I genuinely love each and every part of what I do here at Dynasty League Football. That’s the truth. But if there’s one thing that drives me a little bit nuts, it’s splitting hairs in rankings. It is by far the most difficult part of writing articles like this. That’s why I’ve used two weapons to my advantage. By creating tiers, and slipping in two extra signal callers at tied-tenth, I hope I’ve made the rankings not only more accurate but easier to digest.
Please keep one vital thing in mind when going through these rankings: The tiers are much more important than the actual numbers, especially in tier three.
Let’s get into our Top Ten Dynasty Fantasy Football Quarterbacks.
This series will take us through the top ten of the four major positions and will be updated every July and January. Consider this the 2018 preseason Edition.
Tier One
1) Carson Wentz, PHI | 2017 Finish: QB 5 | Age: 25
Carson Wentz brings just about everything to the table. Youth, talent, production, and situation. It’s all there for the third-year Eagle. Maybe I’m getting overconfident, but post-ACL injury, I don’t think Wentz will miss a beat. Yes, some of his incredibly good numbers from 2017 will almost have to decline. But looking ahead, he’s the surest bet to be a long-term force at the quarterback position.
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2) Russell Wilson, SEA | 2017 Finish: QB1 | Age: 29
Russell Wilson is the only other quarterback I could see at number one. Consistency is this man’s middle name. Since entering the league as a third rounder in 2012, Wilson has never failed to finish as a QB1, and including last season, has three top-five seasons. Imagine picking him in a 2012 rookie draft. That’s as close as you can get to winning the lottery in dynasty. Once again, we shouldn’t expect anything but greatness from Wilson in 2018.
3) Aaron Rodgers, GB | 2017 Finish: Injury | Age: 34
What else can be said about Aaron Rodgers? He’s just ridiculously, absurdly, undeniably talented, and we can’t help but tune in every time he takes the field. His return is just another reason I can’t wait for fall. At age 34, he’s not yet done playing at a high level, but his years as the best quarterback in fantasy are most likely numbered. 2018 should be another special season for number 12. Whether you own him or not, let’s just sit back and enjoy it.
4) Deshaun Watson, HOU | 2017 Finish: Injury | Age: 22
That’s right. Deshaun Watson is a tier one dynasty quarterback. At just 22 years old, the former Clemson Tiger has already established himself as the dynamic head to one of the most dangerous passing attacks this league has to offer. Yes, his small sample size of six starts can’t be taken lightly. But what’s absolutely impossible to ignore, is his enormous production upside. Get Watson and you could just be set at the QB position for the next decade and a half.
Tier Two
5) Cam Newton, CAR | 2017 Finish: QB 3 | Age: 29
Cam Newton is in a tier of his own. That’s usually said about a player who is head and shoulders above the rest of the competition, but here, it’s just the way it happened to work out for SuperCam. Greg Olsen probably won’t be playing for too much longer. But with a young core of weapons that includes D.J. Moore, Devin Funchess, and Christian McCaffrey, Newton is set up for several more seasons of elite production.
Tier Three
6) Andrew Luck, IND | 2017 Finish: Injury | Age: 28
Andrew Luck looks like he’s back and ready to roll. Until he proves otherwise, I have to think we’re going to get the same player we’ve grown accustomed to dominating, rather than a shell of his former self. There’s obviously a risk that comes with a player who hasn’t taken a snap since 2016. But with one of the most gifted skill sets in our league, I’m not overly worried about Luck’s future.
7) Jimmy Garoppolo, SF | 2017 Finish: QB 33/6 Games | Age: 26
I would have had no issue with dropping Jimmy Garoppolo down a few spots further. I mean no knock against him, but both Marcus Mariota and Kirk Cousins have darn good cases of their own. Getting back to Jimmy G, it’s easy to see why so many are projecting big things for his future. He’s been nothing short of proficient in his seven career starts and gives us little reason to doubt what he can do. I’m not sure Garoppolo will be a consistently dominant force, but he sure should be solid.
8) Marcus Mariota, TEN | 2017 Finish: QB 18 | Age: 24
Marcus Mariota is fresh off the worst year of his career and still has a stronghold on a top ten spot. There’s just too much to like with this kid. Even in his abysmal 2017 campaign, Mariota was a fairly valuable QB2. If that’s his every year floor, I’m taking him all day long. Both Corey Davis and Eric Decker did little to help the former Duck a year ago. Let’s hope Mariota’s supporting cast can help him snag his first QB1 year in 2018.
9) Kirk Cousins, MIN | 2017 Finish: QB 6 | Age: 29
29 is far from ancient for the quarterback position. Yet, Kirk Cousins is tied for the second oldest on this list. It just goes to show how much young talent we have at this position. Cousins threw for at least 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns every year in his three seasons as Washington’s starter and now finds himself with an upgrade in talent in Minnesota. We have to believe more monstrous numbers are on the way. The Michigan State product was a top-seven quarterback in 2015, 2016, and 2017 alike (only QB in NFL). That streak may not come to an end anytime soon.
T-10) Jared Goff, LAR | 2017 Finish: QB 12 | Age: 23
After an extremely marginal rookie season after being selected number one overall, Jared Goff proved all the doubters wrong in 2017. Expect more of the same in 2018 and beyond. With the likes of Todd Gurley, Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, and Cooper Kupp, he has all the tools he needs to start stringing together QB1 outputs. Goff might be more of a floor than ceiling type of player, but he’s about as sturdy a building block as there is.
T-10) Patrick Mahomes, KC | 2017 Finish: 1 Start | Age: 22
We talked about Jared Goff’s ceiling perhaps being relatively low. There is no such concern with Patrick Mahomes. He’s got every last bit of arm talent you could ever want in a QB, can use his feet as a weapon, and has what could be the best set of skill position talent in the entire NFL. Need I say more? Mahomes still has a lot to prove at the professional level. But before mid-season rolls around, look for him to have already established himself as a legitimate factor in the dynasty world.
T-10) Jameis Winston, TB | 2017 Finish: QB 22 | Age: 24
Jameis Winston has now played three seasons without registering a QB1 finish. Given his three-game suspension that will have him on the bench to start the year, it looks like he won’t get one in 2018 either. So why are we still so high on him?
He’s slowly but surely getting better. Winston has improved his touchdown to interception ratio and completion percentage in every season, and more than likely would have upped his season yardage once again in 2017, had he not missed multiple games due to injury. I understand if you’re getting tired of Winston’s off-field antics. Just don’t give up on his on-field talent.
Have a question about your team, a current player, or a potential trade? Please leave a comment below. I’m always glad to interact with readers. If you have a more specific and in-depth question, or would like advice for your team that you want to talk more about, just shoot me an email at [email protected] I hope you enjoyed the article!
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Bradley Ylitalo
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Leo Guidroz
July 22, 2018 at 5:23 pm
Bradley,
I was with you until…… Winston
How can you have Winston on the Top 10 and not Stafford? Winston will never be a Top 10. Off-field issues aside, he is not in the conversation for Top 10 QB in Dynasty. He is a floor player with an unpredictable ceiling. In my Superflex, I would not have him.
Bradley Ylitalo
July 22, 2018 at 9:52 pm
Thanks for the comment, Leo!
I understand your concerns with Winston. His off the field issues are frustrating, and as you said, he’s never been a top ten quarterback. However, I still think the potential is very much there. At the very worst, he’s a long time solid QB2. And at his best, I think he can be a top seven finisher. It will certainly be interesting to track his career.
Thanks, Leo! I appreciate the differing opinion!
Adam Conley
July 23, 2018 at 2:48 am
If the general consensus is to draft your team for a solid three year window. Why on earth wouldn’t Rodgers be #1? He’s going to be the best of that group hands down for the next three years. Draft him and forget about scrambling for a new QB if one of those others don’t make it past their rookie contracts. Winston is underrated IMO. Name another QB that has thrown for more than 4,000 yards in his first three seasons? (Yes, year three was short but he missed three games… At his pace he would have thrown for a career high)
Patrick Mahomes has no business being on this list. I do like his chances, but let’s see what he can do in a full season before he’s anointed a top 10 dynasty QB.
Jason Eldred
July 23, 2018 at 4:13 am
When I read your comment, I started researching QBs first 3 years and at least 20 minutes into the research, you’re right about the 4,000 yd thing. That surprised me, but so did Winston’s TD% which ranged from 4.1%-4.9%. I’ll admit that I never really wanted much to do with him, but maybe I should revisit this! One QB I don’t see the potential in is Mariota. His 2016 season was a nice display of what he can do, but last yr with a TD/INT ratio of 13/15 has me worried. Still super young, I just don’t ever see the the gaudy yard totals to assist in years he’s not throwing a sufficient of TDs. I’d like to see Stafford on these top 10 lists as his floor is high, and his ceiling is higher than given credit for (see 2011). Hopefully with the pieces added to the run game in Detroit, Stafford will have more efficient throws. Yards may go down some, but I can see more TDs, less INTs, and more fantasy points. We will see (I’m a sad Lions fan).
Bradley Ylitalo
July 23, 2018 at 11:09 am
Thanks for the comments, Adam and Jason! You guys made a lot of great points.
Adam:
I appreciate your view on Rodgers. You’re not alone in this opinion. I think people view Wilson and Wentz as close enough to Rodgers in terms of production, that taking their youth just makes too much sense. Building for a three-year window isn’t a bad strategy, but if you can, taking a player who could be dominant for 5-10 years is well worth it.
As for Winston, I think we need to see him put up a QB1 season before we’re elevating him any higher than T-10. His passing numbers are impressive, but he’s so unproductive as a runner (except rookie season), that his season finishes have yet to be noteworthy.
I understand the hesitation to place Mahomes in the top ten. He’s only played one NFL game and didn’t exactly put up monster stats in it. A lot of his value comes down to his upside, rather than his floor. I truly believe Mahomes has the potential to become a perennial top seven QB.
Jason:
As you said, Mariota’s 2017 was extremely discouraging. If he puts up a similar year in 2018, there’s no way he’ll be on this list in January. Luckily, I don’t think that will be the case. With a strong supporting cast and hopeful improvement of Corey Davis, I think Mariota will bounce back.
You’re not the first person to tell me I needed to put Stafford on this list. Believe me, he was a heavy contender. If I could have put one more quarterback on this list, he and Dak Prescott would have been battling it out. As you said, he’s got one of the better floors in our game. He should be in for another very solid season in 2018.
Thanks for the comments guys!
Chris Armstrong
July 23, 2018 at 8:06 am
The upside of Lamar is to tantalizing to not have him over guys like jimmy G , Jameis and Mariota . Those guys have been in the league long enough and still have just as many question marks from a fantasy perspective as Jackson who hasn’t even played a game. I enjoy your articles but respectfully disagree here . I’d take jackson over those 3 in a dynasty startup 7 days a week and twice on Sunday just based upon IF he hits bc its Watson Esque upside we are talking about .
Bradley Ylitalo
July 23, 2018 at 10:54 am
Hey Chris! Thanks for the comment.
I appreciate your belief in Jackson. In this rookie class of QB’s, he very well could have the highest upside of them all. I really wish he would have landed in a different situation, surrounded by better talent. Baltimore has Michael Crabtree and Alex Collins, but it’s not exactly Kansas City. If can A) Start at least a handful of games and B) Perform at a QB1 level, there’s no reason he can’t end up on the January edition of this list.
Thanks for the comment, Chris!
Matthew Stafford
July 23, 2018 at 12:31 pm
Matthew Stafford, the guy never ranked as a QB1 who always finishes as a QB1. I get it, he is older than some of these guys, an actual run game may mean he doesn’t have to throw at a ridiculous rate, but he should still have plenty of years left in a friendly offense with quality guys at WR. I’ll gladly take a guy who never gets hurt and is proven. Also, I may be a bit biased because on his name alone 🙂
Bradley Ylitalo
July 24, 2018 at 12:49 am
Haha thanks for the comment Matthew!
Quite a few people have told me that I should have included Stafford on this list. And trust me, he wasn’t far off. I could totally see why someone would rank him as a top ten dynasty QB, but I just think the cases of Goff, Winston and Mahomes are more compelling. It’ll be interesting to see how this list changes by January.
Thanks for the comment, Matthew!
Steven Snyder
July 24, 2018 at 6:54 am
I have Wentz and Jimmy G on my Superflex roster. Was offered Wilson for Jimmy G and a late 2019 1st (I have 4 2019 1sts total). I almost took it in a heart beat, but then remembered that SEA has B.S. for an OC…literally and figuratively. I love the prospect of having Wilson and Wentz on my team, but I am hesitant because of the new OC.
Is Wilson OC proof?
Is Wilson that much of an upgrade over Jimmy G?
Is it worth it to have two Tier 1 QBs?
Bradley Ylitalo
July 25, 2018 at 12:10 am
Hey Steven, thanks for the question!
My advice is to absolutely, 100% take that trade. Wilson is arguably a top ten asset in Superflex, and getting him for Garoppolo and a late 2019 first is a steal. Pairing him with Wentz will be scary good. Take that trade ASAP.
To answer all three of your questions, yes. Wilson is OC proof, he’s a considerable upgrade over Garoppolo, and while I understand the concern, having two tier one QB’s is worthwhile in Superflex. With Wilson and Wentz in tow, you should be a contender for several years.
Loved the questions, thanks for reaching out, Steven! I hope that trade can be completed!