If we’re looking at quarterbacks long-term (rather than just this season) there are four that I like. There are just four, I think, that really move the needle.
Patrick Mahomes is an easy No. 1. To me, he looks like he could have a bunch of seasons with 40-plus touchdowns. And while he’s had a bunch of nagging injuries this season, I envision him having fewer of those kind of problems in the future than the other top quarterbacking prospects.
I’m going with Deshaun Watson as the No. 2 quarterback. He’s not quite as dynamic or effective as a passer, but with his scrambling ability, he’s got the ability to hang with Mahomes in a lot of weeks. He exposes himself to a lot of hard hits on runs and sacks, so I worry about his ability to crank out year after year of 16-game seasons.
Russell Wilson is my 3rd quarterback, but I never really considered him for the top 2. He’s not as explosive as Mahomes or Watson, and he’s 7 years older than those guys. With Seattle having a more balanced offense, Wilson can’t string together a bunch of 300-yard games like those guys.
Lamar Jackson is the last quarterback I would put in the top tier. He’s putting up great numbers right now – the best QB stats in the league – but I don’t know that it’s sustainable. I imagine defenses will figure out how to better defend Baltimore’s run-oriented scheme, and I don’t think Jackson can stay healthy for long while running the ball like a tailback.
The rankings below assume standard scoring, with teams allowed to protect players indefinitely. I’m looking not just at 2019 and 2020, but the next few season. I’m looking for difference makers – just who’ll have some top-10 seasons (hopefully top-5).
I last looked at quarterbacks a month ago. Biggest movers up since that time are Ryan Tannehill and Jameis Winston. Winston is a turnover machine, of course; he might bumble his way out of Tampa Bay. But with the yards and touchdown numbers he’s putting up, he’s got some potential to be a top-10 quarterback in 2020. I would rather have his upside, rather than a more secure starter with limited potential of ever developing into something special.
With the kind of numbers Tannehill is putting up for the Titans (and the weapons they have) I think it’s time to include him in the discussion of possible top-10 quarterbacks in 2020. Tannehill will be a free agent at the end of the year, but I think he’ll re-sign with Tennessee.
Each weekend I switch the focus to the dynasty format, looking at a position each week. I hit tight ends last week. Next time I’ll turn the focus to running backs. For previous articles, see the “Past Issues” link on the right side of the page. Rookies are tagged with black dots.
DYNASTY QUARTERBACKS | |||
---|---|---|---|
Rk | Tm | Player | Age |
1. | KC | Patrick Mahomes | 24 |
2. | HOU | Deshaun Watson | 24 |
3. | SEA | Russell Wilson | 31 |
4. | BAL | Lamar Jackson | 22 |
5. | DAL | Dak Prescott | 26 |
6. | ARI | • Kyler Murray | 22 |
7. | ATL | Matt Ryan | 34 |
8. | GB | Aaron Rodgers | 36 |
9. | PHI | Carson Wentz | 26 |
10. | MIN | Kirk Cousins | 31 |
11. | CLE | Baker Mayfield | 24 |
12. | BUF | Josh Allen | 23 |
13. | TB | Jameis Winston | 25 |
14. | TEN | Ryan Tannehill | 31 |
15. | DET | Matthew Stafford | 31 |
16. | CAR | Cam Newton | 30 |
17. | NYJ | Sam Darnold | 22 |
18. | LAR | Jared Goff | 25 |
19. | SF | Jimmy Garoppolo | 28 |
20. | IND | Jacoby Brissett | 27 |
21. | NO | Drew Brees | 40 |
22. | OAK | Derek Carr | 28 |
23. | PIT | Ben Roethlisberger | 37 |
24. | NYG | • Daniel Jones | 22 |
25. | NE | Tom Brady | 42 |
26. | DEN | • Drew Lock | 23 |
27. | WAS | • Dwayne Haskins | 22 |
28. | CHI | Mitchell Trubisky | 25 |
29. | LAC | Philip Rivers | 38 |
30. | JAC | • Gardner Minshew | 24 |
31. | CIN | Andy Dalton | 32 |
32. | NO | Teddy Bridgewater | 27 |
33. | TEN | Marcus Mariota | 26 |
34. | PIT | • Devlin Hodges | 23 |
35. | LAC | Tyrod Taylor | 30 |
36. | MIA | Ryan Fitzpatrick | 37 |
37. | JAC | Nick Foles | 30 |
38. | NE | • Jarrett Stidham | 23 |
39. | MIA | Josh Rosen | 22 |
40. | SF | Nick Mullens | 24 |
41. | CAR | • Will Grier | 24 |
42. | IND | Andrew Luck | 30 |
43. | LAR | Blake Bortles | 27 |
44. | WAS | Case Keenum | 31 |
45. | NO | Taysom Hill | 29 |
46. | HOU | AJ McCarron | 29 |
47. | BAL | Robert Griffin | 29 |
48. | CIN | • Ryan Finley | 24 |
49. | ARI | Brett Hundley | 26 |
50. | CAR | Kyle Allen | 23 |
—Ian Allan