May 19, 2019

4,924 yards 35 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Not a bad stat line. That is the 2018 line that meant Matt Ryan finished as the QB2 for fantasy, behind only Patrick Mahomes. He did this despite losing Devonta Freeman for the entire season, and playing behind a mishmash offensive line. In 2019 all of these obstacles look to be fixed. The Falcons added Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary to the offensive line through the draft, as the Falcons have done their best to keep Matt Ryan upright this season. His ranking as the QB2 may not be repeated, with a number of talented quarterbacks looking to jump ahead of him. But this does not mean his numbers are going to regress either. He could very easily finish with the same or even better numbers and still finish in the QB 5-6 range. Some would try to say this is a disappointment, but they would be wrong. While there could be four or five quarterbacks who end up finishing higher in the ranks than Matt Ryan, they will also be drafted much higher, starting with Mahomes in the second-round, through to Baker Mayfield in the fifth. Ryan, on the other hand, is currently going at the end of the seventh or early eighth round, meaning you can use those draft savings on a better player at a more important position. The difference between QB4 and QB12 in 2018 was less than two points per game, meaning even the top-five guys are not significantly better than the middle of the pack players. If you want to get one of the top-five options anyway why not go with the player who is going latest in drafts, and even behind some players likely to finish behind him. Look for Ryan in the seventh round and be set at quarterback all season long as Atlanta rises from the ashes of 2018.--Dominick Petrillo - RotoBaller