Things get way more interesting after the top 10 QBs are off the board. The next few quarterbacks in our expert consensus have best and worst ranks ranging from #5 to #26! Why should you care about these quarterbacks? If you aren’t going to grab Rodgers, Brady or Brees, I’m pretty sure you’ll be in the market for a strong QB2 with QB1 upside.
We asked the experts on polar ends of the rank spectrum to explain why they like or dislike each QB, relative to the consensus. Here are their dissenting opinions. Which side are you on?
JAY CUTLER | Consensus QB #13
Likes Him More: Cutler is my QB #9
“The Bears have done just about all they can to recreate the conditions that led to a breakout campaign for Cutler back in 2008. They’ve reunited him with his former position coach, Jeremy Bates, and with all-world receiver Brandon Marshall. The team also spent a second-round draft pick on Alshon Jeffery, a 6-foot-3 wideout with Marshall-like upside. (Jeffery got himself open with ease in Chicago’s preseason opener, a game in which Cutler didn’t play). Don’t assume the Bears will deliver a run-first, run-second offense in 2012; this franchise finally seems to understand that the NFC North is an arms race. The team’s pass-blocking remains a worry, no doubt, but with Mike Martz out of the picture you can expect the play-calling to better match the team’s personnel. If we were simply grading all NFL quarterbacks on tools, Cutler would rate as a top-five (top-three?) player at his position. His arm strength is almost unrivaled. This year, for the first time in his Bears career, he’s surrounded by weapons that match his talent. It shouldn’t be tough for anyone to imagine a 4,500-yard, 30-touchdown season for Cutler.” – Andy Behrens, Yahoo! Sports
Likes Him Less: Cutler is my QB #22
“It’s easy to lose focus and think Jay Cutler will be a value pick at quarterback this year. After all, the team upgraded their wide receivers both in free agency (Brandon Marshall) and also in the draft (Alshon Jeffery). So why do I think he falters in 2012? Jay Cutler will under-perform at quarterback because his offensive line is among the worst in the NFL. We grade the pass protection at a league worst 32nd place (out of 32 teams). The left side of the offensive line is particularly vulnerable. Add in a new playbook (Mike Martz pass happy system is out), depth upgrade at running back (Michael Bush addition), and you have a situation where the Bears will likely run a more balanced attack (creating less pass plays). Add it all together and you have a player who will likely under-perform lofty expectations this season.” – David Dodds, FootballGuys
MATT SCHAUB | Consensus QB #14
Mike Rodriguez – Gridiron Experts
Likes Him More: Schaub is my QB #10
“The Texans are a strong offensive team that is far from flashy. They have a system that works with a great run to pass ratio. Schuab is very comfortable leading charge and doesn’t eye-ball favorite targets while going through his progressions. He is aggressive yet smart with his decision-making process but isn’t afraid to gamble with a shot down field. A Player like FB/TE James Casey would never catch our eye in fantasy, yet is the type of x-factor that the Texans love to use in mismatch situations. Add some fresh rookie meat in Keshawn Martin and Lestar Jean and the team should have no trouble racking up points this season. With more receiving options and the leagues best rushing attack, Matt Schuab can pick apart defenses with ease.” – Mike Rodriguez, Gridiron Experts
Likes Him Less: Schaub is my QB #22
“With little in the way of running back talent on the roster, pass-minded coordinator Kyle Shanahan directed Schaub to the top of the QB list in attempts (583) and yards (4,770) back in 2009. When Shanahan left to join his father with the Redskins, coach Gary Kubiak turned to run-oriented zone-blocking guru Rick Dennison to coordinate his offense. Not so coincidentally, the tag-team of Arian Foster and Ben Tate emerged as one of the NFL’s elite backfields. Throw in Wade Phillips’ talented young defense, and this is an organization that no longer passes to win ballgames. Schaub and T.J. Yates combined for just 426 attempts last season, which ranks in the bottom third of the league. Schaub cleared 300 yards just twice in 10 games a year ago, placing him squarely in low-end QB2 territory. There’s no reason to expect 2012 to be any different.” – Chris Wesseling, Rotoworld
JOSH FREEMAN | Consensus QB #16
Likes Him More: Freeman is my QB #10
“I’m high on Josh Freeman because of his situation. The Buccaneers’ offensive line could be one of the best in the game, and the coaching staff will remain committed to a sustained ground attack to keep defenses honest. Tampa Bay added one of the league’s premier deep threats in Vincent Jackson to Freeman’s arsenal, which only opens up room to work for Mike Williams. Dallas Clark could prove to be a sneaky addition to the passing game, too. Freeman has a favorable schedule, and the expectations for him are relatively low. He won’t have the pressure to expand on a strong season like he did heading into his failed 2011 season. On the high end, he is good for 4,300 yards and 34 total touchdowns, but a more realistic estimate puts him around 3,800 yards and 29 total scores.” – Cory J. Bonini, KFFL
Pat Fitzmaurice – Pro Football Weekly
Likes Him Less: Freeman is my QB #23
“The consensus seems to be that the “real” Josh Freeman was the star in the making we saw in 2010, not the interception-throwing imposter we saw in 2011. But Freeman has serious problems with accuracy and decision-making, and I’m not sure those problems can be easily solved. I tend to agree with analyst Greg Cosell of NFL Films, who recently wrote that Freeman is “more sporadic playmaker than precise passer.” The addition of Vincent Jackson won’t automatically turn Freeman into a top-tier quarterback. Freeman has to overcome some mechanical flaws and do a better job of reading defenses, and it seems a stretch to think he’ll quickly put all the pieces together. Plus, Greg Schiano loves the running game, so it’s hard to see Freeman stringing together a bunch of 300-yard games under a more conservative head coach.” – Pat Fitzmaurice, Pro Football Weekly
ROBERT GRIFFIN III | Consensus QB #15
Likes Him More: RG3 is my QB #8
“Robert Griffin III is a world-class athlete who should put up the type of rushing stats we usually see from Michael Vick. He’s also a very good passer and he is surrounded by quality weapons. Mike Shanahan made a good fantasy quarterback out of Jake Plummer, what do you think he can do with a player like Robert Griffin III? Griffin will either play well out of the box and put up great fantasy numbers, or he’ll struggle and have to play wide open football in catch up mode, which will yield great fantasy numbers. The NFC East promises a lot of shootouts with Vick, Eli Manning, and Tony Romo. The only real risk with Griffin is that he’ll suffer an injury because of his playing style, but his ADP is low enough that it is not that costly to your team to take a strong backup fantasy quarterback to guard against that.” – Sigmund Bloom, FootballGuys
Ken Zalis – Fans Fantasy Football
Likes Him Less: RG3 is my QB #21
“RG3…why don’t I like him this season? Well I wouldn’t say I don’t like him, I have him as an QB2 and the 21st QB overall. I just like other QB’s a tad more this year. I am not in love with the WR options in Washington as they have much to prove. Fred Davis at TE could be his best option, but will he stay in the pocket long enough to find him. Then there is his coach Mr. Shanahan who is a Fantasy nightmare waiting to happen. RG3 will have a fine career, but his draft position is inflated due to Cam Newton’s record setting rookie year and the Mike Vick comparisons. Mr. Griffin the 3rd is worthy of a draft pick but I am not taking him as a QB1 and I rather go with some more established guys as my QB2. The upside is there but I think he is going way to soon for my taste. Being drafted before guys like Cutler and Big Ben is just madness I tell you.” – Ken Zalis, Fans Fantasy Football
BEN ROETHLISBERGER | Consensus QB #12
Jeff Tefertiller – FootballGuys
Likes Him More: Big Ben is my QB #7
“I am very high on Big Ben this season. We all already know he’ll play through injuries (and still perform well), but what I like most is how the situation in Pittsburgh is shaping up. Todd Haley’s offensive plan will translate into more passing attempts for Roethlisberger. With Rashard Mendenhall likely on PUP to start the season, the lack of a power running game will further require them to rely on Ben’s arm to move the chains. Also, we saw glimpses of what Antonio Brown could do last year; his emergence gives Ben a solid WR2 to compliment Mike Wallace, who I believe will be reporting back to the Steelers soon. Add all of this up and you have one of the top QBs in the league — in a good situation — getting drafted well below where he should be going.” – Jeff Tefertiller, FootballGuys
Maurile Tremblay – FootballGuys
Likes Him Less: Big Ben is my QB #19
“I like Roethlisberger as an NFL quarterback better than I like him as a 2012 fantasy prospect. I don’t trust new offensive coordinator Todd Haley to make the Steelers’ offense as productive as it was under Bruce Arians. I also don’t trust the Steelers’ offensive line to keep Roethlisberger from taking a beating, and I don’t completely discount concerns about his slightly torn rotator cuff. I’d be more optimistic if Roethlisberger were getting reps in camp with his best deep threat, but Mike Wallace remains unsigned. Finally, it seems like with each passing season we must weigh off-field concerns more heavily in our fantasy forecasts, and Roethlisberger has show poor judgment on several occasions in the past. Each of those doubts, considered individually, is somewhat minor; but taken together, they will steer me away from relying on Roethlisberger as anything but a clear fantasy backup.” – Maurile Tremblay, FootballGuys
Follow these guys on Twitter
Twitter’s a great resource for keeping up. You can follow us and these experts at the Twitter handles below:
Andy Behrens: @AndyBehrens
David Dodds: @FBG_Dodds
Sigmund Bloom: @SigmundBloom
Mike Rodriguez: @GridironExperts
Chris Wesseling: @ChrisWesseling
Cory J. Bonini: @CoryKFFL
Pat Fitzmaurice: @FitzPFW
Jeff Tefertiller: @JeffTefertiller
Ken Zalis: @FansFantasy
FantasyPros: @FantasyPros_NFL