2009 Fantasy Football Quarterbacks

A look at the top QBs in Fantasy Football 2009

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.

Quarterbacks are the field generals of professional football teams. They are the leaders of the offense. Unfortunately, in the fantasy world, it is not always the best deal to draft a quarterback in the first round or spend a lot of money at an auction. Even though we have seen teams move to more passing, the running backs rule fantasy football. However, you never know. Opportunity may knock, and you maybe able to get a high quality signal caller at the right time or at the right price. 2009 is another great year in fantasy football. I will list my quarterback rankings, and some opportunities for value and in drafts and auctions. This is a starting point, fantasy owners need to be flexible and up to date until draft time.

Top 3 Quarterbacks: This is the cream of the quarterback crop

• Drew Brees: A pass heavy offense with a defense that is very average or below. Brees has been getting it done for three years straight.

• Peyton Manning: Another offense that is on the low from last year. If you are a big fan of Manning, he may fall a little cheaper in auctions and possibly the 3rd round of a snake draft.

• Tom Brady: Because of the injury last year, Brady may be on the low as well. Quarterback lovers may land Brady in the late 2nd round, or save a couple bucks in the auction.

The 2nd phase: Anyone of these quarterbacks will be solid.

• Aaron Rodgers: The cat is out of the bag. This guy is tough and can play. He will be expensive and should be gone by the end of the 4 th round of 10 team serpentine drafts.

• Kurt Warner: His age and hip are a concern, but this quarterback has the supporting cast and easy schedule in the late months to hit 5,000 yards and 30+ touchdown.

• Phillip Rivers: I believe his production will come down to earth with a better defense and a healthy Tomlinson/Sproles combination at running back.

• Tony Romo: Without Terrell Owens and Jessica Simpson dragging him down, Romo will feel like a new man.

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The 3rd Phase: Good value here.

• Donovan Mcnabb: If Mcnabb had the gravy schedule of Kurt Warner, his numbers would be much better.

• Matt Schaub: As Aaron Rodgers was in 2008, Schaub has a chance to put up some big numbers with a great supporting cast and friendly schedule. He has been going late in mock drafts. He is a quarterback that warrants risk, but may be had for a couple of bucks in an auction which would be a steal. Draft a good back-up.

• Matt Ryan: A good pick, but I am not a fan of his schedule. Should improve upon 2008 numbers.

• Jay Cutler: I like Jay Cutler a lot, but not in Chicago. Cutler is a great quarterback to play in a match-up game with another quarterback. Cutler’s schedule works well in a 2 QB scheme with Matt Hasselbeck.

• Carson Palmer: I am not a fan of the team or the coaching situation. This rating is based upon the bad Cincinnati Bengals defense. Palmer will probably be passing from behind in the score.

4th phase: Late draft picks and cheap auction depth

• Ben Roethlisberger: Good schedule and will need to pass. If he can avoid injury and the line gels, he should improve his numbers somewhere between 2007 and 2008.

• Matt Hasselbeck: His easy schedule makes him a great 2nd quarterback on any fantasy team.

• Matt Cassel: His situation is positive in Kansas City. I just don’t like the schedule.

• Eli Manning: Huge contract doesn’t mean anything in fantasy.

5th phase: Welcome to the dollar store.

• Kyle Orton: Orton should be an adequate #2 QB.

• David Garrard: 3200 yards, 20 touchdowns at best.

• Shaun Hill: Easy schedule.

• Trent Edwards: Bad offensive line, but he has T.O.

• Jason Campbell: Has something to prove.

• Joe Flacco: Numbers should go up a 1/3. 3100 yards, 17 touchdown. The team will run a ton.

Last Phase: Delhomme, Pennington, Bulger, Rosenfels, Quinn, Culpepper.

Make sure to watch the camp battles and adjust accordingly.

By Marty Beil
ProFootball-fans.com Fantasy Football Director of Content