Tuesday, January 3, 2017

2016 Fantasy Football Recap: The Top Ten Quarterbacks

The 2016 fantasy football season has finally come to a close.
Congratulations to all the newly-anointed champions out there, you master drafters and waiver-wire addicts.
And if you won the esteemed "toilet bowl trophy", well, you gave it your best shot!
Or gave up halfway through the season.
Either way, you tried, and that counts for something: as they say, "losing in your fantasy football league builds character" or whatever.

The above notwithstanding, it's never too early to learn life lessons and make observations to help you succeed in your future fantasy football endeavors.
This article will consider the top quarterbacks at their position: the backbones and bank-breakers of NFL teams.


Aaron Rodgers


1. Fantasy Points (ESPN Standard): 365
2. Passing Yards: 4,428
3. Passing Touchdowns: 40
4. Rushing Yards: 369
5. Rushing Touchdowns: 4
6. Interceptions: 7
7. Fumbles: 4

Hot Take(s)

What can I say that hasn't been said about this guy?
He ended up scoring 31 more points than the 2nd-highest-scoring QB in fantasy this year, and averaged 22.8 fantasy points per game (FPPG).
This was thanks partially to ending the year by throwing for four touchdowns against Minnesota in week 16, and then doing the same thing against Detroit in week 17.
Rodgers only had two semi-rough weeks: neither was really predictable, and throughout the season, he ended up scoring more than 20 fantasy points on eleven different occasions.
A lot of his consistency in fantasy can be attributed to his dual-threat nature: he had the 3rd-most rushing yards of all quarterbacks in the NFL this year.
By the way, he also ended the season with the most passing TD's in the league, and is making a decent MVP case once again: consider him the top QB to aim for next year.

Matt Ryan


1. Fantasy Points (ESPN Standard): 334
2. Passing Yards: 4,944
3. Passing Touchdowns: 38
4. Rushing Yards: 117
5. Rushing Touchdowns: 0
6. Interceptions: 7
7. Fumbles: 2

Hot Take(s)

Most fantasy pundits consider Matty Ice to be the biggest surprise in fantasy football this year.
He ended up being the 2nd-highest scoring fantasy football player overall, good for 20.9 fantasy PPG.
Interestingly enough, he didn't have any games below 12 points, meaning his floor was higher than Aaron Rodgers throughout the season.
He scored more than 20 fantasy points on eight separate occasions this season, dividing his games right down the middle.
Ryan ends the season with the 2nd-most passing yards in the league, as well as the 3rd-highest completion percentage (69.9%) and the most yards per pass thrown (9.3), all stats that contribute towards his credentials as a potential MVP.

Drew Brees


1. Fantasy Points (ESPN Standard): 323
2. Passing Yards: 5,208
3. Passing Touchdowns: 37
4. Rushing Yards: 20
5. Rushing Touchdowns: 2
6. Interceptions: 15
7. Fumbles: 4

Hot Take(s)

Drew Brees has had some significant ups-and-downs considering his lofty ending status as a top-5 fantasy QB.
He ended up being the 3rd-highest scoring fantasy football player overall, good for 20.2 fantasy PPG.
Unfortunately, though he had three games where he scored 30 or more points, he also scored 7 points and 4 points in two matchups, giving him one of the highest ceilings and lowest floors of all QB options.
He scored more than 20 fantasy points on ten separate occasions this season, but averaged less than 11 fantasy PPG in the other six matchups.
Brees is likely frustrated with his current situation: the Saints lost six games by one score or less, and the defense gave up the 2nd-most points to opposing teams.
Meanwhile, he still threw for the 3rd-most touchdowns in the NFL, while compiling yet another 5,000+ passing yard season, the most in the league.
The Saints are wasting his talent, but as long as he continues to need to be competitive in shoot-out games, he will be a top-5 QB.

Andrew Luck


1. Fantasy Points (ESPN Standard): 297
2. Passing Yards: 4,240
3. Passing Touchdowns: 31
4. Rushing Yards: 341
5. Rushing Touchdowns: 2
6. Interceptions: 13
7. Fumbles: 5

Hot Take(s)

Andrew Luck only played seven games last season, but was able to play fifteen of the them this time around, only sitting out one game (vs. Pittsburgh) due to a concussion.
He ended up being the 5th-highest scoring fantasy football player overall, good for 19.8 fantasy PPG.
He scored more than 20 fantasy points on six separate occasions this season, and still averaged 15.3 fantasy PPG in the other 9 matchups he took part in.
The Colts are an 8-8 team this season who were 3-3 in their division, which sounds appropriate: a team who struggles to compete on the defensive side of the ball, but owns a solid franchise quarterback.
Luck ended up in the top-10 of passing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing attempts, and rushing yards for QB's: what else could you ask?

Kirk Cousins


1. Fantasy Points (ESPN Standard): 290
2. Passing Yards: 4,917
3. Passing Touchdowns: 25
4. Rushing Yards: 96
5. Rushing Touchdowns: 4
6. Interceptions: 12
7. Fumbles: 3

Hot Take(s)

Kirk Cousins was named as a sleeper by many fantasy pundits prior to the season, and being a top-5 overall QB confirms their suspicions.
He ends the season as the 6th-highest scoring player overall with an average of 18.1 fantasy PPG.
He scored more than 20 fantasy points in five different matchups this year, and averaged 14.5 fantasy PPG in all other games.
The Redskins end the season with an 8-7-1 record and no playoff berth, which is somewhat disappointing considering the offensive weapons in play (DeSean Jackson, Jamison Crowder, Pierre Garcon, Jordan Reed, Vernon Davis, etc.) and the signing of star CB Josh Norman.
Cousins ranks in the top-10 QB's in pass attempts, completions, passing yards, and rushing TD's (whoddathunk?).

Dak Prescott


1. Fantasy Points (ESPN Standard): 271
2. Passing Yards: 3,667
3. Passing Touchdowns: 23
4. Rushing Yards: 282
5. Rushing Touchdowns: 6
6. Interceptions: 4
7. Fumbles: 4

Hot Take(s)

A rookie QB makes it into the top-10 fantasy quarterbacks of the 2016 season, and it's not who anyone expected prior to the season starting.
Prescott ends the season as the 8th-highest scoring player overall with an average of 16.9 fantasy PPG.
He scored more than 20 fantasy points on six different occasions, but only averaged 13.2 fantasy PPG in the other ten games, though that number is misleading because he hardly played in the last game of the season: remove it, and his average jumps to 14.5 fantasy PPG in those ten games.
The Cowboys took the NFC East with a 13-3 record behind Prescott's arm, Elliott's legs, and the best O-line in the NFL: they look primed for a deep playoff run.
Dak ends the season in the top-10 of completion percentage, yards per pass thrown, rushing attempts, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns for QB's: not a bad start to his NFL career.

Matthew Stafford


1. Fantasy Points (ESPN Standard): 267
2. Passing Yards: 4,327
3. Passing Touchdowns: 24
4. Rushing Yards: 207
5. Rushing Touchdowns: 2
6. Interceptions: 10
7. Fumbles: 2

Hot Take(s)

Jim Bob Cooter makes magic happen on this Lions team, and Stafford is definitely one of the main beneficiaries.
Stafford ends the season as the 9th-highest scoring player overall with an average of 16.7 fantasy PPG.
He scored more than 20 fantasy points on four different occasions, but only averaged 13.8 fantasy PPG in the other twelve games.
The Lions end the season at 9-7, and have squeaked into the playoffs, though the Packers end one game better and are also competing in this postseason.
Matt gets into the top-10 of passing yards, rushing yards, and completion percentage for QB's, and should continue being a top-10 fantasy QB for at least a few more years.

Blake Bortles


1. Fantasy Points (ESPN Standard): 259
2. Passing Yards: 3,905
3. Passing Touchdowns: 23
4. Rushing Yards: 359
5. Rushing Touchdowns: 3
6. Interceptions: 16
7. Fumbles: 6

Hot Take(s)

A quarterback who was expected to take another step forward ended up with one of the more severe slumps in recent memory, though he still finished in the top-10 of fantasy QB's.
Bortles ends the season as the 10th-highest scoring player overall with an average of 16.2 fantasy PPG.
He scored more than 20 fantasy points in five separate instances, but only averaged 12.5 fantasy PPG in the other eleven games.
The Jaguars have the pieces to compete, and are known as one of the more talented 3-13 teams in recent memory, but the record speaks for itself, as does the firing of Gus Bradley before the end of the season.
Bortles is one of three QB's to record a touchdown reception this season, and he now is the owner of 11 regular season pick-sixes: he is on a slippery slope, and his fantasy worth may go downhill sooner rather than later.

Derek Carr


1. Fantasy Points (ESPN Standard): 257
2. Passing Yards: 3,937
3. Passing Touchdowns: 28
4. Rushing Yards: 70
5. Rushing Touchdowns: 0
6. Interceptions: 6
7. Fumbles: 3

Hot Take(s)

Derek Carr was considered for MVP at certain points throughout the season, and if he had played in the last game of the season, he may have scored more fantasy points than even Dak Prescott or Kirk Cousins.
Carr ends the season as the 11th-highest scoring player overall with an average of 17.1 fantasy PPG.
He scored 20 or more fantasy points in eight games, but only averaged 10.1 fantasy PPG in the other seven games he was able to play in.
Carr did enough to prove that he is the Raiders' franchise QB of the future, and will hopefully return from his broken right fibula in good shape: the procedure is expected to have a 6-8 week recovery period, so he should be on his feet soon enough.
Derek ends the season in the top-10 of passing touchdowns and QB rating, and should only improve as time goes on.

Russell Wilson


1. Fantasy Points (ESPN Standard): 256
2. Passing Yards: 4,219
3. Passing Touchdowns: 21
4. Rushing Yards: 259
5. Rushing Touchdowns: 1
6. Interceptions: 11
7. Fumbles: 2

Hot Take(s)

This was a difficult year to evaluate Wilson accurately: without a semi-competent run game, offensive line, or even his health, he struggled through good portions of the season.
Wilson ends the season as the 12th-highest scoring player overall with an average of 16 fantasy PPG.
He scored 20 or more fantasy points in six games, but only averaged 10.6 fantasy PPG in the other ten games this season.
The Seahawks have now won 10 or more games for five straight seasons, and are in the playoffs once again, despite all the aforementioned struggles.
Russell Wilson ends the season ranked in the top-10 at the QB position in passing yards, rush attempts, rushing yards, and yards per pass thrown, as well as being one of three QB's to record a touchdown reception this season: he is still one of the top fantasy players at his position, and will continue to be for years to come.

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