Quarterbacks
1. Phillip Rivers, SD (2010 Fantasy Projection: 396 pts)
| Rivers posted 335 points last season against a schedule that featured seven Top 10 defenses. He gets one of the softest schedules in the league this year and it is particularly easy early in the season. San Diego does play a tough Cincinnati defense in Week 16, which would likely be your league's championship game, however Rivers is 18-0 in December games so I'll take my chances. Average Draft Position: 37 |
2. Drew Brees, NO (2010 Fantasy Projection: 354 pts)
| Brees was the second highest scoring QB last season with 370 points but only played four Top 10 defenses. He plays seven defenses in the Top 10 this season and a very tough Baltimore defense in Week 15. That drops his value a bit, especially with an avg. draft pos. of 10, but he's still one of the best fantasy QB's in the league. Average Draft Position: 10 |
3. Peyton Manning, IND (2010 Fantasy Projection: 339 pts)
| Manning has never thrown less than 26 touchdown passes and has thrown for over 4,000 yards 10 times. He's not as flashy as some of the other QB's but he is one of the more solid fanstasy choices at QB. The Colts' schedule is slightly tougher this season so Manning's number could dip a bit but getting WR Anthony Gonzalez back could also provide a boost. Average Draft Position: 14 |
4. Aaron Rodgers, GB (2010 Fantasy Projection: 342 pts)
| Rodgers was the highest scoring player in fantasy last year with a whopping 407 points. The schedule is considerably more difficult this season though and includes a four-game stretch in the middle of the season all against Top 10 defenses. Rodgers does have tough games against New England and the Giants in weeks 15 and 16 but is still a top fantasy QB. Average draft position: 13 |
5. Tony Romo, DAL (2010 Fantasy Projection: 341 pts)
| Dallas' schedule is virtually indentical in strength to last season's so Romo should benear the 344 points he put up last season. The addition of WR Dez Bryant could provide a boost to the numbers but WR Miles Austin could also see a drop off. Average Draft Position: 32 |
6. Matt Cassel, KC (2010 Fantasy Projection: 321 pts)
| Cassel is a big surprise here considering his pedestrian 229 points last season. However, Kansas City plays the easiest schedule of the Top 24 quarterbacks in contrast to one of the more difficult ones last season. They also face two of the worst defenses in the league (St. Louis and Tennessee) in weeks 15 and 16. Cassel is a huge sleeper pick in the middle rounds. Average Draft Position: 125 |
7. Brett Favre, MIN (2010 Fantasy Projection: 329 pts)
| This pick is, of course, contingent on whether Favre returns (which I think he will). Favre had his best season last year and posted a surprising 342 points at 40 years old. It is not logical to suspect he is capable of duplicating those amazing numbers at 41 years old against a slightly tougher schedule. Favre does have potentially tough games in weeks 15 and 16 (Chicago and Philadelphia) but the raw data suggests he will have a very similar season and be a solid value in the sixth or seventh round. Average Draft Position: 71 |
8. Matt Schaub, HOU (2010 Fantasy Projection: 306 pts)
| Schaub had the third best fantasy season among QB's last season with 360 points. The schedule gets considerably tougher this season, however, and Houston faces a solid Danver defense in week 16. Schaub will still be a solid fantasy QB but do not expect the same type of season as he had in 2009. Average Draft Position: 37 |
9. Tom Brady, NE (2010 Fantasy Projection: 290 pts)
| After posting the sixth best fantasy QB numbers last season, Brady was rewarded with one of the league's toughest defensive schedule this year. Tough games in weeks 13 (Jets) and 15 (Green Bay) and an aging receiving corps makes Brady a risky pick in the third round. Average Draft Position: 34 |
10. Kyle Orton, DEN (2010 Fantasy Projection: 344 pts)
| Another surprise appearance in the Top 10 is Orton. He is actually being drafted behind Tim Tebow (113 avg.) in many leagues. However, Orton posted the 13th best fantasy QB season last year and gets one of the easiest defensive schedules in the league. I do not think Tebow will start this season unless Orton gets injured so Orton becomes a very viable option as a No. 2 QB late in the draft. Average Draft Position: 133 |
11. Carson Palmer, CIN (2010 Fantasy Projection: 289 pts)
| A case could be made for selecting Palmer ahead of Orton with the addition of WR Terrell Owens. However, we do not know how that marriage will turn out. Palmer does get a slightly easier schedule this year and has decent match-ups in weeks 15 and 16 (Cleveland and San Diego). You should expect an increase over his 269 points of 2009 and he makes an attractive option as a No. 2 QB in the ninth or 10th round. Average Draft Position: 109 |
12. Eli Manning, NYG (2010 Fantasy Projection: 296 pts)
| The younger Manning posted a respectable 315 points against a pretty difficult schedule in 2009. Unfortunately, the schedule is even more difficult this year. Games against Philly and Green Bay in weeks 15 and 16 don't make things any better. Eli is a decent fantasy QB but is probably overvalued in the eighth or ninth round. Average Draft Position: 90 |
13. Matt Ryan, ATL (2010 Fantasy Projection: 286 pts)
| Matty Ice faced one of the toughest schedules in the league and posted a reasonable 243 fantasy points. This year Ryan gets a much easier schedule and poor defenses in Seattle and New Orleans in weeks 15 and 16. The bad news is that many fantasy players realize this as well and are drafting him in the seventh round or higher. He's a solid fantasy pick if you can get him in the eight or ninth round. Average Draft Position: 83 |
14. Donovan McNabb, WSH (2010 Fantasy Projection: 282 pts)
| McNabb posted decent fantasy numbers last season (293) in Philly. He gets a slightly tougher schedule and may be handing the ball off a lot more. The raw data suggests only a slight dip in numbers but he could be in the 250's. Still a good No. 2 QB, especially if you can get him in the 10th round or later. Average Draft Position: 98 |
15. Joe Flacco, BAL (2010 Fantasy Projection: 257 pts)
| The addition of WR Anquan Boldin has many thinking Flacco is due for a breakout season. However, Baltimore is a run-first team with a tremendous back in Ray Rice. Flacco gets a slightly tougher schedule so the data suggests his numbers dip slightly, but I think he will be right around 255 again. Average Draft Position: 94 |
16. Jay Cutler, CHI (2010 Fantasy Projection: 271 pts)
| Even with all of the interceptions, Cutler still had a decent fantasy point total (316) in 2009. He did that against one of the toughest schedules in the league. The bad news, the Bears' 2010 schedule is ever more difficult. Week 15 and 16 games against Minnesota and the Jets don't help, making Cutler a very poor fantasy option. Average Draft Position: 65 |
17. Jason Campbell, OAK (2010 Fantasy Projection: 303 pts)
| Campbell posted a respectable 289 points in Washington last season. He gets an easier schedule with Oakland but also has less talent around him. The data suggests 303 points but I would guess in the 270's. Average Draft Position: 118 |
18. David Garrard, JAX (2010 Fantasy Projection: 265 pts)
| Garrard tallied a respectable 291 fantasy points last season for a poor Jacksonville team. He doesn't have a great supporting cast and has been terribly inconsistent. Plus, he faced the easiest schedule in the league in 2009. Garrard isn't a great fantasy option, even later in the draft. Average Draft Position: 122 |
19. Matt Hasselbeck, SEA (2010 Fantasy Projection: 241 pts)
| Because of his injury history, Hasselbeck is a risky fantasy option. However, a new coach in Pete Carroll and a talented young receiving corps could make him a feasible No. 2 fantasy QB. Average Draft Position: 124 |
20. Chad Henne, MIA (2010 Fantasy Projection: 223 pts)
| Henne wasn't a great fantasy QB last season (254 points) and the Dolphins' schedule gets more difficult this season. The one positive is that he plays cupcakes Buffalo and Detroit in weeks 15 and 16 so he may be worth a look late in the season if your QB is hurt or resting the final few weeks. Average Draft Position: 128 |
21. Alex Smith, SF (2010 Fantasy Projection: 195 pts)
| Smith is not a reliable fantasy option and should be an absolute last resort. He does have decent match-ups in weeks 15 and 16 (San Diego and St. Louis) but should only be last resort. Average Draft Position: 124 |
22. Mark Sanchez, NYJ (2010 Fantasy Projection: 151 pts)
| Many people expect Sanchez to improve on the 200 fantasy points he posted in 2009. They point to the additions of LaDanian Tomlinson and Santonio Holmes and a full season with Braylon Edwards. What those people don't take into account is that Sanchez is going from one of the easiest schedule to one of the most difficult. I think he will be better than the data suggests (151 points) but I would be surprised if he gets to 200 again. Plus, he faces a really good Pittsburgh defense and a potentially tough Chicago defense in weeks 15 and 16. Average Draft Position: 114 |
23. Matthew Stafford, DET (2010 Fantasy Projection: 155 pts)
| Stafford posted one of the lowest fantasy totals among fantasy QB's last season (165). Unfortunately, the league rewarded him with the league's toughest defensive schedule. It is possible Stafford gets better but still posts poor fantasy numbers, considering the schedule. He does get breaks in weeks 15 and 16 (Tampa Bay and Miami) however. Average Draft Position: 118 |
24. Vince Young, TEN (2010 Fantasy Projection: 140 pts)
| People have been waiting for Young to break out since his rookie season. However, meantal and injury issues have hampered the former Texas star. He's much too inconsistent and is on a run oriented team making him a very poor fantasy option. Average Draft Position: 128 |
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