Top 30 Fantasy Football Relevant Players on the Move: Kyle Orton, No. 24

As we count up to No. 1 on our list of the top thirty players that may change teams, we come to No. 24, Kyle Orton...

Josh McDaniels shipped out Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall during his tenure, and then shocked the world, including Mel Kiper, by taking Tim Tebow in the first-round of the the 2010 draft. After failing to top eight wins in the past two seasons, the Denver front office (including newly hired John Elway) decided that a change was needed, and McDaniels moved on to become the OC with St Louis. Denver hired veteran coach John Fox to run the show in Mile Hile.

Fox’s tenure in Carolina ended last season after he coached the Panthers to a 2-14 record, and secured the #1 pick in the upcoming draft. Fox has been known to favor more established signal callers, and rookie Jimmy Clausen did nothing to disprove that (32nd ranked pass offense).

Fox inherits a QB controversy in Denver between five-year veteran Kyle Orton and the 25th overall pick in the 2010 draft, Tim Tebow. Tebow’s elongated delivery and questionable mechanics aside, he benefited fantasy owners during the stretch run, topping 20 fantasy points in each of his final three starts.

On the flip side, Kyle Orton flourished in Denver’s pass happy offense, topping 300 yards in six games last season. Orton was a 4th round pick of the Chicago Bears in the 2005 draft, and endured a roll coaster career in the Windy City. He was rushed into the starting job in his rookie season following an injury to Rex Grossman, but was demoted in his second season (Brian Griese got the starting nod).  He returned as the starter in 2008, but failed to average more than 200 yards passing per game in his three-year stay in Chicago.

Back in Denver with Jay Cutler and head coach McDaniels butting heads, the Broncos decided to ship their QB to Chicago in a deal that brought Orton to Denver.  Denver received Orton, a first and third round pick in 2009 and a first round pick in 2010.  

Orton has became fantasy relevant during his stay in Denver, topping 3,500 yards in the past two seasons while amassing 41 TDs and only 21 INTs.

Orton suffered a rib injury, and dealt with a sore throwing arm that limited his production in weeks 13 and 14. So Denver shutdown Orton in week 15, and Tebow seized the opportunity in his final three starts.

Tebow’s dual threat ability was on display as he totaled 31 carries for 200 yards and scored a rushing TD in each of the final three contests. With no semblance of running game and a porous defense, both Denver signal callers became worthy of consideration to fantasy owners.

Entering 2011, many experts expected that Denver would continue where they left off in 2010 and allow Tebow to remain the starter.

Not so fast.

Reports this week have John Fox stating that Kyle Orton is under contract and is his starter for now. We fully expect that this could be posturing by Denver to give themselves a chance to get the best compensation possible in a trade. Orton is due close to $9 million dollars in the final year of his contract—rather expensive for a potential backup.

If the new regime in Denver decides that Tebow is the answer at QB, we fully expect that Orton will be in a different uniform if the 2011 season materializes. Coming off a 4-12 season, Denver has numerous holes to fill, most notably on the O-line and D-line. With so many teams desperate to upgrade at QB, Denver could easily gain a second or third round pick in the draft if and when a CBA is agreed upon.

The career 32-30 quarterback lacks elite upside, but has played in different NFL offenses—making him a versatile option for teams in need of an established QB. Here a few teams that would be wise to jump at the chance to acquire a 28-year-old QB that excelled in the first eight games of last season, averaging 314 passing yards per game:

Minnesota

Now that the Favre saga appears to have ended, the Vikings are in search of a signal caller. Rookie Joe Webb (2010 sixth round pick) showed promise, but is still very raw. Tarvaris Jackson (a former second round mistake by Brad Clueless) is a free agent and won’t be back. If Orton lands in Minnesota, his fantasy prospects would be intriguing considering the upgrade in surrounding cast (AP, Harvin, Sidney Rice—provided he resigns). KO excelled with journeymen Brandon Lloyd and Jabar Gaffney in 2010.

Click here to see the rest of the teams that may pursue Orton.

Click to read the full article of the first ten of the top thirty. No. 30 Plaxico Burress, No. 29 Roy Williams, No. 28 Thomas Jones, and No. 27 Martellus Bennett, No. 26 Vince Young,  No. 25 Jeremy Shockey, No. 24 Kyle Orton, No. 23 Tim Hightower, No. 22 Terrell Owens, No. 21 Clinton Portis