Rank AFC Starting QBs (1 Viewer)

[Ministry of Pain]

1. Tom Brady: Won't even entertain someone else in the pole position. Besides, he has the refs, NFL equipment heads, and the media all in his back pocket. Brady is Rome

2. Big Ben: 2 SB rings, 3 appearances, seems to have the best offense when healthy in the AFC. 

3. Andrew Luck: I think 2015 was a bad mirage. 

4. Phillip Rivers: No playoff success unfortunately but he can still wing it. 

5. Joe Flacco: He has flaws but he has a lot of starts and a SB ring, hard to not put him ahead of the others. I can understand why he might be lower on other lists. 

6. Blake Bortles: You laugh but 35 TDs last season, his QB rating jumped 20 points to just under 90. Yeah he throws a lot of interceptions but look at the team he plays on. I'll take him right now, no questions asked. 

7. Derek Carr: 53 TDs in 2 seasons, 32 last year, finished with a 91 QB rating...this guy and the one above are your future starting Pro Bowl QBs...actually Carr made it in 2015. I could slide Carr up a couple spots with no problem but he does need to go out and deliver a playoff run to get everyone's attention, he's had mine for a while. 

8. Andy Dalton: Be honest if you would rather have one of the other 2 ahead of him. He has some playoff experience the others don't but I see his ceiling and I have not seen the ceiling yet for Bortles and Carr. 

9. Alex Smith: He leads teams to playoffs, can't do much when he arrives but he can manage the game. 

10. Ryan Tannehill: I'm sure he is a top 5 on some lists but that's foolish. On his 3rd-4th O.C. but his 1st two were each given 2 seasons/2 full off seasons to work with him and nothing stuck. He is up then he's down, the OL rotates between decent and awful, not sure how much he has to do with it. I could go on and on but I'll leave it here. I could see him lower on other lists. 

11. Marcus Mariota: More on potential and what Tennessee is doing to protect him and build around him simultaneously. I like what I saw. 

12. Brock Osweiler: Has some solid start under his belt, long way to go in order to justify the $18M per season. Not sure how great he was filling in. 

13. Tyrod Taylor: Feels like a forced play due to a bad draft pick in EJ Manuel. 

14. Ryan Fitzpatrick: Has limitations

15. Mark Sanchez: Stopgap and perhaps not even that. 

16. Cleveland

 

[Dr. Octopus]

I'm basing this on the current state of the quarterback, not past accomplishments or future upside - so strictly based on 2016. Also, this is not a fantasy football list, purely NFL ranking. 

1. Andrew Luck

2. Tom Brady (may miss first 4 games, but should hold off father time for one more season)

3. Ben Roethlisberger

4. Andy Dalton (probably most underrated QB in the league)

5. Philip Rivers

6. Blake Bortles (may be ready to make the jump up even higher)

7. Joe Flacco (best deep ball in the AFC, but inconsistent)

8. Derek Carr

9. Alex Smith (weak arm, but better than most thing overall)

10. Marcus Mariota (wouldn't be shocked if he actually takes a step back in Year 2)

11. Ryan Tannehill

12. Brock Osweiler (I think he can move up this list quickly, but for now he lands here)

13. Tyrod Taylor

14. Ryan Fitzpatrick (assuming he signs with Jets, I expect some decline from last season)

15. Mark Sanchez (if he does start this season, as weird as it sounds he's likely better than Peyton was last season)

16. Josh McCown (plays too recklessly and inconsistently but does have some talent)

 

[FUBAR]

I'm basing this on the current state of the quarterback, not past accomplishments or future upside - so strictly based on 2016. Also, this is not a fantasy football list, purely NFL ranking. 

1. Andrew Luck

2. Tom Brady (may miss first 4 games, but should hold off father time for one more season)

3. Ben Roethlisberger

4. Andy Dalton (probably most underrated QB in the league)

5. Philip Rivers

6. Blake Bortles (may be ready to make the jump up even higher)

7. Joe Flacco (best deep ball in the AFC, but inconsistent)

8. Derek Carr

9. Alex Smith (weak arm, but better than most thing overall)

10. Marcus Mariota (wouldn't be shocked if he actually takes a step back in Year 2)

11. Ryan Tannehill

12. Brock Osweiler (I think he can move up this list quickly, but for now he lands here)

13. Tyrod Taylor

14. Ryan Fitzpatrick (assuming he signs with Jets, I expect some decline from last season)

15. Mark Sanchez (if he does start this season, as weird as it sounds he's likely better than Peyton was last season)

16. Josh McCown (plays too recklessly and inconsistently but does have some talent)

Can't argue much with this. 

Imo, we have the big three - Ben, Tom, and Andrew;

 then a micro tier of rivers,

then Dalton and your 6-11

Ty, fitz and oz 

Then the two guys that shouldn't be starting

 

[Tau837]

I'm basing this on the current state of the quarterback, not past accomplishments or future upside - so strictly based on 2016. Also, this is not a fantasy football list, purely NFL ranking. 

1. Andrew Luck

2. Tom Brady (may miss first 4 games, but should hold off father time for one more season)

3. Ben Roethlisberger

4. Andy Dalton (probably most underrated QB in the league)

5. Philip Rivers

For 2016 only, NFL ranking, no way Dalton should be ahead of Rivers. What does he do better than Rivers?

 

[Dr. Octopus]

For 2016 only, NFL ranking, no way Dalton should be ahead of Rivers. What does he do better than Rivers?

Well since there's "no way" I guess the answer would have to be "nothing".

 

[tangfoot]

4. Andy Dalton (probably most underrated QB in the league)

No, that would be Phillip Rivers, who you have underrated...

 

[Bri]

Fitz needs to be near the middle, if not higher.

Two very good WRs, puts up TDs with regularity etc. I am aware of his career but if he's a Jet (as it seems on rankings) he's way more stable than some guys on here.

Kamar Aiken is an RFA that hasn't signed his tender and the Ravens could very well lose for a 2nd round pick. I think he's key to Flacco's ranking. If he signs elsewhere, Flacco is going to be quite dependent on ol Steve Smith.

I don't know if this list is FF or NFL. Since the Titans plan to run Mariota more, I am very intrigued for FF. He has that Curtis Martin-ish deceptive speed where he doesn't look it but geesh he's movin'. Tyrod Taylor for the first year as a starter was very impressive at times. He is similarly intriguing.

Also if I'm in a draft, I would absolutely dread clicking the name and the button "draft" but you can't discard Sanchez' WRs and the opportunity the D gives him. I assume this will change but, for now. Today there is no better last round draft pick than him.

 

[Tau837]

Well since there's "no way" I guess the answer would have to be "nothing".

If you have some actual rationale for your ranking, you could explain it.

 

[Pwingles]

I'm basing this on the current state of the quarterback, not past accomplishments or future upside - so strictly based on 2016. Also, this is not a fantasy football list, purely NFL ranking. 

1. Andrew Luck

2. Tom Brady

3. Ben Roethlisberger

4. Phillip Rivers

5. Derek Carr (carr and bortles over Dalton for fantasy purposes, IRL its more of a toss up but i still like carr slightly more)

6. Blake Bortles

7. Andy Dalton (This whole 7-10 tier is interchangeable)

8. Fitz

9. Alex Smith

10. Marcus Mariota

11. Flacco (sucks)

12. Tanny (Alex Smith lite, who can actually throw more than 20 yards, but you never know where its going so its almost like he cant)

13. Tyrod Taylor (probably should be behind Mariota)

14. Osweiller (Mallet clone)

15. Mark Sanchez

16. Josh McCown

edited his list to reflect my thoughts

 

[Dr. Octopus]

If you have some actual rationale for your ranking, you could explain it.

Rivers is 35/36 and appears to be in decline. Dalton has a stronger arm is more mobile and wins more games (I do realize the last one is more reflective of their respective teams).

 

[Tau837]

Rivers is 35/36 and appears to be in decline. Dalton has a stronger arm is more mobile and wins more games (I do realize the last one is more reflective of their respective teams).

But you said in your initial post "strictly based on 2016." So what does age have to do with it? Unless you are saying Rivers' age makes him less capable in some way.

And wins is about the team, not the QB, as you pointed out here.

I will just agree to disagree on this. IMO the real debate is whether or not Luck and/or Roethlisberger should be ranked above Rivers (for 2016 only, NFL perspective only). (I see Brady as the clear #1.)

 

[FUBAR]

But you said in your initial post "strictly based on 2016." So what does age have to do with it? Unless you are saying Rivers' age makes him less capable in some way.

And wins is about the team, not the QB, as you pointed out here.

I will just agree to disagree on this. IMO the real debate is whether or not Luck and/or Roethlisberger should be ranked above Rivers (for 2016 only, NFL perspective only). (I see Brady as the clear #1.)

He said rivers appears to be in decline. 

I don't agree and it would be difficult to gauge much based on the wreck that the chargers team was last year.  But that would make age relevant. 

 

[Tau837]

He said rivers appears to be in decline. 

I don't agree and it would be difficult to gauge much based on the wreck that the chargers team was last year.  But that would make age relevant. 

Agree with you that it is pretty difficult to make a case that he is in decline. In 2013, he had an outstanding season, one of the best of his career. Then in 2014 and 2015, the Chargers OL one of the few worst in the NFL and hammered by injuries both seasons, and their running game was also one of the few worst in the NFL both seasons. Rivers did not perform as well in those seasons as in 2013, but how much was Rivers and how much was the situation? I watched every game he played in all of those seasons, and I don't see him as being in decline.

I was originally responding to ranking Dalton above Rivers, but he had Rivers at #5 in the AFC... not sure that really supports the notion that the ranker thinks he is in decline. Anyway, I already agreed to disagree about it.

 

[ZWK]

Tier 1 - MVP contenders
1. Ben Roethlisberger
2. Tom Brady: Pittsburgh & New England would both get worse if they swapped quarterbacks, so 1-2 could go either way. Brady has a bigger risk of sudden decline.

Tier 2 - likely Pro Bowlers
3. Phillip Rivers
4. Andrew Luck: His 2015 was probably a fluke, but his 2014 was overrated

Tier 3 - solid
5. Andy Dalton: Borderline Pro Bowler last year
6. Derek Carr: The most efficient young QB in the NFL last year, even if he didn't have Bortles' gaudy fantasy totals.
7. Tyrod Taylor
8. Alex Smith
9. Ryan Tannehill
10. Blake Bortles
11. Joe Flacco
12. Ryan Fitzpatrick
13. Marcus Mariota

Tier 4 - stopgaps
14. Brock Osweiler: Captain checkdown
15. Josh McCown
16. Mark Sanchez

 

[Dr. Octopus]

But you said in your initial post "strictly based on 2016." So what does age have to do with it? Unless you are saying Rivers' age makes him less capable in some way.

And wins is about the team, not the QB, as you pointed out here.

I will just agree to disagree on this. IMO the real debate is whether or not Luck and/or Roethlisberger should be ranked above Rivers (for 2016 only, NFL perspective only). (I see Brady as the clear #1.)

Yes, I do. That's why I said he appears to be in decline. Yeah we can disagree. I know your a big fan of Rivers. I'm not trying to disparage him by ranking him 5th. Just my opinion.

 

[Run It Up]

1. Brady
   
2. Roethlisberger 
   
3. Rivers
   
4. Luck
   
5. Dalton
   
6. Carr
   
7. Bortles
   
8. Taylor
   
9. Smith
   
10. Mariota
    
11. Fitzpatrick 
    
12. Flacco
    
13. Tannehill
    
14. Osweiller
    

Left the Browns and Broncos off.

 

[Crippler]

Flacco is the guy I see underrated. I have him right there with the top guys. He has been a winner most of his career and has carried his team. Last year was a mess from the get go but Perriman I like and another year for maxx. He is a winner and I take him over all but Brady, Big Ben and Rivers. Luck has more talent but what has he really shown but I would be a fool to not take him on upside. The rest including Dalton are way behind. 

 

[Anarchy99]

What are we discussing? Best NFL options? Fantasy options? If you had to win one game in 2016? Who will win the most games this year? Most likely to win the SB? Who throws the best football? Most value to his specific franchise? Who would look best on a calendar? Best looking WAGs? Dealer's choice and we should comment on anything and everything?

 

[Dr. Octopus]

What are we discussing? Best NFL options? Fantasy options? If you had to win one game in 2016? Who will win the most games this year? Most likely to win the SB? Who throws the best football? Most value to his specific franchise? Who would look best on a calendar? Best looking WAGs? Dealer's choice and we should comment on anything and everything?

Yes

 

[Anarchy99]

In that case, I nominate Tom Brady for "best appearance by an AFC starting quarterback in a motion picture" for his work in Ted 2.

 

[Run It Up]

Flacco is the guy I see underrated. I have him right there with the top guys.

OOF
 

He has been a winner most of his career and has carried his team.

Thats also what they said about Tebow, another perpetually overrated QB who has never actually been good. To this day I have no idea how he cobbled together that playoff run, cause he was never that good before or after that postseason. The stats don't lie, hes terrible.

 

[-CE-]

8. Andy Dalton: Be honest if you would rather have one of the other 2 ahead of him. He has some playoff experience the others don't but I see his ceiling and I have not seen the ceiling yet for Bortles and Carr. 

If you adjust out Dalton's game where he was injured in the first drive, he averaged 23.8 fantasy points per game (20 yrds/point, 4 pts/td, -1/int).  That's better than everyone else on this list not named Brady.  He and Roethlisberger basically both missed 4 games last year but Dalton finished with more points in my scoring format.

I'd definitely rank him in the top 5 and take him over Bortles and Carr.