NFL Quarterback Rankings and Projected Stats

Rank

Player

Team

PASS

Yards

PASS TD’s

Rush

Yards

Rush

TD’s

Bye

Comments

1

Daunte Culpepper

Min

4100

35

390

7

9

I honestly can’t see this guy not ending up with 40 or more total TD’s. He can throw, run, and surrounded by some of the best talent in the NFL. His size should help to keep him healthy, this guy doesn’t get hit he initiates the hit.

2

Kurt Warner

Stl

4200

34

85

1

9

I have Warner ranked above Manning for only one reason and that is he has more weapons. The Ram’s have more depth not to mention their #1 and #2 receivers are among the top 5-10 in the NFL compared to Indy who only has 1 legitimate top 5 guy.

3

Peyton Manning

Ind

4300

33

140

2

5

Manning could be ranked #1 or #2 easily if only a solid 2^nd receiver would step up and take charge. This would take some of the heat of Marvin Harrison and open up the field more. As far as talent and ability go Peyton tops Warner but Manning needs one more weapon to his arsenal to get my #2 ranking.

4

Brian Griese

Den

4100

32

150

2

16

Griese is another guy with many many weapons. He also has 2 top 10 receivers at his disposal, 3 awesome RB’s and is in a great offensive system. Big, big numbers for Griese this year providing that shoulder holds up

5

Jeff Garcia

SF

3950

30

400

4

7

After a career year last season I don’t see any reason for Garcia not to produce as well or better than last season. Garner and Rice are gone so look for Garcia to put the ball in the air more or take it in himself more in the red zone. J.J Stokes will step up and give Garcia a productive #2 receiver and the comeback of Garrison Hearst should keep defenses from totally dropping respect for SF’s running game.

6

Rich Gannon

Oak

3550

28

320

2

5

Rich Gannon has really found a niche in Oakland. They have built that offense geared solely around Gannon’s strengths. The addition of Jerry Rice and Charlie Garner will only take more pressure off of Gannon. Look for Gannon to run less and pass more. Wheatley and Garner may combine for the best backfield in the NFL and Gannon can then sit back and pick apart any secondary with Tim Brown, Rice, new TE Roland Williams, RB Garner who is a great pass receiver.

7

Brett Favre

GB

3750

24

200

1

8

Favre still has some very productive years left. I a see Antonio Freeman returning to his pro bowl status this year further helping Favre. Brett won’t run as much anymore thanks to having a great receiving RB in Ahman Green to dump the ball off to under pressure. Also look for TE Bubba Franks to be a favorite target of Brett Favre in 2001.

8

Donovan McNabb

Phi

3420

23

500

5

6

McNabb led all quarterbacks last season in rushing yards with 629 but more important than that is he “rushed” for 6 TD’s. In some fantasy football leagues rushing TD’s are more valuable than passing TD’s. McNabb’s value is so high because of his rushing ability but as the numbers show he is quite an effective passer as well. Look for McNabb’s numbers to increase all around this season with Duce Staley back taking some attention off McNabb.

9

Trent Green

KC

3850

26

100

1

11

Green may be a top 5 QB by mid-season. However, there are just a few questions surrounding Green that justify this #9 ranking in the preseason. Will he stay healthy? And will the new KC offensive system need a few weeks or a few months to fully jell? And will the KC running game be potent enough to keep defenses from loading up to stop the passing game?? Well soon see!!!

10

Aaron Brooks

NO

3600

21

300

3

3

It appears as if Brooks has won the starting gig in New Orleans. I like this guy a lot; he can run and is a very accurate pocket passer. He will have many weapons at his disposal and will excel as an NFL starting QB. He should put up very good fantasy numbers in both passing and rushing.

11

Elvis Grbac

Bal

3720

24

200

1

14

Grbac will run an offense this year that was known solely for being ultra conservative and not much explosiveness. Grbac will change that!!! Even more now with the loss of workhorse RB Jamal Lewis. Brian Billick loves the passing game and now has a QB to get the job done. Look for the Ravens to be much more vertical and for Grbac’s numbers to be about the same as last season.

12

Kerry Collins

NYG

3450

22

120

1

13

Collins had a career year last year and led the Giants to a Super Bowl appearance. This season Ike Hilliard will miss some time during the beginning of the 2001 season. Hilliard was one of Collins’ favorite targets last year so his numbers may take a small hit but look for Toomer, an improved Ron Dayne, and Joe Jurevicius (who has looked great this pre-season) to step up as Collins duplicates his 2001 season.

13

Vinny Testaverde

NYJ

3700

21

60

0

12

The Jets run a very pass oriented offense with on of the most durable receiving RB’s in the NFL in Curtis Martin. Vinny has to stay healthy to be an effective fantasy football starter. His receiving corps has been upgraded considerably from last season with the addition of Matthew Hatchett and the draft of Miami standout WR Santana Moss. If Vinny can stay healthy he should be a productive 2^nd fantasy QB but a big risk to be your starter because of his health.

14

Jeff George

Was

3680

20

80

0

10

George is another health risk. At this time (Aug 17^th) George has done almost nothing in camp due to a shoulder injury. If George can stay healthy he may be a good late round pick as you’re backup QB but not as your #1 starter. With new head coach Marty Schottenheimer look for the Redskins to go to a more conservative, ball controlling offense which means good things for Stephen Davis but not good things for Jeff George.

15

Mark Brunell

JAX

3580

21

200

2

6

Brunell had a fairly productive season last year as a fantasy QB. However, look for Brunell’s number to possibly plummet this season. One reason is because Jimmy Smith his favorite target has been recovering from a serious stomach mishap and there is no telling what kind of shape he will be in this season. Also, the Jags “O-line” has been dismantled by injuries and free agency and Brunell will not have the protection he once had. If Smith returns to form and the “O-line “holds up Brunell could duplicate his 2000 numbers. But it’s unlikely.

16

Brad Johnson

TB

3570

22

90

1

3

Brad Johnson should improve the Buc’s passing game considerably, but can he stay healthy? Plagued by injuries last season Johnson and the Redskin’s offense were a huge bust.  Johnson is an accurate passer with great skills and great poise. His weapons should be about the same as in Washington so let’s see what a fresh start in a new system can do for Johnson. One thing though the Buc’s defense is awesome so don’t look for them to be coming from behind much which could impact Johnson’s passing totals as the Buc’s grind it out on the ground to use up the clock.

17

Steve McNair

Ten

3430

19

180

2

4

McNair is a victim of 2 things the Titan’s are very proud of, #1 a great running game and #2 a stifling defense. Because of those two factors McNair has never really been a big fantasy football QB. The Titans play a very conservative ball controlling offense and when in the red zone it’s usually Eddie George that gets the call. The Titan’s also have a very suspect receiving corps and McNair’s passing TD’s may not exceed 20 and he may not even eclipse 3,000 yards passing.

18

Doug Flutie

SD

3580

20

230

3

2

Flutie will finally be the undisputed starting QB for once. He could be in line for a very big year. While the Charger’s offensive line may be one of the worst in the NFL, Flutie is best when he is on the run. This is one of my sleeper fantasy QB’s. Flutie could put up numbers that will surprise most. If 1^st round draft choice Tomlinson ever signs and lives up to his billing Flutie could find himself being a top 10 QB by 2002.

19

Rob Johnson

Buf

3520

19

140

0

6

Rob Johnson is a flat out health risk. If he wasn’t, the QB mess that went on in Buffalo for so long may not have ever happen. Johnson has the skills to be a top fantasy QB but again his health is a question and the Buffalo running game has to be effective for Johnson to be productive.

20

Tim Couch

Cle

3280

18

100

0

8

Couch has the potential to be a very good QB. He is stuck on a team that doesn’t have a nucleus of offensive talent yet. The addition of RB James Jackson and TE Rickey Dudley should help but I wouldn’t expect big things out of Couch yet until he gets some better receivers and an offensive system that works better.

21

Drew Bledsoe

NE

3560

20

65

0

17

Bledsoe has a great arm and would be a top 10 or 15 QB on a better team. I actually had him ranked at 14 until the loss of WR Terry Glenn for the season due to suspension bumped him down to #21. If Troy Brown and free agent pickup Bert Emanuel can rally around J.R Redmond and give the Pat’s offense stability Bledsoe may be a great 2^nd starting QB but not even close to the top #1 starter he was a few years ago.

22

Jake Plummer

Ari

3310

17

170

1

1

Plummer could at anytime have a breakout year. He showed a flash of pure talent in his rookie season but we haven’t seen anything since. Arizona has the talent for Plummer to be much more productive than he has showed so far. If he is still around for you to draft as a 2^nd QB in you’re draft he is worth a shot but don’t build you’re team around him.

23

Kordell Stewart

Pit

2800

15

420

6

3

He is an impressive runner maybe for a WR. I don’t like Stewart as a QB sorry I didn’t when he was drafted out of Colorado. He is not effective in the pocket at all. He is an “Option type” QB and that doesn’t fly in the NFL. He is effective in red zone situations but not in leading long offensive drives. I like Tee Martin much better as a QB because he comes from running a system in Tennessee that resembled much more of a Pro Style offense that was built around the passing game (who is that other QB to be drafted out of Tennessee?? Peyton somebody??

24

Matt Hasselbeck

Sea

3800

21

90

1

7

Hasselbeck is another sleeper pick of mine. The reason for this is because of Mike Holmgren, Seattle’s head coach. He has worked with some of the best QB’s in the NFL (Favre, A. Brooks, Steve Young, & M. Brunell) and knows QB talent when he sees it. Seattle’s “West Coast Type” offensive system will give Hasselbeck the chance to shine and the productive Seattle ground game should keep defenses honest. Give him a look if you need a 2^nd QB and he is still there late in your draft.

25

Charlie Batch

Det

3320

19

200

1

4

Charlie Batch could be inline for a break out year. New head coach Marty Mornhinweg has installed a move pass hungry offensive system and Batch should benefit from that. He has very good WR talent around him if Crowell returns to form, a very effective running game with James Stewart, and 2 good TE’s in David Sloan and newly acquired Pete Mitchell. Batch may have a very productive 2001 season and Detroit with their defense of playmakers is now a legitimate playoff caliber team. If Batch excels in Detroit’s new offensive system Batch could be a steal in the later rounds of your draft as a #2 QB.