Quarterbacks in review: The best value, rookie, biggest bust and MVP of the 2017 fantasy football season.
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Best Draft Value: Philip Rivers (LAR)
I have no idea why Rivers, year after year, is disrespected in fantasy leagues. This guy is a more then viable option week in and week out. He was the 20th quarterback drafted and finished as the QB8. If you can get that kind of production from a guy you pick at 130, you’re putting yourself in a good position to win your league. The charismatic gunslinger will look to continue his strong play next season, bolstered by the development of the young offensive weapons Hunter Henry and Mike Williams.
Biggest Bust: Matt Ryan (ATL)
Matty Ice looked a bit feverish this year. Before his Super Bowl-meltdown, Ryan put up almost 5,000 yards and had a TD/INT ratio of 30-7. Plus, he was sacked 13 more times that year. Nobody blames you for taking him, as those numbers command respect and the price seemed right for an elite QB. After his Super Bowl-meltdown, Ryan mustered up a disappointing 4,095 yards with a TD/INT ratio of 2012. Ryan’s ADP was right around pick 40 and was taken as the QB4, only to return as the QB15. Hopefully he bounces back, as this offense looks to find their chemistry with the deep ball again.
MVP: Russell Wilson (SEA)
He’s just unbelievable when a play breaks down. Some of the highest scoring plays of his season came off of would-be doomed attempts. He’s a magician with the ball. He was the No. 5 quarterback taken in drafts and his average pick was 58th overall — taken almost 20 picks after Matt Ryan. Wilson tied his career-high in passing TDs this year with 34 and his dual-threat ability puts him in a terrific spot for continuing his success next year.
Best Rookie: Deshaun Watson (HOU)
It was truly heartbreaking to see such a tantalizing young talent have the success he did in his first 7 games, only to be struck down in practice with a non-contact ACL injury. In those 7 games we got a sampling of what the electric playmaker is capable of: 1700 yards and a TD/INT ratio of 19-8. Watson also compiled a 269 yards rushing total and added 2 touchdowns on the ground. He’s the Texans new franchise quarterback and the kid just finds ways to win the big games. Hopefully that continues for the Texans and you 2018 for fantasy teams as well.
— Marcus Drake
How Were Our Preseason Predictions?
By Justin Sablich
Eh, not my best work.
In my preseason QB primer, I highlighted Dak Prescott, Derek Carr and Tyrod Taylor as players I liked more than most others did. Prescott turned out to be a decent call, as he finished as the QB9 on the season despite a pretty horrid second half of the season. He had a great stretch from Weeks 3-9, failing to top 22 fantasy points in just one of those games, but then only did so once the rest of the season (Week 14).
Carr was a train wreck, but Taylor, who was really a sleeper pick, proved fairly useful from Week 7-on, either topping 20 fantasy points or finishing as a top 10 QB in six of the last 10 games.
Two of the players I thought would underperform this year ended up as the top two fantasy quarterbacks: Russell Wilson and Cam Newton. Ouch. I didn’t expect the Seahawks’ offensive line, which was ranked as the worst in the league by ProFootballFocus.com heading into the season, to hold up as well as it did. But, it did. I also thought Newton’s running days were running out, as he saw career-lows in rushing yards (359) and touchdowns (5) in 2016. Instead, he doubled his rushing output (754 yards) and scored 6 rushing touchdowns.
However, redemption was to be had during the season, if you trust fantasypros.com to rate rankings accuracy. The Sablich Brothers weekly rankings for quarterbacks were the ninth most accurate of 111 experts graded. We’d share how we did regarding the draft rankings but they seem to have disappeared from the fantasypros.com website.
Lead Photo by Keith Allison/Wikimedia Commons
