2017 Fantasy Football Rankings

With training camp under way, we have updated our 2017 Fantasy Football Rankings on August 13th.

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Here are 2017 Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings from Kevin Hanson:

1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Posting an insane TD-INT ratio of 165 to 34 over the past five seasons combined, Rodgers led the league in passing touchdowns (40) last year while throwing for 4,428 yards, the third-most of his career. Since becoming a starter in 2008, Rodgers has finished as a top-two fantasy quarterback in seven of nine seasons (and one of those two outliers was his injury-shortened 2013 season). With good health, he's a virtual lock for a top-two fantasy season.

2. Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Now 40 years old, Brady has shown no signs of slowing down. In 12 games following his four-game suspension, Brady averaged 296.2 yards per game and 8.2 Y/A, a five-year high, while posting a 28-to-two TD-INT ratio. With the Patriots acquiring Brandin Cooks this offseason and Rob Gronkowski missing half of last season, Brady could post even better per-game numbers in 2017.

3. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Tom Brady isn't the only quarterback that thinks he can play to 45. Regardless of how much longer he actually plays, Brees is a top-three fantasy QB for the 2017 season. Granted, passing statistics are generally inflated in historical terms, Brees has five career 5,000-yard seasons (including 5,208 last year) and 32-plus touchdowns in nine consecutive seasons. The last time Brees finished outside the top-six fantasy QBs was 2005 (QB9), his final season in San Diego.

4. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

Coming off an MVP-winning season, Ryan shattered previous career highs with 4,944 passing yards and 38 touchdowns while throwing a career-low seven interceptions. With Steve Sarkisian taking over as offensive coordinator, the plan is to not deviate from the team's current offensive scheme, but it won't be easy for Ryan to duplicate last year's career numbers.

5. Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans

Finishing as fantasy's QB12 in 2016, Mariota threw for 3,426 yards, 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions. An elite athlete, the dual-threat quarterback also ran a little more often (60/349/2). Given the team's offseason investments to put an improved supporting cast around Mariota, 2017 should be even better — perhaps much better — for this ascending quarterback.

> Continue reading our 2017 Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings

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2018 NFL Mock Draft

If anything in this mock is true, it's this statement: This mock will change often and significantly between now and the final version the night before the 2018 NFL Draft next April. As we move closer to the draft, I will continue to update this mock and eventually add all seven rounds.

Note: Draft order is determined by the inverse order of consensus 2017 NFL Power Rankings.

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For now, here is an early look at how the 2018 NFL Draft could play out:

1. Cleveland Browns (Draft History): Sam Darnold, QB, USC Trojans

Of course, it takes time to accurately evaluate a draft class, but the widely-held view is that the Browns had a strong draft. Resisting any rumored temptation to draft a quarterback at No. 1 overall, the Browns instead opted for the most talented player in the 2017 draft class: Myles Garrett. They did use a high pick (No. 52 overall), however, on Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer, a nice value at that spot.

It's certainly possible that Kizer gets a chance to start a game or two down the stretch especially if the Browns have a poor enough record to earn the top overall pick again, but there's no need to force him into action. In addition, the amount of draft capital used to draft Kizer doesn't necessarily rule out using this pick on a potential franchise-changing quarterback like Darnold.

The early favorite in Vegas to win the Heisman Trophy, Darnold could be the most coveted of this talented crop of signal-callers. With prototypical physical tools as well as outstanding poise and leadership, the redshirt freshman engineered an instant-classic come-from-behind victory over Penn State in Rose Bowl as he threw for 453 yards and five scores.

2. New York Jets (Draft History): Josh Allen, QB, Wyoming Cowboys

It's unclear who will be the Week 1 starter for Gang Green, but Josh McCown, Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg currently fill their quarterback room. In other words, there's a good chance that their Week 1 starter in 2018 is not currently on the roster.

Allen has great size (6-5, 222) and plays in a pro-style offense although he is a bit raw. As one AFC Exec told MMQB's Albert Breer, "He’s a big ol’ kid with a big arm, and he’s pretty athletic too. We gotta learn more about him, but the tools are there." Coincidentally, Allen plays at Wyoming for Craig Bohl, who recruited Carson Wentz to North Dakota State.

3. San Francisco 49ers (Draft History): Derwin James, S, Florida State Seminoles

If the 49ers make it three consecutive quarterbacks with UCLA's Josh Rosen here, it wouldn't be a surprise. That said, it's perhaps more likely that Kirk Cousins signs a free-agent deal with the 49ers next offseason.

Meanwhile, one ACC coach said of James before the start of last season: "Derwin James is flat scary good. He could probably start at all 11 positions. He’s one of those freaky guys who might be better than [Jalen] Ramsey when it’s all said and done."

4. Chicago Bears (Draft History): Arden Key, EDGE, LSU Tigers

Currently away from the team for "personal reasons," Key has confirmed that he will play for the Tigers in 2017. An explosive edge rusher with enormous upside, Key set the school's single-season sack record (12) as a true sophomore last year.

5. Los Angeles Rams (Draft History): Minkah Fitzpatrick, CB, Alabama Crimson Tide

Not only is starting cornerback a free agent after the upcoming season, but the team's other starting cornerback (E.J. Gaines) graded out as the 107th-best of 112 qualified cornerbacks by PFF last season. With experience at both cornerback and safety, the 6-foot-1 Fitzpatrick led the SEC with six interceptions as a sophomore.

> Continue reading our 2018 NFL Mock Draft

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