Players starting this past weekend are likely to be the Week 1 starters for their respective teams. The third-week of the preseason is behind us, and the starting lineup of most teams for the regular season is pretty well known, it’s time to update our quarterback rankings one last time, with many of you drafting this weekend, and early next week.
If you want to read our more detailed analysis from our last quarterback rankings, see our previous article. This week, we will only update our analysis to the extent something about the quarterback ranks has changed or is worth mentioning.
As a reminder, “SOS” is the relative strength of schedule as noted in our favorable/unfavorable schedules by position. You can view players with favorable schedules by position or view players with unfavorable schedules by position. While strength of schedule does not suggest how a player will play over the course of a season, it may be something to consider when deciding between two players of similar value, in fantasy football drafts.
As usual, please don’t forget to post your comments and questions in the chat box below. They are very much appreciated and will be responded to.
| Rank | Player, Team | SOS | Rank | Player, Team | SOS | |
| 1 | Aaron Rodgers, Packers | 17 | 20 | Josh Freeman, Buccaneers | 1 | |
| 2 | Drew Brees, Saints | 4 | 21 | Andy Dalton, Bengals | 30 | |
| 3 | Tom Brady, Patriots | 32 | 22 | Alex Smith, 49ers | 30 | |
| 4 | Matthew Stafford, Lions | 11 | 23 | Jake Locker, Titans | 13 | |
| 5 | Cam Newton, Panthers | 3 | 24 | Russell Wilson, Seahawks | 9 | |
| 6 | Peyton Manning, Broncos | 15 | 25 | Sam Bradford, Rams | 6 | |
| 7 | Eli Manning, Giants | 27 | 26 | Matt Cassel, Chiefs | 8 | |
| 8 | Matt Ryan, Falcons | 2 | 27 | Blaine Gabbert, Jaguars | 29 | |
| 9 | Michael Vick , Eagles | 24 | 28 | Christian Ponder, Vikings | 22 | |
| 10 | Tony Romo, Cowboys | 21 | 29 | Brandon Weeden, Browns | 23 | |
| 11 | Phillip Rivers, Chargers | 26 | 30 | Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins | 29 | |
| 12 | Matt Schaub, Texans | 10 | 31 | Mark Sanchez, Jets | 18 | |
| 13 | Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers | 31 | 32 | Kevin Kolb, Cardinals* | 14 | |
| 14 | Jay Cutler, Bears | 12 | 33 | John Skelton, Cardinals* | 14 | |
| 15 | Carson Palmer, Raiders | 19 | 34 | Matt Flynn, Seahawks | 9 | |
| 16 | Joe Flacco, Ravens | 28 | 35 | Matt Hasselbeck, Titans | 13 | |
| 17 | Robert Griffin III, Redskins | 16 | 36 | Matt Moore, Dolphins | 29 | |
| 18 | Andrew Luck, Colts | 20 | 37 | David Garrard, Dolphins | 29 | |
| 19 | Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills | 25 | 38 | Tim Tebow, Jets | 18 |
* = indicates players who could be their team’s starter in Week 1.
Joe Flacco keeps moving up the fantasy football rankings given how well he has played in the Ravens new offense. With Jake Locker and Russell Wilson named the starters for the Titans and Seahawks, respectively, both are worth late round draft picks as low QB2s with upside.
Notably, Carson Palmer has yet to throw a touchdown in the preseason for the Raiders. While The Fantasy Greek has a hard time believing that this will carry over into the regular season, it is something to make note of. If there is another simailrly ranked quarterback that you are more comfortable as your QB2, The Fantasy Greek would not blame you drafting that quarterback over Palmer at this point.