Early 2012 Fantasy Football QB Rankings

Now that Peyton Manning has found a home, we can begin to look at the 2012 fantasy football quarterback landscape.

1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers 

I had Rodgers ranked number one last year.

4643 passing yards, 257 rushing yards, 48 total TDs (45 passing), and six INTs later, I haven’t changed my opinion.

2. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints 

The team is in a crap storm right now, and he will miss Sean Payton, but Brees shattered the passing record last year with 5476 yards and 46 TDs.

3. Tom Brady, New England Patriots 

I foolishly thought because he had some monster games along with some stinkers that Brady wasn’t a top five fantasy QB last year.

I won’t make that mistake again.

Adding Brandon Lloyd to Gronk, Welker, and Hernandez makes him even more dangerous.

4.  Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers 

Carolina added Mike Tolbert, which could cut into the 14 TDs Newton ran for last year. Still with 4051 passing yards, 21 passing scores, and 706 rushing yards, it’s hard not to imagine another monster fantasy year from Cam.

5.  Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions 

Am I giving Stafford too much credit?

Hard to say that when you have the game’s most dominating receiver. Not to mention coming off a 5038 yard, 41 TD season.

6.  Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys 

Romo threw for 4184 yards, 31 TDs, and just 10 INTs. He has as many weapons as anybody.

7.  Eli Manning, New York Giants 

With more passing yards (4933) than Peyton ever threw, along with 29 TDs, and two Super Bowl rings, it’s safe to say Eli Manning’s out of his brother’s shadow.  

Call me crazy, but I think he’s a safer fantasy play too.

8. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers 

4624 yards and 27 TDs is considered a bad year (20 INTs) for Rivers. I’ll take that to the bank.

9.  Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

He’s Peyton Manning so I suppose I have to give him the benefit of a top 10 ranking, but he’s in a new place, where weather could play a factor, and potentially worse weapons puts Peyton in an unfamiliar spot (out of the top five).

10.  Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons 

With Roddy White and Julio Jones, there aren’t many QBs with a better combination at WR at Ryan's disposal.

11.  Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles 

Last year was a disaster for Vick, though he threw for a career high 3303 yards. I expect more rushing TDs and some explosive games, but you are going to have injury issues.

12.  Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers 

With Mendenhall likely missing the whole season, the Steelers will be relying on Big Ben more than ever. Even if Mike Wallace goes elsewhere, the Steelers have weapons in place.

Jay Cutler, assuming Brandon Marshall isn’t suspended, just misses the cut.

Also check out:

• 2012 Early Fantasy Football RB Rankings
• 2012 Early Fantasy Football WR Rankings
• 2012 Early Fantasy Football TE Rankings
• 2012 Top Five Rookie Fantasy Football Running Backs
• 2012 NFL Draft First Round Skill Players: A Fantasy Perspective