The 2014 Fantasy Football season is nearing closer and closer. As an NFL journalist and Fantasy Football player for five years, I decided to make a top 5 list for every fantasy position.
A lot of people love the NFL not for the league, but only for their fantasy football team. For fantasy football players, the “game” could range from being a fun and free league with their friends at work to a very competitive $1,000 buy-in with random strangers. I personally go in $100 buy-in leagues every year, and I have won the past three out of four times.
So here is my list of Top 5 Fantasy Football Quarterbacks for the 2014 season.
Top 5 Fantasy Football Quarterbacks
1. Drew Brees- The number one factor of why I love Drew Brees as a fantasy QB is because of the offensive scheme that he is in. The Saints are a pass-always team and Brees throws around 35-50 times a game. Last season, he hit the 5,000-yard benchmark, threw 39-plus touchdown passes for the third consecutive season and had as many games with 30-plus fantasy points as Peyton Manning (five). A lot of fans will say that Peyton is the best QB in fantasy football. But Brees has a highly favorable schedule, playing only five games against teams that finished in the upper third of the league in fantasy QB points allowed. You can’t go wrong with him.
2. Peyton Manning- The reigning fantasy points champion is ready to once again spark whichever team he is on. Despite losing Eric Decker to free agency, Peyton Manning still has his elite weapons in Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Julius Thomas, and the newly acquired Emmanuel Sanders. The only thing that will hold number 18 back is the tough schedule that the Broncos will fare. They will play nine games next season against teams that qualified for the playoffs in 2013. But….Peyton Manning just does not care.
3. Andrew Luck- This could be the year where Andrew Luck surpasses reality and moves on to the Peyton Manning/Drew Brees world. Luck is filled with talent around him. The free agent addition of Hakeem Nicks, the emergence of T.Y. Hilton, the development of promising second-year receiver Da’Rick Rogers, and of course the legendary Reggie Wayne are some of the weapons that “Andy Luck” will have. From the moment he stepped into those humongous shoes that Manning left him at Indianapolis, Luck has never been able to fit in them. Will his feet grow in 2014? Yes it will. Expect a fabulous season from number 12.
4. Philip Rivers- The San Diego Chargers QB Philip Rivers is still underrated. On major sites likes ESPN, Yahoo, and NFL.com, Rivers is around 10-15 on their list. This is a guy who threw for 4,478 yards and 32 touchdowns last year. Rivers, the Comeback Player of the Year, should have fantasy owners screaming for his name on draft day. After the Chargers OC Ken Whisenhunt left for the HC job at Arizona, last years quarterback coach Frank Reich has taken over. “We are going to run a Peyton type of offense, a no-huddle,” Reich said. That means more passes for Rivers, who should have another career year. Don’t forget the weapons he also carries which includes the names of Keenan Allen, Malcom Floyd. Eddie Royal, and Danny Woodhead.
5. Cam Newton- Newton was able to post great numbers last season although the personnel around him wasn’t too great. If he had better receivers and lineman coming into 2014, Newton would be a top three QB fantasy-wise. Panthers added rookie Kelvin Benjamin through the draft but lost their top four WRs to free agency and Jordan Gross, LT, also left the team. But “Superman” can do it all by himself. He often finds himself running away from the pocket and toward the end zone, which puts high numbers of fantasy points to his advantage. His legs will make up for his receivers and lineman.
Thank you for reading. Please take a moment to follow me on Twitter – @SamKweonWriter. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport and @LWOSworld – and “liking” our Facebook page.
For the latest in sports injury news, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
Football fans…check out our two partnered NFL podcasts – Thursday Night Tailgate Radio and Overtime Ireland. Both shows bring you interesting commentary, critical analysis and fantastic guests including former and current NFL players, coaches and personalities.
