AFC East
Buffalo Bills (Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brian Brohm) - Not a very appetizing group to be all that honest. You'll only need to roster one of these guys if you happen to be in a very deep league and/or your league plays 2 QBs. Unless you need to fill in a QB during a bye week, the Bills QBs are ones that you'll probably want to avoid on draft day.
Miami Dolphins (Chad Henne) - Chad Henne is the clear starting QB for a team that looks poised to rebound after finishing 7-9 last season. At best, I would expect fantasy numbers from Henne that would mirror Jacksonville Jaguars QB David Garrard, maybe slightly better. The Dolphins are going to run the ball, the key for Henne is to manage the game and be efficient in the passing game. He does have a nice target to throw to now in Brandon Marshall, who will help move the sticks and be a big red zone target, but I wouldnt expect anything more than 3300 yards passing/18 TDs passing. He makes for a nice #2 QB/backup fantasy QB.
New York Jets (Mark Sanchez) - Sanchez is someone that you may want to target as a late round flier with a high ceiling for your team. The Jets are going to run the ball and they wont stray away from their run first philosophy. However, when teams continue to bring those safeties down into the box, it will leave some huge plays on the outside for Sanchez to exploit and the Jets have brought in some big play receivers in Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes. The promise of a nice season is there at a relatively low price.
New England Patriots (Tom Brady) - He may not be among the ranks of the elite QBs in fantasy like Drew Brees or Peyton Manning, but hes right there knocking on the door. Expect Brady to perform well, easily topping 25 passing TDs.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens (Joe Flacco) - Big time potential here. Poised since day one, Flacco looks to improve on his numbers last year as he threw for over 3600 yards and 21 TDs. He has all the ingredients to succeed around him - a quality defense to keep the offense on the field, a solid offensive line, a budding star at running back in Ray Rice, and now a go to wide receiver in Anquan Boldin, who was brought in this off-season. It should be easy for him to replicate the numbers he did last season, the question is whether he significantly improves upon them. I think he does, where he should be able to exceed 25 TDs this season.
Cincinnati Bengals (Carson Palmer) - Dont draft him expecting the stats that he put up earlier in his career. This is a different team. Palmer wont pass for 4000 yards again or throw for about 30 TDs again. The Bengals are a more run-oriented team nowadays, relying more on the legs of Cedric Benson than the arm and hands of Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson. However, Palmer should be able to put up nice stats mirroring what he did last year (3094 yards/21TDs/13INTs).
Cleveland Browns (Jake Delhomme, Seneca Wallace, Colt McCoy) - First things first, I'll say that drafting and starting any of these QBs would be an option ONLY if you're looking for a bye-week fill-in or you happen to play in a very deep league. With that said, there are two story lines worth watching in Cleveland regarding the QB position. First: Who emerges as the opening day QB. One would have to believe that Delhomme has the inside track at winning the starting job given his experience but Seneca Wallace is a Mike Holmgren guy, one of his holdovers during his days in Seattle.
Secondly, does QB of the future, Colt McCoy, get a run at starting QB sometime during the season. McCoy is obviously someone who will lead the Browns sometime down the line. He has the pedigree and the Browns didn't spend an early round draft pick to let him keep the bench warm. One has to imagine if the Browns arent in the playoff picture come November, McCoy will be under center.
Pittsburgh Steelers (Ben Roethlisberger, Byron Leftwich, Dennis Dixon) - The Steelers QB situation will be in question for anywhere from the first 4 to 6 games to start the season after Big Ben was accused once again of sexual assault in the offseason. As a result, the opening day starter under center will be either veteran Byron Leftwich or 2nd year player Dennis Dixon. Leftwich is the likely candidate to win the job given his starting QB experience from his days in Jacksonville. However, should he struggle, one shouldn't be surprised to see Coach Mike Tomlin make the change and bring Dixon in. Dennis Dixon is someone who may not be as polished as Leftwich, but he is more athletic and dynamic as a player.
In either event, both are just keeping the seat warm under Roethlisberger returns from suspension unless the Steelers start the season 4-0 or 6-0, then the intrigue begins as talks of Roethlisberger being traded will begin to heat up like they did shortly after the rape accusation.
Draft Ben with a mid to late round flier. He could be a difference maker during the later weeks of the fantasy season and into the fantasy football playoffs. Other than that, no need to draft/start either Leftwich or Dixon unless you need them for a bye-week or they somehow become the 2nd coming of Steve McNair.
(Tomorrow, Previews of the AFC SOUTH and AFC WEST)
- TheZar
No comments:
Post a Comment