2011 NFL Fantasy Football: Top 20 Quarterback Rankings / Projections

In recent years, fantasy football owners who play in redraft leagues have enjoyed a terrific class of elite quarterbacks to choose from with at least the top five options giving you over 4,000 yards passing and 30-plus touchdowns. The 2011 quarterback class is no different, and we still have some young, up-and-coming quarterbacks who could make this year's class even stronger, with Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford, Josh Freeman and Sam Bradford as projected future top-10 quarterbacks.

Our quarterback player projections below take into account not just each signal caller's 2011 projected stats, but each player's upside, risk, weather factors, strength of schedule, style of offense and the team they have (skill players) around them.

Sam Bradford Has Starter Potential in 2011

For example, while Sam Bradford is only in his second season, the Rams are clearly a projected throw-first offense with new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels calling the plays. It also doesn’t hurt Bradford that he plays in a dome and his division road games are on the West Coast.

Bradford doesn’t have a top-notch No.1 receiver, but he does have a deep corps of talent to work with and plays in a pass-friendly division. While this young quarterback needs to prove he can take the next step in his career, we believe he’s ready for around 4,000 yards passing and 23 touchdowns. As Bradford and his receiving corps develop, this young field general will be a future top-five fantasy quarterback.

In the preseason, Bradford has done nothing but look like he's improved his game since his rookie year, and it appears the Rams are primed to win their division. Don't look to Bradford as a potential starting quarterback unless you play in leagues deeper than 12 teams, but this young star could be starting on fantasy rosters by the end of September.

With McDaniels calling the offense, Bradford has a chance to wind up with around 28 touchdowns, but it's smart to play it on the safe side and draft him as an early backup, especially if you plan on being one of the last teams to draft a quarterback.

2011 Player Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | D/ST

1	Aaron Rodgers
2	Philip Rivers
3	Michael Vick
4	Drew Brees
5	Tom Brady
6	Tony Romo
7	Peyton Manning
8	Ben Roethlisberger
9	Matthew Stafford
10	Matt Ryan
11	Matt Schaub
12	Eli Manning
13	Sam Bradford
14	Joe Flacco
15	Josh Freeman
16	Matt Cassel
17	Kevin Kolb
18	Kyle Orton
19	Jay Cutler
20	Mark Sanchez

More 2011 Fantasy Football Draft Tips

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