Week Eight Rankings: Updated Top 25 QB

There were a few changes toward the top of the rankings, but the majority of changes came toward the bottom with a few QB changes being made. Let’s take a look at the current rankings:

1. Peyton Manning - Indianapolis Colts - vs. San Francisco
2. Aaron Rodgers - Green Bay Packers - vs. Minnesota
3. Drew Brees - New Orleans Saints - vs. Atlanta
4. Kurt Warner - Arizona Cardinals - vs. Carolina
5. Philip Rivers - San Diego Chargers - vs. Oakland
6. Matt Schaub - Houston Texans - at Buffalo
7. Matt Ryan - Atlanta Falcons - at New Orleans
8. Joe Flacco - Baltimore Ravens - vs. Denver
9. Donovan McNabb - Philadelphia Eagles - vs. New York Giants
10. David Garrard - Jacksonville Jaguars - at Tennessee
11. Jay Cutler - Chicago Bears - vs. Cleveland
12. Kyle Orton - Denver Broncos - at Baltimore
13. Tony Romo - Dallas Cowboys - vs. Seattle
14. Eli Manning - New York Giants - at Philadelphia
15. Brett Favre - Minnesota Vikings - at Green Bay
16. Jake Delhomme - Carolina Panthers - at Arizona
17. Marc Bulger - St. Louis Rams - at Detroit
18. Matt Hasselbeck - Seattle Seahawks - at Dallas
19. Alex Smith - San Francisco 49ers - at Indianapolis
20. Mark Sanchez - New York Jets - vs. Miami
21. Chad Henne - Miami Dolphins - at New York Jets
22. Matthew Stafford - Detroit Lions - vs. St. Louis
23. Ryan Fitzpatrick - Buffalo Bills - vs. Houston
24. Derek Anderson - Cleveland Browns - at Chicago
25. Vince Young - Tennessee Titans - vs. Jacksonville

Thoughts

• Trent Edwards is out once again, meaning Ryan Fitzpatrick is starting. He hasn’t been overly impressive over the past two weeks, going 21-for-47 for 239 yards and he is only usable in two quarterback formats. That is only because the position is thin this week due to bye weeks.
• The Titans have officially announced that Vince Young will be replacing Kerry Collins for Week Eight. Until he proves he can produce, he has to be seen as a last resort option.
• Matthew Stafford has been practicing all week and while he hasn’t officially been named the starter, it would appear likely that he will be on the field in a positive matchup against the Rams. He’s high risk, of course, but he proved before getting hurt that he has the ability to produce, including a 296-yard effort. In two-quarterback formats he’s a usable option, with his presence dropping JaMarcus Russell from the rankings.

Original Thoughts

• Drew Brees has had some big games, but the Falcons are not the best matchup for him. Granted, they are not one of the best passing defenses in the league, but heading into week seven they had allowed just five passing TDs (though Tony Romo did torch them for three on Sunday), tying them for fourth best in the league. That helps to knock him below Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers for this week, but those three (along with Tom Brady) are likely to be trading those top few spots every week.
• Philip Rivers has had solid games against some pretty good defenses, including Baltimore and Pittsburgh. You have to like his chances to continue against a sub par Oakland team.
• Everyone raves about Matt Ryan and rightfully so. New Orleans will be a tough test for him, but with a matchup against one of the top QBs in the league, I’d look for him to shine.
• There has not been a defense to slow down Joe Flacco yet, so despite a tough matchup with the Broncos, there’s really no reason to downgrade him very far.
• David Garrard has had some big games this season and gets an extremely favorable matchup against one of the worst passing defenses in the league. Is he going to post another 300-plus yard passing game? I wouldn’t call it likely, but he should find the end zone at least once or twice, as the Titans have allowed the most passing TDs in the league, by far.
• Bulger is squaring off with one of the worst defenses in the league, but without a real receiving option to depend on he just cannot be considered a top option. Still, as a bye week fill-in, you definitely could do worse.
• The 49ers made a QB change at halftime, turning to Alex Smith who went 15-for-22 for 206 yards and 3 TD (all to tight end Vernon Davis). With the chance of the Colts piling up the points, Smith could get an opportunity to really air out the ball from behind, meaning he has solid potential as a bye week replacement if there is no other options available to you.
• Was that signs of life for Jake Delhomme? He threw for 325 yards in Week Seven and could be in for a shootout against the Cardinals.
• Does anyone still believe in Derek Anderson? Amazingly, he’s not the worst QB available, but that doesn’t make him a good option.
• Will Russell, Edwards, or Matthew Stafford be behind center?  That’ll effect the rankings, but if they are you will not want to trust any of them anyways.

What are your thoughts?  Who was left off the list?  Who should be higher?  Who should be lower?

Other Week Eight Rankings

• Running Backs  (Updated October 29)
• Wide Receivers  (Updated October 30)
• Tight Ends
• Kickers
• Defenses

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