Fantasy Football Week 5: Early Top 15 Quarterback Rankings

A couple of quarterbacks who are widely used as fantasy starters will be on a bye in Week 5. Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions’ Matthew Stafford will be unavailable for play in fantasy football.

Carson Palmer’s Oakland Raiders and Josh Freeman’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be off this week, as well.

If you’re looking for a bye-week replacement for any of those guys, hopefully a name near the top of this list is available to you for Week 5.

1. Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins (vs. Atlanta Falcons)

To say that RGIII is on a roll to begin his rookie season would be a gross understatement. He’s been fantasy’s top point-producer for the first quarter of the 2012 season.

He’s got a matchup with the Atlanta Falcons that looks tough on paper, but Atlanta has been more successful facing statuesque quarterbacks than those of the more mobile variety.

Against the Denver Broncos’ Peyton Manning and San Diego Chargers’ Philip Rivers, the Falcons have allowed 414 passing yards and just one touchdown while picking off five passes.

Conversely, Matt Cassel of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton combined to throw for 473 yards and three touchdowns on the Falcons.

Cassel turned the ball over three times in Week 1. Cam didn’t turn it over at all in Week 4.

The two of them combined for 106 rushing yards and two ground scores on 13 carries. We all know by now that RGIII has the rushing prowess to keep up with those kinds of running performances.

But he also has been credited with just two turnovers this season.

2. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (at Indianapolis Colts)

Rodgers finally put up the kind of numbers that fantasy owners expected when he was taken in the first round of so many drafts this summer.

In Week 4 at home against the New Orleans Saints, he threw for 319 passing yards and four touchdowns (one interception), despite losing No. 1 target Greg Jennings to injury.

Now he faces an Indianapolis Colts defense that has only two takeaways from quarterbacks (in three games) while facing young and/or turnover-prone signal-callers this season.

Rodgers should have another big day.

 

3. Eli Manning, New York Giants (vs. Cleveland Browns)

Manning has topped 300 yards passing twice this season, including a 510-yard effort at home against Tampa Bay in Week 2.

He shouldn’t have to fling the ball around in order to keep up with the Browns, but he should be able to do so efficiently in order to build a lead against a Cleveland team with no Joe Haden.

Cleveland has allowed 300 passing yards three times this season.

4. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (at Washington Redskins)

On the other sideline from the RGIII show will be Matt Ryan and the Falcons explosive offense. Ryan’s thrown 11 touchdown passes this season and rushed for another.

The Redskins, meanwhile, have yielded 10 touchdown tosses this year, including three games with three passing scores allowed.

5. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (vs. San Diego Chargers)

Although his Saints are 0-4, Brees has lived up to the fantasy hype this season. That’s surely little solace to the superstar QB, but it does do you some good if he’s on your fantasy team.

He’s already thrown six touchdowns in two games at home and will now meet his former team in the Chargers. San Diego has allowed 526 passing yards and five touchdowns in its last two games.

It has also intercepted four passes, but Brees has thrown just one interception in his last two outings.

6. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (at New Orleans Saints)

7. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens (at Kansas City Chiefs)

8. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (vs. Denver Broncos)

9. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers (vs. Seattle Seahawks)

10. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos (at New England Patriots)

11. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles (at Pittsburgh Steelers)

12. Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Miami Dolphins)

13. Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Tennessee Titans)

14. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

15. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans (at New York Jets)

Follow @StatManJ