Chris Simms' Season 70 QB40 Countdown - #7-1
by JAMoney14 | 3 years ago | 0 Comments
The time has finally come! Our QB40 countdown will come to an end with the top 7 QBs for Season 70 of the Red Zone. We've been through 3.5 weeks in the regular season and some of these may get some shifty eyes, but guess what? I do not care!
We've seen rookies, veterans, backups, journeymen, MVP candidates... but now it's time for the top 7.
#7 - Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
That's right! Kirk Cousins, a man who has taken exactly 0 snaps during the regular season.
There's obvious reasoning behind the fact Kirk isn't seeing playing time, though I don't agree with it. The Vikings are betting on Kellen Mond developing into a QB who can win multiple rings as the cycle goes along, and under this coaching staff, it's not a horrible bet, but you have a SB caliber, MVP (in these hands) caliber QB RIGHT NOW! Kirk Cousins is talented and similar to Jimmy G, has what it takes to lead his team to the promise land. This coaching staff clearly believes they can do both with Kellen Mond, and at 3-1, maybe they're right. I think once we get to clutch time in January, Kirk's presence will be missed, but that's the nature of the beast when you put all your chips on a rookie QB.
#6 - Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
In all likelyhood, the MOST underrated, disrespected talent at QB in the last 40 years.
Matthew Stafford was left to shoulder an entire organization in Detroit for most of his career and was handed the blame for not single-handedly winning games in a tough position. That is not the case any longer. This Rams team is great and I have (apparently) a lot more faith in this organization than most people do with the return of coach Brown to the Red Zone. This offense doesn't need him to be a superhero and he's perfect for that role. He STILL has one of the best arms in the game of football and now has some weapons to help him, namely Cooper Kupp and Cam Akers. At 2-1, the Rams and Stafford have done a good job protecting the football and could easily be 3-0 if a ball fell a different way in week 1 against the Bears. I think they're an honest threat to compete in the playoffs.
#5 - Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Number 5?! Yes, that's right. There are 4 better Season 70 QBs than Money Mahomes.
Don't get me wrong, Mahomes is THE QB in terms of pure overall talent and has the weapons to help him, but this coaching staff is still settling into a wildly different system and personnel from the success they found in Pittsburgh previously in their career. The jury is still out on whether they can course correct in just 1 regular season. I believe they can, this is not an Aaron Rodgers situation. The Chiefs are just too talented to fall out of the playoffs and Mahomes is a big reason why. After starting with 2 TDs and 6 INTs and being benched in his first two starts, he seems to have calmed down and hit Mahomes-level play with 7 TD to just 1 INT in his last 2. The Chiefs are 2-2 so far. They will compete. Mahomes is a top 5 QB and a top 1 talent. Once this coaching staff proves they can manage Mahomes talent, he could easily be #1 next season.
#4 - Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
I have made it no secret that I am VERY HIGH on the Seattle Seahawks this season with the return of coach Sampson.
Russell Wilson fits beautifully into the system that this staff wants to cultivate and obviously, I'm not breaking any ground by telling you Russell Wilson is one of the best to ever do it at the position. Still comfortably in his prime, Russ throws a beautiful deep ball and has the WRs to capitalize on that. They have thus far. Sitting at 2-1, with a MASSIVE win over the Vikings, I think Seattle is poised for a strong run in the S70 playoffs. Wilson's availability, speed, and that insanely lethal running game (averaging 174 rushing ypg as of this post) will propel them there. Don't let me down, Seattle. I've been on the 12 train and this train ain't stopping anytime soon.
#3 - Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders
Derek Carr top 3! Only appropriate that I'm taking such a gamble on the Vegas QB.
Another QB I believe is woefully disrespected by most media pundits, I think Carr is an ELITE talent at the position and has age on his side. Carr's powerful arm and surprising accuracy sets him apart from guys like Stafford or Cousins, who can do one or the other, and this offense with Jacobs and Ruggs are equipped to deal some damage when he's slinging the rock. The Raiders currently sit at 3-1 after dropping their opener in a tight game with Baltimore. What baffles me is the decision to continue swapping QBs in and out to utilize Marcus Mariota. I do like Marcus Mariota, as displayed by his #34 ranking, but you have Derek Carr? Derek Carr is not slow. In fact, he's not even that much slower than Mariota. I guess the idea is to keep Carr healthy, but you have Marcus throwing almost half the pass attempts that Carr has at this point in the season. Carr has yet to throw 3 INTs in a game, either. I am not sure if it's been health (no reported injuries thus far) or strategy, but please keep Carr in the game. I still have the Raiders winning the AFC West, but you need Carr in there to do that.
#2 - Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Pretty good for a guy people called a "running back", eh?
Lamar Jackson is an absolute maniac of an athlete. Lamar is currently #8 in the league in rushing yards and has no signs of slowing down. Obviously the championship pedigree in that coaching staff makes Lamar's skillset incredibly dangerous, which has been on full display through 4 weeks. Lamar has made it look easy evading defenders and has even thrown 9 TDs along with it. I get a little worried about his confidence sometimes, as he's already thrown 6 to the other teams (2 in each of the last 3 wins), but as long as he can stay on the field and keep making more plays than he makes mistakes, I'm sure this coaching staff couldn't care less and would prefer that confidence. I picked Baltimore to win the AFC and they are currently undefeated. The only thing standing between Lamar and a Super Bowl MVP is number one...
#1 - Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Bucanneers
Was there ever any doubt?
Tom Brady is Tom Brady. There have been thousands of player breakdowns on Tom and I'm not going to bore you by explaining why he's the greatest professional athlete of all time. His supporting cast is returning an all-star crew, including Mike Evans and Rob Gronkowski. His coach is the most recent RZ Super Bowl winner. He's Tom fucking Brady. He's currently sitting at a 10:2 TD to INT ratio, which is the best in football (shocker). He takes care of the ball and he knows how - and more importantly when - to get his playmakers the football. The only hope our league has for Tom to not capture ANOTHER Super Bowl and ANOTHER MVP trophy along with it... Is for the team to display a team-wide shutdown offensively as they did in week 3 against the Rams.
I don't see that happening. Bucs and Tom taking that trophy. Enjoy the season, everyone else!
There you have it! QB40, baby. Hope you all enjoyed. Agree with me? Disagree with me? Tell me why! @RZ_ChrisSimms on RZTwitter.
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