Top 5 Fantasy Quarterbacks

Quarterbacks and fantasy quarterbacks are two entirely different breeds, so while you may have an idea who the best quarterbacks in the NFL are, you probably have no idea who will best improve your chances to win your fantasy football league.  For example, a quarterback like Cam Newton, who consistently provides valuable rushing touchdowns is more productive in fantasy football than a quarterback like Tom Brady, who, despite being one of football's all-time greats, is not going to provide you with an incredible amount of fantasy points.

1. Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos
Manning is undoubtedly the best quarterback in fantasy football right now.  With a seemingly unlimited supply of weapons, including Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas, and Julius Thomas, Manning's record-breaking rate of production should not end any time soon.  If he continues the pace that he is on, Manning will end the season with 59 touchdowns, shattering the previous record held by Tom Brady by an incredible 9 touchdowns.  Don't expect Manning to be vacating the number one spot in these rankings any time soon.

2. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
The only quarterback who is even comparable to Manning right now in terms of production is Brees, which is largely due to his talented tight end.  Jimmy Graham was on pace for an incredible season (probably even better than Gronkowski's last year), however, the Patriots managed to stifle him for zero catches on Sunday.  If teams are able to consistently stop Graham, Brees could be in a fair amount of trouble, as his other receiving options are only decent.  For now, Brees will stay at number two, but his stock could be on the drop soon.

3. Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions
The first six weeks of the season have been good, but not great for Stafford, yet there is reason to believe that Stafford may end up a top-three fantasy quarterback when all is said and done.  In three tough games so far against the Cardinals, Bears, and Browns, he has put up very respectable numbers.  Compared to these three games, the rest of the year looks to be a walk in the park for Stafford, playing against the feeble secondaries of the Cowboys, Steelers, Buccaneers, Eagles, and Giants, among others.  Additionally, Stafford will once again get to work with star wide receiver Calvin Johnson who was recently injured.  Now would be a great time to get a window seat on the Matthew Stafford bandwagon which surely will be full by the season's end.

4. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton, at 6'5" and 245 pounds, is a threat both through the air and on the ground in the red zone.  The most important part of fantasy football scoring is touchdowns, and there few better than Newton in this category.  Though he will turn the ball over more than you would want, he can more than make it up by reaching the end zone.  Because of his ability to produce touchdowns, Newton may have the most upside in fantasy football right now.

5. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks
After Michael Vick, Wilson is probably the best running quarterback in the NLF.  Additionally, he is an exceptional passer, however, Marshawn Lynch tends to take most of the Seahawks touchdowns, which hurts Wilson's fantasy value.  He is able to make up for this with his running ability and low amount of turnovers.  Thus, though Wilson is unlikely to have a break out game, he will consistently provide for your fantasy team this year.

Notable Omissions:

Philip Rivers: Only good weeks were against Philly, Dallas, and Oakland. Not exactly top tier secondaries.  He has a significantly harder schedule over the second half of the season, and his production will likely not hold up.
Tony Romo: Once again, a very poor early schedule has allowed for solid numbers which will not be maintained over the entire season.
Aaron Rodgers: Rodgers has looked pretty good so far, but what really hurts him here is that James Jones and Randall Cobb are going to be out for significant amounts of time with injures, and I am unsure if Rodgers will be able to produce.
Tom Brady: This omission is entirely at the fault of the Patriot's atrocious receiving core.  Any other year Brady would be in the top 5, but when Kembrell Thompkins is your best receiver, you're in trouble.

Fantasy Football: Quarterbacks (Week 8)

David Welker/Getty Images

1. Drew Brees: Even with a BYE week under his belt, Drew Brees, according to ESPN's standard scoring system, has the third most fantasy points as of Week 8. Unlike Rodgers and RGII whom are both ahead of him, Brees has yet to post single digit fantasy points. His average of 24.2 points per game is unprecedented, and with Jimmy Graham returning as a healthy starter, make sure your starting this guy for the next 10 games.
(Stats: 2,097 passing yards, 19 total TDs, 145 fantasy points)

2. Robert Griffin III: After seven weeks of football, there is no longer any dispute of who the better rookie quarterback is after their first season; Andrew Luck or RGIII. Griffin has been extraordinary in fantasy football, making all of his fantasy owners happy each and every Sunday. However, the only reason he did not earn the number one spot over Brees is his injury concern. Like any quarterback who enjoys running from the pocket, there is always a huge fantasy risk for their owners.
(Stats: 1,601 passing yards, 13 total TDs, 158 fantasy points)

3. Aaron Rodgers: Many were somewhat disappointed by Rodgers after flopping in his first three games. Then he picked up from where he left off last season, throwing for six touchdowns against the elite Houston defense. He proved the 38 fantasy point game was no fluke by throwing for three more touchdowns against St. Louis. Rodgers may have started off modestly, but he has finally hit his stride.
(Stats: 1,979 passing yards, 19 total TDs, 155 fantasy points)

4. Tom Brady: Similar to our number one quarterback (Drew Brees), Tom Brady has yet to fall beneath the ten point mark in a specific week. His numbers are not quite off the charts, but consistency is a large part of his fantasy value.
(Stats: 2,104 passing yards, 14 total TDs, 134 fantasy points)

5. Matt Ryan: After a hot start to his 2012 season, Ryan's stats have gradually decreased since Week 4, and his 8 fantasy points last Sunday against Oakland hurts his stock. However, Ryan has one of the most talented receiving corps in the league surrounding him, so a stellar performance against Philly next week would not be a surprise.
(Stats: 1,756 passing yards, 15 total TDs, 118 fantasy points)

Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees?

     Last February, Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers was voted Most Valuable Player of the NFL in a “uninamous” decision. There is no question Rodgers deserved a spot on the ballot, for his MVP-like season may be one of the best in league history. However, Saints quarterback Drew Brees was just as good, if not better. 2012 was labeled as the Year of the Quarterback, and rightfully so when you are dealing with big names such as Tom Brady, Eli Manning and Mathew Stafford. Rodgers may have won the MVP Award, but in no way does that make him better then the Purdue alum. So who is the better quarterback: Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees?
    Three years; that’s how long Rodgers sat on the Packers bench, watching star quarterback Brett Favre calling out plays on the field. Aaron Rodgers was drafted 24th overall out of UCal, and would be Favre’s replacement when needed. His career started off slowly, but things were looking up for the quarterback. Brett Favre was on the wrong side of 30, and later announced he would be retiring (or so we thought) by the end of 2007. When 2008 rolled around, it was Rodgers’ time to shine. In his first year as a starter, Rodgers passed for 4,038 yards and 28 touchdowns. However, the trait that differentiates Rodgers is his mobility. Early on in his career, it was clear to football fans the new quarterback possessed extraordinary speed. Rodgers has evolved his running game so that he can make a spectacular throw off balance, as well as rushing for a few extra yards. The next two seasons of Rodgers’ career were spectacular as well, where he ended up beating Pittsburgh for his first Super Bowl title. Undoubtedly his best year in the NFL came in 2011. The Packers quarterback threw for 4,643 yards, and was just 5 touchdowns away from the touchdown record with 45. His Green Bay Packers earned a 15-1 record, but were dethroned by New York in their first playoff game. Rodgers’ regular season success won him the MVP Award last February, and rightfully so. Taking all of this into account, I still find Aaron Rodgers one of the more overrated quarterbacks in the league. Now don’t get me wrong, Rodgers is clearly an elite passer, but not quite as elite as people think. When comparing Rodgers to Drew Brees, you will notice Rodgers’ receiving corp is dramatically better then that of New Orleans. Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson and Jermichael Finley are all spectacular weapons that allow Rodgers to put up extraordinary statistics. The main reason why I am doubting Rodgers is due to Week 17 of the 2011 season. Green Bay started Matt Flynn in order to rest their star quarterback for the playoffs. Flynn had started in just one other NFL game, yet he was able to throw for 480 yards and 6 touchdowns against Detroit. Had Flynn been dealing with the Saints’ wide receivers, there is no way he could put up the same statistics. Rodgers has exemplified fabulous accuracy in his 4 seasons as a starter, but I am not sure if he is a better quarterback than Drew Brees.
     Brees’ career began as the starting quarterback for the San Diego Chargers back in 2002. Many had doubted Brees due to his problems with injuries in the past, which is why was taken 33rd overall. He may not have been an elite quarterback when he first became a starter, and clearly the Chargers were not satisfied. That is why San Diego traded for NC State passer Philip Rivers. Brees stayed a starter for the rest of 2004, and was later slected to the Pro Bowl team. After one more season spent in San Diego, Brees was signed by the New Orleans Saints. Over time, he was able to improve his game bit by bit, and eventually brought a Super Bowl trophy home to New Orleans. He may not have been succesful in his quest for a second Super Bowl title, but last season statistically was the best of Brees’ career. In 16 games, Drew Brees threw for 5,476 yards (an NFL record), 46 touchdowns and a passer rating of 110.6. The most impressive feature of Drew Brees is his lack of weapons at wide receiver, even though the Saints quarterback manages to put up great staistics. Brees has spectacular accuracy (.71 completion percentage) which allows him to hit the smallest of targets. He may not have the same speed as Rodgers, but Brees definitely has the capability of escaping pass rushers. Overall, Brees has experience, arm strength, and awareness on the football field, the main reason why he has been so successful in the league.

     Both quarterbacks are basically equal when it comes to statistics, but in the end, I would rather have Drew Brees on my opening day roster than Aaron Rodgers.

Aaron Rodgers Overall: 97.5

Drew Brees Overall: 98