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05-31-2009, 07:46 AM
Pure Fantasy: Breaking down the QBs
New England's Tom Brady is healthy and ready to throw to Randy Moss and Wes Welker again.
By David Kendrick - Express-News commentary
We kick off the Pure Fantasy NFL position rankings with a look at quarterbacks. Here are things to consider when you draft your QBs:
SLEEPERS
Trent Edwards, Bills: Terrell Owens has made previous QBs more valuable, and he’ll do the same for Edwards. Not only will T.O. be a great target, but he’ll free up Lee Evans.
Carson Palmer, Bengals: He could also go under “Health Issues” below, as in, “If Palmer’s elbow is OK, he has skill, Chad Ochocinco and Laveranues Coles.”
QUESTION MARKS
Tony Romo, Cowboys: While Edwards gets the T.O. bump, Romo must adjust to life after Owens. He may be happier now, but expect his stats to suffer this season.
Jay Cutler, Bears: He goes from a team that aired it out to one that should run it early and often.
Matt Cassel, Chiefs: Thrived in New England when Tom Brady went down. No longer has Randy Moss, but Dwayne Bowe is a nice consolation prize.
HEALTH ISSUES
Matt Schaub, Texans: He has Andre Johnson, but Schaub has missed time in each of his two seasons with Houston.
Tom Brady, Patriots: He’s returning from a knee injury that cost him almost all of last season. The good news is he helps owners with his arm, not his legs.
Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks: Back and knee injuries cost him time last season, but reports out of Seattle so far are encouraging.
Kurt Warner, Cardinals: The nearly 38-year-old QB had a hip operation over the offseason and, except for last season, injuries have been an issue.
STARTER BATTLES
Browns: It’s Brady Quinn vs. Derek Anderson for the right to throw the ball to Braylon Edwards (assuming he’s not traded).
Vikings: Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels are there now, but if Brett Favre decides he wants to play again, those first two guys won’t matter.
Raiders: JaMarcus Russell is the starter, but Jeff Garcia has plenty of experience starting in case the big QB struggles.
Buccaneers: The team has some exciting players; too bad none play QB. It’s Byron Leftwich vs. Luke McCown vs. rookie Josh Freeman.
Top 30 quarterbacks
1. Peyton Manning, Colts
2. Drew Brees, Saints
3. Kurt Warner, Cardinals
4. Tom Brady, Patriots
5. Philip Rivers, Chargers
6. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
7. Tony Romo, Cowboys
8. Carson Palmer, Bengals
9. Matt Ryan, Falcons
10. Donovan McNabb, Eagles
11. Matt Schaub, Texans
12. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks
13. Jay Cutler, Bears
14. Matt Cassel, Chiefs
15. Trent Edwards, Bills
16. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
17. Kyle Orton, Broncos
18. David Garrard, Jaguars
19. Shaun Hill, 49ers
20. Eli Manning, Giants
21. Chad Pennington, Dolphins
22. Joe Flacco, Ravens
23. Kerry Collins, Titans
24. Sage Rosenfels, Vikings
25. JaMarcus Russell, Raiders
26. Marc Bulger, Rams
27. Brady Quinn, Browns
28. Jason Campbell, Redskins
29. Byron Leftwich, Buccaneers
30. Matt Leinart, Cardinals
New England's Tom Brady is healthy and ready to throw to Randy Moss and Wes Welker again.
By David Kendrick - Express-News commentary
We kick off the Pure Fantasy NFL position rankings with a look at quarterbacks. Here are things to consider when you draft your QBs:
SLEEPERS
Trent Edwards, Bills: Terrell Owens has made previous QBs more valuable, and he’ll do the same for Edwards. Not only will T.O. be a great target, but he’ll free up Lee Evans.
Carson Palmer, Bengals: He could also go under “Health Issues” below, as in, “If Palmer’s elbow is OK, he has skill, Chad Ochocinco and Laveranues Coles.”
QUESTION MARKS
Tony Romo, Cowboys: While Edwards gets the T.O. bump, Romo must adjust to life after Owens. He may be happier now, but expect his stats to suffer this season.
Jay Cutler, Bears: He goes from a team that aired it out to one that should run it early and often.
Matt Cassel, Chiefs: Thrived in New England when Tom Brady went down. No longer has Randy Moss, but Dwayne Bowe is a nice consolation prize.
HEALTH ISSUES
Matt Schaub, Texans: He has Andre Johnson, but Schaub has missed time in each of his two seasons with Houston.
Tom Brady, Patriots: He’s returning from a knee injury that cost him almost all of last season. The good news is he helps owners with his arm, not his legs.
Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks: Back and knee injuries cost him time last season, but reports out of Seattle so far are encouraging.
Kurt Warner, Cardinals: The nearly 38-year-old QB had a hip operation over the offseason and, except for last season, injuries have been an issue.
STARTER BATTLES
Browns: It’s Brady Quinn vs. Derek Anderson for the right to throw the ball to Braylon Edwards (assuming he’s not traded).
Vikings: Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels are there now, but if Brett Favre decides he wants to play again, those first two guys won’t matter.
Raiders: JaMarcus Russell is the starter, but Jeff Garcia has plenty of experience starting in case the big QB struggles.
Buccaneers: The team has some exciting players; too bad none play QB. It’s Byron Leftwich vs. Luke McCown vs. rookie Josh Freeman.
Top 30 quarterbacks
1. Peyton Manning, Colts
2. Drew Brees, Saints
3. Kurt Warner, Cardinals
4. Tom Brady, Patriots
5. Philip Rivers, Chargers
6. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
7. Tony Romo, Cowboys
8. Carson Palmer, Bengals
9. Matt Ryan, Falcons
10. Donovan McNabb, Eagles
11. Matt Schaub, Texans
12. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks
13. Jay Cutler, Bears
14. Matt Cassel, Chiefs
15. Trent Edwards, Bills
16. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
17. Kyle Orton, Broncos
18. David Garrard, Jaguars
19. Shaun Hill, 49ers
20. Eli Manning, Giants
21. Chad Pennington, Dolphins
22. Joe Flacco, Ravens
23. Kerry Collins, Titans
24. Sage Rosenfels, Vikings
25. JaMarcus Russell, Raiders
26. Marc Bulger, Rams
27. Brady Quinn, Browns
28. Jason Campbell, Redskins
29. Byron Leftwich, Buccaneers
30. Matt Leinart, Cardinals