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The toughest position in sports. The most cerebral athletes in the game. And the most valuable assets in dynasty fantasy football. Well, for the super-flex leagues, at least.

See, one big difference in the dynasty game and the redraft options are the deeper possibilities available when roster are expanded from 13 to 25. Yep, one of the most dynamic pieces of dynasty football is the deeper bench. The dynasty game is all about assets, and utilizing sets when they’re at their peak value. And in order to better make advantage of the roster rolodex many leagues create a super-flex position, where QBs can slot into the utility role. Sure, you could call it a 2-QB league, but that’s not what it is. In many instances you’ll sway towards another RB during BYE weeks, or the WR on a three-week hot streak over the nominal QB. Which brings me to the point of their elevated value.

There are only 32 of them playing each week (essentially), whereas with other positions you can see triple that. Now, the super-flex leagues obviously raise the QB value to its highest echelon, but even in a more standard version only the select few are held in the highest regard. The shelf life of quarterbacks is quite long (ahem, see: Tom Brady), but if you take a closer look there’s an infusion of youth at the position. So much so that savvy vets like Tony Romo and, most recently, Jay Cutler, ave been relegated to the press box, trading in their chin straps for some chin concealer. Youth matters here, but only when it’s married with a great offense and some strong arm talent. Jared Goff may be an immature young 20-Something, but without more weapons around him he’s just the dude that should be handing off to Todd Gurley.

It’s time for the bedrock of the dynasty roster…the Top 50 Dynasty Quarterbacks!

Since we’re approaching the dynasty draft season, now’s the time for some RANKINGS! Overall ranks, positional ranks and, in the previous article, rookie ranks will hopefully give you all the ammunition needed to compete not just this year, but for years and years. You’ve heard, “If you build it, they will come.” And what’s the “they” in our context? Belts. Belts on belts on belts. (Or trophies. Or money. Whatever. Just freaking win). So…here’s how you ‘build’ your team.

Note: I’ll touch on strategy after the ranks come out, but as a general marker I try to view dynasty football value through a three-year window.

Top 50 Dynasty Quarterbacks

 RankNameTeamPosition
1Aaron RodgersGBQB
2Cam NewtonCARQB
3Russell WilsonSEAQB
4Andrew LuckINDQB
5Jameis WinstonTBQB
6Matt RyanATLQB
7Marcus MariotaTENQB
8Derek CarrOAKQB
9Dak PrescottDALQB
10Matthew StaffordDETQB
11Kirk CousinsWASQB
12Deshaun WatsonHOUQB
13Tom BradyNEQB
14Drew BreesNOQB
15Carson WentzPHIQB
16Andy DaltonCINQB
17Tyrod TaylorBUFQB
18Blake BortlesJACQB
19Ben RoethlisbergerPITQB
20Ryan TannehillMIAQB
21Philip RiversLACQB
22Eli ManningNYGQB
23Joe FlaccoBALQB
24Jimmy GaroppoloNEQB
25Jared GoffLARQB
26Patrick MahomesKCQB
27Mitch TrubiskyCHIQB
28Alex SmithKCQB
29Trevor SiemianDENQB
30Paxton LynchDENQB
31Teddy BridgewaterMINQB
32DeShone KizerCLEQB
33Mike GlennonCHIQB
34Sam BradfordMINQB
35Davis WebbNYGQB
36Carson PalmerARIQB
37Colin KaepernickSFQB
38Cody KesslerCLEQB
39AJ McCarronCINQB
40Nathan PetermanBUFQB

A few notes from the Ranks:

  • The top 8 could essentially be broken into two different tiers, but how you interchange them can switch a lot. I still prefer Cam Newton to Russell Wilson, but that gap’s incredibly close given Cam’s injuries and the floor he showed that actually exists in his game last year. With any of those 8 (really top 6), you’re set up perfectly.
  • And slotted at #12 is the first rookie QB. I’m clearly bullish on Watson. Up at the top I mentioned the three year window in how I evaluate rankings, but when there’s 18 years of difference between Watson and Brady or Brees, I have to put him one above. He’ll win that starting job in Houston soon, and has some solid weapons around him to develop into a good QB option. His floor is obviously catastrophic, but the ceiling is seemingly higher than Dalton, Tyrod or Tannehill. That’s the tier under him that probably wings similar value, but the intrigue of Watson is enough (given his makeup, character, big-game ability and situation) to move him ahead of the others.
  • On that note, when drafting a QB, picking one up or trading for one, your QB should match the season of your team. If you’re in a complete rebuild owning Tom Brady doesn’t hold as much value as the potential wild card of Watson, Mahomet, Goff, etc. Would I trade Brady or Brees straight up for the non-Watson names? Nope, but they’re worth targeting with some assets added. If you’re in win-now mode…sacrifice the future of the young options for the lock of the savvy vets. Don’t fully revert to redraft ranks, but they’ll hold more worth, obviously, if you’re going for gold.
  • Carson Wentz and Andy Dalton could both flirt with the Top 10, in my opinion. Dalton’s already proven he can post a Top 10 season, and Wentz was impressive in his rookie campaign with essentially nothing to support him in the offense. Both added big time weapons in the offseason, and could run their respective offenses well enough to be better consistent options than even guys like Matt Stafford, Kirk Cousins, and Dak Prescott in some streaks.
  • I know I threw some awful shade at him up top, but if you want a big-time buy low option go find Jared Goff. He was brutal last year, and the comparison to Wentz and Dak did him zero favors, but he’ll ever the season the clear starter, has a new regime running the team, and top 5 RB in his backfield and isn’t afraid to throw it 40 times per game. The investment’s there from the Rams, and I doubt they move off him at any point this season. His price tag’s likely dirt cheap comparative to what he can provide. Great target this offseason.

Have thoughts on the rankings? Questions about other players? Well…

DROP THOSE COMMENTS!

Follow M@ on Twitter at @matthayes for far more than just fantasy advice.