Fantasy Football Week 1 Rankings: Quarterback Odds for Most Passing Yards

Millions of NFL fans will sit on their computers Sunday morning and face some tough choices regarding who to start at quarterback in Week 1 of the 2011 regular season.

The Las Vegas oddsmakers have become more in tune with the popularity of fantasy football over the years and player proposition wagers are readily available inside a sports book each week.

Let's take a look at the betting odds for the starting quarterbacks who will finish with the most passing yards on Sunday.

Philip Rivers (+200)

San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers is coming off a career-high 4,710 yards last season and opened last year with a 298-yard performance in Kansas City. 

The former North Carolina State Wolf Pack signal caller averaged 278.5 passing yards in eight home games in 2010, which was slightly lower than his 310.3 yards a contest on the road.

He's the betting favorite and for good reason—September is his best career month in racking up the yards (270.7 yards per game).

Matt Schaub (+300)

I don't see any reason why the Houston Texans would deviate from running the rock against the smallish defensive front of the Indianapolis Colts.

Texans head coach Gary Kubiak doesn't need to change a successful game plan in any way because the Colts are without quarterback Peyton Manning.

Matt Schaub threw for 308 combined yards in the two meetings last year and the odds offer absolutely no value given those numbers.

Michael Vick (+650)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick really took off in the last half of the 2010 season under head coach Andy Reid, averaging 289.7 passing yards per game over the last six games.

That average is significant because he threw for just 213.3 yards in his first six opportunities.

Playing indoors is also a major plus, as he averaged 277 yards inside a dome versus 246 when playing outside in the elements.

Ben Roethlisberger (+675)

The betting odds certainly don't match his past performances against the Baltimore Ravens in terms of passing yards.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has averaged 210.2 passing yards a game in 10 career meetings against his biggest rival.

It's also important to note that September is his worst month in terms of racking up yards through the air, averaging just 204.5 a contest.

Josh Freeman (+690)

If you're expecting a Wild West shootout between Josh Freeman and Matthew Stafford, then he's certainly an option for picking up the cash.

Tampa Bay's third-year starter threw for 251 yards in last year's meeting, but his 181.3 average in September 2010 has us looking the other way.

Betting odds of +1000 or higher is necessary.

Eli Manning (+700)

A passer rating of 73.4 to go along with 404 combined yards in two meetings last year isn't exactly reflected in the betting odds.

Eli Manning is overvalued and the New York Giants are likely to pound the ball against the Washington Redskins.

He could revert back to his form of two years ago, which resulted in averaging 262 yards and a quarterback rating of 117.5 versus the Redskins.

Jay Cutler (+700)

Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler could be in store for a huge passing day against the Atlanta Falcons. 

He connected on 27 of 43 passes in a 21-14 road loss against them on October 18, 2009, and is known to fire it early on in the season.

Cutler averaged 290 yards per game in three contests last year during the infancy period in offensive coordinator Mike Martz's offense.

Definitely worth a long look, especially in trying to tame the critics in the Windy City.

The former Vanderbilt Commodores star may also want to take advantage of weather conditions in the high-70s on the lakefront.

Joe Flacco (+700)

Last year's 125-yard performance in the playoffs isn't going to have you running towards the windows. 

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco did happen to thrown for 266 yards when playing at home in the series in 2010.

It's just hard to imagine that he outperforms the rest of the league's signal callers against the Steel Curtain.

Tony Romo (+700)

Facing one of the National Football League's best defenses in your first return to action since breaking your left clavicle isn't the premiere situation in order to end up leading all quarterbacks in passing.

Tony Romo may lead this category a time or two down the road, but the odds just aren't offering value given the variables involved.

Take a long look at him the rest of the month, as he averaged 313.3 yards per contest in three September games in 2010.

Matt Ryan (+850)

I'm actually surprised that Matt Ryan's currently the 10th choice in betting in this proposition, especially since the media has deemed this team an explosive offense after drafting Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones.

During his 2008 rookie campaign, the former Boston College star threw for 301 yards in a 22-20 home win over the Chicago Bears.  It was his second-highest total of the entire season.

Bettors may be looking squarely at the 185 yards he threw for in his second career meeting against them in 2009.

Don't be surprised if both quarterbacks go off inside Soldier Field.

Mark Sanchez (+1200)

New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez has averaged 175.7 passing yards per game in his career when playing in front of the home faithful.

It's not exactly a number that's going to have us running up to place a wager, but the Cowboys secondary could give you the confidence to do so.

I'm looking elsewhere.

Matthew Stafford (+1300)

If you're surprised by these betting odds after the Detroit Lions finishing the preseason a perfect 4-0 straight up and against the spread, you should be.

But, it's important to point out that quarterback Matthew Stafford has averaged 49 yards fewer per game outdoors than in the comforts of a dome.

Major League Baseball pitchers have home and road splits; so do NFL quarterbacks.

No thanks.

Sam Bradford (+1350)

He's a trendy pick in starting his second year, but St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford will be the first NFL quarterback to throw against the vaunted secondary of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The game plan is likely to call a lot of plays for running back Steven Jackson and I just don't see it.

Then again, St. Louis could be playing catch up all day long and he averaged 20.5 yards more per game passing in the final eight weeks of his rookie campaign.

Kevin Kolb (+1500)

Definitely a long-shot possibility, but the oddsmakers have also placed a total of 37 on this contest between the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers in the desert.  That signifies a low-scoring game to me.

It's a wait-and-see approach from me due to being new in the offense and developing a chemistry with star wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. 

He's certainly capable of walking away with the prize due to 391 yards being his career high against the New Orleans Saints in 2009.

Donovan McNabb (+2000)

The Minnesota Vikings' game plan is going to feature a steady dose of No. 28, and veteran Donovan McNabb will be the man handing the ball off.

The former Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles leader could be playing catch-up all afternoon long in Southern California, which could bring into play his 277.7 passing yard average during September in 2010.

Being listed as probable right wrist injury has me on the fence.