Fantasy Football 2020: Quarterback rankings for 2-QB leagues

Rankings in fantasy football are even more critical in 2020, especially in 2-QB leagues.

The 2020 NFL season is upon us and that means fantasy football is here. It feels weird since all the other sports are still playing, but it is what it is. Hopefully, your league was able to delay your fantasy football draft as late as possible as we attempt to get any kind of clarity on this season. The thing we do know is the season will start. After that, it’s anyone’s guess.

Fantasy football leagues that play with a second starting QB (2-QB leagues) or the Superflex spot (a flex that also allows the use of a quarterback) are coming into vogue. Last year, we followed 2-QB league rankings all season to determine which 24 guys were worth starting week to week. Before the season gets underway, let’s see which 24+ players are worth rostering to start the year.

In our estimation, there is not a clear top 12 currently (players worth using in standard leagues). Instead, there is a first tier of seven guys, followed by a second mash of around eight more. Although the top appears questionable, the depth from tiers two through four is incredible, though we’ve said that for the past couple seasons. It doesn’t always materialize.

Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate Fantasy Football in today’s NFL Sports Debate.

Fantasy Football 2020 Quarterback Rankings

Tier 1: Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott, Kyler Murray, Matt Ryan

Todd Salem: Can’t argue with success. These are the top seven fantasy quarterbacks for 2020.

Dan Salem: Todd gets credit for our initial rankings, and while I don’t love his tiers, it’s legitimately hard to argue with how he’s delineated the players. Does anyone not belong in Tier 1? The answer is no. Is anyone missing? Not yet.

Tier 2: Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford, Carson Wentz, Ben Roethlisberger, Kirk Cousins

Todd Salem: This is the end of the group that I would feel comfortable starting in a standard league. If owners are drafting backups, and you wait too long and miss out on one of these 15, you might as well stream QBs during the season and hunt matchups.

Dan Salem: Half of this tier will end up in our top 12 but it’s anyone’s guess who at this point. Rodgers appears due for a bounce-back season, while Brees and Allen have proven their reliability. That only gives us ten, because I don’t yet trust the rest of this tier. All are great picks, but come with risk. Don’t spend big on Carson Wentz over Philip Rivers. You’ll likely lose out.

Tier 3: Philip Rivers, Jared Goff, Ryan Tannehill, Cam Newton, Baker Mayfield, Jimmy Garoppolo, Daniel Jones

Todd Salem: If you can end up with two of these top 22, you are in good shape. The rest of the quarterbacks who will be drafted are much bigger questions. Some of them could surprise, but they might also end up being droppable in non-keeper leagues. I don’t think anyone in the top 22 will be outright droppable unless befallen by injury.

Dan Salem: Now things get interesting aka dicey. Darnold probably belongs up here but without a proven wide receiver or tight end to start the year, who knows what his fantasy numbers will look like. Since we are strictly concerned with fantasy points, these are solid picks at quarterback. Thankfully winning games is not a consideration.

Tier 4: Sam Darnold, Derek Carr, Joe Burrow, Drew Lock, Teddy Bridgewater, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Gardner Minshew

Todd Salem: That brings us to 29 usable, draftable quarterbacks for this season. I could be talked into any order for the remaining seven guys as far as filling the final two spots in the top 24, but I lean safer in taking Darnold and Carr. (Keeper leagues would obviously warrant different drafting strategies.)

Dan Salem: I personally like Darnold, Carr and Lock here because of the weapons in Denver. It’s fairly safe to try and hit a home run with your second quarterback, rather than a solid double. If you fail, just pick up someone off waivers. That swing for the fences is Lock or even Burrow.

Tier 5: Mitch Trubisky/Nick Foles, Dwayne Haskins, Tyrod Taylor

Todd Salem: These are the real-life starting QBs I would not want to use, even in a 2-QB league. Once injuries hit, more passers will rotate onto this list. We could even see a slight shake-up before Week 1 if Tua Tagovailoa wins the job in Miami, though that seems unlikely right now.

Dan Salem: This tier feels too small, but it’s simply who is left. Since our weekly rankings require 24 quarterbacks to fill a 12 team league, I can’t argue with the dregs. Your Superflex spot might be better filled with a RB or WR than one of these quarterbacks. You should not have to make that decision.