A lot has happened since the last time I updated my rest of season quarterback rankings for 2-QB fantasy football leagues, such as Case Keenum’s pumpkin chariot going back to the rental shop.
With the fantasy playoffs about to begin, now seemed like a good time to update the rankings, in order to prepare you for your fantasy playoff quarterback start/sit decisions.
As always, strength of schedule analysis has been provided by Pro Football Focus Fantasy’s Patrick Thorman.
Here is the color coding legend for the chart:
RED=Avoid/Bye Week
ORANGE=Tough match-up/Avoid if possible
YELLOW=Potentially bad match-up
WHITE=Neutral
LIGHT GREEN=Good match-up
DARK GREEN=Must start match-up
Some notes on the above rankings:
-The Green Bay Packers desperately need Aaron Rodgers to return, and so do his fantasy football owners looking to make a championship ride.
I had Rodgers ranked first overall before his injury, and put him back on top because of his schedule. Take a look at those upcoming match-ups and tell me who you’d rather want quarterbacking your fantasy team for the rest of the season? Let’s hope he returns soon.
-Nick Foles has one of the best overall fantasy playoff schedules, and if you made a move to acquire him for the playoff stretch run your 2-QB team will be in good hands.
Now that Foles has been named the starting quarterback for the rest of the season by Eagles Head Coach Chip Kelly, he won’t have to look over his shoulder wondering if a healthy Mike Vick will reclaim his former starting job
This week’s match-up versus the Arizona Cardinals will be one of the tougher tests facing Foles this season, but after that it’s smooth sailing.
-Whether it’s Josh McCown or Jay Cutler under center for the Bears, you start them. Both have proven themselves worthy of QB1 consideration in fantasy circles, and the remaining Bears schedule is one most quarterbacks, aside from Tony Romo, Aaron Rodgers and Robert Griffin III would be envious of.
-I would love to rank RG3 higher due to his schedule, but his recent play, lack of offensive pass catching options outside of Pierre Garçon and Jordan Reed are minimal, and his offensive pass protection skills have me worried. It’ll be hard to trust RG3 going forward, but a good showing against the Giants this week can ease those concerns.
-If you play in a 2-QB league where trading is still allowed, Tony Romo would be a guy to make an offer on. He has not one single bad match-up from here on out, and the Cowboys are always willing to pass. Their bad defense also means there’s potential for them to be in plenty of shootouts.
-Mike Glennon has been a fantasy revelation since his second start, and according to an Evan Silva tweet, in his last 244 passes, he has completed 64.3 percent of them, for 1,589 yards, 12 touchdowns and two interceptions.
There’s a good possibility that if you rode Glennon as your QB2 during the middle portion of the NFL schedule, you’re in the playoff hunt.
The bad news is the Buccaneers schedule gets pretty difficult from here on out, and it’ll be hard to trust starting Glennon in any of his remaining games. Hopefully you have a better QB2 option on your bench, or pray for garbage time points.
-There have been many different quarterbacks ranked at QB13, or the top of the QB2 food chain, and it’s Ryan Fitzpatrick’s turn now.
In his last three games, Fitzpatrick has finished no worse than QB13 for the week, and has had two QB1 weekly performances to his name. The Titans’ offense has been in a groove with Fitzpatrick filling in for Jake Locker.
You might have difficulty trusting Fitzpatrick as a rest of season QB2, but only one tough game remains on the schedule, and if you make it to the fantasy championships with Fitzpatrick at the helm, you’ll be rewarded with him facing the Jacksonville Jaguars.
-Eli Manning and EJ Manuel fought for the last spot in the QB2 tier, and I wouldn’t fault you for having Manuel over Eli. Eli’s rest of season schedule slightly won out over Manuel’s, and the duo could be one to count on in the fantasy playoffs.
-The QB4 tier is one to keep an eye on, especially if you own any of the starters the respective QB4 tier players back-up.
For instance, Tarvaris Jackson is much more valuable to a Russell Wilson owner, and if I was a Wilson owner, and my QB3 was Geno Smith, I would drop Geno for Jackson.
Moves like that are worth making now, this late into the season, and it’s the quarterback version of the playoff running back handcuff theory.
If LeSean McCoy were to go down with an injury, Bryce Brown would find himself in a preferred fantasy situation, and the same thing could be said if Jackson had to sub in for Wilson.
-Dominique Davis is worth a flier in 2-QB leagues with the Falcons already eliminated from the playoffs, and having nothing to play for this year. If Davis were to get some playing time, it’s better to have him on your bench now, rather than wait until it’s too late to pick him up.
