5.  Colin Kaepernick, Quarterback, San Francisco 49ers

If you were one of the brave people who put your trust in one of the “mobile” quarterbacks in 2013 when you drafted Kaepernick, you chose well as he finished ninth in fantasy points for quarterbacks this past year. Kaepernick made fantasy owners a bit nervous at the beginning of the season with a few rocky weeks here and there when he underperformed, serving up a batch of single-digit fantasy points. However, if you started him on his more optimal matchup weeks, he typically brought fantasy owners plenty of reward.

With the right balance of both passing and rushing yards, and only eight interceptions for the year; surprisingly the least of any quarterback who played the whole season, fantasy drafters can look for similar production in 2014 from Kaepernick, making him an easy top 10 if not top five choice in quarterback.

2013 Statistics: 3,197 passing yards, 524 rushing yards, 25 total touchdowns and eight interceptions

4. Tom Brady, Quarterback, New England Patriots

Brady was a disappointing fantsy surprise in 2013, as he finds himself finishing the regular 2013 season ranked 14th. For a quarterback undoubtedly drafted in the top five this year, fantasy owners for once found themselves debating on whether Brady was the right start some weeks, compared to years past where he was always earned a “must-start” status. His 14th place ranking is the lowest he has placed in the last five years; ending his run as a top five quarterback, which he had earned the prior three years.

Early speculations before the 2013 season began had some people wondering if Brady would be as effective due to starting the season without key receiving players such as Wes Welker, and tight end, Rob Gronkowski. Even though the Patriots managed to win games, Brady clearly struggled more this past year, earning him a downgrade in draft choice for 2014 fantasy picks.

2013 Statistics: 4,343 passing yards, 25 total touchdowns and 11 interceptions

3.  Philip Rivers, Quarterback, San Diego Chargers

Anyone who wound up with Rivers this past season was rewarded with the sixth-ranked quarterback for 2013. Who saw that one coming? In small leagues Rivers may have even went undrafted, or at the most, he was selected as your typical backup quarterback. Rivers outperformed on many levels this year surpassing his 2012 ranking of 21st by leaps and bounds. One of the most difficult things fantasy owners who had Rivers this season probably faced, was whether they should start him or someone like Drew Brees on one of his difficult matchups?

The San Diego Chargers offense has been quite a force to contend with some weeks, as Rivers and crew have beaten favored, more formidable opponents this year such as the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs. Rivers definitely earns consideration at your starting fantasy quarterback in 2014 and could easily go off draft boards as a top 10 quarterback.

2013 Statistics: 4,478 passing yards, 32 overall touchdowns and 11 interceptions

2. Eli Manning, Quarterback, New York Giants

Manning earns his place on this list for being the most surprisingly horrible fantasy football quarterback in 2013. Not that Manning was anyone’s top draft choice at that position, however, if you waited late to pick your quarterback and thought Manning would suffice with your stacked roster, he surely caused you some costly losses. Hopefully, you got smart and dropped him at some point, as he was not even a viable start many weeks, even earning negative points in Week 15.

Manning painstakingly finished the season ranked 21st in quarterbacks, which is the lowest ranking of the healthy quarterbacks who played the entire season. He joins the horrific group of Geno Smith, Joe Flacco, Matt Schaub, Terrelle Pryor, Chad Henne and Josh Freeman, who all coughed up more turnovers than they threw touchdowns this year. With a 27 interception to 18 touchdown ratio, I would run far away from Manning in 2014 drafts.

2013 Statistics: 3,818 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and 27 interceptions

1.  Nick Foles, Quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles

Foles, by far, was one of the hugest fantasy football quarterback surprises in 2013. When he stepped up to fill in for the injured Michael Vick, there was no turning back for the Eagles. Foles finished the 2013 season ranking an outstanding 11th among his fellow quarterbacks. But, keep in mind, he only participated in 12 of the 16 regular season games. If you take into consideration his average fantasy points per week of 21.67, and assume he would have earned near to these points the four weeks he didn’t play, he would have scored approximately 346 total fantasy points, which would have placed him the third highest ranked quarterback of 2013. Even more impressive, is Foles only had two interceptions total for in his 12 weeks of play.

If you needed enhancement at the quarterback position during 2013 and you picked up Foles from the waivers, you made a brilliant selection as you found a quarterback who blended in the perfect mix of mobility. Foles assuredly helped your team inch towards playoffs. If the Eagles decide to start Foles as quarterback in 2014, he clearly earns a draft pick as your starting quarterback also.

2013 Statistics: 2,891 passing yards, 30 total touchdowns and two interceptions