In reviewing the ever-so-critical quarterback position for fantasy football, some players this year will find their draft stock on the rise where others who were drafted too high last year may be on their way sailing down the charts.
Here’s a look at who is rising and falling as we proceed towards the 2015 fantasy season.
Fantasy Quarterbacks on the Rise
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Not that he has too much room to rise from his third place fantasy ranking from 2014, Wilson inherits the awesome tight end, Jimmy Graham to throw passes to this season. Between Wilson’s mobility and Graham’s past success on the field, Wilson should be gone from draft boards by the second round in 2015 and ready to rock those fantasy rosters.
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Typically drafted in late rounds or even as a backup quarterback last season found Roethlisberger finishing fifth among his fellow quarterbacks in fantasy points. Second-year wide receiver Martavis Bryant was an excellent deep threat and Antonio Brown who tallied 1,698 yards last year, should keep Big Ben going strong this upcoming season reigning in the fantasy points.
Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Brady fell in draft pick last season due to the fact that people were unsure about the health of tight end Rob Gronkowski and how that might impact Brady’s numbers. The fact is, Brady evolved into a must-start quarterback just a few weeks into the season after stumbling a little out of the gate. Just watching Brady’s success as he eventually led the Patriots to a Super Bowl win shows the 37-year-old still has “it” at least for now.
Eli Manning, New York Giants
Drafting Manning in 2014 was about as appealing as an awful smelling piece of cheese last year that no one wanted anything to do with. This was due to his horrific prior season where he threw an unforgiveable 27 interceptions to only 18 touchdowns. However, Manning rebounded and actually went from being undrafted by many to finishing 10th in fantasy points for 2014. This could have nearly everything to do with the emergence of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and that is okay. Manning and Beckham will be back at it scoring fantasy points galore in 2015.
Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers
Changes in wide receivers for Kaepernick with the addition of Torrey Smith and departure of Michael Crabtree could have him improving his fantasy stats from last season. Kap was second in rushing yards last year and he should keep earning fantasy points with his feet along with increased passing yards and touchdowns. He will make a later-round pick whose stock has the potential to rise in 2015.
Fantasy Quarterbacks on the Decline
Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
How many times have we started Stafford where there are those games we completely want to pull our hair out because he only earned eight fantasy points? During the past couple of seasons, Stafford has tended to be a hyped-up quarterback to reach for in earlier rounds, who eventually disappointed later in the season. Finishing 2014 ranking 15th, under quarterback Jay Cutler, needless to say, Stafford should fall to later rounds this season where he will likely offer up QB2 or QB3 numbers just like we are used to.
Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
Romo finished 2014 with smashing fantasy numbers throwing 12 touchdowns and only one interception during the last four weeks of the season. Part of Romo’s fantasy success last year was due to running back DeMarco Murray easing the pressure for which Romo made less forced mistakes. Murray is now gone, and unless the Cowboys can come up with a clone-like replacement (or they land Adrian Peterson), Romo will be back to having those choking moments where he dooms his fantasy owners.
Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
Rivers may have been drafted high last year due to his productive 2013 season the year prior. However, during the course of the 2014 season, Rivers put up spotty fantasy numbers ranging from -2.2 to 27.2. Failing to truly connect with his No. 1 receiver Keenan Allen last year makes him trustworthy as a backup option only in 2015.
Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
Watch out Brees, because you have been replaced by Russell Wilson as likely the second or third quarterback to be drafted in 2015. The Graham trade unfortunately will hurt Brees; fantasy stats big-time this season. Additionally, the Saints added running back C.J. Spiller to the mix to pound the ground more moving forward. Brees is still worth owning, of course, just not worth grabbing up in the second draft round.
Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
What? Manning stock is falling? Correct. Manning should not be the first or even fifth-overall fantasy quarterback drafted in 2015. In what could be his last year in the NFL, and his last hope at one more Super Bowl run, the Broncos are not going to have him passing for upwards of 5,000 yards this year. They are reportedly going to ease in backup quarterback Brock Osweiler on occasion to keep Manning fresh.
We can also expect a heavy dose of running back C.J. Anderson again just like we saw towards the last third of the 2014 season. If you owned Manning last year, his points took a significant drop once Anderson arrived to the scene. Like Brees, Manning should obviously be drafted, he just won’t put up the same fantasy stats as he has in the past.