Quarterback Rankings

1	Daunte Culpepper/QB/MIN	There are still some question marks surrounding Randy Moss and his health, but the Vikings will once again be offensively active this season with the talent they roster. Culpepper will get Fantasy points a combination of ways---- by air and by ground. A healthy Moss makes Culpepper incredibly dangerous, but even with uncertainty of Moss’s health; Culpepper is once again the top rated signal caller this summer. Keep a close eye on Culpepper and Moss this summer and see how the situation unfolds before you make either a first round selection.
2	Peyton Manning/QB/IND	Manning and the Colts agreed to a $99.2 million, seven-year contract this off-season. The deal includes a $34.5 million dollar signing bonus. If anything will induce a down-season in a player’s career, it is a contract like Manning signed. Are you kidding me? A 34.5 million dollar signing bonus for a quarterback that can’t get out of the way of his own linemen? Manning is a fierce competitor and the absence of a running back that can carry a heavy load in the Colts offense means that Peyton will be throwing the ball again, and again, and again this season. The one part of Manning’s game that limits his Fantasy value is his mobility. You won’t get many positive rushing yards or running touchdowns from Manning making him less attractive than other multi-dimensional signal callers. It is unlikely you will see Manning on the board past the second round of Fantasy drafts and this is not necessarily a bad thing. Fantasy owners who spend early round selections on quarterbacks leave the more valuable players on the board, running backs. Bottom line, we don’t recommend drafting a quarterback before the fourth round. The difference in points from the top ranked Fantasy quarterback and that of the tenth ranked signal caller in most scoring formats is minimal. Manning should only be considered a draft choice before the third round in leagues that reward point bonuses for total yards, total touchdowns and length of touchdown. Manning is a special player and gets special attention in most Fantasy leagues, but let the other owners spend an early selection on a quarterback while you spend yours on the best running back available.
3	Steve McNair/QB/TEN	The absence of the power running game in Tennessee has changed the offensive focus for the Titans. This change could result in McNair having a career year. McNair had a bone spur removed from his left ankle early in the off season, but entered minicamp showing no signs of rust or uncertainty. What McNair did show was a complete command of the offense with strength and accuracy on his throws. While health always seems to be an issue with McNair he has stated he has never felt better during any off-season and is ready for another Super Sunday run. McNair is a signal caller that can be counted on even when he is not 100 percent healthy, and this is important if you choose to make a quarterback an early selection in your Fantasy draft. The Titans could throw the ball in the area of 500 times this season making McNair a top five Fantasy option at QB. If McNair can stay healthy he and the Titans receiving corps should have a big season.
4	Michael Vick/QB/ATL	The arrival of new offensive coordinator Greg Knapp means the Falcons will run the Niners variation of the West Coast offense. Knapp's formations will open up the passing game by spreading the ball all over the field in short timing patterns. Tight end Alge Crumpler, wide-outs Peerless Price and rookie Michael Jenkins all have the size to make this offensive scheme work Running back TJ Duckett’s Fantasy Stock rises for the simple fact he will have more opportunities to catch the ball out of the backfield and even be involved in slant patters in the offense. Maybe most important in the Knapp offense is that Vick will throw at least 50 percent of the passing plays out of a three-step drop reducing the pounding a quarterback takes in a deeper-drop system. If you read my column last season on Vick you know how I feel about ranking young quarterbacks this high in the overall rankings, and if I didn’t think Vick could learn and adjust to the new scheme in Atlanta he wouldn’t be in the top-five. That said if Vick stays healthy this season he will have a dramatic Fantasy impact in every scoring format. Most owners will over value Vick and take him earlier than his value dictates. Knapp and Falcons are going to make a run at scoring points this season and Vick will be right in the mix. If Vick stays healthy he’s a can’t miss top five quarterback in the Knapp offensive scheme.
5	Matt Hasselbeck/QB/SEA	Hasselbeck isn’t much of a Fantasy secret anymore. The West Coast offense under Holmgren allows Hasselbeck to stretch the field much more than most traditional West Coast systems. Hasselbeck is surrounded by talent and you can count on him using it to his advantage much like he did last year. His numbers from last season and the offensive weapons at his disposal make him a top-five fantasy quarterback. Seattle fans should be excited about the Seahawks chances this year and they will be an exciting team to watch.
6	Donovan McNabb/QB/PHI	You have to respect the McNabb-to-Terrell Owens West Coast combination this season. Defensive coordinators will need to commit a spy to keep tabs on McNabb, while also trying to commit an extra defensive back to stay with Owens leaving the possibility that McNabb could have Vick like rushing stats this season. McNabb averaged 22 yards a game on the ground last year and that could improve this season making him a valuable Fantasy signal caller on Sunday afternoon.
7	Mark Bulger/QB/STL	Bulger agreed to a four-year contract in St. Louis and is clearly the quarterback of the future for the Rams high powered offense. Expect Bulger to compete for ‘King of the Hill’ among quarterbacks this season and improve on his 22 touchdowns and 22 interceptions from last season. Bulger could be available in your league draft as late as the fifth round giving him sleeper value this season.
8	Trent Green/QB/KC	Trent Green quietly gets the job done and look for him to have another big Fantasy season. Green has demonstrated terrific durability starting in all 49 games as a Chief and never once leaving a game due to injury during that span. Green isn't the league's most talented quarterback, but he fully understands the offensive scheme and has been successful in the process. Green has come to grips with the fact he doesn't have to be the playmaker on this KC team. With Tony Gonzalez, Priest Holmes and a number of effective receivers he will once again be a late round Fantasy draft pick that allows some smart Fantasy owner to get terrific value with the selection.
9	Chad Pennington/QB/NYJ	With track speed at the receiver position the Jets have two wide-outs who can drive defenses insane with their ability to break the big play. Now that Pennington has McCareins and Santana Moss on the outside, the Jets expect to see a lot of cover two schemes from their opponents. Herman Edwards has desperately wanted to add more vertical weaponry to his offense and he did that with the acquisition Justin McCareins. Pennington and the Jets are in line for a big season, especially through the air. Don’t’ be surprised to see both Moss and McCareins record double-digit touchdown catches and Pennington being considered a top Fantasy option this season.
10	Tom Brady/QB/NE	Brady had shoulder surgery in February and is on record saying that his shoulder “feels better than it has in two years.” This coming from a guy who has two world championships in the last three seasons. Considering Brady has a couple of young receivers that are entering their potential break out seasons in Deon Branch and David Givens, along with veteran running back Corey Dillon the Patriots offense should be able to keep pace with the rest of the AFC and contend for yet another conference title. Brady will be consistent from week to week and help owners challenge for a league title.
11	Jake Plummer/QB/DEN	Last season only the Baltimore Ravens called a higher percentage of running plays than Denver and understand that the absence of Portis won’t change the traditional game plan of Shanahan and the Broncos Denver has more than enough competent help at running back and history has shown us that Shanahan will find a way to make the ground attack work in Mile High. The biggest question marks for Denver rest at the wide-out position. A young Ashlie Lelie is primed for a big season while the aging Rod Smith has shown signs of digressing the last few seasons. Smith doesn’t have the speed to accumulate yards after the catch and his inability to create separation at the line of scrimmage has dwindled his touchdown totals over the last three seasons. Which backup receivers in Denver will step up and be a surprise this season? Who will Jake depend on in the red-zone? Plummer proved skeptics wrong last year and had the best season of his seven-year career. As a first-year Bronco, he had a career-high 90-plus passer rating, throwing 15 TD passes and only seven picks in 11 games. His scrambling ability and knack for throwing on the run outside the pocket gives him added Fantasy value as a threat to score in goal line situations. The lack of depth and talent at the receiver position will be the largest question mark entering the season and possibly the deciding factor on how far this Broncos team can go in the playoffs.
12	Aaron Brooks/QB/NO	Brooks has gradually improved each season, but he's not yet ready to join the league's elite Fantasy fraternity. He improved his decision-making dramatically last season, completing nearly 60 percent of his passes while being intercepted a career low eight times. Brooks entered the record books last season with 11 lost fumbles and is seemingly still uncomfortable in the pocket even after fours seasons in the NFL. When confident and winning football games Brooks can seemingly dominate defenses. The fragile receiving corps that the Saints roster could hinder Brooks again this season while opposing defenses with solid safety play can neutralize the surprising play of tight end Boo Williams who stepped up last season and helped Brooks to one his better Fantasy seasons. Brooks is a solid Fantasy option once the traditional studs are off the board, but again there is little difference from the number third or fourth ranked quarterback--and the twelfth ranked quarterback in total Fantasy points at seasons end making Brooks a valued pick past the sixth or seventh round in a 12-team league. Brooks doesn’t run like he used to dropping 20 yards and two points per contest over the last four seasons. Brooks is a fringe number-one Fantasy option depending on the weekly match-up and your leagues scoring format.
13	Jeff Garcia/QB/CLE	Jeff Garcia, coming off an injury plagued 2003 season, is now the starting QB of the Cleveland Browns. The Browns receiving corps desperately need a consistent veteran to run the West Coast theme employed by Davis and his staff. Garcia is better suited for the West Coast offense than either Tim Couch or Kelly Holcomb, and his mobility will allow him to make more plays. Don’t expect Garcia to throw together 30 touchdown and 4000 yard seasons anymore, but don’t expect him to fall off the face of the fantasy earth either. He is still a dual threat both running and throwing the football and defenses have to prepare for this allowing his receivers more freedom in the middle of the field. The Browns will challenge in the AFC North this year and that fact alone will keep Garcia competitive.
14	Brad Johnson/QB/TB	Johnson had a strangely odd 2003 season. Brad set a career high in touchdown passes and topped 3,500 yards for the second time in his career, but threw a career worst 21 picks. Johnson looked absolutely horrible at times last year but it didn‘t create a drop off in his Fantasy production. Johnson was one of the top 10 Fantasy producers at his position again in ‘03 with his 26 touchdowns and 3800 plus yards of passing. Tampa head Coach Jon Gruden is going to throw the football and you know that one of the Bucs receivers has to be the recipients of those forward passes. The biggest question in Tampa is which receiver is going to step up in the possible absence of Keenen McCardell and be the sleeping giant at the wide out position. Johnson will once again provide Fantasy owners with an inconsistent but effective Fantasy option depending on the weekly match-up.
15	Brett Favre/QB/GB	Favre is entering the twilight of his career and despite his reckless nature and his hobbling ways Brett led the league in passing touchdowns topping the 30 touchdown mark for the seventh time in his career. The Green Bay offense has geared itself more towards the run during the last few seasons but a plethora of receivers and red-zone targets like Bubba Franks make Favre a viable Fantasy option week in and week out.
16	Byron Leftwich/QB/JAC	We don’t recommend second and third year quarterbacks to lead your Fantasy franchise, history simply tells us your team is not going to win the championship with a rookie or second year signal caller. There have been a few second year quarterbacks that have put up numbers worthy of starting Fantasy status. In his second NFL season Donovan McNabb threw for almost 4,000 total yards and scored 27 total touchdowns, and Dante Culpepper nearly topped the 4,000 yard mark with 40 total touchdowns in 2000 are the exceptions the last decade. Leftwich isn’t in the same mold athletically as a McNabb or Culpepper but could surprise on a Jags team that looks to be competitive this season. If you find Leftwich available late in your draft and you need a backup or a bye week fill-in you could do worst that Leftwich.
17	David Carr/QB/HOU	Carr has several talented and maturing players around him, a better offensive line than he had in his first two seasons, and a natural ability and feel for the game. In 2002, Carr was sacked a painful 76 times, but a huge improvement from his protection group saw Carr tackled only 15 times last season. Dominick Davis, Tony Hollings, and Andre Johnson will help Carr and this young Texans offense. Houston is still a year or two away from contending for a division title or a playoff spot, but Carr is without doubt a future star in this league. Carr must stay on the field for 16 games this season if this Houston team is going to finish anywhere near the .500 mark, and Carr could supply fantasy owners with a bench option and easily qualify as a back-up in most leagues.
18	Josh McCown/QB/ARI	McCown gets a boost in these ranking solely on the fact that Dennis Green is the coach in Arizona. Green took eight Vikings teams to the playoffs with seven different QBs at the helm, quarterbacks with no more measurable talent than McCown so we'll give him the benefit of the doubt that this offense can work under Josh’s direction. McCown averaged 20 completions and 223 yards in his starts last season. Dennis Green saw arm strength, composure, and confidence in this kid, and McCown has plenty of weapons at his disposal. Another undrafted quarterback in most leagues, but a solid quarterback in leagues that require two signal callers. After all, Arizona is going to have to score points to win, and Green has a history of being able to do just that.
19	Jake Delhomme/QB/CAR	Delhomme has a incredible instinct for the game and showed poise and confidence in many close games last season. Although the offense relies heavily on the running game Coach Fox will show more confidence in Delhomme’s and his arm this season. There are still yardage question marks surrounding Fox and his offensive philosophy making Delhomme a back up at best in traditional and performance scoring leagues.
20	Tommy Maddox/QB/PIT	After a knockdown breakout 2002, Maddox suffered from inconsistent protection (41 sacks) and a below average running game in 2003, a down year that has raised questions about Maddox and his ability to be a top tier signal caller in the NFL. Maddox has two extremely talented receivers in Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress and although this team is trying to convince the rest of the league they are going to be defined by the run this season, Maddox and the Steelers will have their best chance of winning games by air. Don’t expect to see Ben Roethlisberger anytime soon. Maddox signed a contract that should keep him in the league and with the Steelers for another couple of years.
21	C. Palmer/QB/CIN	Palmer is an enigma. He shows good command of the offense, but his timing and rhythm with wide receivers Chad Johnson, Peter Warrick and Washington is an unknown to this point. If he is can show the ability to manage a game he has a chance to be an effective NFL quarterback. Palmer is a complete gamble this season, and game film will give us a better idea of where he will belong in the rankings in ’05.
22	Kurt Warner/QB/NYG	Despite what you might have heard of Warner’ performance in the Giants minicamps this spring, believe this; Warner is not the quarterback he once was for Dick Vermeil and Mike Martz. The Giants offense under Tom Coughlin is not a pass happy theme and Warner’s arthritic thumb is still a question mark in his ability to complete deep patterns. Warner should start the season as the number-one QB and help tutor Eli Manning and his NFL career. It is safe to say that Warner is going to have to show more than he did in spring mini’s for the Giants to compete this year. Kurt can still be effective with Tiki Barber and possession receivers Toomer and Hilliard, but his ability to stay healthy is a huge question mark. Warner is a back-up and a bye week replacement at best in this Giants offense. Don’t get too excited if the Giants announce Warner as the starting QB, let other owners take up a roster spot with this guy.
23	Drew Bledsoe/QB/BUF	Bledsoe knows he’ll be the Bills starter for at least two more years as the Buffalo coaching staff attempt to groom J.P. Losman into Bledsoe's successor. How successful Bledsoe can be with a shaky offensive line, the lack of an experienced number two receiver, and a controversy at running back makes him a Fantasy back up in most scoring systems.
24	Joey Harrington/QB/DET	Harrington lost stud receiver Charles Rogers and veteran running back James Stewart to injury, he dislocated his right ring finger, struggled with a sore shoulder and had zero talent to work with last season. Despite all of this the Lions found a way to win games and be competitive on most Sunday afternoons. The Lions front office vows to surround Harrington with the talent he requires and this season could be the year Mariucci finds out what he has in Harrington. With Mooch at the helm in Detroit, Harrington will eventually develop into a good fantasy player, but he is still a season or two away, and so are the Lions.
25	Mark Brunell/QB/WAS	Mark Brunell agreed to a seven-year, $43 million deal with the Redskins this off-season, a contract agreement that cleared the way for a trade with Jacksonville for the Jaguars’ 2003 third-round draft pick. Gibbs set his mind this winter on obtaining a veteran signal caller to temporarily replace Patrick Ramsey, a move that Gibbs thinks will bring stability to a unit in need of offensive leadership. Brunell does in fact give the Skins the experience coach Joe Gibbs wants in a quarterback, and brings a strong arm and better than average mobility to the offensive training-table this season in Washington. Unless Brunell puts on a summer performance equal to Roseanne Barr’s crouch grabbing rendition of the National Anthem a few years ago, he will be the starting quarterback for Gibbs and the Skins in September. Brunell has shown the Washington coaching staff the elbow injury that sidelined him early last season isn’t going to be an issue. During spring minis Brunell threw the ball with velocity and accuracy and appears to be fresh and healthy for the upcoming training camp. At the NFL level Brunell has never thrown more than 20 touchdowns in a season and can’t be counted on as anything more than a second or third-tiered quarterback for your fantasy team. Expect Mark to contribute 3000-yards passing,18 passing touchdowns and possibly a pair of rushing scores for Washington this season. Brunell is a late-round/bye-week signal caller for your Fantasy roster at best, and a player we recommend you avoid in your leagues draft this year.
26	Rex Grossman/QB/CHI	Terry Shea will give the Chicago Bears offense and Rex Grossman a chance to be successful. Offensive personalities like Thomas Jones, Marty Booker, Justin Gage and Desmond Clark are depending on Grossman to produce, but the reality of the situation is that Grossman has three games of NFL experience. Expect Grossman to be inconsistent and mistake prone this season. There are at least twenty quarterbacks who will provide your Fantasy team with a better chance to succeed.
27	Quincy Carter/QB/DAL	Coach Bill Parcells is on record this summer saying he is not naming an order of quarterbacks, and that he simply is going to use whichever guy shows he deserves the starting job among Carter, Vinny Testaverde, Drew Henson and Tony Romo. The Cowboys have more question marks entering the ’04 season than they did in Parcells first year with the Cowboys (2003). With a rookie running back, no named starter calling the offensive signals and a receiving corps that has under achieved, it could be a long and frustrating season for Parcells and the Cowboys.
28	A.J. Feeley/QB/MIA	The Dolphins have created controversy at every corner of Pro Players Stadium. The Miami front office brings in a FA quarterback for two straight seasons to challenge Fiedler and his weak arm. They bring in a questionable personality in David Boston and do little in the draft to improve the offensive line. Ricky Williams tests possitive for THC, and they don’t seem interested in signing their own restricted free agents. Considering the team's new emphasis on the long pass, Feeley may actually be a better fit than incumbent starter Jay Fiedler, and if you put a gun to my head and made me announce starter in Florida, it would be Feeley. To many questions, to few answers, and a team with a coach on the hot-seat makes the Miami offense equivelent to a drunk driver, wreckless, unrealiable, and unfit to be driving. Stay away from both Fiedler and Feeley, there are better options and more stability on other teams.
29	Rich Gannon/QB/OAK	We know there are offensive questions in Miami, but there might be even more in Oakland. The Raiders approach training camp with running back by committee, and an over-the-hill-gang of receivers. The quarterback situation in Oakland is up in the air with new addition Kerry Collins in bay area. If we all simply face the truth--it’s only a matter of time before Gannon is begging to be released from the Raiders and Collins fights his way through a rough and ragged season.
30	Kyle Boller/QB/BAL	New consultant Jim Fassel spent the four-day passing camp working with Boller and the offense. According to head coach Brian Billick, Fassel will continue to evaluate Boller's strengths, and then game plan a passing game that can be worked around Bollers strengths. Boller best option in the passing game is well traveled Kevin Johnson and tight end Todd Heap. It is a shame that a talent like Heap has to reside in this Ravens offense. Boller is not reliable fantasy option and will be undrafted in most Fantasy scoring formats.
31	Tim Rattay/QB/SF	Rattay won’t be 100 percent entering training camp do to a tear in his groin that required surgery.. Rattay has little experienced help from the receiving unit, an offensive line that has some huge question marks, and Rattay himself has never been considered a starting talent at the NFL level. If one plus one equals two in California, then the situation in San Francisco adds up to an undrafted Fantasy signal caller. Stay away from the San Francisco players unless you find them available late in your league draft.
32	Phillip Rivers/QB/SD	Rookie quarterbacks shouldn‘t be anywhere near re-draft league rosters, but you will find someone, somewhere, convinced that San Diego rookie Rivers will be a sleeping Fantasy Football giant. Avoid Rivers unless you are in a deep Keeper or Dynasty league, and even then you shouldn’t get too excited about what is happening in San Diego.