Peyton Manning Injury: Why It's Safe to Dump QB from Fantasy Football Teams

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has been ruled out for nearly the entire season, now that he is recovering from his third neck surgery in less than 24 months. However, the team is not ready to put him on the injured reserve list and end his 2011 season just yet.

But that doesn't mean you shouldn't end his season on your fantasy team. Manning isn't likely to return, if at all, before November or December.

By then, if your fantasy team needs his services that badly, it's unlikely any benefits he could offer your team will help your playoff chances very much.

Instead of waiting for Manning's return, it is better to pick up and cultivate another starting quarterback to lead your team.

Hopefully, you've done so already. Even better, perhaps you only have Manning on your roster as a backup, waiting for that just-in-case moment that may or may not come Week 10.

In that scenario, you have two options: You can offer Manning in a trade package to another league member who has more faith in Manning's eventual return and what impact that may make, and add value where you had practically none.

Or, you can cut him outright and replace him with another quarterback on the waiver wire (I recommend the Cleveland Browns' Colt McCoy, or—if for any reason he's still available after his Week 1 performance—Panthers QB Cam Newton).

Either way, for fantasy football purposes, it's safe to operate as though Manning is has been IR'ed already. The roster spot Manning occupies is way more valuable to you than the quarterback himself this year.