NFC East: Fantasy QB team rankings going into 2006
Michael Harmon / FOXSports.com
NOTE THAT ALL INFORMATION IS BASED ON HARMON'S FANTASY PLAYER INFORMATION!
The quarterback position often takes a backseat in fantasy drafts to the running backs, and it should, given that many teams employ systems that use multiple players and specialists.
However, the quarterback position makes it all go, and generally, only 13-15 players actually take every snap for the respective teams. Peyton Manning and Brett Favre stand out as the iron men at the position. Fantasy owners can count on them to get under center and confidently pencil them into their starting lineups (struggles for Favre and the phenomenal Colts run of 2005 notwithstanding).
In this edition of my preseason tour, I'm putting the quarterback position under the microscope. Rather than focusing entirely on starters, I'm ranking quarterbacks by team. In subsequent columns, I'll apply the same scrutiny to the other skill positions.
I begin in Indianpolis, where the system and assembly of talent makes the quarterback a star, regardless of the number on his back.
8. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles welcome back starter Donovan McNabb after his sports hernia injury of 2005. He'll come back to a wide receiving corps led by Reggie Brown and an efficient offensive system. Lest we forget, the Eagles and McNabb were quite effective in the days before Terrell Owens.
Philadelphia added veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia as his backup. Garcia joins his fourth team in four years, and though he has seen his productivity dip each season, he fits in nicely within this system. The motion and short passes that make up Philadelphia's attack are similar to the San Francisco offense he ran with such efficiency at the beginning of the decade.
Garcia slides ahead of Koy Detmer on the depth chart. Detmer hasn't thrown a touchdown pass since 2002.
11. Washington Redskins
Mark Brunell turned back the clock in Joe Gibbs' offense, effectively utilizing speed receiver Santana Moss and distributing the ball to his tight ends. Brunell threw a career-high 23 touchdown passes in wresting the top job from Patrick Ramsey (now with the Jets). The Redskins added wide receivers Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El to offer more balance and depth.
Washington has a talented backup at the ready in 2005 first-round selection Jason Campbell. Some have argued that the former Auburn star deserves the opportunity to compete with Brunell for the starting role this year. Brunell's success in 2005 makes that unlikely to occur, but Campbell's strong arm and 6-foot-4 frame have them secure for the future. Career backup Todd Collins currently stands third on the depth chart.
15. New York Giants
Eli Manning grew tremendously in his second NFL season, tossing 24 touchdown passes in his first full season as a starter. New York figures to be among the highest scoring offenses this year as Manning continues his maturation with Tiki Barber, Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey as his primary playmakers.
However, the quarterback role is still spotty behind Manning. Tim Hasselbeck returns as the backup with Jared Lorenzen in the third spot. To put the experience of this pair in perspective, Hasselbeck has not attempted a pass in the NFL since 2003, and Lorenzen has yet to take a snap. Pass protection will be huge in deciding the Giants' fate in 2006.
24. Dallas Cowboys
Bill Parcells turns to veteran quarterback Drew Bledsoe for a second season. Bledsoe threw 23 touchdown passes a season ago, and welcomes top-flight wide receiver Terrell Owens to the mix this year. The combination of Owens, Terry Glenn and tight end Jason Witten signals a big year ahead for the Cowboys offense.
The Cowboys continue to run with Parcells favorite Tony Romo as the backup for Bledsoe. Romo has never attempted an NFL pass in his four seasons with the Cowboys, and third-string quarterback Drew Henson hasn't seen the field since an abbreviated turn as the starter in 2004. The strong complement of skill position players in Dallas will take some of the pressure off the quarterback, but the values of all Cowboys players dip with an injury to the statuesque Bledsoe.
NOTE THAT ALL INFORMATION IS BASED ON HARMON'S FANTASY PLAYER INFORMATION!
The quarterback position often takes a backseat in fantasy drafts to the running backs, and it should, given that many teams employ systems that use multiple players and specialists.
However, the quarterback position makes it all go, and generally, only 13-15 players actually take every snap for the respective teams. Peyton Manning and Brett Favre stand out as the iron men at the position. Fantasy owners can count on them to get under center and confidently pencil them into their starting lineups (struggles for Favre and the phenomenal Colts run of 2005 notwithstanding).
In this edition of my preseason tour, I'm putting the quarterback position under the microscope. Rather than focusing entirely on starters, I'm ranking quarterbacks by team. In subsequent columns, I'll apply the same scrutiny to the other skill positions.
I begin in Indianpolis, where the system and assembly of talent makes the quarterback a star, regardless of the number on his back.
8. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles welcome back starter Donovan McNabb after his sports hernia injury of 2005. He'll come back to a wide receiving corps led by Reggie Brown and an efficient offensive system. Lest we forget, the Eagles and McNabb were quite effective in the days before Terrell Owens.
Philadelphia added veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia as his backup. Garcia joins his fourth team in four years, and though he has seen his productivity dip each season, he fits in nicely within this system. The motion and short passes that make up Philadelphia's attack are similar to the San Francisco offense he ran with such efficiency at the beginning of the decade.
Garcia slides ahead of Koy Detmer on the depth chart. Detmer hasn't thrown a touchdown pass since 2002.
11. Washington Redskins
Mark Brunell turned back the clock in Joe Gibbs' offense, effectively utilizing speed receiver Santana Moss and distributing the ball to his tight ends. Brunell threw a career-high 23 touchdown passes in wresting the top job from Patrick Ramsey (now with the Jets). The Redskins added wide receivers Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El to offer more balance and depth.
Washington has a talented backup at the ready in 2005 first-round selection Jason Campbell. Some have argued that the former Auburn star deserves the opportunity to compete with Brunell for the starting role this year. Brunell's success in 2005 makes that unlikely to occur, but Campbell's strong arm and 6-foot-4 frame have them secure for the future. Career backup Todd Collins currently stands third on the depth chart.
15. New York Giants
Eli Manning grew tremendously in his second NFL season, tossing 24 touchdown passes in his first full season as a starter. New York figures to be among the highest scoring offenses this year as Manning continues his maturation with Tiki Barber, Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey as his primary playmakers.
However, the quarterback role is still spotty behind Manning. Tim Hasselbeck returns as the backup with Jared Lorenzen in the third spot. To put the experience of this pair in perspective, Hasselbeck has not attempted a pass in the NFL since 2003, and Lorenzen has yet to take a snap. Pass protection will be huge in deciding the Giants' fate in 2006.
24. Dallas Cowboys
Bill Parcells turns to veteran quarterback Drew Bledsoe for a second season. Bledsoe threw 23 touchdown passes a season ago, and welcomes top-flight wide receiver Terrell Owens to the mix this year. The combination of Owens, Terry Glenn and tight end Jason Witten signals a big year ahead for the Cowboys offense.
The Cowboys continue to run with Parcells favorite Tony Romo as the backup for Bledsoe. Romo has never attempted an NFL pass in his four seasons with the Cowboys, and third-string quarterback Drew Henson hasn't seen the field since an abbreviated turn as the starter in 2004. The strong complement of skill position players in Dallas will take some of the pressure off the quarterback, but the values of all Cowboys players dip with an injury to the statuesque Bledsoe.
posted by The Gryphon at 6:51 PM
<< Home