All season long in this space, I will rank the tiers of quarterbacks for each week based on a variety of factors. The primary consideration will always be the true talent and ability of the signal-caller. Other circumstances, such as the scheduled matchup, surrounding talent, offensive line play, and advanced metrics are then weighed in to produce a weekly ranking.

Nobody is ever going to bench Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes (unless you own both and can only start one, which would be the most asinine roster construction ever seen). Publishing a ranking on this site that lists them as the top options in a given week is neither actionable advice nor worthwhile content. If you’re reading this column, it’s most likely because you fall into one of three categories. You either waited on your quarterback during the draft and are trying to choose between two mid-range options on your roster, or you are streaming at the position, or you play in a Super-Flex or 2QB league and are trying to decide who to plug into your Super-Flex slot.

In an effort to strategically evaluate quarterbacks each week and provide meaningful advice, we should break the position into those three fantasy-relevant tiers:

1. Top 3 mid-range quarterbacks who have the best shot at top-5 week
2. Top 3 widely available quarterbacks you can stream who have the best shot at producing a top-10 week
3. Top 3 QB2 options who have the best shot at producing a top-10 week

In many cases, there will be some overlap, especially when looking at QB2 options in a Super-Flex league who are likely to be available on the wire to stream in a 1QB league. However, the goal here is to offer you a fresh perspective tailored to a fantasy owner’s actual needs that might help you solve a lineup crunch. After all, you don’t need me to tell you to start Mahomes.

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Let’s look at how we fared last week.

Mid-Range QB1s

Cam Newton (NE): 15/19, 155 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INT, 15 carries, 75 yards, 2 TDs = WIN
Cam will be a QB1 moving forward as long as he’s running like this.

Jared Goff (LAR): 20/31, 275 yards, 0 Tds, 1 INT = LOSS
I’ll take the “L” on this one, but there were promising signs this offense won’t be handicapped by poor O-line play this year.

Ben Roethlisberger (PIT): 21/32, 229 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT = WIN
Big Ben’s elbow looked healthy, and there are more passing weapons than ever.

Streamers

Derek Carr (LVR): 22/39, 239 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT = LOSS
It was the Josh Jacobs show in Week 1, but I don’t expect to see too many positive game scripts like this for the Raiders.

Mitchell Trubisky (CHI): 20/36, 242 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT, 3 carries, 26 yards = WIN
Detroit plays a lot of man coverage, and reads were predictably defined for Trubisky. This is about the only time he’s usable.

Tyrod Taylor (LAC): 16/30, 208 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INT, 6 carries, 7 yards = LOSS
We knew the Chargers’ offense would be more run-oriented, but I thought Taylor would be part of that running game.

SuperFlex QB2s

Jimmy Garoppolo (SF): 19/33, 259 yards, 2 TDS = WIN
It was serviceable for a second QB, at least. I wouldn’t blame anyone who feels I should take a loss on this one.

Joe Burrow (CIN): 23/36, 193 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT, 8 carries, 46 yards, 1 TD = LOSS
A respectable debut with nice rushing upside, but the lack of scores makes Burrow’s debut a fantasy bust.

Gardner Minshew (JAX): 19/20, 173 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT, 5 carries, 19 yards = WIN
The ‘stache compensated for the lack of pass attempts and yards with three scores and a little something on the ground.

Record: 5-4: I’ll take it after an offseason with no preseason games.

On to Week 2…

Mid-Range QB1s with Week-Winning Upside

Tom Brady (TB) vs Carolina Panthers
Tom Brady didn’t have the best debut in Week 1 against a tough New Orleans front seven, tossing two picks in the losing effort. However, he did manage to throw for two touchdowns and snuck in a third across the goal line on a QB sneak. Brady should only get better as he develops a stronger in-game rapport with his pass-catchers. Carolina’s defense checks in as 27th in the league according to Football Outsiders’ defensive DVOA after Week 1’s shootout with the Raiders, and Brady should have no problem carving them up in his home debut even if star receiver Chris Godwin sits with concussion-related symptoms. Plus, the stat line last week could have actually been much better.

I don't like crediting QBs with pass interference penalties for poor throws, but sometimes they deserve credit for the throw.

Three of Tom Brady's best throws led to pass interference. Passes were right there. Would have led to 95-100 more yards to his day pic.twitter.com/meuFWSxPTK

— Steve Palazzolo (@PFF_Steve) September 16, 2020

Cam Newton (NE) @ Seattle Seahawks
It’s hard not to go back to the well again with Newton after last week’s clean bill of health. Not only did the Seahawks permit Matt Ryan to complete 37 passes (on 54 attempts!) for 450 yards and two scores last week, but they also opened up the passing game and finally #LetRussCook. New England will undoubtedly pose a stiffer test defensively, but Wilson should be able to move the ball better than Ryan Fitzpatrick did against a Patriots defense trying to weather multiple opt-outs among its starters. Expect Newton to have to throw a bit more in this one, and his legs should keep churning as well.

Aaron Rodgers (GB) vs Detroit Lions
Just when we thought ARod might be cooked, he comes back with a vengeance in Week 1. If Trubisky was able to deliver against this Lions defense, imagine what Rodgers will do to it at home after throwing for 364 yards and four TDs last week. Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling were able to at least Rodgers some production outside of Davante Adams, whom the aging quarterback targetted a whopping 17 times. Matthew Stafford and the Lions have the firepower to put up the same 34 points against Green Bay that Kirk Cousins and the Vikings did, so Rodgers will likely have to keep chucking it if the Packers want to win this one, which they should because Rodgers owns the Lions.

Aaron Rodgers career vs. Lions:
🔹 93.4 PFF Grade
🔹 41 TDS 8 INTS
🔹 52 Big-Time Throws

Next stop on the Aaron Rodgers revenge tour: Detroit 📍 pic.twitter.com/1UwM8TtGQj

— PFF (@PFF) September 16, 2020

Streaming Options (under 60% owned in most leagues) with QB1 Upside

Jared Goff (LAR) @ Philadelphia Eagles
Jared Goff’s ownership has risen beyond the 60% threshold in Yahoo leagues (64%, to be exact) but he’s still owned in just 40% of leagues on ESPN. The Rams offense appears primed for a rebound this season, and Goff remains due for some positive regression in touchdown percentage after both last year and Week 1’s scoreless affair. The Rams defense largely held a potent Dallas Cowboys offense in check last week and Goff took what the defense gave him without taking many shots downfield. However, Eagles HC Doud Pederson is a lot more creative than retread Mike McCarthy has been in recent years. The Eagles should get both LT Lane Johnson and starting tailback Miles Sanders back for this one, and Goff should have to throw enough on the road to post QB1 numbers.

Joe Burrow (CIN) @ Cleveland Browns (Editor’s note: This was written before Burrow played on TNF)
The Bengals defense looked far more competent than they really are in holding the Tyrod Taylor led Chargers to just 16 points last week. The Browns have the talent to force a negative game script here. Aggressive rookie Joe Burrow has the moxie to meet the call, and the rushing upside he demonstrated in Week 1 gives him big upside as a streamer this week. His offensive weapons are healthy, and I believe in the talent. Cleveland’s defense finished 31st in Defensive DVOA last week.  I expect Burrow to finally find the end zone through the air this week, more than once actually, while running for enough to post QB1 stats off the waiver wire. Take a look at those wheels!

The first of hopefully many TDs in the career of Joe Burrow.

Bengals lead the Chargers 7-0. pic.twitter.com/JamYAcmO3Y

— MyBookie Sportsbook (@mybookiebet) September 13, 2020

Teddy Bridgewater (CAR) @ Tampa Bay Buccanneers 
Bridgewater’s debut for Carolina was quite impressive last week. He pushed the ball downfield more than we’re used to seeing, and he added 26 rushing yards to go with 269 yards passing and a touchdown. I expect Tampa Bay to clamp down on the run, forcing Bridgewater to have to keep up with Brady and co. via the air.  As long as Bridgewater uses his legs and continues to attack downfield, there’s streaming upside here in a scheme that is capable of taking quarterbacks to prodigious heights so long as Bridgewater is willing to do more of this:

Two new faces connect for a big play: Teddy Bridgewater finds new friend Robby Anderson for a 75-yard TD. #Panthers go up on top.pic.twitter.com/QFz3TA4wB5

— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) September 13, 2020

Super-Flex Options with QB1 Upside

*Note: streaming options above also qualify as Super-Flex options in most cases.

Ryan Tannehill (TEN) vs Jacksonville Jaguars
This isn’t a great week for second quarterbacks with QB1 upside as most of the options outside the top-12 have what look like difficult matchups on paper. The streamers above qualify, so they’re in play this week. Tannehill represents the best of what’s left. He probably won’t have to throw much against the Jaguars, but then again he only attempted 18 passes last year against them and still managed to post 259 yards and two scores to go along with 40 yards on the ground and another two touchdowns. The Jags look like their offense will be improved under new OC Jay Gruden, so could be a game script where Jacksonville’s offense forces Tannehill to remain competitive while their atrocious defense simultaneously collapses. Just don’t expect the same potent efficiency as last season, especially with A.J. Brown likely out nursing a bone bruise on his knee.

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Paul Ghiglieri is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Paul, check out his archive and follow him @FantasyGhigs.