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Early Top 10 Quarterback Rankings

RotoExpertsAdam Zdroik ranks his top 10 quarterbacks for 2015.

This piece is part of our article program that features quality content from experts exclusively at fantasyPros. For more insight from Adam head to RotoExperts.

Free agency started not long ago and there are already plenty of moves to talk about, but none of the top quarterbacks are going to be moved, so we can somewhat start and mold a list for them. The quarterback rankings will be a little shaken up this season from year’s past, which could make for some interesting drafts. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are no longer locks in the top 3, but they still make the list. The question is, how much are you willing to risk on a (soon-to-be) 39-year-old quarterback and another that lost his favorite red zone target?

Draft Wizard Mock Draft Simulator

1. Andrew Luck Indianapolis Colts
Luck is really good and he’s only getting better. He was already the No. 2 fantasy quarterback in just his third season. Now with what should be better weapons around him, what can he do in his fourth season? While Reggie Wayne is gone, a younger and bigger receiver in Andre Johnson arrived. Frank Gore should give some kind of consistency to the running game along with Vick Ballard if he stays healthy. They already boosted the offensive line with Todd Herremans and more additions may be coming through the draft. Luck hasn’t been hurt yet and could be in for a historically good fantasy season.

2. Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers
The main knock on Rodgers is injuries. While he played in all 16 games last season, he wasn’t 100 percent when it mattered most for fantasy teams, much like in 2013. There’s no question, Rodgers is one of the best, if not the best, but his injury history puts him behind Luck this season. With all of his major targets returning, and an improving Davante Adams, expect Rodgers to be a top quarterback as usual.

3. Russell Wilson Seattle Seahawks
The offense isn’t going to change their power-rushing style, but the addition of Jimmy Graham will surely change how opponents can defend them. And it may be hard to believe, but Russell Wilson was already the No. 3 QB in standard leagues last season. He only had 20 passing touchdowns, yet added 849 yards and six TDs on the ground (career highs). With Graham in pocket, that could lead to more red zone passing touchdowns to Graham, as defenses still have to focus on Lynch and the running game.

4. Tony Romo Dallas Cowboys
And now, this is where the quarterback position gets interesting. A lot of people will definitely push for Peyton Manning, just because of what he has done throughout his career, but don’t forget what he did to your playoff run last season. Will he even play the entire season in 2015? Maybe this is a risky pick, and maybe it isn’t. Tony Romo wasn’t healthy for a good portion of last season, yet when it mattered most (fantasy playoffs) he was one of the best. His overall fantasy numbers aren’t great because of his back injury, but give him an entire offseason and (possibly) a lesser offensive focus on the running game with DeMarco Murray gone, and you have awesome numbers. Romo finished with the best numbers of his career in 2014 in a number of categories, and as long as his back is good in 2015, he should be set as a top 5 QB behind a top offensive line.

5. Matt Ryan Atlanta Falcons
Ryan was a top 10 quarterback last season and it’s hard to see him having a worse year. The Falcons will hopefully invest in their offensive line and tight end. According to Football Outsiders, Levine Toilolo finished last by a good margin in DVOA (value per play compared with average TEs) out of 50 tight ends that had at least 25 targets. For a guy that ran more pass routes than Rob Gronkowski, that’s not good. Their offensive line was never healthy last season, either. Ryan still has Julio Jones and Roddy White, and that’s probably all he needs for a spot in the top 10. Not to mention, new OC Kyle Shanahan should boost an offense that has more talent than the coach has ever had to work with.

6. Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh Steelers
Roethlisberger is the next best option for a number of reasons, and not just because he was awesome last year (well, maybe because of that). Antonio Brown is still there and Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton have a (mostly) full season under their belts. When clicking, we saw what this offense had the potential to do. Even if Le’Veon Bell misses a few games, there’s nothing not to like about this Pittsburgh passing attack. It doesn’t hurt that the Steelers defense will probably be one of the worst in the league again.

7. Peyton Manning Denver Broncos
It’s kind of funny to see Peyton Manning this low on rankings (and not a lot will agree with me) because he’s probably never been here. He’ll have all of his main wide receivers back, but Julius Thomas will create a void, even with Owen Daniels joining the team. Daniels is an oft-injured tight end that knows Gary Kubiak’s system, but he is not Thomas. Manning dropped off noticeably without Julius Thomas last season and he cost plenty of people fantasy championships. The other worry is that the Broncos could rest him at times, with an eye toward the playoffs after what happened in the second half of last year. At 39 years old, is it really worth it to take Manning as a top 5 QB?

8. Drew Brees New Orleans Saints
With the Saints wanting a ‘complete retool’ of their team, there’s no reason why Brees should move up this list, especially without Jimmy Graham. Of course, things change, and Brees led the league in yardage last season; but his touchdown percentage was the worst it has been in a while, and it looks like the only major receivers returning are Brandin Cooks and a degrading Marques Colston. C.J. Spiller comes in for what is likely a Darren Sproles-like role, but Spiller is almost a guarantee to get injured. This is Drew Brees we’re talking about, but doubts are warranted.

9. Tom Brady New England Patriots
The knock against Brady in fantasy these days is that his value is based on one player, Rob Gronkowski. As long as Gronk can stay healthy, it’d be hard to see Brady falling out of the top 10. But keep in mind, Brady still did not have more than two passing TDs in any of his final seven regular season games last year. This is mostly the same receiving core and Brandon Gibson isn’t going to change that. Unless the Patriots pick up someone else, there’s no reason to move Brady’s ranking up because he won a Super Bowl.

10. Ryan Tannehill Miami Dolphins
With a couple new signings, it only makes sense that Tannehill is on this list. He had career-best numbers last season in Bill Lazor’s first season as the Dolphins OC. Jordan Cameron and Kenny Stills will be added to an attack that already has a playmaker in Jarvis Landry. His ability to move the ball with his feet is a bonus as well. The thing about Tannehill is that he’s consistent. While he didn’t have many huge big-point games like some QBs, Tannehill got the job done for your team most weeks and things will probably be even better this season.

Bonus Pick

11. Eli Manning New York Giants
Any number of players could go here from Philip Rivers to Cam Newton or even Matthew Stafford, but I’m going with the other Manning. Because of name alone, I think Eli Manning will be forgotten about by a lot of people, but he can be a QB1. Maybe you forgot, but Eli was actually the No. 10 QB in standard leagues last year. Odell Beckham Jr. is close to un-coverable and the Giants will have Victor Cruz back from a knee injury. Larry Donnell is serviceable at tight end, and the addition of Shane Vereen should help immensely with his receiving abilities. It will be Eli’s second season in Ben McAdoo’s offense, and there’s no reason he won’t improve on last year’s numbers.

Adam is a staff writer for RotoExperts. If you like your fantasy advice full of numbers and straight to the point, look no further. Find him @RotoZdroik on Twitter.


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