We will take quick pre-free agency look at who is projected to be the top-20 QB’s next year and will attempt to separate them into tiers.
Aaron Rodgers
Cam Newton
Drew Brees
Matthew Stafford
This 1st tier is the truly elite, all of these players are threats to pass for over 4,000 yards and will vie to be fantasy football’s top quarterback in 2012. Newton edged out Brees and Stafford largely due to his rushing ability.
Andrew Luck
Robert Griffin III
Tom Brady
Michael Vick
This second tier is filled with signal callers whom for all intents and purposes could have a No. 1 fantasy QB season in them but don’t meet the mark for the first tier. Tom Brady should have a few more seasons as a top 10 QB in him while Michael Vick will continue to be one of fantasy’s best QB’s when healthy and starting. Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin are exceptional talents who could both reach tier one within a couple of years.
Eli Manning
Peyton Manning
Tony Romo
Matt Ryan
This tier consists of QB1’s who aren’t quite as elite fantasy options as Michael Vick or Tom Brady. Peyton Manning will play again but how long his career lasts is in question which keeps him down in this third tier. Eli has proven himself to be an elite QB’s in real life but is still not on Tom Brady level in virtual pigskin. Romo and Ryan are two QB’s who are full of promise but have failed to live up to expectations.
Phillip Rivers
Ben Roethlisberger
Sam Bradford
Jay Cutler
This next tier makes it evident that there will be about 16 potential QB1’s in 2012 fantasy football followed by a pretty major talent drop off from 17-20. Rivers and Big Ben could arguably belong in tier three while Jay Cutler just needs a supporting cast to firmly belong in tier three, ditto for Sam Bradford.
Josh Freeman
Jake Locker
Blaine Gabbert
Tim Tebow
Despite Tim Tebow’s game-changing ability in the fantasy realm the truth is he does not have the confidence of the front office and thus will have minimal job security going forward which caused him to be ranked in tier five even though he has tier two fantasy ability. In a redraft he belongs right at the bottom of tier two or three. Freeman, Locker and Gabbert all have the talent to succeed but only Locker currently has the supporting cast to actually get it done in 2012.
