Fantasy Football Player Notes
2022 Draft Rankings
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1.
Josh Allen
BUF (vs . NE)
The back-to-back reigning fantasy QB1 showed no signs of slowing down in 2021. Allen led the quarterback position averaging 24.6 fantasy points per game and a whopping 26.7 expected fantasy points - nearly three points more than the next closest signal-caller. The Bills quarterback's dual-threat ability - third in rushing yards (763) and rushing attempts (122) - provides him a fantasy ceiling that only a few other quarterbacks can match. No quarterback had more top-3 finishes or top-8 weekly finishes than Allen did a season ago
That's why he's deserving of being the first quarterback drafted across all formats. Because even after taking a slight step back as a passer in 2021 - 104.9 passer rating vs. 97.9 passer rating - a higher passing touchdown ceiling exists for Allen in 2022. His 5.6% TD rate was worse than in 2020 and ranked just ninth in 2021. Case in point: despite finishing No. 1 overall, Allen ended with the 5th-most fantasy points under expectation. |
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2.
Justin Herbert
LAC (at DEN)
Justin Herbert finished third in touchdowns and fifth in PFF passing grade (91.8) from a clean pocket in 2021. The Bolts quarterback also wrapped up the season as PFF's third-highest-graded quarterback overall, third in fantasy points per game (22.7) and fifth in expected fantasy points per game (21.7)
The Los Angeles Chargers signal-caller is a certified stud - a top-five, elite-tier fantasy quarterback in 2022. Only Tom Brady and Josh Allen posted as many top-5 weeks as Herbert did last season. He and Brady led the NFL with nine 300-yard passing games. Since entering the NFL in 2020, Herbert has thrown for 300-plus yards in 53% of his games played. Even if his rushing doesn't stack up with the league's elite, Herbert's cannon provides almost everything he needs to close the gap. |
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3.
Patrick Mahomes II
KC (at LV)
Despite the ups-and-downs of the KC Chiefs offense as a response to the Cover 2 defense, Patrick Mahomes was as a stellar as ever from a fantasy perspective. The former MVP ranked fourth in fantasy points per game (22.0) tying Justin Herbert with 12 weekly top-12 QB finishes. Still, Mahomes averaged fewer fantasy points per game than in 2020 (25.2).
Additionally, the loss of Tyreek Hill cannot be ignored heading into 2022. The duo ranks second in combined passing touchdowns (41) since 2016 - despite Mahomes not becoming the starter until the 2018. Mahomes can't totally be written off as a top-five fantasy option - .QB4 without Hill through the first five weeks of 2019 averaging 25 fantasy points per game - but there's real concern about his top-tier weekly ceiling without Hill. Especially coming off a season where he posted a career-low PFF passing grade (77.5) and career-high in interceptions (16). He's likely being overvalued as the QB2 in early best ball drafts on name recognition alone. |
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4.
Lamar Jackson
BAL (at CIN)
Lamar Jackson had a season to forget in 2021, as he dealt with a plethora of injuries/illnesses and regressed immensely as a passer. Two key metrics at PFF that are important to analyze for QBs are performance in a clean pocket and throwing at the intermediate level.
Jackson ranked 28th in passer rating from a clean pocket (90.4) and 22nd in PFF passing grade at the intermediate level (70.0). Despite all his shortcomings as a passer, Jackson still finished the season second in expected fantasy points per game (23.8) and seventh in fantasy points per game (21.3). His expected fantasy point per game output marked the highest of his career thanks to the Ravens' willingness to throw more in 2021. From 2019-2020, Jackson had 37 or more passing attempts in a game only four times. He did so five times in 2021, with Baltimore throwing at a 60% clip. However, I would not anticipate the pass-heavy approach to continue into 2022. Their philosophical change on offense was forced out of necessity based on the injuries. But a lack of passing doesn't impact Jackson they way it does most other QBs with his greatest fantasy asset being his legs. Jackson may never recapture his 2019 rare MVP form when he averaged north of 28 fantasy points per game, but a 22-point per game average seems like his norm based on his last two years of fantasy production. In 2020, he led all QBs in fantasy points per dropback. That cements him as a clear-cut top-5 fantasy QB. |
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5.
Jalen Hurts
PHI (vs . NYG)
In his first full season, Jalen Hurts was the QB6 in fantasy points per game as the Eagles starting quarterback. An ankle sprain dropped his rushing numbers from 57.9 to 29.7 yards per game over his final three contests. Without that ding, his full-season numbers could have been even better. With another season in this offensive system incoming and A.J. Brown now on the roster, Hurts has "the QB1 overall" fantasy quarterback upside in 2022.
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6.
Kyler Murray
ARI (at SF)
Last season was another tale of two halves for Kyler Murray. In Weeks 1-8, with DeAndre Hopkins healthy, he was on fire as the QB6 completing 72.6% of his passes with 8.8 yards per attempt while averaging 284.5 passing yards per game. After Week 9, with Hopkins banged up and in and out of the lineup, Murray was the QB16 with a 65.3% completion rate, 6.7 yards per attempt, and 251.8 passing yards per game. Fast forward to this season, and Hopkins is now slated to miss the first six games of the season. The trade to acquire Marquise Brown's services and drafting Trey McBride will help.
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7.
Joe Burrow
CIN (vs . BAL)
Joe Burrow finished the regular season as PFF's highest-graded passer (91.2) while also ranking first in super sticky stats like passing grade from a clean pocket (94.6) and passing grade throwing at the intermediate level (95.6). He finished the season as the QB8 averaging just north of 20.5 fantasy points per game.
The Bengals quarterback has undoubtedly entered the conversation as one of the league's best real-life NFL passers, but might be slightly overvalued based on early best ball ADP with impending regression. He's the QB6 despite finishing as a top-6 fantasy quarterback just thrice in 2021. No quarterback scored more fantasy points over expectation, which hints that regression will hit Burrow in 2022. The LSU product also rushed for just 118 yards and two TDs. He rushed for fewer yards than Mac Jones, who is notorious for being ranked low across consensus due to his lack of upside as a rusher. However, there is a legitimate path for Burrow's upside to be further unlocked if the Bengals increase their pass rate as they did during his rookie season and down the playoff stretch. Burrow led the NFL in passing attempts per game (40.4) during his rookie season and averaged 38 passing attempts/23.0 fantasy points per game in his final six weeks An uptick in passing volume won't help Burrow's efficiency per se, but his fantasy numbers will be much more stable from week to week. Also can't forget to mention the Bengals revamped their offensive line as they look to not let their franchise quarterback get sacked 70 times - 22 more than the next closest quarterback. |
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8.
Russell Wilson
DEN (vs . LAC)
Russell Wilson's weapons/supporting cast overall are pretty even going from Seattle to Denver, but Nathaniel Hackett calling the shots is an upgrade over Pete Carroll.
Hackett's obviously had success with Aaron Rodgers that has translated into fantasy, so a top-five fantasy quarterback outcome is firmly in play with Wilson in 2022. After all, Wilson's long track record of efficient fantasy play is undeniable - he has finished among the top-six fantasy QBs five times since 2014. I like his chances of making it seven in 2022. Because Wilson is still among the league's elite passers when healthy. Before the finger derailed his season, Russ led the NFL in yards per attempt (10.4), passer rating (133.6) and passer rating from a clean pocket (130.9) before Week 5. Wilson also finished the season on a high note, averaging over 24 fantasy points per game in his last three contests. All in all, 2021 was a typical season for Wilson: peaks and valleys. He averaged 23 fantasy points per game from Weeks 1-4 and Weeks 16-18. In his six games post-injury, Wilson averaged an abysmal 13 fantasy points per game. Buy the inevitable 2022 dip on the future Hall of Fame quarterback in a new situation. That combined with a plethora of weapons in Denver, makes it very plausible he sees similar immediate success that other quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford have had since changing teams late into their careers. However a QB10 ADP might be too rich, as I think he belongs in the same tier as Kirk Cousins, Derek Carr, and Matthew Stafford. Currently, he's the only QB drafted inside the top-12 that failed to hit the fantasy QB1 mark at least 50% of the time in 2021. He also has the lowest top-6 hit rate (15%), lowest top-12 rate (46%), and second-highest bust rate among the top-12 ADP. Considering the only "upgrade" Wilson has moved from Denver to Seattle is more favorable coaching (not necessarily receiver personnel, especially with the underrated loss of Tim Patrick), he's likely going to be inconsistent and overvalued due to a lack of rushing juice. |
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9.
Tom Brady
TB (at ATL)
At age 44, Tom Brady attempted the most passes in the league (719) and finished with the most passing yards (5,316) and second-most passing touchdowns (43) in any single season of his career. Brady was the QB3 in fantasy points per game. While he might not reach those heights in 2022, he will still be leading one of the NFL's fastest-paced and most talented offenses. If Brady's fountain of youth and avocado milkshakes can hold off father time, he's a top 5-10 option at the position in fantasy.
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10.
Dak Prescott
DAL (at WAS)
Dak Prescott rebounded nicely from a lost 2020 season (due to injury) as the QB9 in weekly fantasy scoring. Prescott's former rushing floor evaporated as he finished with the lowest rushing yardage total (146) for a full season of his career. Despite losing Amari Cooper this offseason, the Cowboy's passing attack should be fine as the team retained Michael Gallup and Dalton Schultz and added Jalen Tolbert. Dallas led the NFL in neutral pace last season. With heightened play volume helping his passing numbers, Prescott should have no issues compensating for the lost rushing production as a locked-in top ten fantasy quarterback. The loss of Tyron Smith could lead to some of his rushing production returning.
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11.
Trey Lance
SF (vs . ARI)
Even with Jimmy Garoppolo remaining on the team in a backup role, Trey Lance should be considered the team's starter barring a full faceplant this season. In the brief two-game sample of Lance starting last year, we got a glimpse at the biggest factor for his fantasy ceiling: the rushing upside. In those two games, Lance averaged 12 carries and 60 yards on the ground as the QB20 and QB10 in weekly scoring. Even with Garoppolo at the helm, the 49ers were sixth in EPA per play and second in yards per play. Lance's legs give him a top 12-15 fantasy quarterback floor with top-five upside should he light it up through the air.
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12.
Matthew Stafford
LAR (at SEA)
Matthew Stafford is thoroughly enjoying his new marriage with Sean McVay. His first year in a Rams jersey led to a career-high completion rate (67.2%) and tying his career-high in passing touchdowns (41) en route to a Super Bowl title. Stafford was the QB11 in fantasy points per game after ranking inside the top ten in deep ball attempts, deep ball completion percentage, and pressured completion rate. Stafford should be considered a rock-solid back-end QB1.
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13.
Aaron Rodgers
GB (vs . DET)
Aaron Rodgers doesn't look like he's lost a step after finishing last season as the QB8 in fantasy points per game. Rodgers was top-five in fantasy points per dropback and clean pocket completion rate. Losing his bae Davante Adams hurts his ceiling and per-play efficiency outlooks. Efficiency has been the driver of his fantasy goodness because he resides inside one of the NFL's slowest-paced offenses. Raw volume won't be there to help counteract the dip there, so Rodgers falls into the QB2 bucket with weekly top 12 upside.
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14.
Kirk Cousins
MIN (at CHI)
Kirk Cousins is the ugly duckling fantasy quarterback who found his way inside the top 12 producers (QB11, QB12) in back-to-back seasons. Cousins did so last season by directing a surprisingly up-tempo and more pass-heavy Vikings offense. Last year Minnesota was eighth and 12th in neutral pace and passing rate. With Kevin O'Connell at the controls this season, the passing rate could continue to be healthy (LAR, seventh), but the neutral pace could decline (LAR, 16th). If this happens and Adam Thielen takes a step back entering his age 32 season, Cousins will be rendered as a mid QB2.
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15.
Derek Carr
LV (vs . KC)
The biggest winner in the aftermath of the Davante Adams trade is Derek Carr. He now has the luxury of throwing to a surplus of offensive weapons including arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL in his old college teammate.
Let's not forget that when Carr had everybody available last season, the Raiders quarterback ranked second in the NFL in passing yards and 15th in fantasy points per game. However, his ceiling was limited due to his lack of mobility and weaponry; Carr did not finish better than a top-8 quarterback at any point in 2021. But Adams figures to provide Carr with a red-zone weapon like no other that will unlock his fantasy ceiling. He's the exact positive touchdown regression that should launch Carr's fantasy numbers. Carr's 3.7 TD rate in 2021 was below his career average (4.3). And his 23 total passing touchdowns were seven below expectation. Fully anticipate Carr throwing for 30-plus laser scores bare minimum with Adams at his disposal. Every quarterback last season that threw for at least 30 touchdowns finished inside the top-10 in 2021. |
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16.
Tua Tagovailoa
MIA (vs . NYJ)
Somebody on the Miami Dolphins is in for a rude awakening come September. Mike Gesicki, Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill are all being pushed up the rankings/draft boards with hopes that Tua Tagovailoa takes a massive step forward in Year 3 under first-year head coach Mike McDaniel.
I am not as optimistic that Tagovailoa can be the vehicle to deliver fantasy goodness to all these pieces in South Beach because this offense is going to be run-heavy. McDaniel made his way up the coaching ranks under Kyle Shanahan as a standout run-game coordinator. And should he follow in the footsteps of Shanahan as the offensive mastermind in Miami, fantasy managers should expect a lot of rushing and YAC schemes. 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo ranked 29th in aDOT in 2021 (7.6) after ranking 39th and 35th in the category the two years prior. Tagovailoa's aDOT was 34th in the league (7.6) in 2021. Jimmy G's most productive seasons have seen him average just north of 16 fantasy points per game - good for QB17 in 2021. Tagovailoa has yet to eclipse 14 fantasy points per game two years into his career. He also ranked 31st in throwing at the intermediate level (62.5 PFF grade) among 37 qualifying passers last season. So although Tua is viewed as a popular late-round quarterback among fantasy circles, I have to admit I won't be pulling the trigger on him in 1QB redraft formats. Especially with his brutal early schedule. New England, Baltimore and Buffalo are hardly the stream-worthy spots you will be confident in starting the southpaw QB. In the Dolphins quarterback's four combined starts versus those teams in 2021, his fantasy finishes were QB23, QB24, QB18 and QB16. |
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17.
Justin Fields
CHI (vs . MIN)
Justin Fields closed the season out with a promising stretch run as a top ten fantasy quarterback in each of his final four full starts. Fields showed growth in this quartet of games, completing 62.5% of his passes with 7.6 yards per attempt. The rushing is what we covet with the Windy City signal-caller, and we got a look at that as well, as he averaged 64.2 yards per game on the ground. Losing Allen Robinson hurts even more, with the team replacing him with Byron Pringle, Equanimeous St. Brown, and Velus Jones. The massive weekly upside is still in the cards for Fields with his playmaking ability, but he's tough to trust as anything more than a QB2 or matchup play, considering the cast of characters surrounding him.
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18.
Trevor Lawrence
JAC (vs . TEN)
Joe Burrow's massive second-year jump is encouraging for this year's second-year QBs like Trevor Lawrence. The Jags quarterback finished with the same expected fantasy points per game average as Burrow in 2021 (17.3) but underwhelmed tremendously in a poor situation. His -72.3 fantasy points versus expectation were the most of any QB in 2021.
Lawrence posted a season-high 85.1 PFF passing grade in the season-finale, offering some hope that he can turn things around in 2022 with a new coaching staff in place. There's a strong chance that Jacksonville dials up the passing attempts with Doug Pederson calling the shots on offense. During his five-year tenure in Philadelphia, only once did the offense not finish top-10 in pass attempts. |
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19.
Jameis Winston
NO (vs . CAR)
Last year the Saints put the handcuffs on YOLO Jameis Winston. They ran a slow as molasses offense, relying on their run game and limiting Winston to 25.2 pass attempts and 185.7 passing yards per game. This could easily be the case again in 2022, but there are some reasons for optimism here. Winston will be entering his third season of this offensive scheme, so he should know it inside and out by now. Hopefully, the Saints can keep Michael Thomas healthy to pair with Chris Olave. Jarvis Landry is arguably one of the best WR3s in the NFL. This cast of weapons with Alvin Kamara also on board could lead to more passing attempts that we didn't see in 2021.
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20.
Matt Ryan
IND (vs . HOU)
After spending his entire 14-year NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons, Matt Ryan will be the starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts in his 15th season. Atlanta traded Matt Ryan to the Colts for a 2022 third-round pick.
It's a major upgrade for Ryan's fantasy appeal that he was able to get out of Atlanta - a franchise that looks to be in a massive rebuild. Last season, Ryan lacked a strong supporting cast which contributed to his lackluster numbers. Calvin Ridley played five games, and the Falcons owned the league's second-worst blocking offensive line per PFF. Ryan faced pressure at the sixth-highest rate (40%). That won't be the case in Indianapolis with a better offensive line in place, a stable running game, and playmakers like Michael Pittman Jr. and Jonathan Taylor to boot. Ryan was also vastly underrated as a passer despite the ongoing turmoil ranking above average in many of PFF's sticky efficiency metrics in 2021: 12th in PFF passing grade from a clean pocket, second throwing at the intermediate level, and ninth throwing on early downs. Entering a Frank Reich system that prides itself on churning out play-action (5th) and screen passes (10th) will make Ryan's life a helluva lot easier than it was in Atlanta. Ryan ranked 33rd in screen throw rate and 12th in play-action rate in 2021. The new Colts quarterback is back on the fantasy QB2 radar for 2022. |
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21.
Ryan Tannehill
TEN (at JAC)
A.J. Brown's absurd efficiency and YAC-ability in Tennessee was a primary driving force behind Ryan Tannehill's fantasy success as a Titan. Even with Treylon Burks in the fold, it's hard to get overly excited about the Tennessee QB in one of the NFL's most run-heavy offenses devoid of any elite, proven pass-catchers. He got exposed without offensive coordinator Arthur Smith and weapons last season in 2021, finishing the season with his lowest passer rating to date as a Titan (88.1, 23rd). Tannehill's passer rating off play action throws also fell off (96.1 versus 109.5). 2022 is going to be a rude awakening for Tannehill, who has the largest cap hit in the NFL this year ($38.6M).
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22.
Daniel Jones
NYG (at PHI)
Daniel Jones finished last year as the QB17 in fantasy points per game, but his rushing (298 yards, 11 games) was a decent part of that production. As a passer, he still struggled, ranking outside the top 20 at his position in pressured accuracy, catchable pass rate, and true completion rate. Jones better hope Brian Daboll has the secret sauce to get him on track because it's not looking good. This year, Jones is a matchup play that I'll happily leave on the waiver wire in 12-team formats.
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23.
Mac Jones
NE (at BUF)
The rookie quarterback was highly efficient as a passer, finishing 18th in PFF passing grade, throwing 10-19 yards, 13th from a clean pocket and 10th on early downs. Those specific metrics tend to be sticky year over year and more predictive than raw counting stats.
Still, those numbers were equally impressive for Jones, who posted the sixth-highest passer rating (92.5) and second-highest completion percentage (67.6%) for a rookie quarterback with at least 300 attempts in NFL history. |
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24.
Jared Goff
DET (at GB)
This season, Jared Goff is a sneaky streamer or QB2 option for Superflex leagues. The artillery cupboard is full to the brim with D.J. Chark, Jameson Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown, T.J. Hockenson, and D'Andre Swift all at his disposal. After Week 11 last year, the Lions increased their passing rate to 55% (20th) in close games, and Goff responded with some efficient outings. He completed 69.5% of his throws in that five-game sample while throwing for multiple touchdowns four times (three passing touchdowns twice). You might have to pinch your nose when you press the draft button, but you could be smelling roses a few weeks into the season.
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25.
Carson Wentz
WAS (vs . DAL)
The Commanders will learn the same thing that the Colts did last year. Carson Wentz can manage a game, but don't ask him to lift up your passing attack. Wentz was 20th in clean pocket completion and 32nd in catchable pass rates. Washington was 11th in neutral rushing rate last year, which could creep even higher in 2022.
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26.
Baker Mayfield
CAR (at NO)
Last season before Baker Mayfield reinjured the partially torn labrum in his left shoulder (Weeks 1-5), he was on his way to a solid if not underrated season in Cleveland. While he was on QB23 in fantasy points per game, his efficiency metrics painted a rosier picture. He was 14th in big-time throw rate, seventh in yards per attempt, and held the eighth-lowest turnover-worthy play rate (minimum 20 dropbacks, per PFF).
While Carolina looks like a lousy landing spot, Mayfield will be flanked by Christian McCaffrey and D.J. Moore, which isn't a bad start for any quarterback. If Ben McAdoo can recreate his former magic as an offensive coordinator, Mayfield could be an easy QB2 target with some upside. Before taking the head coaching reins in New York, he led an offense that was top 13 in yards and total points in back-to-back seasons. |
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27.
Davis Mills
HOU (at IND)
Houston Texans quarterback Davis Mills is one of my biggest offseason risers. He ranked outside my top-40 dynasty quarterbacks as a rookie after being selected by the Texans in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Mills was extremely shaky to start the year, sitting with the league's 31st-ranked PFF passing grade through his first nine games.
The Stanford product turned it on over the final five weeks of the 2021 season, finishing with a 9-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio while averaging a respectable 17.4 fantasy points per game. With a full offseason ahead as the presumed starter, Mills is shaping up to be a strong fantasy QB2 with room to grow in 2022. |
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28.
Marcus Mariota
ATL (vs . TB)
Marcus Mariota is best viewed as a QB3 in Superflex or a redraft streamer. However, there could be sneaky upside here if he holds the job all year. Mariota looked revitalized in the preseason flashing his mobility and rushing while pushing the ball down the field. As the very last of the Konami quarterbacks in drafts, Mariota offers some appeal.
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29.
Zach Wilson
NYJ (at MIA)
Everything about Wilson's situation is improved from a year ago. The Jets have stockpiled their offense with WR Garrett Wilson, OG Laken Tomlinson, RB Breece Hall and a plethora of tight ends to give their young quarterback a chance of succeeding in his second season.
If New York's offensive line can hold up in pass protection, Wilson has a chance of delivering fantasy value. |
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30.
Mitch Trubisky
PIT (vs . CLE)
After backing up Josh Allen in Buffalo last season, Trubisky will get a chance to start, this time with the Steelers. He'll have to beat out first-round rookie Kenny Pickett, however. Trubisky's 2018 season with the Bears raised hopes; his 2019 and 2020 seasons dashed them. Running ability and an NFL-caliber arm raise hopes that Trubisky's fantasy value can be rehabilitated.
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31.
Deshaun Watson
CLE (at PIT)
Deshaun Watson is a top-five option when he gets back on the field after his six-game suspension.
He was exactly that from 2019-2020, and there is no reason to think the 26-year-old won't pick up where he left off. During his last season of play, Watson led the NFL in passing yards and yards per attempt (8.9). Considering some best ball leagues are won in November/December, not September, he's worth stashing if you opt to wait on the quarterback position. |
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32.
Kenny Pickett
PIT (vs . CLE)
Pickett wasn't on the prospect radar until he blew up as a fifth-year senior at Pittsburgh, throwing for 4,319 yards and 42 TDs in 13 games. Now, he'll compete with Mitchell Trubisky to be the Steelers' starter after being the only QB taken in the first round of the NFL Draft. Pickett's intangibles might be better than his raw tools, but the tools aren't bad.
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33.
Geno Smith
SEA (vs . LAR)
Don't label me as a Geno Smith stan, but I was pleasantly surprised by his metrics last year during his brief run as the starter for Seattle. Last season he was the 16th highest graded passer per PFF while also sitting at third in big-time throw rate and second in adjusted completion rate (minimum 100 dropbacks, per PFF). While it's impossible to expect him to keep up this lofty pace for a full season, even borderline league-average play from Smith would greatly improve the outlook for all of the skill players in this offense, beginning with D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. While Smith won't be on my radar in drafts outside of sicko 16-team Superflex leagues, he might be good enough this season to support Seattle's other fantasy options.
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34.
Drew Lock
SEA (vs . LAR)
Drew Lock has been nothing short of terrible so far in the NFL. He has never finished higher than 32nd in PFF passing grades while also watching his adjusted completion rate dip in each season (minimum 100 dropbacks, per PFF). I'll be fading Seattle pass catchers this season if Lock gets the nod any week.
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35.
Jacoby Brissett
CLE (at PIT)
Jacoby Brissett was less than awe-inspiring in his last extended runs as a starting quarterback. He finished as the QB23 and QB28 in fantasy points per game in 2017 and 2019 while starting at least 15 games each season. Brissett was the 33rd and 35th highest graded passer per PFF, with anemic big-time throw rates ranking 39th and 42nd. While Deshaun Watson is suspended, the Browns can only hope for game manager level play as they attempt to grind out wins with their running game and defense. Even if you're streaming quarterbacks in fantasy, Brissett is unlikely to make the list often this season.
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36.
Jimmy Garoppolo
SF (vs . ARI)
Jimmy Garoppolo is a middling backup to Trey Lance these days. Last year he was QB15 in fantasy points per game with a stacked skill player cupboard around him. Without any rushing upside to speak of and a pop gun arm Garoppolo's weekly upside is vanilla at best. He's a better NFL quarterback than a fantasy option. Garoppolo ranked first in pressured completion rate and second in play-action completion rate last year.
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37.
Desmond Ridder
ATL (vs . TB)
Four-year starter at Cincinnati has intriguing mobility and an NFL-caliber arm, but he needs refinement. Ridder isn't likely to start early in his rookie season but will get a shot to replace Marcus Mariota as the Atlanta starter at some point.
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38.
Sam Darnold
CAR (at NO)
Got off to a fast start in 2021, with five TD passes, five TD runs and three 300-yard games in his first four starts. Then the roof caved in, with Darnold throwing four TD passes and 10 INTs in his other seven starts. So much for the idea that Adam Gase was entirely to blame for Darnold's non-development. He's entering his age-25 season, so there's a flicker of hope left, but the Panthers' acquisition of Baker Mayfield suggests that they've given up hope of turning around Darnold's career.
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39.
Joe Flacco
NYJ (at MIA)
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40.
Malik Willis
TEN (at JAC)
A slide into the third round of the NFL Draft was ruinous to Willis' fantasy value. He landed with the Titans, who don't seem to be in any hurry to replace starter Ryan Tannehill. Willis has a big arm and is a potential difference-maker as a runner, but he needs a lot of refinement. Whenever Willis gets his first NFL playing time, the results are more likely to be reminiscent of late-career Cam Newton than current Josh Allen.
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41.
Tyrod Taylor
NYG (at PHI)
Taylor can still run even though he'll be entering his age-33 season, but he's always been a below-average passer.
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42.
Tyler Huntley
BAL (at CIN)
Made four starts in place of the injured Lamar Jackson in 2021. Huntley ran for two TDs and threw for two TDs in a Week 15 win over the Packers, finishing as the QB1 for the week, but his overall performance in his second NFL season was a mixed bag at best. Huntley's rushing ability makes him worth monitoring.
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43.
Teddy Bridgewater
MIA (vs . NYJ)
Turned in an efficient if unspectacular season for the Panthers in 2020 but failed to unlock the Broncos' considerable pass-catching talent in 2021. Will now back up Tua Tagovailoa in Miami.
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44.
Gardner Minshew II
PHI (vs . NYG)
His mustache and meme games are strong; his QB skill set makes him better suited to be a high-quality backup than a starter. When he plays, he's good enough to stream against bad defenses, not good enough to be an every-week fantasy starter. Destined to start the 2022 season behind Jalen Hurts.
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45.
Sam Howell
WAS (vs . DAL)
Threw for 38 TDs as a freshman at North Carolina and then boosted his overall efficiency as a sophomore, but his final-year production dipped after teammates Javonte Williams, Michael Carter and Dyami Brown turned pro. Howell won't turn 22 until September, so there's plenty of room for growth here, and his willingness to run is a plus. There may be limited upside, however, and the fact that he fell to the fifth round suggests he won't be pushing for a starting job in Washington this year.
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46.
Andy Dalton
NO (vs . CAR)
Now 34, the Red Rifle won't get a chance to start anywhere, but he's the sort of veteran backup who'll draw interest when he hits free agency in March.
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47.
Jordan Love
GB (vs . DET)
Now that the Packers have given Aaron Rodgers a multiyear contract extension, Love's future is cloudy. Love has thrown only 62 passes in two NFL seasons. His lone start -- a 2021 road game against the Chiefs when Rodgers was on the COVID-19 list -- yielded disappointing results. Love has NFL-caliber tools but has offered no evidence that he knows how to use them.
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48.
Taylor Heinicke
WAS (vs . DAL)
The notion that he might be a long-term answer at QB for Washington was dispelled after an uneven performance in 15 starts last season. Heinicke is a quality backup but doesn't have the goods to be a full-time starter.
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49.
Case Keenum
BUF (vs . NE)
Quality backup acquitted himself well in a pair of 2021 starts, leading the Browns to victories in both games. Worth a roster spot in deep dynasty leagues.
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50.
John Wolford
LAR (at SEA)
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51.
Chad Henne
KC (at LV)
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52.
Blaine Gabbert
TB (at ATL)
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53.
Kyle Trask
TB (at ATL)
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54.
Colt McCoy
ARI (at SF)
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55.
Brandon Allen
CIN (vs . BAL)
|
|
56.
Kyle Allen
HOU (at IND)
|
|
57.
C.J. Beathard
JAC (vs . TEN)
|
|
58.
Nick Mullens
MIN (at CHI)
|
|
59.
Jarrett Stidham
LV (vs . KC)
|
|
60.
Chase Daniel
LAC (at DEN)
|
|
61.
Nick Foles
IND (vs . HOU)
|
|
62.
Mason Rudolph
PIT (vs . CLE)
|
|
63.
Brian Hoyer
NE (at BUF)
|
|
64.
Trevor Siemian
CHI (vs . MIN)
|
|
65.
Bailey Zappe
NE (at BUF)
A surprise fourth-round pick of the New England Patriots, Zappe doesn't have a big arm, but he posted some gaudy college numbers and could wind up in the no-man's-land between low-end NFL starter and high-end backup.
|
|
66.
Sam Ehlinger
IND (vs . HOU)
|
|
67.
Brett Rypien
DEN (vs . LAC)
|
|
68.
Mike White
NYJ (at MIA)
|
|
69.
Nate Sudfeld
DET (at GB)
|
|
70.
Cooper Rush
DAL (at WAS)
|
|
71.
PJ Walker
CAR (at NO)
|
|
72.
Kellen Mond
CLE (at PIT)
|
|
73.
Joshua Dobbs
CLE (at PIT)
|
|
74.
Skylar Thompson
MIA (vs . NYJ)
|
|
75.
Feleipe Franks
ATL (vs . TB)
|
|
76.
Ian Book
PHI (vs . NYG)
|
|
77.
Bryce Perkins
LAR (at SEA)
|
|
78.
Trace McSorley
ARI (at SF)
|
|
79.
Cam Newton
FA (BYE)
He's still a dangerous runner, but Cam's arm is shot. It seems unlikely he'll get another chance to start anywhere because he's simply not capable of making an NFL passing attack go.
|
|
80.
Brock Purdy
SF (vs . ARI)
|
|
81.
Josh Rosen
CLE (at PIT)
|
|
82.
Easton Stick
LAC (at DEN)
|
|
83.
Josh Johnson
DEN (vs . LAC)
|
|
84.
Jake Browning
CIN (vs . BAL)
|
|
85.
David Blough
MIN (at CHI)
|
|
86.
Shane Buechele
KC (at LV)
|
|
87.
Tim Boyle
DET (at GB)
|
|
88.
Matt Barkley
BUF (vs . NE)
|
|
89.
Carson Strong
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
90.
Collin Hill
FA (BYE)
|
|
91.
Brett Hundley
FA (BYE)
|
|
92.
Jacob Eason
CAR (at NO)
|
|
93.
Logan Woodside
TEN (at JAC)
|
|
94.
Chris Oladokun
KC (at LV)
|
|
95.
Davis Webb
NYG (at PHI)
|
|
96.
Taysom Hill
NO (vs . CAR)
Hill is a big-time runner but a CFL-caliber passer. The rushing ability gives him fantasy value whenever he sees the field, but the passing limitations prevent him from being anything but a Band-Aid for an NFL team. Possible he opens the 2022 season as the Saints' starter, but he'd probably only be keeping the seat warm for someone else.
|
|
97.
Anthony Gordon
FA (BYE)
|
|
98.
Ben DiNucci
FA (BYE)
|
|
99.
Jake Luton
NO (vs . CAR)
|
|
100.
Chase Garbers
LV (vs . KC)
|
|
|
101.
Brady White
FA (BYE)
|
|
102.
Brian Lewerke
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
103.
Case Cookus
FA (BYE)
|
|
104.
Mike Glennon
FA (BYE)
|
|
105.
Jack Coan
FA (BYE)
|
|
106.
Chris Streveler
NYJ (at MIA)
|
|
107.
Cole Kelley
FA (BYE)
|
|
108.
Reid Sinnett
MIA (vs . NYJ)
|
|
109.
E.J. Perry
JAC (vs . TEN)
|
|
|
110.
D'Eriq King
FA (BYE)
|
|
111.
Dustin Crum
FA (BYE)
|
|
112.
Jake Fromm
FA (BYE)
|
|
113.
Garrett Gilbert
FA (BYE)
|
|
114.
Jeff Driskel
HOU (at IND)
|
|
115.
John Lovett
MIA (vs . NYJ)
|
|
116.
Kevin Hogan
FA (BYE)
|
|
117.
Jalen Morton
FA (BYE)
|
|
118.
James Morgan
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
119.
Jamie Newman
FA (BYE)
|
|
120.
Sean Mannion
SEA (vs . LAR)
|
|
121.
Josh Love
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
122.
K.J. Costello
FA (BYE)
|
|
123.
Kai Locksley
FA (BYE)
|
|
124.
Anthony Brown
BAL (at CIN)
|
|
125.
Will Grier
DAL (at WAS)
|
|
|
126.
Kaleb Eleby
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
127.
Kenji Bahar
FA (BYE)
|
|
128.
Danny Etling
GB (vs . DET)
|
|
|
129.
Khalil Tate
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
130.
Malik Cunningham
FA (BYE)
|
|
131.
Ryan Griffin
TB (at ATL)
|
|
|
132.
Roland Rivers III
FA (BYE)
|
|
133.
Nate Stanley
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
134.
Spencer Sanders
FA (BYE)
|
|
135.
Steven Montez
FA (BYE)
|
|
|
136.
Tanner Morgan
FA (BYE)
|
|
137.
Jarrett Guarantano
ARI (at SF)
|
|
138.
Nathan Peterman
CHI (vs . MIN)
|
|
|
139.
Zerrick Cooper
FA (BYE)
|
|
140.
AJ McCarron
FA (BYE)
|
|
141.
Blake Bortles
FA (BYE)
|
