Fantasy QB Rankings
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by Andygates23
While the anchor of a fantasy team is its running back core, the importance of a stud quarterback is almost as important. Last year five QBs scored 300+ fantasy points and that kind of value is priceless. This year I think that number will increase to seven so while QBs are a crucial part of your fantasy team, there are enough to go around (unlike RBs). Don’t waste your first pick on something you can get in round four of your draft. With that being said, there are a few QBs that stand out that are worth picking up after you’ve established your RBs. Here they are in order:
1. Peyton Manning: Much like Tomlinson, Manning is the clear cut number one at his position and has been for several years. Peyton has two Pro-Bowl wide receivers in Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne and a versatile back who can catch the ball in Joseph Addai. Although the Colts lost their long time left tackle Tarik Glenn, they also added a true slot receiver when they drafted Anthony Gonzales in the first round. The last time Manning had a healthy slot WR was in his 2004 record breaking 49 TD season. Even without Glenn I expect a better year from Manning than his last two. His owners will sit back and smile as he crosses the 40 TD barrier for the second time in his career.
2. Carson Palmer: Palmer has his own lethal WR duo and every down back. With Chad Johnson saying he’s back to his cocky playing and shenanigans Palmer could have his best season yet.
3. Tom Brady: Look out AFC. Head coach Bill Belichick has given his star QB weapons he’s never had before. He has a receiving core that has Patriot fans salivating and if Randy Moss returns to his Pro-Bowl form we could see Brady top his season high 28 TD throws and another Super Bowl in Boston.
4. Drew Brees: With coach Sean Payton’s offense and no fear attitude in New Orleans, Brees is one of fantasy’s power houses. What makes him so dangerous isn’t his receivers, it’s actually his backfield combo of Reggie Bush and Deuce McAllister. With the threat of Deuce’s power and of Bush’s speed and pass catching abilities, safeties have no choice but to play close to the line which leaves deep patterns with one-on-one coverage, advantage WR and Brees.
5. Marc Bulger: Bulger may be the most underrated QB in the NFL and fantasy, but this guy gets it done. Last year he had 4,300 yards with 24 TDs and only 8 INTs. He has maybe the best hands WR in the NFL in Tory Holt and one of the best backs in the league to take off some of the pass rush. Draft this guy with confidence.
6. Donovan McNabb: There’s no question that when McNabb is healthy he’s one of the best in the league. The problem is that’s been a huge question the past few years. He hasn’t started a complete season since 2003, but he says he’s healthy now and with the announcement today that McNabb will start Friday against the Panthers there’s no reason to doubt him.
7. Vince Young: The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year lost a lot in the off-season including his leading rusher and receiver, but with a year under his belt and a better grasp of offensive coordinator Norm Chow’s offense, I see him having a better passing season than most foresee. But what makes Young a huge fantasy QB is his legs. He won’t throw for 3,500 yards and 30 TDs like the above QBs, but he will run for 800 yards and 10 TDs, add that with his passing stats and you’ve got a top ten QB.
8. Jon Kitna: Here is another much overlooked QB. Kitna had a surprising 4,200 yards last year and believe it or not he could very well top that mark this season. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz now has the weapons he needs to have the production he had in St. Louis. Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson and Mike Furry will give Kitna plenty of targets to throw at and a career year.
9. Matt Hasselbeck: While Hasselbeck did lose his #1 WR, D.J. Hackett is one of this year’s favorite fantasy sleepers and don’t forget Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch. Add those guys with Shaun Alexander and a solid offensive line and you should get one of the NFC’s top offenses.
10. Matt Leinart: New head coach Ken Whisenhunt says that he’s dedicated to the run, but when a team has one of the best WR tandems in the NFL it can’t let that talent go to waste. With a much improved offensive line Leinart will have adequate time to let his stud receivers get open which should double his eleven touchdowns and cut down on his twelve interceptions he had last year.
11. Philip Rivers: Rivers is an unusual case because he doesn’t have a true #1 WR, but what he does have is the best RB and TE in the NFL and with offensive master Norv Turner calling the plays look for the second year starter to improve upon his impressive debut.
12. Tony Romo: Romo came out firing when Drew Bledsoe was benched, but faltered in the last five games of the season by throwing eight interceptions compared to six touchdowns. Now the question is what Romo will we see this year? I’m betting on the former with receivers like Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn on his side.
13. Ben Roethlisberger: There will be a lot of offensive changes in Pittsburgh this year under new head coach Mike Tomlin. Tomlin plans to give more control to his starting QB and to install a four wide system to spread the ball out. Roethlisberger looked stellar against the Saints in his first preseason game in his new offense and he’s just getting started.
14. Jay Cutler: The fans in Denver are excited about the potential of their young QB. Last year he showed moments of brilliance that even brought some comparisons to the legendary John Elway. I think those comparisons are still way too premature, but I do see many bright spots in Cutler. He has a rocket for an arm and makes very good decisions for someone in only his second year. Cutler has a strong line and a talented receiver in Javon Walker that will make him a 200+ point QB.
15. Eli Manning: I cringe when I say Eli’s name because he is so inconsistent, but the truth is he deserves a lot more credit than I give him. Last year he was a top ten fantasy QB so he had to be doing something right. But (and this is a big but) last year he also had a top ten fantasy back. Now Tiki is gone and Eli could pay the price. Tiki was a great receiving back and was Eli’s dump off target many times with him gone expect teams to blitz more causing more Manning blunders. Of course he is a Manning and could explode with all of his football knowledge (which is why he’s 15 on my list), but I would only use him as a backup on my fantasy team. I’ll bet that job in San Diego is looking pretty cozy now, huh Eli.
16. Brett Favre: Iron man Favre returns this year after many skeptics said he should have hanged them up. In his unprecedented seventeenth year Favre should break every QB record in the book and Dan Marino’s heart. He is still on a young team, but this team won eight games last year and I think they’ll improve on that this year. Favre will break records, get to the playoffs and score many fantasy points this season.
17. Jake Delhomme: Delhomme has arguably the best WR in football (Steve Smith) and Carolina used their second round pick to help take all the focus off of Smith by drafting Dwayne Jarrett. If Jarrett starts to show improvement and becomes the over the middle threat the Panthers expect him to be Delhomme could be a potential starter for your team.
18. J.P. Losman: Nobody has thought of Buffalo as a passing team since Jim Kelly and Andre Reed, but that will have to change with a rookie leading the backfield. If Buffalo is going to make a run it’ll most likely be on the shoulders of Losman and his outstanding WR Lee Evans.
19. Jeff Garcia: If head coach Jon Gruden can make Rich Gannon an NFL MVP with his offense, who knows what he can do with Garcia.
20. Steve McNair: The Ravens got a big addition to their offense in RB Willis McGahee and with Mark Clayton taking over the WR1 spot look for McNair to improve upon his average numbers from last year.
Choose wisely my friends. A stud QB will be priceless come playoff time. Coming soon will be the WR rankings.
