June 18, 2017

Nye: Ranking the fantasy QBs in 2017

The Canadian Press

Quarterbacks were putting up mega points in fantasy football this season and there is no reason to think any different this year.

Since the rule change that defensive backs couldn’t make contact on receivers beyond five yards from the line of scrimmage, the passing game has gone up. In 2014, there were zero 5,000-yard passers. In fact, there was only one quarterback with over 4,000 yards.

Yes, injuries at that position were pretty regular that season but they were as well in 2015, when the league had three quarterbacks go for over 4,000 and of those while one of them (Henry Burris) hit the 5,000 yard mark.

Last season, three quarterbacks were over the 5,000 yard mark.

So who will reign supreme this season? Here is a season-long quarterback ranking of the nine starting quarterbacks to begin 2017.

Yes, injuries are bound to happen at these positions but if they all stayed healthy over the course of an 18 game season. Here is the breakdown:


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1) Bo Levi Mitchell – He has many weapons returning. DaVaris Daniels, Marquay McDaniel, Kamar Jorden. You can bet Lamar Durant is going to make another jump forward in his career in his third season in the Canadian Football League. With Calgary, you never know who the next star is going to be that could jump up and grab headlines if there were to be an injury to the top four receivers. Jerome Messam’s presence also will continue to allow Mitchell some free time in the passing game because the defence has to stay honest to defend the run.

2) Jonathon Jennings – Jennings appears set to match his over 5,000-yard performance from last year if not surpass it. Jennings will also be less prone to turnover the football as quarterbacks mistakes inevitably decrease the more time they get in the league. His 15 interceptions were most among quarterbacks last year and that took fantasy points off the board. I’d expect 10 interceptions to be a more realistic expectation and with Chris Williams coming into the fold, he could get into the 30-plus touchdown category as well.

Jonathon Jennings will make a fantasy impact with his arms and his legs (The Canadian Press)

3) Zach Collaros – Will this be the year we see Zach Collaros finish a season? He was easily on pace for a 5,000 yard season last year and in Kent Austin’s pass happy offence and the third-year starter for the Tiger-Cats will have many opportunities to shine for fantasy owners this year. With Luke Tasker and Terrence Toliver as the top two targets, they still have the weapons for Collaros. They also have depth with Brandon Banks, Kevin Elliott, Junior Collins etc. Collaros has all the potential to be a top-three quarterback in the CFL and this is the year we see it.

4) Mike Reilly – As much as I love Brandon Zylstra, I still can’t think there won’t be a little bit of a set back without Derel Walker in the lineup. He was as good as it gets in the CFL. Adarius Bowman isn’t getting any younger as he hits 32 years old this season but has been in this league a long time. Reilly was so good last year that I have a hard time thinking he’ll be matching his nearly 6,000 yard pace he set for himself this season.

5) Trevor Harris – The Ottawa REDBLACKS passing game has been something awe-inspiring over the last couple of years with Henry Burris and Trevor Harris added to that last year. However, they’ve lost Ernest Jackson and Chris Williams and will have to rely on some different players. Ottawa did pretty well in free agency with Diontae Spencer and Kenny Shaw coming over from Toronto and they still have Greg Ellingson and Brad Sinopoli. A slight decline in production is expected as Ottawa led the league in passing yardage last year with a two way split of Burris and Harris.

6) Darian Durant – The reason I have Durant this high is the familiarity with the Jacques Chapdelaine offence. He was very comfortable with it two years ago in 2015. I also believe their receiving group is underrated. You’ll see the deletion of S.J. Green and think, uh oh. But with Ernest Jackson coming on board, Nik Lewis as the best possession receiver in the game, Tiquan Underwood and B.J. Cunningham ready to break onto the scene as they become more comfortable in the offence. Don’t underestimate the check down value of Tyrell Sutton, who had over 40 catches two years ago and was on pace for over 50 last year.

7) Matt Nichols – Nichols and the Bombers will still pick up yards but their reliance on Andrew Harris and the run game limits the opportunities for Nichols through the air. Of the top quarterbacks last year, I’m still not looking at Nichols to put up huge numbers like the other quarterbacks in much more pass friendly offences. Paul LaPolice does a great job of mixing pass with run and balance isn’t friendly to fantasy football quarterbacks.

Matt Nichols will be consistent, but is the ceiling there for elite production? (The Canadian Press)

8) Kevin Glenn – If I believed Glenn would start and end the season as the Riders’ starting quarterback, I may have him higher. Duron Carter and Naaman Roosevelt are as good a 1-2 punch in this league as they come. The Riders are deep at receiver and Glenn will have a tonne of options at his disposal but the pull to find the next quarterback in Saskatchewan could be too great for Chris Jones to stick out the entire year with a 38-year-old starting quarterback. If Glenn does finish the season, he’ll have a great 4,000+ yard season with over 20 touchdowns and few interceptions.

9) Ricky Ray – Who will he throw the ball to? My only problem with ranking Ray higher is that and his inability to stay healthy over the last few years. He is still the most accurate passer in the game and gets the ball to where it needs to be but will his young receiving group be in the right spot is of much more concern.

With all this being said, if the right matchup presents itself as we figure out the defences and their weaknesses and strengths this season, I’d be just as ready to throw Glenn or Ray onto my roster as I would Mitchell or Reilly. The pass happy league could be a great place to find high bargain prices among the lower ranking quarterbacks.