Fantasy Rankings: AFC North QBs in 2009

The AFC North is an interesting division that possess two top fantasy QB’s, two others with potential, and while Carson Palmer is probably the best of the bunch, at this point, Big Ben gets the nod.

1. Ben Roethlisberger

Roethlisberger will enter his sixth full season in the league as the proud owner of two Super Bowl rings after his Steelers defeated the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.

In 2008, he threw for over 3,300 yards with 19 total TDs, two coming via the run.

This year, the same cast of characters are back, but Santonio Holmes is a year older and more dangerous. Big Ben’s offensive weapons remain intact and strong.

Look for 3,500 yards and between 23 to 26 TDs.

2. Carson Palmer

Palmer is the most talented QB in the division stuck on a horrible team. When healthy, he’s right there in the conversation with Manning, Brady and Brees.

Last year, a lingering elbow injury forced him to miss 12 games.

After an off season to strengthen his elbow, Palmer is healthy, and Ochocinco looks rearing to go.

Mix that in with some of the younger receivers and look for a nice comeback season. He will get over 3,500 yards with 20—25TDs.

3. Joe Flacco

For most of his rookie season, he wasn’t called upon to do much, aside from managing the offense and not making mistakes. But towards the end, as Flacco’s confidence grew, OC Cam Cameron opened up the playbook ever so slightly and he produced, finishing with just under 3,000 yards and 16 total TDs, two coming via the run.

While this will still be a team that relies on its running game and defense to win games, look for another step forward in year two with over 3,000 yards and between 18 to 20 TDs.

4. Derek Anderson

Brady Quinn could certainly end up as the starter, and if so, our projections wouldn’t differ too drastically, but our thinking is that Anderson’s the better QB, and his problems last year were due to a horrendous offensive unit and the incessant drops by WR Braylon Edwards in crucial situations.

The forecast in the Dawg Pound isn’t very bright this season as the team dealt TE Winslow to the Bucs and WR Stallworth is suspended indefinitely.

Regardless, look for a team that relies heavily on the run and for Anderson, or Quinn, to throw for 2,500 - 2,700 yards with 15-18 TDs.

Draft Tip

Roethlisberger will probably be selected before Palmer. His name will be called from round four on.

Palmer, coming off a serious injury, will probably last until round six, and could potentially be an excellent fantasy sleeper.

Flacco will be available after round ten and you should be able to scoop up Anderson or Quinn at the end of the draft.

source: www.profootball101.org

RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

150 days ago

Score 1

Palmer's good, but I don't think he's in the same convo as Brady and Manning. And neither is Brees in that convo. The conversation involving Manning and Brady is "Who is the best QB in football?" Neither Brees nor Palmer are candidates to answer that question, although they're just one tier below.

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JuTMSY4Legend

150 days ago

Score 2

This is fantasy...so Brees is absolutely in the conversation with Manning and Brady...and he might even be better Palmer, not so much (even fantasy-wise). Everyone else has weapons (plural)...Palmer doesn't...and his line sucks too

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JuTMSY4Legend

150 days ago

Score 1

...and he might even be better <insert>Period<insert/> Palmer, not so much (even fantasy-wise). Everyone else has weapons (plural)...Palmer doesn't...and his line sucks too

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CheezerAll-Star

150 days ago

Score 2

I sometimes wonder if Brady is in that conversation. His back-up QB, a guy with nary a snap in college, steps in and the team goes 11-5 without him. Obviously some of his achievements are based on his surroundings and his coaching staff.

Of course, the same could be said of Manning.

Oh h3ll, not this discussion again... Forget I said anything.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

150 days ago

Score 3

All I'll say is comparing Brady's 2007 to Cassel's 2008 actually supports Brady's case for being the best. Cassel won 11 games, Brady won 16 (against a much tougher schedule). Brady set records in '07, Cassel's numbers were merely good. Brady threw 50 TDs in '07, Cassel threw 21 in '08. Brady threw 8 INTs, Cassel threw 11. Brady had a 117.2 rating, Cassel had a 89.4.

And a supporting cast argument coming from someone who thinks Chris Osgood is underrated?

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CheezerAll-Star

150 days ago

Score 2

They're all dependent on the players around them. They are team sports.

I never implied that Osgood was underrated. I just feel that he's not overrated. He is a solid veteran goalie and he is inexpensive for what he provides. The team loves him and believes in him. To me, that is evidence enough. Is he Brodeur or Roy? No. But I've seen him make enough big saves in crucial situations to believe that he can get it done. Is he a hall-of famer? I think so. But it isn't a slam dunk like it is with some other goalies. He let in enough soft goals early in his career that he'll probably never be able to live them down.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

150 days ago

Score 2

Well if someone did well in Osgood's place for a season, but not as well as Osgood, would you think that it proves that Osgood's achievements are based on his surroundings and his coaching staff?

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CheezerAll-Star

150 days ago

Score 2

Is his head coach a certified genius? Some have argued the greatest head coach of all time? Did his back-up play any games since his high school? Is one of the best defenders in the league on the ice with him for the entire game?

You can't compare QB play with goalie play anyway. They are very dissimilar positions. You don't see the QB take the field with the third string and fourth string players. Yet in hockey teams will roll three and even four lines.

By the way, I never said that I didn't think Brady was one of the best QBs in the league, I just said that I sometimes wonder. Cassell did remarkably well in his absence. If Manning went down, how good would the Colts do? 7-9? 5-11? Hard telling. I think this upcoming season will tell us a lot about Brady.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

150 days ago

Score 0

I think Brady's 2007 season told us a lot about Brady. If you're not convinced by now, there's not much more he can do. The fact that Matt Cassel decided to go to (and stay at) USC, where he was a backup doesn't really mean much to me when it comes to Tom Brady.

Again, Tom Brady had 50 TDs, 8 INTs, and a 117.2 rating with a very similar offense (and that same genius head coach) to Matt Cassel's 21, 11, and 89.4. Brady went 18-1 against a very good schedule, Cassel went 11-5 against an extremely soft schedule (the Pats were 7-5 against teams NOT in the NFC West).

I get the whole "Cassel did well" argument. It's just when you scrutinize it, it falls apart. Cassel did well, but Brady did better. Cassel did a good job on a good team, but he also couldn't go out and "win games on his own," was up against a soft schedule, and quite frankly sucked in the red zone.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

150 days ago

Score 0

wow, mentioning Brady in a post is such a double-edged sword. You get comments, but perhaps too many on one issue.

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SSreportersLegend

150 days ago

Score 2

Santonio Holmes is a year older and more dangerous.

But won't he be totally spaced out high on weed? ;-)

I agree with this list. I think Palmer is a very good QB placed on a remarkably bad team. He has a bad head coach, bad management, a bad teammate for a receiver, and an outrageously awful offensive line.

He can't help that.....unless he calls for a trade.

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