ESPN Power Rankings: Quarterback Edition Week #2

We are loving anything and everything Fantasy Football related here at Heat Waved. So, let’s get straight to it! Here are ESPN’s quarterback Power Rankings for week 2!

10. Tom Brady, New England Patriots 

Brady had a brutal Week 1, as ESPN Stats and Info charted the Patriots quarterback going 2-for-16 on throws at least 15 yards downfield. Expect New England to have a much crisper game plan on Sunday that involves shorter passes and a heavier dose of TE Rob Gronkowski. Also consider that Brady struggled versus Miami last year in Week 8 (69.5 passer rating) before rebounding the following week with 432 passing yards and four TDs.

9. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons

In Week 1, Ryan completed 9-of-11 passes thrown 15 or more yards downfield for 224 yards. Ryan’s nine such completions are a career best. Further, Ryan was 6-of-7 for 145 yards on such throws when targeting Julio Jones and Devin Hester, with the only incompletion coming on his final attempt of regulation.

8. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers

A valuable connection continues for Kaepernick, as TE Vernon Davis caught two touchdown passes’Sunday’from the 49ers signal-caller. Davis has now caught 15 of Kaepernick’s 23 touchdown passes the past two seasons. The Bears’ defense was gashed badly on the ground in 2013, and was punished again in Week 1 by the Bills, lending some valuable scrambling upside to Kaepernick in this matchup.7. 

6. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (Tied)

Success in the running game allowed Wilson to effectively utilize play-action in Week 1, as both of Wilson’s touchdown passes’on Thursday’came after a play fake. Plus, Wilson completed 8-of-13 passes for 104 yards against the blitz. Wilson’s opponent this week, the Chargers, allowed the Cardinals’ Carson Palmer to post a 108.4 passer rating along with 304 yards for a healthy 8.22 yards per attempt in Week 1.

Sep 7, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles (9) throws the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the second half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey G. Pittenger-USA TODAY Sports

6. Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles (Tied)

Per ESPN Stats & Info, Foles had four turnovers in all of 2013, but had three in the first half on Sunday. Foles’ improvement in the second half, however, was the biggest reason why the Eagles scored 34 straight points and came away victorious. Further, Foles’ average yards per drop-back went from just 3.2 yards in the first half to 8.7 in the second.

5. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

Stafford’s two deep touchdown passes to Calvin Johnson helped lead to a career-high 97.5 Total quarterback R, the highest of Week 1, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Stafford completed 6-of-8 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns when under duress’Monday, including going 3-of-3 for 107 yards when targeting Megatron. Want some more heartening data? Lions receivers did not drop a pass’Monday’after leading the league last season with 46 drops, 10 more than any other team.

4. Andrew Luck, Detroit Lions

The Eagles’ defense allowed the seventh-most fantasy quarterback points in 2013, and appears poised for more of the same this season after making Chad Henne look good in Week 1 (for a half, at least). With beatable outside corners and a lack of a pass rush in Philly, Luck should enjoy another big primetime outing fueled by a pass-heavy scheme.

3. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

The Jets’ secondary may return Dee Milliner after being out for more than a month with a high ankle sprain, but it will still be a far cry from Seattle’s ‘Legion of Boom.’ As long as the Packers’ O-line can protect its MVP, expect a motivated Rodgers to bounce back with a sharp performance in Week 2.

2. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Brees’ two deep completions (15 yards of more) in Week 1 tied for his second fewest in a game since the start of 2012, according to ESPN Stats & Info. While the friendly confines of the Superdome are where he does his major fantasy damage, a trip to Cleveland to face another team that engaged in a shootout in Week 1 could feel just like home for Brees and the Saints’ prolific passing attack.

1. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

Manning once again gets top billing among all fantasy signal-callers this week as he looks to dominate the Chiefs, per usual. Including playoff matchups, Manning is 9-1 lifetime versus K.C. with a total of 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions while throwing for 297 yards per game. This includes going 4-0 with 1,315 passing yards (329 ypg) and 11 TDs in a Broncos uniform.

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