1.) Peyton Manning, Colts
This will shock some people, particularly because Tom Brady is ranked No. 1 on almost all fantasy QB lists. (See: 2.) Tom Brady.)
Peyton is at this spot because he will have a healthy Marvin Harrison back, as well as 2007's first-round pick WR Anthony Gonzalez. The receiving corps is intact (Harrison, Wayne, and Gonzalez), the offensive line has had a season to gel, and the running game looks stronger than ever with Addai and Dominic Rhodes.
Peyton should be back at the top, head and shoulders above all other quarterbacks, along with Tom Brady.
2.) Tom Brady, Patriots
Brady will still put up fantastic numbers, it’s just...Peyton’s will be better. It’s no secret what the formula is for beating the Patriots—a dime package and a pass rush at all times. Not to say teams will be able to do it, but unless the Pats start running the ball, they are, for now, one-dimensional.
The Pats also lost WR Donte Stallworth to the Browns, and could possibly have offensive-line concerns after the Giants exposed their weaknesses, combined with Nick Kaczur’s off-field antics.
Randy Moss was held in check for the duration of the playoffs and will probably see the same type of coverages heading into this season. Look for Brady to still put up numbers, just not like he did last year.
3.) Tony Romo, Cowboys
The Cowboys probably won’t have WR Terry Glenn factoring in much this season...but, they didn’t last year, either. The 'Boys return WRs Terrell Owens, Patrick Crayton, and TE Jason Witten to their passing game, along with new RB Felix Jones, who will add a new dimension coming out of the backfield.
In the real world of football, Romo can be screwy at times, his fantasy numbers should be there once again.
4.) Drew Brees, Saints
Brees will hopefully have something this season that he didn’t last year—a running game. The Deuce returns (with questions) to team-up with Reggie Bush again, so the Saints won’t be so one-dimensional and predictable on offense this year. Also, Brees could have an added bonus at his arsenal—WR Robert Meachem.
5.) Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
I think Ben could really surprise us with his fantasy numbers this year. Under Tomlin, last year, they really started to open up the offense with Ben, and they added a significant red-zone threat and third receiver in Limas Sweed this offseason. With a good combination of Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall, the Steelers' offense should be among the league leaders this year.
Sleepers
Ah yes, the section every fantasy football owner yearns to read—the sleeper section. Here are some quarterbacks to draft as your backups, who could potentially pay out big dividends.
Marc Bulger, Rams
It’s hard to imagine Bulger as a sleeper, but this year, with a healthy Steven Jackson, along with the addition of explosive WR Donnie Avery, Bulger should return to form of a few years ago. Randy McMichael figures to factor into the offensive in a major role this year, and that could be huge for Bulger. Snatch him up.
Jon Kitna, Lions
31 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Ben Weixlmann about 1 year ago
Good stuff, man! Thanks for giving PM the credit he deserves!
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Alex Boylhart about 1 year ago
Thanks, Ben! PM is the man!
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Ben Weixlmann about 1 year ago
Absolutely! You got it right...keep it up bro!
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Ryan about 1 year ago
Are you kidding... yeah teams have known the "formula" for beating the pats since about week 4 last year and very few teams (Giants, Eagles, Colts) have the personnel to do that... i do think that theyll run the ball more but Brady is a better QB then Manning and Ill take Moss, Welker and Gaffney ahead of Harrison (whos coming back from injury and not to mention a shooting), Wayne and a 2nd yr guy in Gonzalez... plus the Colts play an tougher schedule
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Alex Boylhart about 1 year ago
You're right, very few teams had the personnel to do that last year, but many have added the right guys to their team in the offseason, particularly in the Pats division. The Jets added rushers Calvin Pace and drafted Vernon Gholston. The Bills added Marcus Stroud and Kawika Mitchell to their front 7, as well as 1st round pick Leodis McKelvin and Will James to their secondary, and Miami added to their front seven as well. Jacksonville added multiple pass rushers, plus defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. I could go on for days. This season is different from last, my friend. You can argue that Brady is a better QB as much as you want, but this article is about fantasy numbers, and I believe Manning's will be better.
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Ryan about 1 year ago
haha no harm but I'll have to respectfully disagree with you
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Bruce Dickenson 12 months ago
Peyton is better than Brady. The stats prove it, quit being a homer.
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Bruce Dickenson 12 months ago
And by the way, the Jets held them to their lowest scoring game last year.
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Ryan 12 months ago
I'm not sure what stats your looking at, but I usually judge QB's on Rating, TD's, Yards, fewest Int's and comletions and Brady led Peyton in all of those last year... and he beat him head to head in Indy so I have a hard time seeing how Peyton is better
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Ryan 12 months ago
and by the way the jets lost that game
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Bruce Dickenson 12 months ago
Yes I know they lost, thanks for reminding me. Thanks to our O-line and Justin McDropins.
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Ryan 12 months ago
haha well at least McDropins isn't in New York anymore... if he and Reche Caldwell ever ended up on the same team the QB would never complete a pass
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Alan Bass about 1 year ago
i think this is a great list, obviously number one and number two are debatable, but i think brady is going to be better.
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Caleb Lites about 1 year ago
On the O-line's season to gel, last we saw of them, they were letting jail breaks happen in the playoffs...Perhaps Peyton is better due to the fact that you can get him in the 2nd round now, giving him better value as QB scoring in FF continues to take a downward slide. (and I truly believe picking Brady anywhere before pick 8 is a mistake) But Brady is gonna have the better year. People can stop Wayne, Harrison, and Gonzalez, I'd like to see teams stop Dandy Randy. And not only that, I would take Welker any day over the now defunct Marvin Harrison.
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Daniel Seneriz 12 months ago
you must be off your med's, a Patriots PR Guy, or President of the Tom Brady Fan Club. Are you serious about welker and harrison? and about "Dandy Randy" let me break down his stats for the playoffs, where NE wasnt playing cream puff teams like Miami.
Jacksonville: 1 rec; 14 yards
San Diego: 1 rec; 18 yards
NY Giants: 5 rec; 62 yards with 18 of them coming on 1 play.
Should I go on about teams stopping Randy "I play when I want to" Moss?
Yeah playing in the AFC East was a walk in the park. It's easy to pad stats in that Division. Hell, Freddie "FredEx" Mitchell could put up numbers in that division.
and the "jail breaks" you're referring to must be the O-Line "jail breaks" New England had in its Superbowl performance? Sacked 5 times, and hurried about a dozen more?
Research pal. Research. Manning will put up better numbers this year. Not only does he have Wayne, and Harrison, but Gonzo, Clark, and Addai out of the backfield. 'Nuff Said.
Now go get Bill Belicheat some Coffee.
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Caleb Lites 12 months ago
No I'm none of those. Just calling it as I see it, and to most extent, without bias.
The "jail break" I was talking about was the Colts O-lines fantastic performance versus the Chargers in the divisional playoff game. You might remember it as the game where Billy Volek was more clutch than Peyton Manning...
This is fantasy football, here is some research that actually has to do with FF. The Pats have the easiest schedule in 2008. Of the teams they met in the playoffs, only 1 appears on their schedule next year. So yeah I'm gonna take those matchups any day over the Choker (That's the name on the back of number 18, if you can read) and his WR (emphasis on only one receiver rather than 2 or 3).
As for Welker and Harrison, maybe I would be more optimistic if Marvin was healthy and not busy shooting people.
I think I'll go get some coffee for myself actually.
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Matt Gilmartin 12 months ago
Thanks. I needed this article; my fantasy draft is in about an hour and a half - I was just gonna wing it until now.
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Jonathan Bentz 12 months ago
Where's Philip Rivers? Dude has weapons all over the place. I would rank him ahead of Big Ben, at least.
I would also offer that Bulger, Kitna, and Delhomme are not "sleepers." Just my opinion, maybe, but Bulger probably ranks ahead of Ben "Worthlessberger" on most fantasy boards, and should be a starter most weeks. Delhomme is a good choice for a backup, however.
Full disclosure - I am a WVU grad (2006), so my fandom of him likely skews my perception of Bulger.
Nice sleeper pick with Trent Edwards, though.
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Jacob Sloan 12 months ago
Rivers still hasn't truly emerged as a high-scoring fantasy QB. Big Ben threw 32 TDs last year to Rivers' 21. As long as L.T. is there, the passing game just won't explode. Rivers is definitely still top of the mid-tier QBs, but he doesn't make the top 5.
I do agree with you on the "sleepers" though. It's more like they have been forgotten since they didn't perform (or were injured) last season.
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Rohit Banerjee 12 months ago
sleeper...JASON CAMPBELL...fully health offensive line that basically lost its right side early in the season, spread offense that will open up more running lanes for and is more conducive to the running style of Clinton Portis, Receiving corps of Moss, Randle El, Thomas, Kelly, Davis + pass happy offense...i dont get why jc isn't getting more respect, he will have a killer season
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Jacob Sloan 12 months ago
I agree. Campbell is worth taking a chance on this year as a QB2. This year could be his breakout year with a new offense, Portis fully healthy and a revitalized receiving corps. Should be fun to watch.
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Jacob Sloan 12 months ago
Good rankings. The top is a messy situation every year. I'd take any of the top 4 (Brady, Manning, Romo, Brees) that presented as the best value in my draft.
Also, you have some very valid concerns on those key QBs: Palmer/McNabb. I like McNabb, but I still have to avoid both those guys because of uncertainty.
Cutler might have "sleeper" potential this year too. Many people don't realize his diabetes held him back a bit last season. While he has a tough schedule, Cutler could put up some very high numbers as long as Brandon Marshall comes back healthy and his WR corps mesh.
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Alex Boylhart 12 months ago
I actually had Cutler originally in the "stay away from" section, then took him off. I really like Brandon Marshall, I think he'll be one of the best receivers in the game. But, is Darrell Jackson going to return to form of Seattle or continue the poor play like San Fransisco? Stokely hasnt done much, plus he gets injured. I like Scheffler. And they have no one at RB now that they cut Henry. Its a Selvin Young/Michael Pittman duo. He'll have Marshall and an ok Scheffler, with no running game, thats about it. I'm uncertain about him this year.
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Jacob Sloan 12 months ago
True. Denver has one of the hardest schedules for passing this season, so it's definitely no guarantee that he goes off this year. I am just high on Cutler because I believe he's got it in him, and depending on the price, I might be willing to take him as a fantasy QB2 if I had a solid QB1.
I like what they are doing putting Stokley back in the slot. He has always performed better there. Jackson is a question mark, but I think Keary Colbert is actually going to get the starting job. Shanny has high praises for Colbert thus far. He should be able to threaten enough to get Marshall open from time to time. As far as Scheffler goes, if he can get/stay healthy, he would greatly improve the passing game. He had some good games last season even when passing to the receivers was tough.
If the running game is inconsistent, the offense will either be forced to play to their strengths and/or play from behind and pass. That could also mean good things for Cutler's attempts and maybe more scores through the air.
It's tough not to think that Cutler will greatly improve this year looking at what he did last year while losing 35 pounds due to diabetes. I think he might surprise, but he's definitely still a sleeper.
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Daniel Seneriz 12 months ago
What about ol' Derek Anderson?? Did someone forget about him???
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Alex Boylhart 12 months ago
Nope. I had him in the #5 slot ahead of Roethlisberger for a while, but eventually switched them. He'll definitely put up big numbers again, or should.
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Rob Ohlstrom 12 months ago
I have a hunch that Peyton will score more points then Brady this year, but I wouldn't advocate picking him first.
Your logic for picking him over Brady makes you sound like a homer.
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Alex Boylhart 12 months ago
A homer? I don't root for either team, I'm a Bills fan lol.
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Alex Boylhart 12 months ago
By the way, that might be the dumbest statement I've ever read. You think Peyton will do better, but wouldn't pick him over Brady? You must suck at fantasy football. Hey, wanna join my league lol?
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Rob Ohlstrom 12 months ago
Oh yes, I'm horrible...what I mean when I made the "dumbest statement you've ever read" is that I have a feeling that Peyton may bounce back with a bigger year then Brady has, but I wouldn't put money on it.
What I mean by not putting money on it is that although I acknowledge the possibility that Manning might end the year as the number one Q he's not the most likely to finish that way, understand?
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Mark Boling 11 months ago
I just got done with my fantasy draft two days ago, and got palmer and bulger. I do believe that Chad will play, because if he wants out of Cincy with a new contract then he will have to perform. I dont know if im being stupid or not, but am i the only one that believes Rudi Johnson, will actually be okay this season? With all this said, im confortable with Palmer as my #1 QB. And if he doesn't put up numbers, i always have Bulger. Oh by the way I'm from Boston and grew up here, so I am a huge Pats fan, but I do agree that with a Healthier Marving Harrison, Peyton will put up GODLY numbers once again. But I also think Brady will too. Should be a fun year watching both of them compete. I like your article though, very insightful.
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