Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers early 2017 fantasy expectations
Aaron Rodgers will again be the quarterback to own in fantasy football in 2017.
The quarterback position changes year-to-year in the fantasy world. Blake Bortles was a fantasy darling in 2015, a major disappointment in 2016. Andrew Luck dominated three years ago, became a draft-day flop in 2015 before returning to his top-tier status in the season just gone.
Cam Newton’s dominance in Carolina’s 15-1 run in 2015 not only earned him the league MVP award, but also made him fantasy’s premier passer. By the end of 2016, he was barely a QB1.
There’s only one true “sure thing” at the quarterback position: Aaron Rodgers. Just look at his numbers over the past eight years.
Aaron Rodgers fantasy rankings since 2009
2009: 1 (331 points)
2010: 1 (299 points)
2011: 1 (391 points)
2012: 1 (342 points)
2013: 21 (missed half the season with a broken collarbone)
2014: 1 (340 points)
2015: 7 (296 points)
2016: 1 (372 points)
* All scoring according to NFL.com standard rules
Incredible. Forgetting 2013, when Rodgers sat out half the season (and still finished ahead of 11 other starting quarterbacks), he has only failed to finish as fantasy’s leading quarterback once.
Very rarely has the two-time MVP ever let down his fantasy owners, and he’s again poised to dominate again in 2017.
The Packers will likely bring tight end Jared Cook back on a multi-year contract. Cook was a key in the offense’s success last year. Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams accounted for 26 touchdowns. Adams is entering a contract season, too, which is worth noting. He’ll need to play well in order to land a lucrative contract next offseason.
And so long as Rodgers is surrounded by talent, he’ll once again light up fantasy stat sheets and single-handedly bring home championships for his proud owners.
Predicting the top quarterbacks behind him isn’t easy either.
Drew Brees seems a safe bet. Since 2009, his average ranking among quarterbacks is third. He’s finished second behind Rodgers three times, and was the QB1 in 2013.
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But who else? Matt Ryan? Backing on the reigning league MVP may seem a sure thing, but Cam Newton owners will disagree. He was the MVP in 2015 before seeing his fantasy numbers collapse last year. Ryan dominated in a great offense. How great it is in 2017 remains to be seen following Kyle Shanahan’s departure.
Andrew Luck? He’s generally been a trustworthy passer, but turnovers and recent injury history means he’ll likely be over-drafted.
How about Russell Wilson, Cam Newton or Tom Brady? All three finished outside the top 10 at the position last season. Brady missed four games through suspension, and by projecting his average points per game over an entire fantasy season, he’d have been the QB3.
But he’ll also be 40-years-old next season. You want to draft him high? Be my guest.
Someone will emerge as one of the premier fantasy quarterbacks in 2017, and it’ll likely be a name we didn’t expect.
But amongst them will be Rodgers, who is the clear favorite to finish as the QB1 for the seventh time in nine years. He truly is the only safe bet at the position entering the new season.