2014 Fantasy Football: Top 20 Quarterbacks

This is part of the 2014 fantasy football preview. A look at the top running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, kickers and defenses can be found via the links on each position.

The time has come to prepare for the 2014 fantasy football season and with the release of the top 100 players recently, it’s a good time to look at each position’s top players. The quarterback position is one that has become even more important in recent years with more passing around the NFL. Some experts believe it is best to wait on a quarterback while others are of the opinion that owners must have one of the top three signal callers to be successful. Here are the top 20 fantasy quarterbacks for the 2014 season to use as a guide for the upcoming year.

1. Peyton Manning- Manning had the greatest season of any quarterback last year with the 55 touchdown passes and 5,477 passing yards but while he is the top quarterback, his numbers will come down some strictly due to the team’s schedule. Manning is still great and still worth taking in the first round.
2. Drew Brees- Brees threw for 5,162 yards last season and is closer in the rankings that people may think. He has a schedule very similar to what Manning had last season and with the weapons the Saints put out there, another huge season for Brees is expected. He should be taken not long after Manning.
3. Aaron Rodgers- If he can stay healthy this season, Rodgers will return to his dominating fantasy self. In the nine games he did play last year, he threw for 2,536 yards with 17 touchdowns and six interceptions. Green Bay may have lost a weapon here and there on offense but Rodgers will remain a top-3 QB.
4. Matthew Stafford- The talent in the Lions offense moves Stafford all the way up to this point on the board. He threw for 4,650 yards last season but struggled late in the year. The additions of Golden Tate and Eric Ebron will only add to Stafford’s numbers in 2014. He is a quarterback worth reaching a round earlier for.
5. Robert Griffin III- If there weren’t enough weapons around RGIII, Washington brought in DeSean Jackson in the offseason. Injuries slowed Griffin down some last season and he threw for 3,203 yards in 13 games. A healthy Griffin could find a way to pass for over 4,000 yards and rush for another 600-700 this season.
6. Andrew Luck- It appeared that Indy wanted to go strictly to the pass last season with Luck and that isn’t going to change much in 2014. Luck threw for 3,822 yards but with Reggie Wayne back, those numbers are going to rise for the young QB. Trent Richardson may be in the backfield but Luck will still be a top-flight fantasy player.
7. Matt Ryan- It was a rough 2013 season for Ryan with 17 interceptions to go with his 26 touchdowns and 4,515 passing yards. The return of Julio Jones will help greatly which is why he is this high on the rankings. An aging running game will also allow Ryan’s numbers to get closer to 4,800-4,900 passing yards in 2014.
8. Tom Brady- It may seem odd to see Brady this low on the list but it keeps looking like his receiving corps gets worse by the year. Brady still threw for 4,343 yards and 25 touchdowns last season and while he is still a great quarterback, there are simply better options for fantasy football this year.
9. Cam Newton- Taking Steve Smith out of the equation hurts Newton here in a big way. There is going to be a lot more pressure on him to run which can be a double-edged sword. Newton threw for just 3,379 yards last season or barely 200 a game. His rushing numbers help but don’t move him back up the board.
10. Nick Foles- If these rankings were done after the 2013 season, Foles would be higher on the list but the departure of DeSean Jackson will hurt. Foles threw 27 touchdowns with just two interceptions last season but fantasy players can wait to get him if they believe he can pull it off again this coming year.
11. Philip Rivers- It was a bounce back season for Rivers in 2013 with 4,478 passing yards and 32 touchdowns in San Diego. He isn’t the youngest guy out there anymore but for an owner who decides to wait on his quarterback selection until later in the draft; Rivers could be a nice late-round selection.
12. Russell Wilson- The pressure has never been on Wilson to be a 4,000-yard per season passer. The addition of Percy Harvin last season was going to boost Wilson’s numbers but Harvin’s injuries ended that. A healthy Harvin this season means more passing for Wilson, who will be a solid backup on fantasy teams.
13. Tony Romo- There is a lot of pressure on Romo this season to take Dallas to the playoffs. He threw for 3,828 yards and 31 touchdowns last season. He still has Dez Bryant to throw to and could reach the 4,000-yard mark in 2014 but isn’t someone to take as a starter unless it is a very deep league.
14. Jay Cutler- It could be surprising to see Cutler this low on the list but his injury problems take him away from being a fantasy starter. He played in just 11 games last season and threw 12 interceptions in those games. He has flashes of glory but too inconsistent to be a starting fantasy quarterback.
15. Andy Dalton- Dalton is simply a solid quarterback who isn’t flashy who threw for 4,293 yards last season. If he can keep finding A.J. Green and Marvin Jones in 2014, his numbers will continue to remain the same which should make him a good bye week replacement for whomever an owner takes as their starter.
16. Colin Kaepernick- This ranking is not a slap at Kaepernick but his numbers still haven’t showed he can be a starting fantasy quarterback on an every week basis. He threw for just 3,197 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. His rushing numbers help and he will be great as a backup but simply isn’t a starter yet.
17. Ben Roethlisberger- Big Ben threw for 4,261 yards last year with 28 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. The Steelers still have Antonio Brown and while they have lost Emmanuel Sanders to Denver, the offense should be just fine around Roethlisberger moving forward.
18. Carson Palmer- The 2013 season was a big one for Palmer with 4,274 passing yards but he threw 22 interceptions. He should put up similar numbers in Arizona as long as he can stay healthy and on the field. The Cardinals may want to give Andre Ellington more play as a rusher though so Palmer simply can’t be an every week starter.
19. Eli Manning- It was a year to forget for Manning in 2013 with 27 interceptions to go with just 18 touchdowns. There is a new offense this season and unless Manning can turn into his brother overnight, he isn’t worth drafting this season.
20. Sam Bradford- Just seven games last season for Bradford before he tore his ACL. Injuries are the biggest factor here but if he stays on the field, he has the potential to be a great sleeper candidate for the 2014 season.