Quarterback is a deep position, but if you can get the right one, such as Cam Newton last season, then you’re almost guaranteed a spot in the fantasy playoffs. While that’s easier said than done, there are two guys firmly atop the QB rankings, which tends to almost always be the case.
This year, Newton entered that discussion to go with the ever-present Aaron Rodgers.
Newton jumped to the top of the rankings, deservedly so, while Rodgers is in his usual spot near the top. The race is close as seen by the consensus QB Rankings over at FantasyPros, which means you’ll likely be faced with having to make a decision between the two at some point over the next few months.
Starting with Newton, there’s no denying how good he was last year. He’ll always be a decent option because of his legs, but his arm stepped up a level throwing for 35 touchdowns in 2015, and that was without his top receiver from the year before.
Enter the return of Kelvin Benjamin (73 receptions, 1,008 yards, nine TDs as rookie), a hopefully improved Devin Funchess and Greg Olsen, who should see less defensive attention, and defenses are going to have their hands full.
Thinking Newton can’t repeat what he did last year would be a mistake. All signs point to another great season, outside of one small factor. The Panthers schedule adds the NFC West and AFC West to the fold, which should make life a little harder for Newton as compared to the NFC East and AFC South last season (two worst divisions by far, maybe ever).
Jan. 10, 2016 – Landover, Maryland, U.S – Green Bay Packers quarterback AARON RODGERS (12) fires a pass downfield during the NFC Wildcard matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Washington Redskins. The Packers beat the Redskins 35-18 at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland (Photo by Tom Rothenberg/Zuma Press/Icon Sportswire)
That could be problematic at points, but at the least, Newton’s playoff schedule (Weeks 14-16) includes home games against San Diego, Atlanta and a trip to Washington. Because of that, even a tougher overall schedule shouldn’t detract that much from projections.
Rodgers is in a similar situation to Newton, as he gets back Jordy Nelson, which changes Green Bay’s entire dynamic at receiver. Nelson is a guy that has been a top-10 wide receiver (at least) since 2011. With him healthy, Randall Cobb won’t have to deal with max coverage and the third receiver (Davante Adams or whoever) won’t have to be Rodgers’ top target on the outside.
The addition of Jared Cook at tight end and the emergence of Richard Rodgers should also help, as well as a running game that’s expected to be better with Eddie Lacy looking more like a football player.
In standard leagues, Rodgers was almost 90 fantasy points below Newton last season. He can run, but will never have the same kind of ground numbers, while throwing for just 31 touchdowns, his lowest in a full season since 2010.
With the Packers offense back on track to go with the same schedule, the Panthers had last year (NFC East and AFC South), and it should be back to normal for Rodgers. However, a Week 14 game against Seattle could be bad, although, it is at home.
Either way, I don’t make my final decisions based on playoff schedules alone.
Newton was great last year and should be just as good this year, but I’m still tentative in picking him over Rodgers. Just two years ago Newton was mediocre with Benjamin and Olsen at receiver and had just 23 total touchdowns. Obviously, Newton improved, but how much of that was due to schedule?
The only time Newton actually played a good defense in the regular season (not Houston in Week 2), he struggled against the Seahawks. In playoff games against the Seahawks and Broncos, he didn’t do much. Five-touchdown games against poor defenses juiced up Newton’s overall numbers. With a harder schedule, one has to think that’s going to change.
The same can’t be said about Rodgers, who has shown over the course of his career that as long as he has a healthy Jordy Nelson to work with, he can torch most defenses (Seattle not included, although, he was serviceable against the Seahawks last season).
Rodgers can be an elite quarterback year-in, year-out and that’s why I’m taking him as the safer option, and my No. 1 quarterback this season.
The post Top Fantasy QB: Cam Newton vs. Aaron Rodgers appeared first on Today's Pigskin.