Fantasy Football Week 13 Rankings: Top 25 Quarterbacks

Fantasy playoffs are quickly approaching and there are some surprising names you may want to lean on in Week 13.  Would anyone have predicted preseason that Kyle Orton, Matt Cassel, Mark Sanchez and Sam Bradford could all be considered potential QB1s?

Let’s take a look at how things currently stand (remember, if necessary, these rankings will be updated later in the week):

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

Thoughts:

• The Dallas Cowboys have allowed 24 passing touchdowns on the season, including five over the past three weeks.  While Drew Brees was held to one in Week 12, he also had 352 yards.  If it wasn’t for Michael Vick’s favorable matchup, it’s possible Peyton Manning would be the top quarterback for the coming week.  Instead, he’ll just have to settle for second place.
• While Eli Manning gets a matchup with a weak passing defense in Washington, you wish he had his full complement of receivers to go against it.  He did have 226 yards and two touchdowns in Week 12, but you have to think that the Giants will focus more on the ground game.  He’s a low-end QB1, but until the Giants get healthy it is tough to depend on him.
• Joe Flacco (289 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT) and Tom Brady (341 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT) are both coming off strong games, but face some of the toughest defenses in Pittsburgh and the Jets, respectively.  Both should be downgraded, though it is tough to bench either one of the at this point.  Still, consider your other options.
• All the way back in Week 1 Jay Cutler torched the Detroit Lions for 372 yards and two touchdowns (as well as one interception).  Coming off a four touchdown day against the Philadelphia Eagles, he gets his second chance against Detroit.  He’s certainly worth considering in all formats as a low-end QB1.
• Matt Schaub was not overly impressive in Week 12 (178 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT), but neither was the Eagles defense.  Still, the Eagles do a great job of going after the ball (19 interceptions heading into Week 12), which is concerning.  Also, you have to wonder if Andre Johnson could be suspended due to his on-field fight at the end of the game.  Put the two together and Schaub should be considered a QB2.
• The Matt Cassel-Dwayne Bowe combination has really caught fire, huh?  The two have now combined for at least one touchdown in seven straight games (13 TD in that span), including a 13 receptions, 186 yard, 2 TD day in Week 10.  The Broncos have allowed 23 passing TD this season, so you have to like Cassel’s potential for another big day.
• Kerry Collins is expected to return in Week 13 and if he does, against a weak Jaguars defense he is going to be usable in all two-quarterback formats.

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

Make sure to check out Rotoprofessor’s Week 13 Rankings:

• Waiver Worthy
• Top 40 Running Backs

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