2011 NFL Football: Breaking Down the Top 12 Fantasy QBs for 2011

It's been said that quarterback is the most important position in football, and while that sentiment is open to argument (a great QB is of precious little use with no one to block for him), and it's debatable whether or not that holds true in fantasy football as well, there's no denying that a solid fantasy quarterback can make the difference between a good team and a championship one. Just ask anyone who lucked into Michael Vick in 2010...they're nodding right now.

With that in mind, here's a look at a dozen of the top fantasy signal-callers for 2011, from elite studs likely to go very early in drafts to the higher-end "platoon" types that could bloom into every-week options.

12. Josh Freeman: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Last year's biggest surprise at quarterback not named Michael Vick was undoubtedly second-year pro Josh Freeman of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who put together a very solid sophomore campaign, throwing for nearly 3,500 yards with 25 touchdown passes while being intercepted only six times. Not only was Freeman a major component of the huge turnaround for Tampa Bay in 2010, he also rewarded fantasy owners who drafted him late or scooped him up off the waiver wire with a top 10 finish at his position.

Raheem Morris certainly isn't Mike Martz, and the conservative Buccaneers offense isn't going to turn Freeman into Kurt Warner, but Josh Freeman will throw it enough, chipping in some rushing yardage along the way (he had over 350 yards on the ground a year ago and should notch his first career rushing touchdown in 2011) to make him an ideal matchup or platoon fantasy quarterback.

11. Matthew Stafford: Detroit Lions

A shoulder injury was the downfall of Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford's 2010 season, limiting him to only 535 passing yards and three games played. The third year pro did manage to toss six touchdown passes versus only one interception, but his yardage per attempt also dropped considerably from his rookie year.

It's all about fantasy risk vs. upside with Matthew Stafford. He's surrounded by a bevy of young weapons in running back Jahvid Best, wide receiver Calvin Johnson and tight end Brandon Pettigrew. The Detroit Lions leaky defense could force Stafford into some shootouts, and behind an improved offensive line, a healthy Stafford is capable of posting huge fantasy numbers and being the steal of the draft for owners that wait to draft their quarterback.

However, if he can't stay on the field, owners who don't back Stafford up with another viable option such as Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens or the Kansas Chiefs Matt Cassel could find themselves scrambling to their league's waiver wire in an attempt to salvage their seasons.

10. Ben Roethlisberger: Pittsburgh Steelers

Although the Pittsburgh Steelers represented the AFC in last season's Super Bowl, it was anything but a super year for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who began the season serving a four-game suspension stemming from sexual assault allegations. The eighth-year pro threw for 3,200 yards, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions during his abbreviated (albeit successful) season.

Roethlisberger was a more than respectable seventh among fantasy quarterbacks a year ago, and while the Pittsburgh Steelers offense isn't The Greatest Show in Ketchup, it's not as conservative as many are lead to believe, and Ben Roethlisberger probably represents the first fantasy quarterback on this list that can reasonably be expected to be startable on a weekly basis.

9. Matt Ryan: Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan lived up to his high draft slot, fat rookie contract and "Matty Ice" nickname in 2010, topping 3,500 passing yards and 25 touchdown passes for the first time in his three year career while leading the Falcons to the number one seed in the NFC playoffs and establishing himself as one of the NFL's top young quarterbacks.

In fantasy football terms, Matt Ryan is what he is: A smart quarterback on a fairly conservative offense who doesn't turn the ball over and has enough weapons at his disposal to make him a viable low-end starter. Ryan finished just inside the Top 10 fantasy football quarterbacks in 2010, and the same will likely hold true in 2011.

8. Matt Schaub: Houston Texans

Lost a bit in the hooplah surrounding Houston Texans running back Arian Foster's breakout 2010 season was another fine statistical output from quarterback Matt Schaub, who threw for the second highest yardage total (4.370) and touchdowns (24) in his seven-year career while finishing in the top 10 at his position for the second straight year.

Schaub actually regressed a bit from his third-place finish in 2009 (when he led the NFL in passing yards), but as the trigger man on a potent offensive team that includes Foster and stud wide receiver Andre Johnson, it's entirely possible that Schaub will once again finish in the top five, outperforming his fantasy draft position and ranking here.

7. Tony Romo: Dallas Cowboys

A broken clavicle compliments of New York Giants linebacker Michael Boley ended the 2010 season for Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo last October, limiting the star-crossed signal caller to only six games and his worst numbers since becoming the starter in Dallas in 2006 as Jerry's Boys lurched to a 6-10 record.

Romo still managed to finish ninth in fantasy points per game despite barely playing in that fateful tilt with the G-Men, and there's no reason to believe that the injury will affect him heading into the 2011 season. The ninth-year pro was a top 10 fantasy quarterback from 2007-2009, and with a bevy of options in the passing game at his disposal, a healthy Tony Romo should represent a capable every-week option for fantasy owners this year as well.

6. Philip Rivers: San Diego Chargers

Although the 2010 season was a disappointment for the San Diego Chargers, quarterback Philip Rivers enjoyed the finest statistical season of his seven year career, leading the National Football League in passing yardage, tossing 30 touchdown passes and posting his best fantasy finish, ending the year fourth among quarterbacks.

Rivers possesses one of the best arms in the NFL, and while there is some uncertainty in the Chargers receiving corps with wide receivers Malcolm Floyd and Vincent Jackson potentially free agents and tight end Antonio Gates recovering from injury, Philip Rivers could be an excellent value for fantasy football drafters, capable of top five quarterback production at a lower price than some of the other "elite" options.

5. Tom Brady: New England Patriots

For the sixth time in the last seven seasons New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady finished in the top 10 among fantasy quarterbacks in 2010, as the Golden Boy threw for 3,900 yards, 36 touchdowns and a ridiculously low four interceptions, setting an NFL record for consecutive passing attempts without a pick and becoming the first unanimous selection as NFL MVP.

Randy Moss may be gone, and with him, the incredibly gaudy offensive statistics the Patriots and Brady posted in 2007 when he was the top fantasy quarterback by nearly 100 points.

But while his upside may not be what it once was, Tom Brady is still undoubtedly one of the best quarterbacks in both the NFL and fantasy football and will more likely than not finish among the top five at his position in 2011.

4. Peyton Manning: Indianapolis Colts

There are certain inescapable realities in life, among them, death, taxes and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning finishing among the top five quarterbacks in fantasy football, as the future Hall of Famer has done an incredible 11 years running. In 2010, Manning set career highs in completions (450) and passing yards (4,700) while throwing 33 touchdown passes and finishing the year second among fantasy QBs.

Manning's outstanding consistency and durability (he's never missed a start in his career) make him a very valuable asset to fantasy football owners, and although there are a few quarterbacks that may finish ahead of Peyton Manning in the upcoming season, the argument can certainly be made that he should be the first quarterback taken in fantasy drafts this summer, as there's likely no more "bust proof" option around.

3. Michael Vick: Philadelphia Eagles

No player carried more fantasy teams to championships in 2010 than Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, who resurrected his career in relief of Kevin Kolb and proceeded to explode for nearly 30 fantasy points per game en route to a third-place finish at his position despite playing in only 12 games. For the season, Vick threw for over 3,000 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for nearly 700 yards, with nine more scores on the ground.

The best dual threat quarterback in the game, Vick will still be hard pressed to match last year's staggering per game production even in Philadelphia's high-octane offense, as nearly all Vick's stats from a year ago were career highs and his style of play lends itself to the possibility of injury, raising durability concerns. However, with his ability to hurt you with both his arm and legs and a potent group of backs and receivers at his disposal, Michael Vick could easily be fantasy football's top quarterback in 2011 if he can stay on the field.

2. Drew Brees: New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees assembled another outstanding statistical campaign a year ago, topping 4,300 passing yards and 30 touchdown passes for the third consecutive season. Limited by a knee injury for most of the season, Brees did have a career-high 24 giveaways (22 interceptions, two lost fumbles), but still managed a very respectable sixth-place fantasy finish at his position.

The sixth-place finish was Brees lowest since 2005, when he finished seventh while at the helm for the San Diego Chargers, and can likely be attributed mostly to a bum knee that should now be good to go. Drew Brees is one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the NFL and commands one of the league's most prolific offenses in New Orleans, so assuming he's healthy, he should once again finish near the top of the fantasy quarterback heap in 2011.

1. Aaron Rodgers: Green Bay Packers

Last year was truly a super season for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, as the six-year veteran led the Packers to a victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV and finished as fantasy football's top quarterback for the second consecutive season, racking up over 350 fantasy points on the strength of nearly 4,000 passing yards, 28 passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns.

Rodgers was one of four starting quarterbacks in the NFL with a passer rating of over 100  and seemingly has it all. With a strong, accurate arm, a loaded offense filled with excellent receiving options and enough mobility to get added fantasy production on the ground, there's no reason to think that Rodgers can't make it a three-peat as fantasy football's top quarterback in 2011.