An important factor to keep in mind when selecting a quarterback for your fantasy football team, is their upcoming season schedule. If you’re planning on drafting a quarterback outside of the top three in Peyton Manning, Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers, their schedule down the road is something to evaluate prior to choosing a quarterback who isn’t always start material.
In reviewing the 2014 schedules for all of the teams, these three quarterbacks face an easier road ahead than some others, which can boost their fantasy value in the long term
Ryan Tannehill Miami Dolphins
Of the Miami Dolphins 16 regular season games, Tannehill and his team are pitted up against the bottom half of defenses in nine of their total games. Additionally, in six of these nine games the Dolphins play against the 10 lowest ranking defenses for 2014.
Those defenses include Green Bay, Jacksonville, San Diego, New York Jets twice, and Minnesota.
When factoring in weather conditions for Tannehill, towards the end of the regular season when snow, wind and rain could play a role in his performance, only two of Miami’s five December games are played outdoors in potentially less-than-desirable environments. Those two games include matchups at the New York Jets, the 26th ranked defense, and New England's ninth-ranked defense.
The warm-weathered Tannehill and team only face a top-eight defense in two of their total regular season games when they host Kansas City, the eighth-ranked defense in Week 3, and play in Denver, the fourth-ranked defense during Week 12.
Tannehill falls into the third tier of quarterbacks, so as he likely won’t be your choice for a starter, his easy schedule, makes him a quality backup if your number one guy goes down. Remember, both Rodgers and Jay Cutler were out several weeks with injury last year, so Tannehill, has upside if he becomes your go-to guy in 2014.
Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
Luck actually could be on your side in 2014. In looking at the Colts’ 16 regular season games, the team plays eight games against the upper half-ranked defenses, and obviously, the other half of their games they face defenses ranked 17-32.
Outside of playing at Denver, the fourth-ranked defense in Week 1, and hosting the sixth ranking Bengals’ defense, in Week 7, the Colts do not face any other of the top eight ranking defenses during their 2014 season.
Even sweeter, is that Luck and the Colts play against the 10 lowest-ranking defenses in six of their games. These games include two matchups against Jacksonville, two games against Tennessee and one game against the dead-last ranking Dallas defense.
Weather is also on Luck’s side in 2014 as the only potentially mal-weather conditions he and the team might face late into the season is an outdoor game in Cleveland December 7, Week 14.
Luck usually makes for high-end QB2 with QB1 upside when the matchup is right. With a favorable schedule, and his veteran wide receiver, Reggie Wayne returning, Luck is an optimum fantasy football quarterback choice for 2014.
Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Brady, who dropped out of the top-five fantasy quarterbacks last year, when he wasn’t always a reliable start has one of the easiest schedules for 2014, which should bring peace-of-mind to those who may plan to draft him.
Of the Patriots 16 regular season games, Brady and his boys face the lower-half ranked defenses in 11 of their games. Four of those 11 games are against the five worst defenses as they kick off the season in Weeks 1 and 2 at Miami and Minnesota, then face San Diego Week 14 and Miami once again Week 15.
Brady will meet in 2014, only two stiffer defenses ranked in the top eight and that is in Cincinnati Week 5 and when the Patriots host Denver Week 9.
Weather conditions do not look overly daunting for the end of the season, which bodes well for Brady. The only problematic weeks could be the last two when the Patriots play at MetLife Week 16 and at home Week 17. Some fantasy leagues do not even play through Week 17, either, which is a positive note to add.
With his easier schedule, Brady could definitely work his way back into QB1 status for the greater part of the 2014 season.
All defense rankings come from ESPN's May 2014 Fantasy Football rankings.