Fantasy QBs: Don’t Draft a QB Too Early

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Fantasy QBs: Don’t Draft a QB Too Early

By Mike Brody
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Contributing Writer

Having a good quarterback is essential to winning the Super Bowl. In fantasy football, the quarterback position is sometimes an afterthought. If you draft Peyton Manning or one of the other top QBs early, you may end up struggling at the more important positions of running back and wide receiver.

A good strategy for deciding on a quarterback is to pick out 12 guys you would be satisfied with as your fantasy starter. Keep an eye on the other teams’ rosters as they draft quarterbacks and wait as long as you can and round out the rest of your roster before choosing your QB. Usually, a second-tier quarterback will do if you have great RBs and WRs.

The Top Three
Peyton Manning is easily the top choice. He’ll probably be a first-round pick in most leagues. While his numbers last season weren’t even close to his record-setting 49 TDs in ’04, he still threw for 3,747 yards, 28 TDs and just 10 INTs. It also helps that Manning plays for the Super Bowl favorite Colts (wagerweb's odds on Indianapolis are +600). The loss of Edgerrin James will hurt the Colts, but it should help Manning’s fantasy stats. He’ll be forced to throw even more, and his outstanding receiving corps returns intact. He might even run a couple of TDs in. "Everybody has been asking how the running game is going to be this year. I've told them I'm going to try to get involved in the running game more myself," the two-time MVP joked.

New England’s Tom Brady should be the next QB picked. Brady is Mr. Consistent, putting up 24-28 TDs, 3,600-4,100 yards and 12-14 INTs the past four seasons, including an NFL-leading 4,110 passing yards last season to go with 26 TDs. The Patriots added some offensive weapons for Brady this offseason as they gear up for another Super Bowl run (13-2 in Bodog’s Super Bowl odds). It should be another strong year in New England for the team and its star QB.

The No. 3 QB is the Rams’ Marc Bulger. Bulger plays in one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL and has outstanding receivers – Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce – and a solid running back who can catch the ball out of the backfield in Stephen Jackson.
The question with Bulger is his health. He has suffered four injuries to his throwing shoulder over the past two seasons and missed half of last season. New St. Louis coach Scott Linehan has vowed to keep Bulger upright, something that the six-year pro and his fantasy owners are happy to hear. “I know one of his main objectives is to protect me. And do it without losing the aggressiveness [on offense],” Bulger said. If that happens, Bulger could be in for a big year with 4,000 yards and 30 TDs a real possibility.

Serviceable Starters
You’ll be OK if you get any of these guys as your fantasy starter.

Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks – Hasselbeck has blossomed into one of the NFL’s best signal callers. He makes good decisions and has an excellent supporting cast around him. The addition of Nate Burleson should help a receiving corps that has been plagued by dropped balls the past few seasons. With the Seahawks playing against some very weak secondaries in the NFC West, Hasselbeck has a good chance of surpassing his career-best 2003 numbers when he posted 28 TDs and 3,841 passing yards.

Eli Manning, New York Giants – Peyton’s little brother made a name for himself last season leading the Giants to 11 wins and the NFC East title. They are a popular sleeper pick to win the Super Bowl this season (+$1500 at wagerweb). Manning had five 290-plus yard games and threw at least one TD in every game but one last season. Eli passed for 3,762 yards and 24 TDs in his first full season as a starter last year. He should only get better.

Drew Bledsoe, Dallas Cowboys – The 14-year veteran revived his career in his first season in Dallas last year. Bledsoe’s 3,639 yards and 25 total TDs were his best numbers since 2002, his first season in Buffalo. Now the Cowboys have added Terrell Owens to the offense, and Bledsoe couldn’t be happier. “I am excited,” the QB said of Owens’ arrival. “I think we got better as a team. I became a better quarterback without doing anything.” Expect Bledsoe to approach 4,000 yards and improve on last season’s TD total.

Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers – Delhomme and the Panthers will settle for nothing less than a Super Bowl appearance this season. Even though he made the Pro Bowl last year, he said he wasn’t satisfied after losing to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. “I think he feels like he can go to another level, and he can’t be content just yet,” said offensive coordinator Dan Henning. That drive, and the addition of Keyshawn Johnson to go with superstar receiver Steve Smith, could lead to Delhomme posting numbers better than his career-high 3,886 yards and 29 TDs in 2004.

Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals – Warner throws to arguably the best starting receivers in the game, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, who last season became only the second receiving tandem in NFL history to each have 100 catches and more than 1,400 yards. The addition of Edgerrin James might mean the Cardinals will throw less, but their offense will be even more explosive and Warner will still have plenty of opportunities. Health is always the question with Warner – he missed six games last season – but if he stays on the field, 4,000 yards and 20-25 TDs are within reach.

Having a capable backup quarterback is extremely important in the NFL and fantasy football. Be sure to protect yourself from a slump or injury by drafting a quality backup.

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