Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 10 QB’s

There doesn’t seem to be a lot of positive news for fantasy football fans, but most people are still cautiously optimistic that we will have a pro football season this year. In an effort to help us move on from the negative and prepare for the future, let’s take a look at  the initial 2011 fantasy football rankings for quarterbacks.

1. Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers)- Now with the same number of Super Bowl rings as his predecessor Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers has firmly cemented his legacy as one of the great NFL signal-callers playing today. His fantasy football value has been firmly established since his first season as the starter in Green Bay. In that time Rodgers has thrown for over 3900 yards and 28 touchdowns each campaign. As an added bonus, he adds huge value to his already stellar fantasy numbers by rushing for an additional 300 yards and four scores on the ground.

Still on 27 years old, Rodgers is entering his prime as a Super Bowl champion and the clear leader of one of the youngest teams in the NFL. He can be counted on to produce elite quarterback numbers and is certainly worthy of being a first round selection in any fantasy football draft this year.

2. Tom Brady (New England Patriots)- As long as Brady and Belichick are together in Boston, you can count on some superb fantasy numbers. Even with the departure of star wide receiver Randy Moss, a lackluster running game, a serious injury to Wes Welker and the addition of two rookie tight ends into the offense, Tom Brady had another fantastic season. He threw for 3900 yards and enjoyed a phenomenal  36-4 TD to INT ratio.

Brady is also a very reliable producer. With the exception of the 2008 season which he essentially missed, he’s never failed to throw for 3500+ yards and averages 30 touchdown tosses per year. Still only 33, Brady should have several more dominant seasons in front of him. When the Patriots ignored their glaring needs to improve their pass-rush in the 2011 NFL draft, it reaffirmed that they will continue to be a team that will remain an elite high-scoring offense.

3. Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts)- Now 35 years old, Peyton Manning keeps producing fantastic numbers and shows no signs of slowing down. Despite having little help from an anemic running game and a poor offensive line in 2010, Manning still produced his best numbers since the record-breaking 2004 season. Peyton has an incredible streak of five straight seasons with over 4000 passing yards. He’s also the most durable QB in the league; he’s never missed a game in his entire career.

To further cement Manning’s status as a top three fantasy signal-caller, the Colts spent their first two 2011 draft picks on elite offensive line prospects. If the new line can help improve the run game and do a better job protecting Manning, the Colts could easily have the top offense in all of football.

4. Philip Rivers (San Diego Chargers)- Philip Rivers has been the best kept secret in fantasy football for years. Smart fantasy owners have been able to sit back and allow their opponents to take the big names early, then scoop up Rivers at a discount and enjoy top three numbers. That secret is probably out now, as River led the entire NFL in passing yards in 2010. That number is even more impressive when you consider that he did that with garbage wide receivers for most of the year.

Rivers has three straight 4000 yard passing campaigns and three straight with 28+ TD tosses. His fiery leadership and tough play make him one of the undisputed top quarterback options in the NFL and in fantasy football drafts…even if it’s no longer a secret.

5. Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints)- When considering drafting a quarterback early in fantasy football, you want consistency. Along with the preceding four QB’s, Drew Brees can be relied on to give you solid to spectacular statistics with little or no risk. Since coming to New Orleans in 2006, Brees has thrown for over 4000 yards every season. He also boasts three straight years with 33 or more TD tosses and has not missed a start due to injuries in seven seasons.

Brees did suffer a career worst 22 interceptions in 2010. A lot of that had to do with coverages not respecting the Saints injured and ineffective running game. The addition of a healthy Pierre Thomas and 2009 Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram could help return balance to the offense and allow Brees to not try to force the ball downfield as much.

6. Michael Vick (Philadelphia Eagles)- What Michael Vick did at times was downright unbelievable. His six touchdown performance on national TV against the Redskins will go down as one of the most memorable dominations in fantasy football history. Not expected to make much of an impact, Vick came off the bench for the Eagles and had his best season, passing for over 3000 yards and 21 touchdowns while also punching in nine rushing scores…all in only 11 starts.

Unlike the previous five QB’s, there’s some significant risk involved with Vick. He was injured and missed all or most of four games last year, and his scrambling ability will always leave him open to more punishment than your typical pocket-passer. Based on his amazing performance last year, Vick is likely to be a very expensive fantasy pick in 2011 and represents the classic risk/reward argument.

7. Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys)- Tony Romo was off to a brilliant start before a broken clavicle ended his 2010 campaign in week seven. Before the injury, Romo was on pace for 5011 passing yards and 32 touchdown passes. Now with the arrival of Dez Bryant to join Miles Austin and Jason Witten, the Cowboys have one of the most lethal receiving corps in the NFL, and Jason Garrett will certainly know how to utilize it.

Like Michael Vick, Tony Romo comes with a bit of a risk. Dallas has a poor offensive line that leaves Romo open to more hits than he should take and an under-performing running game. The Cowboys hope they addressed those needs in the draft with first round pick Tyron Smith and third rounder DeMarco Murray. 

8. Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons)- If you’re looking for the next potential break-out or superstar QB, look no further. Matt Ryan  has already led the Falcons to the top seed entering the 2010 NFL post-season and his statistics have steadily improved in each of his three years. Each season his touchdowns have grown by six and last year he cut his interceptions from 14 to 9.

The addition of big play receiving threat Julio Jones to line up opposite of star wide-out Roddy White could make the Falcons one of the most dangerous offenses in the NFL. Ryan could join the elite upper-echelon of fantasy QB’s and a 4000 yard 30+ touchdown season is within grasp.

9. Ben Roethlisberer (Pittsburgh Steelers)- Ben Roethlisberger is starting to look like fantasy football’s version of Bret Saberhagen. He seems to have a really big season in odd numbered years, only to see them dip the next season. The reduction in 2010 numbers was due to Big Ben’s off the field troubles which saw him suspended for the Steelers first four games. Even with that, Roethlisberger still managed to pass for 3200 yards and 17 touchdowns. Projected out over a full 16 game schedule and those number look quite impressive: 4667 yards and 23 TD’s.

No quarterback faces as much scrutiny as Big Ben. Off the field issues have plagued him and as great as he has been, he may be on his last chance in Pittsburgh. Still, Roethlisberger  is a three time Super Bowl quarterback and if the even/odd trend continues, he could be in for another huge statistical season in 2011.

10. Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens)- 3622 yards, 25 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions are really good stats, no matter where you play. But when you achieve those marks for the notoriously conservative offense that the Baltimore Ravens field, the number are even more impressive. Like fellow fourth year starter Matt Ryan, Flacco has improved in each season and looks poised to join the elite fantasy football signal-callers.

The expected departure of Willis McGahee and the addition of 2011 draft picks Torrey Smith and Tandon Doss could open up the Baltimore offense and help Flacco become this season’s biggest fantasy quarterback sleeper. 3800 yards and 28 touchdown passes could be attainable goals for Flacco and the Ravens.