Cruz, combined with Rueben Randle and surprising tight end Larry Donnell should keep Manning as one of the better fantasy quarterbacks this season.
13- Philip Rivers
Rivers was one of the best statistical quarterbacks during the first half of 2014 before hand, rib and lower back injuries derailed him down the stretch. The Chargers want to return to being a more run-first offense with rookie running back Melvin Gordon, but Rivers has excelled in those situations in the past.
14- Matthew Stafford
It's been a very up-and-down career for Stafford so far, as he has been consistently inconsistent despite having perhaps the best pass catcher in the game, Calvin Johnson, to throw to. Golden Tate and ascending tight end Eric Ebron could help Stafford have a better year in 2015 than his disappointing 2014.
15- Colin Kaepernick
Despite putting up career bests in several categories last season, Kaepernick appeared to regress as a quarterback for the floundering 49ers and their awful offensive line. He has the physical abilities to be one of the best quarterbacks in the game but it's up to you to gauge the risk/reward factor.
16- Teddy Bridgewater
Few quarterbacks looked better during the final weeks of last season than Bridgewater. He finished the year with the third-highest completion percentage by a rookie in league history and was a top-10 fantasy QB during the final six weeks of the season. The return of Adrian Peterson should help open things up for Bridgewater who could be the surprise quarterback of 2015.
17- Carson Palmer
If he can stay healthy, Palmer could provide some late-round value to those looking for a solid backup or playing in a two-quarterback league. The Cardinals were actually 9-1 at one point last year but injuries absolutely decimated the team during the final two months of the season.
18- Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get. He actually put up some of his best numbers in several years last season but turnover issues continue to haunt him and Bears fans alike.
19- Joe Flacco
Flacco has sleeper written all over him in 2015. After a pretty bad 2013, Flacco bounced back with career highs in touchdowns and passing yards last season. His numbers should continue to improve with Marc Trestman as the new offensive coordinator in Baltimore.
20- Sam Bradford
Moving from St. Louis to Philadelphia should pay huge dividends to Bradford if he can stay healthy, and that's a big if. He's surrounded with more talent on the Eagles than ever before with the Rams and Chip Kelly's fast-paced offense will provide plenty of opportunities to show why he was the first overall pick just five short years ago.
21- Jameis Winston
Bucs coach Lovie Smith has been giving Winston all the first team reps in order to prepare him for his first NFL season, and the rookie has actually looked pretty good making the adjustment to the pro game.
22- Andy Dalton
Dalton's fantasy value took a major hit last season when the Bengals added offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, and more of the same is expected in 2015.
23- Robert Griffin III
Surrounded by guys like DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon and Jordan Reed, Griffin should be able to put together a decent fantasy season, right?
24- Derek Carr
The second-year pro had a solid rookie year considering what he had to play with in Oakland, and the additions of Michael Crabtree and first-round pick Amari Cooper should only help his cause.
25- Alex Smith
Smith has yet to throw for 300 yards in a game since joining the Chiefs in 2013 and didn't throw a single touchdown to a wide receiver last season.
26- Marcus Mariota
The second-overall pick can make all the throws and has added value with his rushing ability, but will have a hard time making things happen in a lackluster Titans offense.
27- Nick Foles
Things have gone from bad to worse for Foles after his impressive breakout year in 2013. He was disappointing in 2014 before being lost for the season with a broken collarbone and now he finds himself running the Rams offense.
28- Blake Bortles
He somehow survived being a rookie quarterback for the Jaguars last season and now he has elite tight end Julius Thomas to throw to, so things are looking up for Bortles.
29- Geno Smith
He's expected to beat out Ryan Fitzpatrick to remain the Jets starting quarterback, but even with the addition of Brandon Marshall the expectations aren't high for the turnover-prone Smith in New York's offense.
30- Josh McCown
Let's be honest, if you are drafting any of the last few guys on this list you are either in a huge 14-team, two-QB league or a homer that wants his favorite team's quarterback on his fantasy roster. Either way, it's not gonna turn out good.
Follow David on Twitter (@DavidDwork)