2008 Fantasy Football Quarterbacks

A look at the top QBs in Fantasy Football 2008

In our first Fantasy Football preview of the position-by-position report we begin with the QB position. Check back with our Fantasy Football tips & strategy next week for further position breakdowns. Also, check out our Fantasy Baseball report over at MLBcenter.com.

Football varies from baseball in numerous ways. Football leagues are much deeper and easier to deal with than baseball. Football also suffers from a wider amount of platoon situations. The NFL also has considerably more injuries to be dealt with than MLB. All of this sounds complicated, but the biggest difference between the baseball and football fantasy leagues is simply depth and the ease of its acquisition. Most fantasy football leagues consist of 10-12 teams with 8-12 players starting each week. The NFL has 32 teams, each with essentially 5-8 starting and minimally moderately valuable players.

All of this just means that even the higher injury rates and platoons do not take enough out of the pool to make it nearly as weak as most baseball league pools. Conversely football fantasy leagues also tend to be more evenly matched than baseball leagues. So, you must be much more particular in who you put in every place on your team. With only 16 games in a full season your margin for error is smaller.

Making the correct decisions is essential to success in football leagues and gambles have much less value than in baseball leagues. All of that said we will take our first look at QB, which is often overlooked in its fantasy importance due to the focus on RB. However, there are far fewer elite QB’s than there are RB’s. Most players focus entirely on RB’s, so you can steal one of the top QB’s and really gain over some other owners. Here are our rankings and thoughts on the top QB’s.

Top Tier Fantasy QB

Tom Brady (Patriots)

I believe Brady is the only QB in the top category. He will not repeat last year, but I see no other QB with the weapons and pass happy focus of Brady and the Pats. He is as valuable as most of the RB in the NFL.

Second Tier Fantasy QBs

Peyton Manning (Colts), Drew Brees (Saints), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Tony Romo (Cowboys)

This level is an interesting mix of players and levels for the position. Manning has declined the last two years and has injury concerns. Brees is solid and surrounded by tons of weapons. Big Ben is on the rise in a system that is passing more. Romo is trying to climb the latter into the top tier and has many weapons as any NFL QB. All in all you could not go wrong with any of these four QB’s.

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Third Tier Fantasy QBs

Matt Hasselbeck (Seahawks), Jay Cutler (Broncos), Carson Palmer (Bengals)

Hasselbeck is as consistent and underrated as any QB in the NFL. He also has the benefit of a team that is passing more and more. Cutler is the QB I think will take the biggest leap this year. He has a chance to jump at least one level with ease. Palmer is the weakest player in this bunch based on last year, but you have to think that a year back from the injury will help. Also, it cannot hurt to have Ocho Cinco trying to prove something. This is the last level that guarantees anything solid.

Fourth Tier Fantasy QBs

Brett Favre (Jets), Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Derek Anderson (Browns), Jon Kitna (Lions), Philip Rivers (Chargers)

Favre may be as good as last year, but he is a gamble. As I said earlier, gambles are not worth it in the NFL, take a wait and see approach. Rodgers has decent ability, but more importantly is surrounded by a loaded offense. Anderson has to prove last year was no fluke. Kitna is the safest bet in this group, as he will put up a ton of yards and decent TD numbers. Rivers is another player I expect to make a jump, not like Cutler or Big Ben, but solid nonetheless. If you do not have a QB by now you had better have Adrian Peterson and LT.

Fifth Tier Fantasy QBs

Jason Campbell (Redskins), Eli Manning (Giants), Jeff Garcia (Bucs), Vince Young (Titans), Matt Schaub (Texans)

This group is guys that are solid backups. I know Eli fans will get mad, but he has to prove to me that he is the QB from the end of the year. Campbell and Young need to take steps forward this year and could move up for next season. Garcia is the most solid bet from this group. If Schaub can stay healthy I think he can take a big step forward in his second year as a starter, he is worth a shot as a backup.

Everybody Else

There is a trio of intriguing QB’s including Marc Bulger (Rams), Donovan McNabb (Eagles), and Matt Leinart (Cards). Bulger and McNabb are coming off of injuries but have much better track records than most QB’s not on the above list. They both have excellent potential and good weapons. If they could stay healthy and get back to their old ways they could provide excellent value. Leinart is another story. After a solid end to a rookie season he has regressed. He needs to take a huge step forward this year or he is going to be another failed top pick. He has an excellent offense around him and a solid coaching staff in Arizona. However, up until now he has shown very little ability to take advantage of those advantages.

All three of these guys have the potential to help, but they are all gambles. I do not like gambles in NFL leagues. I do not like McNabb or Leinart’s chances either. Bulger has a chance to be the one player out of this list to have value. He is worth a late round flyer, especially if you get a lower tier QB # 1.

Rookie QBs (and one essential rookie)

Matt Ryan (Falcons), Jamarcus Russell (Raiders)

Ryan is the only rookie worth putting in any spot on your team. He has a chance to be decent this season and a big time breakout candidate next season. Russell is just now going through his first full training camp. He has struggled in practice, but been decent in games. They both are worth a late round backup position, but I like Ryan a little better for the long run than Russell.

By Brian Chmielewski
ProFootball-fans.com Fantasy Football Director of Content

Fans can contact Brian via email at bchmfantasybaseball @ yahoo.com