Fantasy Football Week 13 Rankings: Top 25 Quarterbacks

The upcoming week is once again filled with many questions regarding quarterbacks.  Will Michael Vick be able to return to the Eagles huddle?  Will the Chiefs turn over the starting job to Kyle Orton?  Where will the Texans turn next?  Let’s take a look at how everything unfolds for the coming week: 

1. Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers – at New York Giants
2. Tom Brady – New England Patriots – vs. Indianapolis
3. Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints – vs. Detroit
4. Tony Romo – Dallas Cowboys – at Arizona
5. Eli Manning – New York Giants – vs. Green Bay
6. Cam Newton– Carolina Panthers – at Tampa Bay
7. Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions – at New Orleans
8. Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh Steelers – vs. Cincinnati
9. Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons – at Houston
10. Philip Rivers – San Diego Chargers – at Jacksonville
11. Tim Tebow – Denver Broncos – at Minnesota
12. Vince Young – Philadelphia Eagles – at Seattle
13. Carson Palmer – Oakland Raiders – at Miami
14. Ryan Fitzpatrick – Buffalo Bills – vs. Tennessee
15. Matt Moore – Miami Dolphins – vs. Oakland
16. Josh Freeman – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. Carolina
17. Sam Bradford – St. Louis Rams – at San Francisco
18. Mark Sanchez – New York Jets – at Washington
19. Joe Flacco – Baltimore Ravens – at Cleveland
20. Kyle Orton – Kansas City Chiefs – at Chicago
21. Matt Hasselbeck – Tennessee Titans – at Buffalo
22. Christian Ponder – Minnesota Vikings – vs. Denver
23. Rex Grossman – Washington Redskins – vs. New York Jets
24. Alex Smith – San Francisco 49ers – vs. St. Louis
25. Kevin Kolb – Arizona Cardinals – vs. Dallas

Thoughts

• Is it a very big stretch to think that the Giants are going to need to throw the ball early and often to keep up with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers?  That happening is one of the reasons why the Packers are allowing 287.8 passing yards per game, but with the way Eli Manning and the Giants’ receiving corps are playing, it doesn’t really matter.  Look for Manning to produce once again.
• Will Michael Vick be able to return with the Eagles who are set to play on Thursday?  Even if he does, what exactly should we expect from him?  If he does play, he would slide roughly into the same spot as Vince Young.
• Tony Romo has thrown for 10 TD vs. two INT over his last four games and has everything clicking with Laurent Robinson and Dez Bryant.  With the Arizona Cardinals among the worst passing defenses in the league (250.2 passing yards per game allowed and only nine INT), another monster game could easily be in his future.  It’s hard not to consider him a top five option with the way he’s currently playing.
• Despite injuries throughout his receiving corps, Carson Palmer has still managed to produce since coming to Oakland.  Can you imagine what he could do if everyone, including Darren McFadden, were actually healthy?  With an enviable matchup against the Miami Dolphins (16 passing TD allowed as well as 248.1 yards per game), he’s a borderline QB1 and a must-use QB2 for the coming week.
• Ryan Fitzpatrick suddenly woke up against the New York Jets, throwing for 264 yards (a career high against NY), three TD and zero INT.  He and Stevie Johnson clearly had a renewed rapport and you have to wonder if the success will translate into his Week 13 matchup with the Titans.  His prior struggles clearly keep him as nothing more than a QB2, but at least he’s back on the radar.
• Matt Hasselbeck did help lead the Titans to a victory, but he was far from impressive in doing so.  He went 19-of-34 with one TD and two INT a week after being forced from a game due to injury.  With Jake Locker impressing in relief duties in Week 11, could a slow start lead to a quick hook for Hasselbeck?  That potential drops him significantly down these rankings.
• Curtis Painter showed signs of waking up this week, throwing for 226 yards, one TD and two INT.  A matchup with the Patriots would make him worth considering as a QB2, but don’t go too crazy.  There have been too many struggles to think of him as a good play.
• You have to think Kyle Orton is going to start for the Chiefs this week, though he also has to be considered a real wild card.  The matchup with the Bears is a favorable one, but how good of a rapport is he going to have?  Still, with Dwayne Bowe at his disposal, you have to think of him as an instant QB2 option.
• Monitor the news as the week progresses, but I would expect Kevin Kolb to return to the starting lineup this week.  That said, even if he returns, it is hard to predict what we are going to get from him.  Use him at your own risk.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 13 articles:

• Top 40 Running Backs
• Top 50 Wide Receivers
• Waiver Worthy