Fantasy Football Week 12: Ranking Michael Vick and the Quarterbacks
Now that we're done with the dreaded fantasy bye weeks, all 32 teams have eligible starting quarterbacks for the next week of action.
They may not always outscore the wide receivers or running backs, but quarterbacks are definitely the most glamorous starting players in fantasy.
From Rusty Smith to Peyton Manning, read on to see how the quarterbacks stack up for Week 12.
(N.B. All fantasy points are in terms of ESPN standard scoring.)
32. Jimmy Clausen
1 of 32
31. Rusty Smith
2 of 32
30. Jay Cutler
3 of 32
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29. Tyler Thigpen
4 of 32
28. Derek Anderson
5 of 32
27. Jason Campbell
6 of 32
26. Brett Favre
7 of 32
So much has been written about Brett Favre this season. Most think he's washed up.
His fantasy numbers seem to agree. Favre is only averaging 8.2 points per game and is the 27th-ranked fantasy quarterback so far.
He does play the porous 31st-ranked pass defense of the Washington Redskins, but I still can't justify ranking him highly.
The Childress firing may make the Vikings play well, but it won't help Favre.
Sit him.
25. Colt McCoy
8 of 32
Since McCoy has taken over as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, he's posted 13, three, 14, 13 and 14 fantasy points.
However, two things aren't in his favor this week.
The first is his ankle. There's a chance McCoy may not even start.
Second, the Panthers have actually been good against the pass. They rank seventh in terms of limiting damage done by fantasy quarterbacks.
If you have a better option, you probably don't want to roll with McCoy this week.
24. Josh Freeman
9 of 32
Josh Freeman has been outstanding for the Buccaneers so far, but now he has to play the intimidating defense of the Baltimore Ravens.
Led by Ed Reed and Ray Lewis, the Ravens rank fifth against fantasy quarterbacks.
Freeman is remarkably consistent though. For seven straight weeks, he's scored between 12 and 17 points.
You know what you're going to get from him.
23. David Garrard
10 of 32
David Garrard faces the seventh-ranked defense of the New York Giants.
His stats are okay this year, but they're largely buoyed by a 30-point performance and two 24-point performances.
Garrard has been just about as inconsistent as they come this year.
One week he can throw a hail mary for the win, a week later he can turn the ball over four times.
You don't really know what you're going to get with Garrard.
22. Matt Hasselbeck
11 of 32
Matt Hasselbeck hasn't done too much this season, but neither have the Kansas City Chiefs against fantasy quarterbacks.
The last two weeks have seen Hasselbeck throw for a combined 699 yards and two touchdowns, so the yards are there but the scores aren't.
If he can keep that up, he'll be a great play.
21. Matt Ryan
12 of 32
Matt Ryan is coming off a 20-point week and averaging 16 points on the season, but he faces the sixth ranked defense of the Green Bay Packers.
However, any time you get to hand the ball off to Michael Turner and get to throw to Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez, you should start for fantasy owners.
Ryan has now scored in double digits for five straight games and had his best performance of the season two weeks ago against the Ravens.
Start him with confidence.
20. Matt Schaub
13 of 32
19. Troy Smith
14 of 32
18. Ryan Fitzpatrick
15 of 32
17. Donovan McNabb
16 of 32
16. Joe Flacco
17 of 32
15. Mark Sanchez
18 of 32
14. Jon Kitna
19 of 32
13. Carson Palmer
20 of 32
12. Sam Bradford
21 of 32
11. Shaun Hill
22 of 32
10. Eli Manning
23 of 32
9. Tom Brady
24 of 32
8. Matt Cassel
25 of 32
7. Aaron Rodgers
26 of 32
6. Kyle Orton
27 of 32
5. Michael Vick
28 of 32
4. Peyton Manning
29 of 32
3. Ben Roethlisberger
30 of 32
2. Philip Rivers
31 of 32
1. Drew Brees
32 of 32
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