Fantasy Football 2012: The 20 Best NFL Backup Quarterbacks Right Now

Here's my top-20 ranking of fantasy football's best NFL backup quarterbacks right now, regardless of their No. 2 or 3 standing with their current teams.

In the course of compiling these rankings—which only account for statistical success—a few assumptions were proffered:

• Matt Hasselbeck opens the season as Tennessee's starting quarterback.
• The Browns won't make any quarterback-themed trades in the next four months.
• Ryan Tannehill opens the season as Miami's quarterback, even if he's not ready.
• Kevin Kolb trumps all comers for the Arizona starting job, a byproduct of his immense (and largely untapped) potential.
• There will be no quarterback controversy in Minnesota. Christian Ponder is the man all year, through thick and thin.
• Robert Griffin III will be the Redskins' Week 1 starter...and fellow rookie Kirk Cousins will be third in line.

Top 20 Fantasy Backups

1. Jake Locker, Titans: It's entirely possible Locker notches five to seven starts (and 12-13 TDs) in his second and final season as Tennessee's savior-in-waiting at quarterback.

2. Chad Henne, Jaguars: Henne provides excellent peace of mind for Jacksonville's coaches...even though Blaine Gabbert should be given every chance to succeed.

3. Colt McCoy, Browns: I don't understand the rationale in trading McCoy just because Brandon Weeden is likely the new starter. You know, a bird in the hand...

4. Jason Campbell, Bears: Oakland's trash is Chicago's treasure. The Bears would remain playoff contenders this time around, if Jay Cutler goes down.

5. Rex Grossman, Redskins: You could do a lot worse than Grossman as a backup. A lot worse. From a fantasy angle, Grossman's a steady lock for 245 yards, 1.5 TDs per game.

6. Matt Moore, Dolphins: Assuming the Dolphins finish fourth in the AFC East (a reasonable conclusion), Miami should invoke the baptism-by-fire approach for Tannehill. Of course, Moore certainly has the goods to lead the 'Fins through September/October.

7. Tarvaris Jackson, Seahawks: T-Jax threw the ball 30 or more times in nine Seahawks games last year—an impressive total considering Marshawn Lynch scored at least one touchdown in 11 straight active games (Weeks 4-15).

8. Ryan Mallett, Patriots: Yes, he's New England's third-stringer and destined for another season of clipboards and baseball caps, but Mallett is also this countdown's only lock for 3,800-yard, 26-TD seasons. Someday.

9. John Skelton, Cardinals: Skelton was 5-2 as a starter last year and accounted for 290-plus yards in his final four games. Unfortunately, America doesn't really celebrate accomplishments of backup quarterbacks. Unless...

10. Tim Tebow, Jets: With this respectable ranking, you now have certifiable proof I don't think Tebow is the worst QB in NFL history.

11. Kyle Orton, Cowboys: It's a simple arrangement. Orton's a reasonable play for 250 yards, two TDs whenever granted injury-replacement starts for Tony Romo.

12. Brian Hoyer, Patriots: With Mallett already in the Patriots' stable, I'm surprised Hoyer wasn't dangled in offseason trade discussions. His (brief) track record of success and physical skills compare favorably to Matt Flynn.

13. Dan Orlovsky, Buccaneers: If Orlovsky (1,079 yards passing, six TDs in his last five starts) had been named Indy's Week 1 starter last year, the Colts would have won too many games to qualify for the No. 1 or 2 picks in the 2012 NFL draft. And, of course, Peyton Manning would still be there. Orlovsky is a solid backup for Josh Freeman.

14. T.J. Yates, Texans: Talk about a thankless ranking here. All Yates did was help lead the Texans to a postseason berth and the club's first playoff victory—and all he can muster is 14th? From a fantasy angle, though, Yates struggled in his final five games as Houston's starter (one TD, five INTs).

15. Brady Quinn, Chiefs: Quinn remains a physically gifted athlete with good touch on deep balls; and if pressed into duty, he'd find a way to hit Jamaal Charles, Dwayne Bowe, Tony Moeaki, Peyton Hillis, Dexter McCluster and Jon Baldwin roughly 57 percent of the time.

16. Shaun Hill, Lions: I like Hill's capacity for 275 yards and two touchdowns on any given Sunday with Detroit's offense, but I don't care to see him in any non-garbage-time scenario all season.

17. Drew Stanton, Colts: One could make a plausible argument that Stanton would have been a more proficient backup than Tebow with the Jets, if New York hadn't traded him to Indy. Stanton is an underrated passer and gifted scrambler.

18. Joe Webb, Vikings: Think of Webb as the Tebow of the Midwest: He would get his 220 total yards and 1.5 touchdowns through a combination of sterling runs and quirky passes every Sunday.

19. Russell Wilson, Seahawks: I've never been one to dismiss a quarterback on size alone. Joe Theismann and Drew Brees managed to win Super Bowls despite their own pre-draft, uh, shortcomings. Bottom line: Wilson has impressive tools.

20. Charlie Whitehurst, Chargers: This ranking is more a reflection of Norv Turner's QB tutorial skills than of anything Whitehurst has accomplished in recent seasons. Still, he'd probably average 225 yards passing in full-time relief of Philip Rivers.

Jay Clemons can be reached on Twitter, day or night, at @ATL_JayClemons.