Fantasy Football 2012: When to Target Top QBs in Your Draft

With the NFL season ready to kickoff in just 11 days, fantasy football managers everywhere need to do the last of their research before draft day. One of the biggest questions heading into this year is where to take your starting quarterback.

But fear not, here's a few tips on when to grab some of the position's biggest names.

Tony Romo: Round 5

According to ESPN , the Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback is going at an average draft position of 50 overall, right at the top of the fifth round in 10-team leagues.

Romo is coming off a career season where he posted over 4,000 yards through the air with 31 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions.

Interestingly enough, he accomplished this feat without one of his favorite wide receivers in Miles Austin for 10 of Dallas' 16 games in 2011.

Austin will be back in time for Week 1 against the New York Giants, and with him and potential breakout player Dez Bryant lining up for Big D, Romo has quality options to throw to.

There's no question that Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees are the top tier players at this position, but Romo is right near the top in the second tier. He'll probably go after the likes of injury risks like Peyton Manning and Michael Vick in your draft, but if you take Romo, you get the best of the three.

Peyton Manning: Round 7

When Manning is at 100 percent, he's right in that tier with Brady and company, but with so much work on his neck in recent years, it's debatable whether he'll ever truly be at full health.

The new Denver Broncos starter is 36 years old and joining an all new team. He's marching onto the field with teammates he hasn't played several seasons with—like he had in Indianapolis with guys like Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark.

Manning is right at the top of that high-risk, high-reward list of players heading into 2012, and fellow quarterbacks like Philip Rivers and brother Eli Manning are better options because of that.

The older Manning is a future Hall of Fame quarterback and has been a consistently great fantasy option, but his injury risk makes him an option only if you still need a starter around Round 7.

Cam Newton: Round 2

Don't worry about the Carolina Panthers starting QB falling into a sophomore slump—doing the predictable isn't Newton's style.

Before last season began, skeptics didn't think Newton would succeed right away or ever in the NFL, but the former No. 1 overall draft pick did just that in Carolina last year.

He had over 700 yards rushing with eight touchdowns on the ground. He also had 22 touchdowns in the air on almost 4,000 yards passing.

Newton has basically the same level of talent he did last season at receiver and tight end last year. Steve Smith is still going to be his favorite target in all likelihood.

Smith and Newton built a solid chemistry last season and the latter's rushing ability from the quarterback position makes him the best option after Brees, Rodgers and Brady are off the board.