Fantasy football roundtable: Quarterback edition

Here is a comprehensive breakdown of the quarterback position going into the 2016 NFL fantasy draft season, courtesy theScore's team of fantasy experts (▲: player is trending upward; ▼: player is trending downward):

Which quarterback outside the top 5 in 2015 has the best shot at getting there this season?

Bisson: Aaron Rodgers had a disappointing season by his standards, but still racked up more than 3,800 passing yards with 31 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. The return of Jordy Nelson will have a significant impact on Rodgers' fantasy and real-life fortunes, returning him to a spot in the top 3. He should surpass 4,500 passing yards and 35 scores with ease.

McLaren: Matthew Stafford may have lost the best wide receiver the NFL has seen in a generation with the retirement of Calvin Johnson, but he gained another quality weapon in Marvin Jones via free agency. The run game remains in shambles and the defense is suspect. The Lions led the league in pass-play percentage at 65.63 percent in 2015 and that number could rise.

Conrad: Had he not missed a start, Drew Brees would have cracked the top 5 last season. Brees should again approach 5,000 yards and 35 TDs, and despite his advancing age, health hasn't yet been an issue, as he has made at least 15 starts every season since 2004.

Chernish: I'm a believer in Derek Carr and the Raiders offense. Carr was 13 yards shy of 4,000 last season, with 32 TDs and 13 INTs. Outside of first-year standout Amari Cooper and veteran Michael Crabtree, Carr had little help from his pass catchers. A full off-season with Cooper and plenty of upside within the receiving corps point toward a big fantasy year.

Which quarterback inside the top 5 last season is most likely to wind up disappointing owners?

Bisson: Tom Brady was the second-highest scoring quarterback in standard leagues last season, but will likely miss the first four games of 2016 for his role in Deflategate. It'll be next to impossible for Brady to land in the top 5 with only 12 games under his belt; he'll still be an elite option, but you'll need to find an adequate replacement for the first quarter of the season.

McLaren: Blake Bortles stumbled into the top five while playing for a Jaguars team which ranked second in the league in pass-play percentage. He completed just 58.6 percent of his 606 attempts, throwing for 35 TDs and rushing for two others. He also threw 18 interceptions, and lost two fumbles. The team defense is better this year, so he'll have fewer passing situations.

Conrad: Russell Wilson is known as a better real-life QB than a fantasy one, but he closed 2015 with 24 touchdowns to just one interception over the final seven weeks of the regular season. While his rushing yards are a nice bonus, he may end up as a disappointment if he can't maintain his end-of-season form from the get-go in 2016.

Chernish: Carson Palmer has arguably the deepest receiving corps in the NFL around him; however, the Cardinals have a two-headed monster in the backfield with David Johnson's emergence and top-10 ADP and Chris Johnson's resurgence which is likely to lead to less passing downs. Palmer is 36 years old and coming off a career year. Sound familiar, Peyton Manning?

What is the best plan of attack for addressing the position in standard 10- or 12-team leagues?

Bisson: Ignore it altogether until nearly every other fantasy owner has at least one QB. History tells us that nabbing a top-tier quarterback only occasionally bears fruit; more often than not, landing a QB early results in leaving far better options on the board. Quarterbacks like Philip Rivers, Kirk Cousins and Jameis Winston will be available late - and all can win you a championship.

McLaren: Wait on a quarterback or quarterbacks. With the league-wide passing rate rising each season there was more value than ever before at the position in 2015. Look for teams with a lopsided ratio of pass plays to run plays from recent seasons and determine if there's been any major changes to their personnel or coaching scheme. Rivers is a logical candidate.

Conrad: There's a lot of depth at the position, fantasy-wise, so it doesn't make sense to take any QB before the third round (the days of spending a first-round pick on Rodgers or Peyton Manning are long over). A safe option like Eli Manning or Rivers makes for a solid second QB or matchup-specific starter.

Chernish: The years of a sure-fire fantasy QB being drafted in the first round are over. As mentioned earlier, there is plenty of value and depth at the QB position, and the drop from RB1 to RB10 is far more precipitous than QB1 to QB10. There's nothing wrong with Carr or Stafford as your starter. Take the wait and see approach, and stock up on RBs and WRs.

What is your bold QB prediction for 2016?

Bisson: Tony Romo will be a top-5 fantasy quarterback. Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan had scraps to work with last season, but should have a healthy Romo and Dez Bryant to start the year. Combine that with electric rookie RB Ezekiel Elliott, and the Cowboys could have one of the top offenses in football. Look for Romo, Bryant and Elliott to be fantasy stars in 2016.

McLaren: Russell Wilson will finish outside the top-10 at the position. With RB Marshawn Lynch having retired and sophomore Thomas Rawls carrying plenty of question marks, health-related or otherwise, Wilson will have to rely on the Seahawks' mediocre receiving corps more than ever before. His rushing numbers took a hit last season, and he may continue losing bonus points.

Conrad: Robert Griffin III will finish among the top-15 at the position. There's no reason to reach for him in any drafts, but Griffin has the benefit of a QB-guru coach in Hue Jackson, some nice weapons in Gary Barnidge and Duke Johnson, and, most importantly, low expectations.

Chernish: Jay Cutler will emerge from years of mediocrity and become a top-10 fantasy QB. He has a shiny new toy in Kevin White, who was drafted last season but has yet to play a down in the NFL. Alshon Jeffery returns after playing just nine games and receiving back Jeremy Langford will take over the feature back role. Look for a career year from Smokin' Jay.