In dynasty leagues, decision making is particularly difficult at the quarterbacking position. Where do you slot older quarterbacks who are great right now – Tom Brady, Drew Brees – against younger quarterbacks who aren’t as good but who have a lot more career left? Or do you figure you’ll have found some other quarterback 4-5 years from now?

It’s tough, and it’s debatable, but I’m pivoting at the top this week. I’ve had Aaron Rodgers in the top spot for a long time, but he’s 34 and on a team where the infrastructure around him isn’t great. Receivers aren’t great, and they could have a new coaching staff before long. So I’m moving him down to the 4th spot.

Three young quarterbacks have shown me enough that I’m moving them ahead of Rodgers: Patrick Mahomes, Carson Wentz and Jared Goff. They’re all on really good teams, and they’ve all got great groups around then – both players and coaches. And they’re all about 9 years young than Rodgers.

I considered including Deshaun Watson in this group, but I don’t know that his play is sustainable. He’s got a lean build and takes a lot of punishment. How much longer will it be before he suffers another serious injury?

Brady and Brees are great, but with those guys being around 40, I couldn’t put them much higher than about 10th.

The following rankings assume standard scoring, with fantasy teams allowed to keep players forever. Unlike the other rankings we put together, these ones are done by hand – by gut feel. I put the players in an order and then comb over and adjust the list until it feels right.

DYNASTY LEAGUE QUARTERBACKS
RkTmPlayerAge
1.KCPatrick Mahomes23
2.PHICarson Wentz25
3.LARJared Goff24
4.GBAaron Rodgers34
5.HOUDeshaun Watson23
6.MINKirk Cousins30
7.SEARussell Wilson29
8.INDAndrew Luck29
9.LACPhilip Rivers36
10.NODrew Brees39
11.NETom Brady41
12.CARCam Newton29
13.PITBen Roethlisberger36
14.TBJameis Winston24
15.CINAndy Dalton30
16.ATLMatt Ryan33
17.CLE• Baker Mayfield23
18.DETMatthew Stafford30
19.SFJimmy Garoppolo26
20.ARI• Josh Rosen21
21.NYJ• Sam Darnold21
22.CHIMitchell Trubisky24
23.OAKDerek Carr27
24.TENMarcus Mariota24
25.BALJoe Flacco33
26.BUF• Josh Allen22
27.WASAlex Smith34
28.BAL• Lamar Jackson21
29.MIARyan Tannehill30
30.DALDak Prescott25
31.JACBlake Bortles26
32.NOTeddy Bridgewater25
33.NYGEli Manning37
34.TBRyan Fitzpatrick35
35.SFC.J. Beathard24
36.DENCase Keenum30
37.CLETyrod Taylor29
38.INDJacoby Brissett25
39.DENChad Kelly24
40.PHINick Foles29
41.GBDeShone Kizer22
42.WASColt McCoy32
43.PIT• Mason Rudolph23
44.ARISam Bradford30
45.MINTrevor Siemian26
46.SEABrett Hundley25
47.BUFNathan Peterman24
48.JACCody Kessler25
49.OAKAJ McCarron28
50.NOTaysom Hill28

Next week: running backs.

Last week: tight ends.

—Ian Allan