Quarterbacks are faster to rank, as there is only one starter per team, usually, with a few training camp battles here and there. Those players that are on the bubble will rank lower.
The highest rankings will go to the relatively young, proven players that will count on the support from solid wide receivers. The entire Maniaxs' staff compiled their own rankings, assigning 32 points to a No. 1 rank going down to assigning one point to a No. 32 rank. Then we added all the points and determined the final 2008 QB rankings.
Let me reassure you that nothing particularly crazy happened during the ranking process like ranking Tom Brady No. 32. He received all but one first-place vote. Peyton Manning received all but two second-place votes. The lone occasion where Brady didn't get a first place vote, Peyton didn't take his place, Carson Palmer did. We will have a few articles later into the offseason about Manning's declining rankings in 2008.
For now, enjoy our OFFICIAL 2008 Fantasy QB Seasonal (predraft) Rankings. We have included the final rankings' grid/table for your ease, and a PDF link so that you can download them for your draft(s).
1) Tom Brady: The No. 1 consensus QB pick in 2008, after a career season in which he passed for 4,806 yards and was responsible for an astonishing 50 TDs. He lost Stallworth (who didn’t have a good year anyhow—697 yards and three TDs), but Gaffney is ready to replace him. Randy Moss and Wes Welker are still there to receive his passes and solidify his top-rank. Even a 75 percent repetition of last year's numbers will warrant him the top pick at the position.
2) Peyton Manning: His good, but diminished, production of 4,040 yards (second career-lowest) and 31 scores in 2007 was shadowed only by Tom Brady’s (and a few others) exceptional season. He may fall to the second round of drafts this year, and Tony Romo might even be taken ahead of him in some of them.
Peyton is still a first-tier QB by all means. His fantasy numbers may suffer because of the Colts' "cruise control" mode they adopted last year, of controlling the clock via the running game and using the aerial attack only if needed. Missing favorite target Marvin Harrison for a handful of games contributed to his "dipping" numbers.
3) Tony Romo: Last year’s sleeper, who went from posting 2,903 yards and 19 TDs in 2006 to accumulate 4,211 yards and 36 TDs in 2007, is now ready to be a top-five selection, as long as Terrell Owens (34-years old) and Witten continue to shine.
4) Drew Brees: After a slow ’07 start, he regrouped and produced as advertised. It was too late though, and fantasy owners will be scared of another slow start in '08. Take advantage of that and fly with him. After all, he managed to produce career-highs in yards (4,428), TDs (28), YPG (276.8), and completed 67.6 percent of his passes. The fact that his main target, Marques Colston, will be a “magical” third-year WR next season will only increase his upside.
5) Carson Palmer:
7 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Isaac Elyacharshuster about 1 year ago
Great read!
I would have the rankings about the same, with Kitna a little higher, as well as the Lienart/Warner duo higher as well, under one condition, Warner is the QB. You can't argue with 27 TDs and 3400 yards in only 11 games started (though he appeared in 14). Also, VY is not a fantasy threat, unless he starts running like he did in his rookie year, or is more accurate in the red zone.
Edit Comment Cancel
Football Maniaxs about 1 year ago
Thanks Isaac. Kitna has the potential to do well in Detroit with Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson on his side among other plausible weapons like McDonald and Furrey. However, his high INTs number is a restraint for fantasy owners to rank him in th top-10. The Lions need to establish their ground game and keep defenses honest in order for Kitna to enjoy more time in the pocket. Vince Young is a fantasy nightmare but worth drafting as a QB2 because of his starter status and the no competition he faces. is running habits have warranted him a fantasy spot since joining the league.
Edit Comment Cancel
Sandra Hill about 1 year ago
Amen on the Matt Leinart poo-pooh.
Leinart got 10 starts his rookie year, quite a few for such a young player.
And the Cardinals have put all the pieces around Leinart to succeed--two Pro-Bowl receivers and an offensive line improved by more talented players and better coaching.
Yet, all the Leinart could manage in 2007 was 0.4 TD's/game, the lowest QB rating of starting NFL QB's, and another season-ending injury.
What made his season look especially disappointing were the gaudy numbers that Kurt Warner then put up as his replacement--27 TD's and 3400 yards despite starting only 11 games.
I have seen nothing out of Leinart that makes me "believe he will finally realize the potential that made him a top-10 pick a couple of seasons ago." Instead, I have seen only an immature poser of a QB, with poor mechanics, inadequate off-season and in-season preparation, and a less-than-suspect arm.
He's completely out of excuses....unless someone dredges up the old "looking over his shoulder" excuse.
Edit Comment Cancel
Football Maniaxs about 1 year ago
In response to the Leinart comment, I'd have to say that the same statement I wrote about Kitna can be made of him. The Cardinals need to establish their ground game and keep defenses honest in order for Leinart to enjoy more time in the pocket and make more accurate throws. Why does Warner get the huge numbers without the running game, you are about to ask? For one, Warner is an established veteran that had a nice career, when not injured and secondly, when he took over for Leinart the O-Line was already starting to gel. In fact his numbers soared after week 12 throwing 16 of his 27 TDs then. A luxury Leinart wasn't afforded. He has potential, but potential doesn't cut it in the fantasy world. As soon as we have a definite answer on who the starteris in Arizona we may adjust our rankings accordingly. Leinart hurt my fantasy team last year as well. I feel your unforgiving position and agree with it. Fantasy Football is like "What have you done for me lately?"
Edit Comment Cancel
Ted Choate about 1 year ago
Fantasy, Your report was well written, and spot-on for the most part. But I also gotta comment on this Leinart character. I just think that you're way off on that loser. The Arizona offensive line started off fairly. And then sagged in the middle when the big rookie Levi Brown was injured. But at no point last season would they still ever be considered very good. The drop in numbers and production for Warner in the mid-season had more to do with Warner's dislocated left elbow and Whiz's decision to replace Warner in the goal line situations. And don't forget that Warner played much of his time with either Boldin or Fitz or both on the sideline. As his elbow improved and his brace decreased in size, Warner really started warming up. Warner played at a Pro-Bowl level last season. He was pretty amazing. And there is no question in either one of our minds that Leinart didn't. But what I don't see in Leinart is this potential that you talk about. What are you or other seeing in Leinart that makes you think that he has so much potential. When he arrived from college, he was considered very NFL ready from his training at USC, but scouts questions his arm and committment. And true enough, now in the NFL, his balls lack zip as well as accuracy. He is lacksidasical and lacks intensity. But what is worse is that he can't seem to grasp the mental aspect of playing QB in the NFL, what most expected to be his strong suit. He is a disaster. And I just can't see how any coach could throw a stud like Warner to the curb for a guy that looks so much like the next Ryan Leaf.
Edit Comment Cancel
Football Maniaxs about 1 year ago
Thanks Ted. You have all valid points. The potential we see actually resides in the hands of Fitzgerald and Boldin. These two guys can make up for some of his deficiencies. We need to see him in action a full year before giving a final judgment. Meanwhile we draft him as a QB2. The O-Line started to gel, never played great (Didn't say that). Thanks for the comment.
Edit Comment Cancel
Tom Highway about 1 year ago
I have to agree with Sandra and Ted on the comments regarding Leinart.
Last season, Leinart posted the worst-in-the-NFL passer rating (60.9) and yards per game (129).
He completed only about 50% of his passes, and his YPA was 5.8. He completed 0.4 TD's per game, and threw twice as many interceptions as touchdowns. And he didn't connect with Larry Fitzgerald for a single TD last season, and only 1 with Boldin.
I looked up Ryan Leaf's 2nd season numbers, and they were almost identical to Leinart's... except Leaf's were actually a little better.
Arizona's biggest problems in 2007 were that its defense was decimated by injuries (the defensive injuries didn't reach a critical level until after Leinart's injury)... and that Edgerrin "No Gain" James is one of the least effective running backs in the NFL.
Kurt Warner, on the other hand, played at a Pro-Bowl level. 27 TD's in only 11 starts (including 10 to Fitzgerald and 8 to Boldin) ... 21 TD's in his last 8 starts. Top-10 in almost all QB categories and all while playing with only one arm? Had Leinart put up those kind of numbers, his fan-boys would be peeing all over themselves with joy.
And Fantasy's solution is for Arizona to make sure Matty isn't looking over his shoulder? Pardon the pun, but that really is a fantasy. If Arizona is interested in winning today, they should allow the offense to pick up where it left off last season -- and it was unstoppable during the 2nd half of 2007. And that means continuing with Kurt Warner throwing the rock to Fitzgerald and Boldin.
Leinart? He should still be looking over his shoulder... but at that UDFA QB from Penn State whom the Cardinals picked up after the draft.
Edit Comment Cancel
Leave a Comment
You must register to post a comment.