Where does CBS Sports have Colts quarterback Matt Ryan in fantasy QB rankings?
By Dailey Gee
With the season approaching, CBS Sports has ranked Indianapolis Colts quarterback Matt Ryan along with other quarterbacks for fantasy football.
CBS Sports recently dropped their fantasy football rankings for quarterbacks heading into the season and I like getting on those to browse and see where the different fantasy platforms have Indianapolis Colts players ranked. There are a couple of rankings I am going to touch on, sharing what I agree/disagree with, and if they should be moved.
Three notable names that stand out to me when I was taking a look at this list are Matt Ryan, (Colts quarterback) Ryan Tannehill, (Titans quarterback), and Carson Wentz (Commanders quarterback, former Colts quarterback). I got to looking at these rankings and there are things I like and also that I dislike. I will break down all three players and talk about how I feel about their rankings.
Things that I disagree with
According to CBS Sports, Matt Ryan ranked 24th out of 32 quarterbacks for fantasy this season. Chris Towers wrote, “Ryan is a QB2 you settle for because there probably isn’t much upside in the Colts offense.” I am going to have to say that I disagree with that. The Colts have arguably the best running back in the league in Jonathan Taylor. They also have a proven WR1 in Michael Pittman Jr. who had a breakout season last year with Carson Wentz. I think there are plenty of weapons on this Indianapolis offense for Ryan to succeed.
I do not like how low they have Ryan. Last season, Ryan finished the fantasy season as the 18th-ranked fantasy quarterback as an Atlanta Falcon. That Falcons team had one of the bottom tier lines in the league. Ryan now steps into a situation with a top-tier offensive line. He also did not have many great weapons outside of rookie tight end, Kyle Pitts. Despite having a bad offensive line and not much help on the outside, Ryan still put up 3,968 yards and threw 20 touchdowns. With this new offense that has good weapons, a reliable run game, and a stifling defense, Ryan is destined to finish higher than where the rankings have him.
I also disagree with the fact that Ryan Tannehill is ranked one spot ahead of Matt Ryan. Tannehill lost his number one wide receiver in A.J. Brown and the Titans are one of the most run-heavy offenses in the NFL— that does not help Tannehill’s case. Tannehill should be below Matt Ryan because Ryan is in a better situation than Tannehill. Ryan Tannehill also struggles with turning the ball over, which is detrimental for fantasy points.
Things that I agree with
Now, the common trend for top-tier quarterbacks in fantasy football is the ability to run. Matt Ryan has never run for over 145 yards in a season. That is a huge downfall for his fantasy outlook. I agree that he is in the bottom half of the league as far as mobility, but I do not think that should keep Matt Ryan this low in the rankings.
I also agree that Carson Wentz, ranked No. 25, should be below Ryan. Carson had a decent season last year but is going to a team that is less of a high-powered offense, unlike the one he had in Indy.
Another understandable factor is the age of Matt Ryan. Ryan is getting older and is entering his 15th season in the NFL. He has played in 222 games and that is a lot of football. Last season, he did not show any signs of slowing down, however, I understand this argument and would entertain it.
With all that being said, these are just fantasy rankings. None of these three guys are bad quarterbacks. I just think after evaluation of the list, that these three guys could all be placed in different spots.
