Fantasy Football: Quarterback Preview

The top fantasy players in just about every type of league are the running backs. Usually the top 7-10 selections are these running backs because of the fact that they are likely 100+ yard per game guys who should get 7-10 touchdowns in the season.

However, in my opinion, the key to a successful fantasy football season is to have as good a quarterback as possible. You can usually find a running back in the mid to late rounds that can get the job done, and put three of those mediocre guys together and you can win each week.

But a team with a mediocre quarterback can mean a constant struggle and a crossing of the fingers each week.

Top Player – Tom Brady, New England Patriots
I know that the best quarterback in the league doesn’t necessarily mean the best “fantasy” quarterback, but I can’t pick against Tom Brady, especially this year.

He’s two years off from surgery, so he’s no question at 100 percent. He’s got a healthy Randy Moss and Wes Welker, and a receiving corp so talented that future Hall of Famer Tory Holt might not make the final roster. His got some depth at running back, and maybe the most talented left tackle protecting him since the very early Matt Light years.

Plus, with Brees and Manning meeting up in the Super Bowl last year, you know that Brady and Belichek will be thursty for the spotlight, and with the window of championships closing in a few years, Brady should have a 2007 type season once again.

Great Value – Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
I’m not a huge fan of taking a quarterback in the first round, and in the second round I’d only take a guy I was positive would be a 4,000+ yard passer with 30+ touchdowns. But in that late second round area to third round, that’s the prime opportunity to take a quarterback.

The best three quarterbacks in the league (Brady, Brees, and Manning) along with Aaron Rodgers will likely be gone in most leagues by pick 24. After them, you may not find a more sure-fire lock to be productive than Ryan. He’s got a Pro-Bowler in Roddy White and an explosive player similar to Deion Branch in his Patriot years in Harry Douglas, along with a very good running cast.

Great Value – Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
The sexy pick to be the suprise team in the AFC, the Joe Flacco-lead Ravens look like the best team they’ve had on paper EVER. Their defense may not be as dominate as the Super Bowl winning season, but their offense is as deep and talented as any in the league.

Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, and Le’Ron McClain form a dominate trio at running back, and the addition of Anquan Boldin to go with Derrick Mason on the outside and the additions of Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson at tight end to accompany Todd Heap make this passing attack even more deadly. If Flacco can finally put it altogether, then he could be a Top 3 quarterback in the AFC this year.

Great Value – Donovan McNabb, Washington Redskins
After this upcoming NFL season, I think Eagles fans will miss what they had in McNabb. He was viewed as the “problem” in Philadelphia, and for good reason right?

I mean, he only has the 3rd highest winning percetage among NFL quarterbacks among active players, and is the least intercepted quarterback of all time, per pass attempt.

But other than that little stat, I think the Redskins will be happy with their acquasition. With a very deep running back group and a notably great running coach, the pressure should be off McNabb for the most part. And if the pressure comes, he’s got a Top 5 pick at left tackle, and a former left tackle at right tackle. His receiving corps is a bit young and unproven, but if Malcolm Kelly and/or Devin Thomas can step up, he could have an outstanding season.

Sleeper – Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers
All reports I’ve heard thus far have stated that Smith has been ultra-impressive in 49ers camp, and with the receivers and running backs around him, plus the team’s dedication to the offensive line puts all the pieces for him to thrive.

Smith has been viewed as a major bust since being the top overall pick in the draft, but at 25, he’s still got time to develop. With Micheal Crabtree, Josh Morgan, Vernon Davis, and a host of other receivers that can produce, he has no reason to not lead this team to the playoffs. He’s a bit of a risk and not a opening day fantasy starter, but he’s a guy to watch to explode by mid-season.

Sleeper – Matt Leinart, Arizona Cardinals
People have routinely knocked Leinart over the past few years because he couldn’t get past Kurt Warner on the depth chart. Think about it: Is that really that embarassing?

Warner has been a Top 10 quarterback the past three seasons, and Leinart has had the opportunity to develop even more behind him. With Larry Fitzgerald, a Top 3 receiver in the league, and explosive receivers like Steve Breaston, Early Doucet, and Andre Roberts, Leinart still has the weapons around him to be outstanding. He’ll have to beat out Derek Anderson to start the season, but if (more like when) he does, he could get out to a hot start and get close to Warner-like production.

Sleeper – Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos
Deffinitlly a deep, deep sleeper, I wouldn’t count out Orton just because Tim Tebow’s in house for three reasons.

One, Drew Brees was all but written off in San Diego, but the drafting of Phillip Rivers gave him the incentive to play even better, and he went on to be now one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.

Two, he plays in one of, if not the, worst division in the league this year. The Raiders, Chiefs, and Chargers are no locks to go above 9-7, and if the Broncos take advantage of the lack of talent in the division, Orton could be ingrained as the starter as long as they keep winning.

And three, Josh McDaniels. To start the 2009 season, Orton look very impressive. But the lack of talent on defense and the offensive line hurt Orton and he struggled the rest of the year. The defense is improved, and if McDaniels can make Matt Cassel into a near Pro-Bowler, then Orton has a chance to do the same.

NFLHouse.com Quarterback Rankings
1. Tom Brady
2. Drew Brees
3. Peyton Manning
4. Aaron Rodgers
5. Matt Schab
6. Tony Romo
7. Matt Ryan
8. Joe Flacco
9. Brett Favre
10. Carson Palmer
11. Phillip Rivers
12. Donovan McNabb 
13. Kevin Kolb
14. Chad Henne
15. Ben Roethlisberger
16. Mark Sanchez
17. Eli Manning
18. Matt Stafford
19. Alex Smith
20. Jay Cutler
21. Matt Leinart
22. Kyle Orton
23. Josh Freeman
24. Matt Hasselback
25. Matt Cassell
26. Vince Young
27. Jake Delhomme
28. Brian Brohm
29. Matt Moore
30. Bruce Gradkowski
31. Sam Bradford*
32. David Garrard
33. Jimmy Clausen
34. Byron Leftwich
35. Trent Edwards