Fantasy Football 2012: How Smart Fantasy Owners Should Approach QB Questions

With Week 1 of the NFL season only a week away, the league is chock-full of quarterback questions and controversy. These questions have big-time implications for fantasy football owners.

On draft day, it's essential to know all the current happenings and special situations. Keeping updated and informed could be the difference between a successful draft and a complete failure.

The QB position will be your team's best point-scorer. It's important, therefore, to understand all the QB situations—even among fantasy backups.

Here's everything you need to know about the league's most intriguing quarterback situations from a fantasy perspective. 

Can Michael Vick Stay Healthy?

If Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick stays healthy throughout the season, he gives your team an automatic chance at a championship. Not many fantasy players offer that.

Sure, that's a big "if." He hasn't played more than 13 games since 2006, gets hit a lot in the open field and refuses to slide.

Therefore, there's a decent chance Vick gets hurt. In fact, he got hurt in the preseason after a big hit but is "close to 100 percent," according to ESPN.

However, Vick is worth the risk. He provides elite numbers for both passing and rushing and can single-handedly carry an entire team.

In 2010, Vick became a fantasy legend by rushing for almost 700 yards and nine TDs while throwing for 3,000 yards and 21 TDs. All this came in only 12 games.

Draft Vick with confidence. He may or may not stay healthy, but can single-handedly win your league if he maintains his health. To hedge your risk, pick Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III or Jay Cutler in later rounds as backups. 

Pick: Third Round   

How Will Russell Wilson Fare as a Rookie?

Former Wisconsin Badger QB Russell Wilson has won the starting quarterback job for the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson has the skills and leadership to succeed right away but doesn't have much fantasy stock in 2012.

The Seahawks simply don't have a deep enough offense for Wilson to put up big fantasy numbers. If Wilson had Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson or even a Hakeem Nicks-type player, it would be a completely different story.

But as a rookie and with Golden Tate and an iffy Sidney Rice as the team's top receivers, Wilson should be among the league's lowest drafted quarterbacks.

Moreover, Matt Flynn is lurking to swoop in on the starting job. A couple mishaps from Wilson will immediately give Flynn the promotion.

Draft Wilson in the final rounds in case he somehow emerges as a dependable fantasy stud. However, prepare to cut bait after the first couple weeks when solid waiver-wire players emerge.  

Pick: Final Rounds 

Can Andrew Luck and RGIII Lead a Fantasy Team?

After Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III went No. 1 and 2 in the 2012 draft, the future looks bright for NFL QBs. From a fantasy football perspective, the future is now. 

Both QBs will immediately emerge as solid fantasy options and are very smart picks in the mid-to-late rounds.

Luck has looked like a seasoned veteran in the preseason. He looks poised, versatile and incredibly polished. He also has his former Stanford teammate Coby Fleener at TE, who should immediately emerge as one of Luck's go-to receivers.

Oh yeah, and he also has Reggie Wayne. 

Meanwhile, Griffin's limitless talent has been on display this preseason. He's shown brilliance with both his arm and feet and seems to have a connection with WR Pierre Garcon.

Both Luck and Griffin will be good enough to start in given weeks. They will at least make for incredible backups and could even pass as legitimate fantasy starters.

Drafting Luck or Griffin as a starter in the later rounds also gives you the chance to draft a loaded RB and WR core.

A rookie flop is completely out of the question for these two QBs. Don't let the inexperience fool you—Luck and RGIII are great picks.  

Pick: Both in Ninth Round

Kevin Kolb or John Skelton?

Arizona Cardinals QBs Kevin Kolb and John Skelton are currently engaged in a highly publicized QB battle. This one appears to be going down to the wire, leaving fantasy owners in the dark. 

So who should you draft?

Unless you play in a 30-team league or get points for interceptions, steer clear of both. Both players have had horrendous preseasons and clearly shouldn't be starting on any NFL roster.

However, if you play in a deep league (and I mean deep league), Skelton is a better pick than Kolb. He threw for at least 270 yards in the last four games of the season. 

This could be enough to take the starting job. But once again, 10- and 12-man leagues should stay away from whoever wins the QB battle. 

Pick: Don't

Is Cam Newton Headed for a Sophomore Slump?

Cam Newton shocked the fantasy world in 2011 by emerging as an elite fantasy QB in his rookie year. Sophomore slump be damned—Newton is about to emerge as the NFL's LeBron James this season.

After scoring 35 total touchdowns last season, passing for 4000 yards and rushing for 700 yards, there's absolutely no reason these numbers will drop. He's too big, athletic and confident in himself for any sort of regression to occur. 

He also distinguishes himself from Michael Vick and other running quarterbacks through his size. He comes in at a massive 6'5", 245 pounds, which lowers his injury risk.

Newton could be a first-round pick by next year's draft. This season, he'll prove that he belongs with the elite.

Pick: Early Second Round