Fantasy Notes: Quarterbacks

In fantasy football, the quarterback position is different than any other. It’s a harder choice to make and if you choose the wrong signal-caller, you could be in for a frustrating fantasy season.

For starters, with quarterbacks there’s a smaller talent pool from which to choose. It’s not like tailbacks and wideouts, where most teams—even bad ones—might have one or two talented starters. There are only 32 starting quarterbacks in the league, and not all of them are exactly what you’d call “draftable candidates”.

And the backups aren’t much better. No offense to the A.J. Feeley’s and the Charlie Batch’s out there, but drafting a backup QB is not like drafting a backup running back or a #2 or #3 wideout. Whereas either of those players might still have decent season-long stats, a productive second-string QB is very hard to find. Just look at some notable backups from the 2009 season: Todd Collins, Curtis Painter, Bruce Gradkowski, David Carr, and Kevin Kolb. One of those guys is now a starter and the rest only saw limited playing time—and they weren’t anything to write home about.

So it’s safe to say that choosing a QB is probably one of the most important decisions that you will make as a fantasy team owner. And in the interest of making that choice easier, here are some QB recommendations that might help.

Safe Bets:

As far as reliable quarterbacks go, the obvious names always apply. If you’re looking to draft QB and Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Drew Brees are available, pick one of them. Barring an injury, these guys will put up numbers. Here are some other guys who are safe to bet on:

• Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay): In his second year as a starter, Rodgers emerged as one of the game’s up-and-coming elite QB’s, passing for 4,434 yards, 30 TD’s, and only 7 INT’s. He’s also proved to be one of the game’s most durable: he’s started all of Green Bay’s games the past two seasons. And though he struggled at times last year when tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher missed time with injuries, that shouldn’t be as much of a problem this year, as first-round pick Bryan Bulaga could emerge as a viable young starter on the line. You can bet that Rodgers is in for another big year.
• Joe Flacco (Baltimore): Last year, Flacco did something that no Ravens QB had done since Vinny Testaverde in 1996: he passed for 3,613 yards and 21 TD’s. And with a steady offensive line, a consistently strong ground game, and the addition of Anquan Boldin and Donte Stallworth, the Ravens offense could be even more potent than last year. Watch for Joe Flacco to have his best season yet.

Riskier Picks:

Not every fantasy owner likes to go after the top-shelf QB. If you’re one of those that would rather load up on backs and receivers in the early rounds, there are some perfectly adequate QB options that will still be available in Round 4. True, they’re might not be as productive as some, but these guys could still get your team a solid 10-15 points each week. The reliability of these “game managers” can surely be a boon to your playoff aspirations in the long run.

• Eli Manning (New York Giants): Often known as “the other Manning brother”, it’s often debated whether Eli is really an elite quarterback. Two years ago, the answer was undoubtedly yes, but last year, it looked like that might not be the case after all. A season that began with dominant performances against Dallas and Oakland ended in embarrassing gaffes against Carolina and Minnesota. But that’s the usual up-and-down with Eli Manning. And with a rested O-line and what appears to be a reenergized defense, Manning should have more ups than downs in 2010. So while he may toss double digit INT’s, he’s also likely to pass for 3,500 yards and 20+ TD’s. That’s not a bad risk to take.
• Jay Cutler (Chicago):Let’s not mince words: Cutler was awful in his first year with the Bears. But not all of that was his fault. Playing behind a terrible offensive line and throwing to a thin group of receivers will make anyone struggle. But with Mike Martz running the Bears’ offense now, Cutler could be in for a rebound. Martz has helped QB’s like Kurt Warner and Jon Kitna put up some of their best passing stats, and he could do the same with Cutler. The only downside is that a still-weak O-line and a thin crop of receivers might make for some rough patches. But if you feel like taking a chance, Cutler might not be the worst choice to make.

Benchwarmers:

In every draft, there are always a handful of surprises that will still be sitting there in the later rounds. Now, it’s never wise to draft your starting QB in Round 14. But if you’re willing to roll the dice, these quarterbacks could potentially come in handy if your starter falls victim to a freak injury (or if you need a four-to-six week sub for Ben Roethlisberger). At the very least, they’ll be a useful stand-in during your team’s bye-week.

• Jason Campbell (Oakland): Of course, anyone who saw Campbell play in D.C. may likely scoff a bit at this. But the Campbell who will lead the Raider’s offense will not be the same Campbell that barely made it out of Washington alive. Sure, Oakland’s offensive line is not the greatest, but it’s headed in the right direction. Campbell also has a talented backfield supporting him, and an emerging group of receivers to work with. He also has a talented tight end in Zach Miller, and Campbell loves having a good tight end. And it’s a safe bet that Campbell will want to prove his many doubters wrong, especially now that he plays for a team that actually wants him. Don’t be surprised if he also puts up 3,500 yards and 20+ TD’s.

So there they are; some of the quarterbacks that are worth drafting in 2010. Each of these players is primed to have an above average season. That said, it’s still entirely possible that they could bust. But if your draft slot is up, and one of these guys is still unclaimed, go for it and pick them up. It just might give you the edge you need to make the playoffs.