Fantasy Football: NFL 2010 Fantasy QB Preview

Danny DolphinAug 6, 2010

The NFL has evolved substantially over the years and so has fantasy football at the quarterback position. No longer are there just a handful of 4,000-yard passers. Ten surpassed that once prestigious 4K mark in the 2009 season. Which quarterbacks should you target on draft day?

If you don’t nab a premium quarterback, your team is going to have a tough time competing on a weekly basis. Quarterbacks, no matter what scoring system, typically generate the most points in fantasy and having one in the top tier is critical.

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Bleacher Report1w

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It’s the game’s hardest position to master from a mental standpoint, which is why the league is filled with subpar quarterback play. Don’t be stuck with a shlub like Jamarcus Russell of 2009 leading your fantasy team down the gutter.

Risers

Jay Cutler, CHI: Cutler finished 2009 with a disappointing 26 interceptions against 27 touchdowns and 3,666 yards passing. If he can cut down on the mistakes he has a great chance at becoming a top tier passer. With the addition of Mike Martz, he could be in for a monster season. Projection: 4,200 YDS, 27 TD, 16 INT

Chad Henne, MIA: Call me bias, but I have been a Henne fan since his days at Michigan. Considering my Penn State blood, I should hate his guts. He has the touch and arm strength to be a stud and showed glimpses last year. Brandon Marshall will help turn him into a star as soon as this season. Projection: 3,400 YDS, 26 TD, 15 INT

Matt Leinhart, ARI: After what has seemed like an eternity of waiting behind Kurt Warner, Leinhart has been given the controls to the Cardinals offense. He has great talent at the skill positions around him even with the loss of Anquan Boldin. He’s worth a pick in rounds 8-12 as a number two quarterback, with a chance to be a borderline starter. Projection: 2,500 YDS, 19 TD, 14 INT

Fallers

Kyle Orton, DEN: Anytime an average passer loses his top receiver, there is bound to be a drop off. Great receivers make quarterbacks look good and don’t expect a repeat of last year’s 3800 yards and 19 touchdowns. Projection: 3,200 YDS, 16 TD, 18 INT

Brett Favre, MIN: We still aren’t sure how the retirement charade will work itself out and might not know until days before the season. Is it worth the risk on a 40-year-old coming off ankle surgery? Not in the first eight rounds, it’s not. Projection: 2,100 YDS, 13 TD, 9 INT, and a season ending injury by week eight. Back to the tractor, gramps.

Quarterback Rankings

Tier 1: (Top 5 pick)

1. Drew Brees, NOR: The best quarterback in the game.

2. Peyton Manning, IND: “The machine” is the safest pick in the draft.

3. Aaron Rogers, GB: Very close to surpassing Peyton.

Tier 2: (Rounds 1-2)

4. Tom Brady, NE: He’s not finished yet, and should bounce back strong.

5. Tony Romo, DAL: Weapons galore on the Cowboy offense.

6. Phillip Rivers, SD: Funny how people once questioned his release point.

Tier 3: (Rounds 3-5)

7. Eli Manning, NYG: Has finally developed into a formidable fantasy player.

8. Carson Palmer, CIN: Ochocinco + Owens + Bryant = BIG year.

9. Jay Cutler, CHI: Big arm, big head. Can he and Martz coexist?

10. Matt Schaub, HOU: Has missed 10 games over the last three seasons.

Tier 4: (Middle rounds)

11. Matt Ryan, ATL: A solid, safe selection on draft day on the cheap.

12. Brett Favre, MIN: A variety of concerns. Very Risky pick.

13. Donovan McNaab, WAS: Poor offensive line will hurt him.

14. Joe Flacco, BAL: Boldin will boost his touchdown total.

15. Chad Henne, MIA: Ready to blossom with addition of Marshall. Will the Dolphins pass enough to make him a legitimate starter?

Ben is going to slide on draft day with his 4-6 game suspension.

16. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT: Has a 4-6 game timeout looming after being a bad boy out in the clubs.

17. Kevin Kolb, PHI: Biggest risk/reward pick among the quarterbacks. Has tremendous weapons around him.

Tier 5: (Later rounds)

18. Alex Smith, SF: Took a while to develop, but Crabtree and Davis make him a great backup.

19. Matt Leinhart, ARI: If he can’t succeed in this offense, with this type of talent surrounding him, he doesn’t have a bright future.

20. Vince Young, TEN: A solid stopgap guy who can fill in nicely when your starter is on a bye or injured.

21. Matt Cassel, KC: Things are a little different in Kansas City, eh, Matty boy?

22. Matt Hasselback, SEA: Look for a bounce back year from one of the more successful quarterbacks of the last decade.

23. Kyle Orton, DEN: He will have a tough time with the lack of playmakers in the offense.

24. Matthew Stafford, DET: Has the arm, the body, and explosive talent around him. Still looks like he’s a year away.

25. David Garrard, JAC: A productive quarterback with one of the league’s best rushing attacks supporting him.

26. Mark Sanchez, NYJ: He’s always going to be a better NFL quarterback than fantasy quarterback. A winner.

27. Jason Campbell, OAK: Could a change of scenery be enough to make things click for the talented, yet turnover prone QB?

28. Josh Freeman, TB: Has flashed great ability, but a lacking supporting cast will hold him back.

29. Sam Bradford, STL: He’s going to be a star one day, but still needs time to develop.

30. Matt Moore, CAR: Has a good chance to surprise some people with a monster backfield of Williams and Stewart.

The Skinny: My best piece of advice is if you miss out on one of the top six quarterbacks in the first two rounds (tiers one and two), then wait until later on and snatch two quarterbacks in rounds 6-10.The difference between a guy like Schaub and Flacco or Henne is negligible at best.