Most fantasy owners evaluate the talent of the player pool available on draft day on several factors including changes in player opportunity, team philosophy, free agent movement, and incoming rookies looking to make their mark. And yet perhaps the greatest factor of influence on a fantasy owner’s rankings on draft day is the past performance of the player. When considering past performance, most owners, experts, and the fantasy industry mainly look at the results of the total season.
Fantasy owners may be surprised to see what players accomplished the most over the final 4 weeks of the season and were the Fantasy Football Playoff Heroes. The playoff segment is the period from week 14 through week 17 when most fantasy leagues are conducting their playoffs. The primary reason why this segment of performance is the most over-looked is due to the fact that most fantasy owners in a given league are not in the playoffs, and have moved on to the off-season, or are prepping for the next fantasy sport. In this article, we highlight fantasy football quarterbacks whose performances you may have missed last season that may shed some light on exciting fantasy value entering 2015. The scoring system referenced in this is article is standard to most leagues, and includes 6 points awarded per TDs for all positions.
Top QBs:
Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys
Despite the annual fantasy critics, Romo continues to be a productive fantasy quarterback season after season. Most fantasy owners are well aware of the Cowboys commitment to the running game last season, however on the season, Romo ranked 10th among QBs in fantasy points per game. His final month of the season is what is truly impressive as he averaged 28 points per game (987 yards, 12 TDs, one INT) in weeks 14 through 17 which led all quarterbacks including Andrew Luck, Aaron Rodgers, and Peyton Manning in fantasy scoring. With the departure of DeMarco Murray, Romo may be relied upon to connect with Dez Bryant and company more often in 2015.
Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants
Following a disappointing 2013, Manning started 2014 very poorly from a fantasy football perspective. Yet, he finished the season ranked 11th in fantasy scoring among QBs, largely thanks to a huge finish to the season and the emergence of Odell Beckham Jr.. Over the final four weeks of the season, Manning threw for 1,330 yards, eight TDs, and two INTs. Over this period, he averaged over 27 fantasy points per game, ranking second in the league. With an emerging receiving corps featuring Odell Beckham Jr. in his second season, Reuben Randle finally finding his stride, and the return of Victor Cruz, Manning may be in for a top five fantasy season in 2015.
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami Dolphins
Last season hopes were high for the Dolphins passing attack as a new offensive philosophy merged with a third year quarterback that was expected by many to his is stride in 2014. After a slow start to the season, Tannehill began showing the high ceiling of performance that many fantasy owners hoped he would have in ’14. Tannehill finished the year ranked ninth among QBs in scoring, and over the final four weeks of the season, he threw for 1,228 yards, seven TD, and three INT, ranking him fourth among QBs in fantasy scoring for the fantasy playoffs. With a revamped receiving corps featuring mounds of talent and veteran presence, Tannehill could be in for his best fantasy season to date in 2015.
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