Over the next few weeks leading up to the season I will be
going through the league doing Top Ten lists at each position (Excluding O-Line,
Punters, Kickers). I’m not including any rookies in these list because I don’t
believe a person who has not taken a snap should be considered above average at
the position (yet).
First off, we start with arguably the most important
position on the team, Quarterback. The QB list was very easy at the top but
numbers 6-10 were where I had to make some decisions as to who deserved to be
on the list and who didn’t.
Here are some of the names that just missed being on the
list: Tony Romo, Josh Freeman, Joe Flacco, Peyton Manning (Due to coming off surgery, if he had played last year he'd be on it)
And starting the list at number 10:
10. Phillip Rivers- The people who will disagree with Rivers
here are those who had him on their fantasy football teams last year. The only
thing that kept him from being elite last year was the career high 20
interceptions that he threw. He has had at least 4,000 yards and 25 TD’s in
each of the past 4 years and even without Vincent Jackson, Rivers should put up
those same numbers.
9. Michael Vick- The only thing that keeps Vick down this
low on the list is the fact he’s almost guaranteed to get hurt once a year.
Since coming back from being banned from the league, he’s played at most 13
games in a season. If you could turn injuries off like in Madden, there’s no
telling what kind of numbers he could put up.
8. Cam Newton- Cam rewrote the record books when it comes to
rookie quarterbacks. He started off the season strong, then faded a small
amount towards the end by throwing for over 4,000 yards and had 35 total
touchdowns. Since he is so young I kept him lower on the list and I am anxious
to see how he does in his second year and if he avoids the dreaded sophomore slump.
7. Matt Ryan- There’s nothing really flashy about Ryan, he’s
just a very solid QB. The only knock that is against him is that he has yet to
win a playoff game in his career. I think he accomplishes it this year with a
Falcons’ team that could be scary good.
6. Ben Roethlisberger- Roethlisberger has always been on the
verge of becoming a top QB but has been the victim of a very poor offensive
line. His two Super Bowls put him in elite company, but by his regular season
numbers he’s just below the upper echelon QB’s. I think he could have a career
year this year behind a should be improved offensive line.
5. Eli Manning- Eli proved all the critics wrong once again and
won himself a second Super Bowl. He had a career year only missing the 5,000
yard mark by 77 yards. Losing Manningham won’t hurt his numbers because
Manningham was really just a key in the Super Bowl victory while Nicks and Cruz
were the reasons they got there. Eli is
entering his prime and should be one of the elite QB’s over the next few years.
4. Matthew Stafford- I have always liked Stafford and have
said for years if he could stay healthy he would put up monster numbers. Well
he did, and he should continue to put up elite numbers as long as he has that
Calvin Johnson guy to catch it for him. The lions also got another weapon in
Ryan Broyles to control the slot on a Lions team that has a legitimate shot to
win the division.
3. Drew Brees- I know Brees just set the passing yards mark
this past year, but all of the top three could be argued at either spot. I put
Brees here because he will be without his Head Coach Sean Payton for the entire
season. He will still put up his typical
Brees numbers but not the same as he did in his record setting ’11 season.
2. Tom Brady- Brady is the model of consistency when it
comes to quarterback. They have system in New England that works like a charm
and they have become the masters of the 5 yard slant/curl. Brady has a couple
more seasons of elite left in him and getting Brandon Lloyd sure won’t hurt the
cause.
1. Aaron Rodgers- The MVP of the league but up video game
numbers last year. He had 4,600 yards with 45 touchdowns and didn’t even play
the final game of the season. The most impressive stat, was his 6
interceptions. He is hands down the best QB in the league and his added
mobility puts him up over Brady in my book.
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