Chris Simms' Season 70 QB40 Countdown - #15-8
by JAMoney14 | 3 years ago | 0 Comments
We're back again and boy oh boy. We're getting into the top 10 on today's edition.
I've decided to split these final 15 QB reveals into 2, meaning we'll get #15-8 today and #7-1 later this week. I told you before but I'll tell you again. This list was made before a single snap was taken in either the preseason or the regular season and I'm sticking by it! SLANDER ME ALL YOU WANT, MEDIA... Wait I am the media.
Holy moly.
Thus far:
LETS GET TO IT.
#15 - Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers
Tough break for ole handsome Jimmy last week, eh?
After finding out that he was going to be the backup to Trey Lance this season, I was not surprised, but I certainly know that decision was not made because Lance is better than Jimmy G. It's a play for the future. Smart, but not giving your team the best chance to win in Season 70. Jimmy saw his first action of the season last week against the Eagles, as coach Hearst benched the young Lance in hopes that Jimmy could overcome the teams turnover issues and eek out a win, but Jimmy only made those turnover issues worse. That one game aside, I still thing Jimmy's fundamental skills and game sense are still miles ahead of Lance, even if Lance is 4 times the athlete Jimmy is. I highly doubt the change will be made anytime soon, but at least SF has a great backup when Lance gets shaky as he did in Philly, despite what Jimmy did in relief duties.
#14 - Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray is in such an odd place for me.
Kyler has every single skill you'd want from a toolkit perspective, but that coaching staff is unproven to say the least. That said, I'm ranking Kyler #14 because I believe his skill combined with his awesome weapons in Kirk, Johnson, and the best WR in football in Hopkins, is too explosive to place lower. Kyler is a franchise QB for years to come and I've actually been pretty impressed with how this team has gameplanned around him in the first two weeks. In a league that loves to turn the ball over, Kyler only has 2 interceptions and is completing passes at a very high rate. That's not nothing either, considering he played 2 elite defenses in Tenneessee and Minnesota. If he can run more like he did in Minny and find that sweet spot between taking care of the ball and taking necessary risks, Kyler could be the launching pad coach Spencer Jordan needs to breakout this year.
#13 - Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers
As we already know by now, this list is very much swayed by surrounding talent and coaching staff. How about a Super Bowl winning coach and Christian McCaffrey?
Sam Darnold is ranked very low by many other outlets and I just can't understand why. Sure he's not a top 5 guy and he's not going to single handedly take over games like some of the other guys on this list, but give me a break. 72/100 in the RZPFF ratings is a joke for a guy with an NFL arm and above average game-sense in areas like play action and throwing on the run. Sam could easily be hoisting up an NFC South trophy if Tom Brady wasn't playing this season. I like Sam a lot and I'm hoping Carolina does as well, because he keeps flying under the radar, and you could lock up a "good enough" QB for cheap and build around him all year.
#12 - Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
This seems like malpractice ranking Aaron Rodgers #12.
I don't have to explain to anyone why Aaron Rodgers is coming it at #12. We all know about this coaching staff's propensity to turn the ball over in their RZ career. That said, Aaron Rodgers is not just any QB. He is probably the best all-around QB in the entire league and coach Glenn actually did improve with more talented QBs in the past. For that reason, I can't drop Rodgers any lower than #12, but because of the completely justified doubt we all have in this offense, I cannot rank him higher. I will say that through 2 weeks, Rodgers has not been as bad as some outlets predicted, throwing just 3 INTs and coming in at 103.3 passer rating. The Packers sit at 1-1 and this team has more chances to prove me wrong, but I don't see it happening. Sorry Aaron.
#11 - Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
Let's talk about another guy that this league is sleeping on and he's ALSO in the NFC South.
Is Matt Ryan aging? Yes. Is Matt Ryan on a very bad team? Yes. Is Matt Ryan insanely expensive? Yes.
But, is Matt Ryan probably the single most accurate passer in football? Is Matt Ryan capable of taking over games with his arm and his mind? Is Matt Ryan working with the best rookie receiving option in football along with Calvin Ridley? Yes yes yes.
Matt Ryan has sustained a ton of disrespect in his career, some warranted, some not. I think despite the shaky turnover issues he's faced in the first two weeks, Ryan and this coaching staff could scare a lot of teams (as they did both the 2-0 Eagles and the 2-0 Bucs) and Matt Ryan is a huge reason why. Insult his contract and his Keibler Elf Face all you want, but do not insult the mans talent or his pedigree.
#10 - Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
There might not be a single slot that I am more worried about than #10. That's perfectly fitting for a Dallas team though, right?
Coming into this list, I saw coach Allen with Dallas and after his performance in the league the last 2 stints, I was fully prepared to write this piece about Dak breaking out and Dallas being a front runner to content with Tampa in the NFC. That was until I watched the Cowboys first two games and heard - like everyone else - about how unbelievably unprepared this coaching staff is. I'm not high on Dallas anymore, but I'm still high on Dak. If there's any reason to believe this team can turn it around and be the NFC East champions we all expected, it's Dak Prescott. Dak is just 28 years old and is one of the most talented guys under center league-wide. He should be the franchise option for Dallas for the next 7 years and here's hoping I'm not wrong about that.
#9 - Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Please don't fall for the "The Sky Is Falling" nonsense coming out of Cincinnati's camp these days.
This happens every year with this coaching staff. He's a Hall of Famer and one of the best RZ minds we have, but he's absolutely as much as a doomsayer or an overreactor as anyone we've ever had in this league. Joe Burrow looked capable in week 1 against Minnesota and looked atrocious in week 2 against the Bears, but mark my words, this pick will be justified. Once this staff gets into a groove and Burrow settles down in the pocket, his stat line is going to skyrocket behind the talent of Ja'Marr Chase and Joe Mixon. I even contemplated putting Burrow higher because of his all-around talent and the coaching staff guiding him, but that team is just not very good right now. Don't count out Joe and definitely do not count out Cincinnati.
#8 - Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Josh freaking Allen, huh?
What an incredible early career it has been for Josh. From a kid who looked like a bust to a reliable running QB, to one of the best, most reliable dual threat QBs we've seen in years. Josh Allen's poise in the pocket doesn't come from the fact that he looks like a long-lost Beech Brother. This kid can play and at just 25, he's going to be suiting up in Buffalo for the rema-- you know what. I'm not even going there after the Quinnen Williams trade this week. You never know what's going to happen in this league.
This isn't news, but I'm pretty sure Josh Allen's arm requires a background check to own. He has by far the strongest cannon in football and the simple fact he doesn't even need to have his feet set to take full advantage of that is absolutely insane. With Stefon Diggs and Cov Beasley at his side, he's also very well equipped from a help standpoint. Allen is only hindered by an uncertain coaching staff right now, who has actually looked pretty good, putting up 365 yards and 2 TDs in week 1 against the Steelers. Another win over the absent Dolphins has them at 2-0 heading into a game with WFT where Josh Allen may actually throw for 700 yards against that defense. Love Allen here, wish I could have him higher... but you'll see why I don't next time.
There you have it! We're getting into the nitty gritty now, boys.
Top 7 later this week! Get excited! I'm sure process of elimination can tell you who's coming up in our top 7. But where will I rank them?
