Quarterbacks

Must Start: The Top 10

1. Peyton Manning @ BAL – Encore, encore! It’s hard to believe Peyton will match last year’s ridiculous numbers (4,500 yards and 49 TDs) but with all his weapons back, there’s no good reason to think he won’t. Wait, here’s one: an improving defense could actually prevent the high-octane O from airing it out as often. On second thought…. There are better draws than the Ravens in Week 1 but that doesn’t mean you sit him, no matter who your backup is.

2. Daunte Culpepper v. TB – Life after Randy begins this Sunday against an old Norris Division rival, the Bucs. Though some have already penciled the Vikes in as NFC North champs, I’m reserving judgment. No, it’s not because I’m a Packer fan. It’s because Daunte’s offense lost a stud RB (the “Whizzinator”), an All-Pro center (Matt Birk), and an All-Universe receiver (the aforementioned Mr. Moss). How does that make them better exactly? Let’s hope it at least makes Culpepper more valuable.

3. Donovan McNabb @ ATL – For a guy who’s led his team to four consecutive NFC Championship games, he sure doesn’t receive much in the way of adulation. That tends to happen when you play in a city like Philadelphia with the most controversial wideout since…well, Randy Moss. Silent treatment aside, McNabb will find his “favorite” receiver enough in the first few weeks to keep Eagles fans (and his owners) happy…for now.

4. Brett Favre @ DET – He’s leaner and presumably meaner after an offseason of pilates and personal tragedy. If you like future Hall of Famers who never get hurt and put up 4,000 yards/30 TDs on a regular basis, you’ve come to the right place. The Ol’ Gunslinger could put up even better numbers this season if the Pack’s woeful defense forces him to play catch-up a lot, a distinct possibility with greenhorns along the defensive line and in the secondary.

5. Tom Brady v. OAK – Speaking of future Hall of Famers…. If he doesn’t cool it soon, Brady’s gonna make his childhood idol’s career look relatively pedestrian. Not even the great Joe Montana could boast of three Super Bowl trophies at this stage of his career. Make it four if somebody doesn’t figure out how to beat the Pats in Foxboro come January.

6. Carson Palmer @ CLE – Nobody beat the Pats in Foxboro PERIOD last season but Palmer and the upstart Bengals came close. The reason? They can match almost any team, Super Bowl champ or not, point for point. With a stud running back and the league’s most underrated receiving corps at his disposal, the former Heisman winner should break out in a big way this season.

7. Trent Green v. NYJ – Quick: name the AFC’s returning leader in passing yardage. Surprise, surprise, Peyton worshippers. Though you’d certainly trade Green’s 27 touchdown passes for Manning’s record-breaking 49, you’ve gotta be happy with the 4,591 yards KC’s triggerman posted through the air in 2004, without the benefit of even one wideout who could start in Indy. Expect big things from Mr. Green this season in the wide-open AFC West.

8. Kerry Collins @ NE – You want wide open? Allow me to introduce the ’05 version of Mr. Davis’ Raiduhs. Adding Randy to an already dangerous stable of speed demons makes Oakland a trendy pick for the AFC West crown. Of course, there’s still the little matter of what to do when the other team gets the ball. No matter. We all know that porous defense typically leads to potent offense in fantasy ball.

9. Jake Delhomme v. NO – You’ve already read about the four signal-callers who threw for more TDs than Delhomme last season (Manning, Culpepper, McNabb, and Favre). Not bad company for a guy who was short his best two running backs and his best receiver most of the year. Entering his third full year as the starter in Carolina, the former Ragin’ Cajun could be a nice option for owners who waited ‘til the middle rounds to draft a QB.

10. Kurt Warner @ NYG – He’s not the vindictive type, I imagine, but I gotta think Eli Manning’s former mentor is just a little bit psyched to be facing his protégé right out of the gate. Believe it or not, Warner’s upside is much higher than Manning Jr.’s this season, especially working with the likes of Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. I like his chances of putting up 200+ yards and a couple scores this Sunday.

Grab A Helmet:

Michael Vick v. PHI – Don’t read anything into his exclusion from the Top 10. I’m just as smitten with Mike’s ability as I was last year and the year before that. Nevertheless, he’s squaring off against a superior Philadelphia team on Monday night that would like nothing better than to just play football at this point. He’s also going into battle with perhaps the worst receiving corps in the short history of the NFC South. Good thing Alge Crumpler still plays for the Dirty Birds.

Mark Bulger @ SF – The numbers tell me he’s a decent option for those who miss out on the big boys. The eyes tell me he’s a maddeningly inconsistent QB who is more than likely gonna break some hearts before all is said and done. You could do worse than Bulger but the emergence of Steven Jackson means he’s probably a fringe option all year long. Just warning you.

Joey Harrington v. GB – Aside from his mother, I’m probably the only person in the world who thinks he’s still capable of big things in the Motor City. Even his coach seemed unconvinced this offseason, tracking down old friend Jeff Garcia for a friendly QB competition. Now that the injured Garcia is out of the way, the job is all Joey’s. I have a sneaking suspicion he’ll reward my patience with a breakout year, starting against a Pack secondary that will have its hands full against the super-talented (and super-sized) Lions receiving corps.

Byron Leftwich v. SEA – Fragile Fred is even more fragile than ever this year so it wouldn’t be surprising to see everything fall on Byron’s big shoulders. That could be a good thing if he continues to improve. Then again, Jimmy Smith isn’t getting any younger and the Jags need someone else to emerge. Expect that someone to be one of Jacksonville’s gigantic “other” threats, Reggie Williams. Heard it here first.

Chad Pennington @ KC – He’s never made it through an entire season and he’s only thrown more than 20 TDs once in his career (two years ago, no less). That’s another way of saying I don’t entirely trust him. Then again, it’s Week 1. He’s healthy for now and draws the ever-suspect Chefs secondary this Sunday. Expect 200 yards and at least one hookup with new old friend, Laveranues Coles.

Grab A Clipboard:

Kyle Boller v. IND – He may actually avoid being the worst starter at the QB position this year. On the other hand, he may not. If you’re even potentially the worst QB in the league, you don’t merit consideration as a legitimate fantasy starter. Stop boasting of his potential, people. You know who you are.

Kyle Orton @ WAS – Rookie QBs who start in Week 1 don’t generally find much success. Rookie QBs who start in Week 1 ‘cuz their teams don’t have any other options? Cover your eyes. Love his potential but he wouldn’t be starting for me right away, especially against a stingy ‘Skins defense.

Patrick Ramsey v. CHI – Lucky for Orton and his Bears, the ‘Skins offense always manages to keep opponents in ballgames. If he could only tally fantasy points for handing off to Clinton Portis, Ramsey would be a solid option. Alas, he’ll need to actually complete some passes to help you out. That’s a dicey proposition. Stay away.

Matt Hasselbeck @ JAX – He was one of the hottest QB commodities on the market this time last year but another lackluster season has relegated him to the middle tier of fantasy signal-callers for ‘05. The potential is still there but unfortunately for him and his owners, so are Shaun Alexander and the drop-prone receiving corps. Make him show you something before relying too heavily on him.

Drew Brees v. DAL – Unlike Hasselbeck, Brees was a whisker width away from oblivion at the start of last season. Now? He’s the unquestioned leader of a resurgent Bolts squad thinking Super Bowl. You’ll hafta excuse the cynicism but I’m just not sure he can turn the trick again. Thanks to a Clippers-like bungling of the Antonio Gates contract extension, he’ll also be without the services of his top target for Week 1. Try someone else for now.

David Carr @ BUF – After two years of hyping his potential, I’ve turned bearish on Carr and the Houston passing game, in general. At some point, he needs to produce. Sound familiar, Joey? Believe it or not, Carr has thrown 14 fewer TD passes than the Lions’ beleaguered field general in only two fewer games. Hey, that’s what I’m here for, folks. Sit him down against the Bills’ stellar defense.

Running Backs