Yeah, ok, so the Jacksonville Jaguars have a great defense. And their running game is a force to be reckoned with once Blake Bortles hands-off to Leonard Fournette. But how often does Bortles get the chance to actually throw the ball? Not often enough, says Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey’s interview in the August edition of GQ Magazine was bold and brazen, and he suggests that the decision to inhibit Bortles’ throwing arm is “holding the team back.”
Not one to holdback his own personal opinions, Ramsey caught the attention of many fantasy football owners thanks to the inclusion of his personal analysis of the quarterback position in the interview. Some are realistic, some are questionable, and some are just over-the-top. It’s safe to say that we can all get behind his positive rankings of Drew Brees and Russell Wilson (good), though we might raise an eyebrow at his not-quite-complimentary thoughts on Aaron Rogers and Tom Brady (they don’t suck).
How Do Ramsey’s QB Ratings Measure Up?
We thought it might be fun to take a look at what Ramsey thinks about some of the QBs in the league and compare them with reality (fantasy-reality, at least). If you’re looking to Ramsey for your fantasy football picks, you might have a shot with some of them. Others…not so much. Here’s a look at the QB rankings according to Ramsey, along with a fantasy reality check.
Deshaun Watson
Ramsey: He’s going to be “the league MVP in a couple of years.”
Reality: He looked healthy in his pre-season return, and his rushing abilities are still undeniable. You can’t take away fact that 9.3 percent of his passes last year connected for TDs, which his more than any other QB outside of Carson Wentz.
Andrew Luck
Ramsey: “I don’t really think he’s that good.”
Reality: After missing an entire season, fantasy football fans are curious of what Luck will do this year. His preseason performance is enough to count him in; let’s just hope he stays healthy.
Kirk Cousins
Ramsey: This guys a winner in his book. In fact, he’s the “best quarterback in the league.”
Reality: “Best” is debatable after the most red-zone interceptions of 2017. Most are hoping a new team will help, but it might take time for that to gel. The potential, however, is there.
Carson Wentz
Ramsey: Another contender for league MVP in the next several years.
Reality: Last year was a breakout year for Wentz, until a torn ACL ended it. If he stays healthy, he’ll be a force again this year. But it’s a big if at this point.
Ben Roethlisberger
Ramsey: He’s okay, but Antonio Brown makes him look better.
Reality: Big Ben has been around, and he’s as tough as they come. Sometimes he’s amazing, sometimes he’s not even close, but you can probably start him in 80 percent of his matchups.
Philip Rivers
Ramsey: “Pretty good.”
Reality: The perennially undervalued quarterback in fantasy football led the league in 2017 with 300-yard passing games. He’s an ideal streamer to pair with another solid QB.
Jared Goff
Ramsey: Average to above average.
Reality: With a great offense behind him, another great year could be coming. Can he repeat 2017? He’s a popular bust pick, but it is possible.
Dak Prescott
Ramsey: Good, but the real props go to Ezekiel Elliot.
Reality: It’s true that a healthy Zeke means a healthy offense for the Cowboys, but if Dak can return to rookie-season form, there’s no telling where he could take them.
Marcus Mariota
Ramsey: Great for the Titans
Reality: Forget about last year’s troubles and focus on this year. His offseason has been impressive, and though not exactly on top of the QB rankings, you might just get a sleeper here.
Matt Ryan
Ramsey: Overrated.
Reality: 2016 feels like a long time ago–because it was. That said, it’s not a bad idea to pick up Ryan late in the draft if you go the 2-QB route and focus on perfecting the rest of your fantasy football team first.
Eli Manning
Ramsey: Believes that Odell Beckham Jr. holds the magic key in this combo. They have a great connection, but he “won’t say that Eli’s good.”
Reality: Yeah, Odell is that good. So is rookie Saquon Barkley. With a better line to protect him, Manning can pull out a few big games as a backup streaming option.
Tyrod Taylor
Ramsey: Better than he gets credit for.
Reality: Well….he’s the starter for now, but Mayfield is waiting in the wings. Taylor protects the ball and he’s fast, but his fantasy football outlook is far from solid.
Lamar Jackson
Ramsey: He’s going to be good.
Reality: There’s a possibility that Flacco could give it up to Jackson by mid-season. His rushing is crazy-good, and his preseason stints get better each time out.
Baker Mayfield
Ramsey: He’s confident, gets out of the pocket, makes big plays, and has charisma. But you’d have to like that type of thing…
Reality: The Browns like that type of thing. He has plenty of future potential. He’s a good bet to grab near the end of the draft because his time is coming—and soon.
5th Down Ranking: Unranked (for now).
If we left anyone out, it’s simply because Ramsey either didn’t mention them, or he didn’t have anything exciting to say. For example, Ramsey believes that Derek Carr is “Good,” and he doesn’t “know much” about Ryan Tannehill. So be it.
Luckily for fantasy football players, we know a lot about Tannehill, Ramsey, and all of the other players this year, so be sure to check out our weekly football rankings on 5thDownFantasy.com before your 2018 fantasy football draft.
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