Fantasy Football: 2011 AFC West Quarterback Situations

Ryan LesterMay 14, 2011

San Diego’s Philip Rivers is easily the class of the division. It doesn’t matter who he is throwing too. Vincent Jackson holds out and only plays four games? Ho hum. Rivers throws for 4,710 yards. Antonio Gates has nine touchdowns in the first eight games and then misses six of the next eight games? Big deal. Rivers throws 30 TDs (13 INT). Rivers remains a top tier QB1.

Kansas City got 3,116 yards and 27 TDs (seven INTs) from Matt Cassel, and added the 6’4″ Jonathan Baldwin to his arsenal. He should take some of the pressure off Dwayne Bowe, who exploded for 1,162 yards and 15 TDs last year. Bowe had just one touchdown in the last five games while averaging 55.4 yards. The Chiefs also added Rodney Hudson to help their offensive line. Cassel is a solid QB2 going into the 2011 season.

John Elway is on board with Tim Tebow as the Broncos’ quarterback. Tebow will have his ups and downs, but should be a solid QB2 thanks to his ability to run the football. He had six rushing touchdowns last year. New coach John Fox has Kyle Orton on top of the depth chart, but he could be traded once the lockout is lifted. If he beats out Tebow, he will also be a solid QB2. I just assume at some point Tebow would get a chance to start.

Then there is the Raiders. Jason Campbell is the starter, but he’s not much of a fantasy option. He topped 240 yards just twice. He had one or fewer touchdown passes in 10 of the 13 games he played in. I would look elsewhere for my backup fantasy quarterback.