Fantasy Football Rankings 2011: How the Recent Transactions Shake Up Top 25 QBs

We are still waiting for the final domino to fall in the NFL quarterback carousel (Kyle Orton likely being dealt to Miami Dolphins), which will cause another minor ripple in these rankings. 

Even without that move, there has been more than enough to cause changes in the rankings.  Let’s take a look at how things currently stand:

1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
2. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
3. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles
4. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts
5. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
6. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
7. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
8. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
9. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans
10. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
11. Eli Manning, New York Giants
12. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
13. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
14. Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams
15. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions
16. Kevin Kolb, Arizona Cardinals
17. Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs
18. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears
19. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets
20. Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos
21. Matt Hasselbeck, Tennessee Titans
22. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills
23. Donovan McNabb, Minnesota Vikings
24. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
25. Jason Campbell, Oakland Raiders

Thoughts

The top 15 remained unchanged from our last look at the quarterback rankings.  The injury to Peyton Manning could quickly change that, but hopefully we get a better idea of his status in the next few weeks as training camp gets going.

The trade sending Kolb to the Cardinals was one of the worst-kept secrets in football.  Kolb was expected to be the Eagles starting quarterback last season, though the emergence of Michael Vick left him sitting on the bench.  Now he gets a reprieve, and with one of the elite wide receivers (Larry Fitzgerald) at his disposal no less.  

When you realize that Fitzgerald picked up 90 receptions with 1,137 yards last season with absolute dreck at quarterback, you have to like the potential of him and Kolb putting up big numbers.

If Steve Breaston is healthy he is a perfect target across from Dwayne Bowe in Kansas City.  We’ve seen what he’s capable of and, along with rookie Jonathan Baldwin, gives the team a solid receiving corps.  Breaston is not the same player who racked up 1,000-plus yards in 2008, but he should help give Matt Cassel a steady presence and keep defenses honest.

We’ll have to see if Matt Hasselbeck holds down the job for the entire season in Tennessee or if he ultimately passes the torch to Jake Locker.  Still, he finds himself in a position to produce, especially if Chris Johnson is on the field and helping to take the pressure off of him.

Bruce Gradkowski has landed in Cincinnati where he could be the replacement for Carson Palmer (assuming he holds off Andy Dalton).  Of course, at this point we have no idea who is going to be at the skill positions for him to work with.

I mentioned this the last time we posted these rankings and we will be looking at it in great detail in the near future, but which young quarterback with upside would you rather have—Sam Bradford, Josh Freeman or Matthew Stafford?  It’s an interesting debate.  Which side do you fall on?

Make sure to check out the rest of the early rankings from Rotoprofessor:

• Top 15 Running Backs
• Top 15 Wide Receivers
• Top 15 Tight Ends
• Top 15 Kickers
• Top 5 Rookie Running Backs