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Tiers 2.0: Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends

Nothing has changed when it comes to drafting a quarterback. Nothing will until the NFL experiences a major shortage in talent at the position.

Because there are so many great quarterbacks capable of giving your Fantasy team plenty of points every week, there isn't a reason to reach for one.

You'll know the time is right to draft a passer when you see someone you like and can't believe he's still available. It has to feel like stealing.

With that in mind, here are the updated tiers for quarterbacks:

Elite Excellent Very Good
Rounds 2, 3 Rounds 4, 5 Rounds 6, 7
Aaron Rodgers Andrew Luck Tom Brady
Cam Newton Drew Brees Carson Palmer
Russell Wilson
The Steal Tier No. 2/Upside
Rounds 8, 9, 10, 11 Rounds 12+
Blake Bortles Matthew Stafford
Philip Rivers Ryan Tannehill
Eli Manning Tyrod Taylor
Derek Carr Kirk Cousins
Ben Roethlisberger
Andy Dalton
Jameis Winston
Tony Romo

Because most Fantasy owners will wait for a quarterback -- be it by choice or by missing out on Rodgers or Cam with a top-40 pick (and not a Round 1 pick!) -- expect the values to get even better as the draft goes on.

Round 5 will be fertile ground for passers with top-three potential -- Andrew Luck, Drew Brees and Russell Wilson.

It's easy to expect a bounce-back year from Luck, who disappointed in 2015 but remained consistent, which is huge for Fantasy (20-plus Fantasy points in 17 of his last 23 games). Speaking of consistency, Brees has been a top-six Fantasy passer since he arrived in New Orleans a decade ago. And unless the Seahawks offense builds around Thomas Rawls, Wilson should attempt more passes and continue as an efficient two-way threat to help fill up his box score.

If those first five signal-callers get drafted and you don't have one, don't fret.

Tom Brady would have been a first-tier guy if not for his four-game suspension, so getting him in Round 7 and patching those first four weeks with another quarterback isn't so bad.

Carson Palmer falls behind Brady not because I think he'll finish with fewer Fantasy points, but with fewer big Fantasy games. Last year Palmer had six games with 25-plus Fantasy points while Brady had nine. Even with a four-game edge, Palmer won't deliver as many gaudy numbers as Brady, but he will be as consistent.

The Steal Tier

It's the next group of seven -- and even some after this group -- that gets Fantasy owners thirsty for a steal.

The fourth tier is rich in talent -- three of them finished in the top 12 last year and the other four either came close, got hurt or both. Landing two of these quarterbacks in Round 8 and beyond, with the intention of playing the matchups, is a strategy worth remembering or planning around.

Some thoughts on this specific tier:

  • A lot of people see Blake Bortles as a touchdown regression candidate who might not be as good as Matthew Stafford or Matt Ryan. Unless the Jaguars defense plays beyond expectations and the run game comes alive, there will be plenty of opportunities for Bortles to post good numbers. You shouldn't bank on a repeat of exactly what he did last year, but he shouldn't fall too far from 37 total touchdowns, over 300 rush yards and over 4,400 passing yards. It makes his middle- to late-round price all the more appealing.
  • Philip Rivers and Eli Manning are similar in that they're known commodities Fantasy owners aren't very excited about but have the stuff to win. Improved receiving corps and offensive lines without dedicated run offenses keep them as safe 4,000-yard, 30-touchdown candidates. Many Fantasy owners are targeting one of these two quarterbacks in Round 8 or Round 9 with the belief they'll both finish in the top 10. Rivers specifically has a schedule that should provide opportunities for serious passing numbers.
  • Derek Carr and Jameis Winston both threw for more than 4,000 yards last season. Carr totaled 32 touchdowns, Winston had 28. Both are expected to progress in their offenses with both of their No. 1 receivers being counted on to out-do their 2015 campaigns. There's a ton to love about both quarterbacks as backups, fill-ins for Brady or even starters in deeper leagues.
  • Ben Roethlisberger, Andy Dalton and Tony Romo are the kind of quarterbacks you'll settle for late but not be thrilled about. Roethlisberger's receiving corps has taken some hits because of suspensions (Martavis Bryant) and injuries (Ladarius Green). Sammie Coates and/or Markus Wheaton have to play great in order for Roethlisberger to finish in the Top 10. Dalton has appeal -- he was the second-most consistent Fantasy passer last season before getting hurt, and he still has A.J. Green. With Romo, his track record of strong seasons is just as well documented as his injury history. It's enough to force you to take another quarterback with Romo for when he misses time, not if.