Fantasy Football Week 12 Rankings: Top 25 Quarterbacks

There are a few injuries to be concerned about for Week 12, but those certainly factor in more with those who play in two-quarterback formats.  At the top of the rankings there are a few players with the potentially to light things up.  How does it fall?  Let’s take a look at our current rankings (remember, these will be updated later in the week if necessary):

1. Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers – at Atlanta
2. Michael Vick – Philadelphia Eagles – at Chicago
3. Tom Brady – New England Patriots – at Detroit
4. Philip Rivers – San Diego Chargers – at Indianapolis
5. Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Buffalo
6. Peyton Manning – Indianapolis Colts – vs. San Diego
7. Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints – at Dallas
8. Kyle Orton – Denver Broncos – vs. St. Louis
9. Eli Manning – New York Giants – vs. Jacksonville
10. Joe Flacco – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Tampa Bay
11. Matt Schaub – Houston Texans – vs. Tennessee
12. Shaun Hill – Detroit Lions – vs. New England
13. Matt Cassel – Kansas City Chiefs – at Seattle
14. Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons – vs. Green Bay
15. Jay Cutler – Chicago Bears – vs. Philadelphia
16. Carson Palmer – Cincinnati Bengals – at New York Jets
17. Donovan McNabb – Washington Redskins – vs. Minnesota
18. Mark Sanchez – New York Jets – vs. Cincinnati
19. Brett Favre – Minnesota Vikings – at Washington
20. Sam Bradford – St. Louis Rams – at Denver
21. David Garrard – Jacksonville Jaguars – at New York Giants
22. Matt Hasselbeck – Seattle Seahawks – vs. Kansas City
23. Jon Kitna – Dallas Cowboys – vs. New Orleans
24. Colt McCoy – Cleveland Browns – vs. Carolina
25. Josh Freeman – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – at Baltimore

Thoughts:

• Philip Rivers entered Week 11 as arguably the best fantasy quarterback in the league.  Now, he enters a matchup with Peyton Manning that could easily break down into a shootout.  With Malcolm Floyd on the mend and Vincent Jackson closing in on a return, you have to like his potential to produce once again.
• Buffalo’s passing defense may not have given up that many yards overall, but it has allowed 20 touchdown passes vs. just four interceptions.  With the display that Ben Roethlisberger has been putting on of late (six TD over his last two games, as well as throwing for over 650 yards), he has to be viewed as a top option no matter what the matchup.
• Week 11 stopped Joe Flacco’s streak of consecutive games with at least two touchdown passes, as he had just one against the Carolina Panthers.  Then again, he set a season high with 301 yards and has just two interceptions over his last eight games.  While Tampa Bay’s passing defense has been pretty good this season, they also haven’t really played many top quarterbacks.  Drew Brees had 263 yards and three touchdowns against them, and you have to like Flacco to produce as well.
• I think the days of underestimating Kyle Orton are likely behind us at this point.  The Orton-Brandon Lloyd combination has developed into one of the best in the league and it is going to be difficult for the Rams to slow them down.  Orton has produced like one of the top quarterbacks in the league this season and should be viewed as a QB1 in all formats.
• The Jaguars' passing defense was not very impressive again, allowing Colt McCoy to throw for 241 yards and a touchdown (as well as an interception).  They have just nine interceptions on the season, while giving up 20 passing touchdowns.  While you’d love Eli Manning more if Steve Smith and the offensive line were healthy, he’s a QB1 all the same.
• The Kansas City offense is supposed to be geared towards the run, yet after picking up two touchdown passes against the Cardinals in Week 11, Matt Cassel has 14 TD over his last six games.  No matter who he was playing you would have to like his potential, but the Seahawks have been among the worst passing defenses in the league this season.  Cassel is a borderline QB1, but definitely an upper level QB2.
• Carson Palmer and the Cincinnati receiving corps has been among the elite passing attacks in the league, but now face a Jets defense that is finally putting things together.  A healthy Darrelle Revis certainly goes a long way.  Still, with the number of options the Bengals have, they should have a favorable matchup somewhere on the field.  Consider Palmer a QB2 this week.
• Jon Kitna’s been playing well, which is the only reason he’s considered a potential QB2 this week.  The Saints' passing defense have stymied opponents, so consider him a low-level option.
• I know it didn’t look like it in Week 11, but the return of Sidney Rice is going to be great news for Brett Favre owners.  Facing a weaker Washington defense, consider Favre a mid-level QB2 with the potential to get his feet back under him.
• Vince Young has officially lost his spot as the starting quarterback according to reports after yesterday’s game.  With Kerry Collins still hurting, Rusty Smith is in position to be the starter until Collins is ready to play.  It’s a situation to avoid until further notice.
• Colt McCoy injured his ankle against Jacksonville, so his status for Week 12 is unknown.  He’s a low-end option in two-quarterback formats anyways, but keep it in mind when setting your lineup.

What are your thoughts on these rankings?  Whose too high?  Whose too low?

Make sure to check out Rotoprofessor’s Week 12 Rankings:

• Waiver Worthy
• Top 40 Running Backs (coming soon)
• Top 60 Wide Receivers (coming soon)
• Top 20 Tight Ends (coming soon)
• Top 15 Kickers (coming soon)
• Top 15 Defenses (coming soon)
• Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em (coming soon)
• Sunday Sleepers (coming soon)

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