2009 Fantasy Quarterback rankings for the upcoming season
Published on June 9, 2009 by Seahawk Fanatic
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 New Orleans Saints |
 1. Drew Brees (Auction: $19) |
Brees didn’t receive as much fanfare heading into last season as Tom Brady, Tony Romo, and Peyton Manning. But the veteran out of Purdue surpassed them all in fantasy value. Brees passed for 5,069 yards-just 15 yards short of Dan Marino’s NFL single-season record-and a career-best 34 touchdowns. He passed for 300-plus yards 10 times and tossed multiple touchdowns 11 times. The Saints will remain a pass-heavy offense, so Brees’ statistical success should continue in 2009. He is worth a first- or second-round selection in fantasy drafts. (Bye: Week 5)
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 New England Patriots |
 2. Tom Brady (Auction: $17) |
Brady is expected back for 2009 after torn ligaments in his knee ended his 2008 season after only 11 pass attempts. Carson Palmer and Philip Rivers have proven in recent seasons that a quarterback can make an impact after a reconstructive knee procedure, so Brady should remain one of the top fantasy players at his position. While it will be difficult for him to match his incredible 2007 totals, a healthy Brady should still produce tremendous numbers across the board. In fact, he could be the first quarterback selected if he is given a clean bill of health in time for Week 1. (Bye: Week 8)
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 Indianapolis Colts |
 3. Peyton Manning (Auction: $17) |
Manning is coming off a season with 4,002 passing yards and 28 total TDs, and those numbers were a disappointment based on his past success. While he started slow, Manning finished well with multiple scoring passes in 9 of his final 13 games. The Colts have a new look with Jim Caldwell as coach, but Manning’s status as the team’s top offensive threat remains the same. He’s nearly a lock to start 16 games and finish with better than 4,000 yards and around 30 total TDs, so look for him to be one of the first three quarterbacks to come off the board in fantasy drafts. (Bye: Week 6)
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 San Diego Chargers |
 4. Philip Rivers (Auction: $16) |
Rivers made significant strides as a fantasy quarterback last season, as he recorded career bests in yards (4,009), yards per attempt (8.4) and touchdown passes (34). He also threw for multiple scores in 12 of his 16 starts, so his consistent level of production was evident. While he could be hard-pressed to duplicate his breakout totals, Rivers will remain one of the more productive options at his position. With LaDainian Tomlinson on the downside of his career, Rivers will continue to be a focal point in an offense that threw the ball in 53 percent of its offensive plays in 2008. Because running backs and wide receivers will dominate the first three rounds, Rivers should be targeted in Rounds 4 to 5 in most drafts. (Bye: Week 5)
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 Green Bay Packers |
 5. Aaron Rodgers (Auction: $16) |
After sitting behind Brett Favre in his first three NFL seasons, Rodgers took the reins of the Packers’ offense in 2008 and became a superior fantasy quarterback. In his first season as a starter, he passed for 4,038 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also led all quarterbacks with 4 rushing TDs. Only Drew Brees and Philip Rivers scored more fantasy points among quarterbacks on NFL.com. With a talented corps of wide receivers that includes Greg Jennings and Donald Driver, Rodgers has no shortage of weapons and is poised to have another solid season. (Bye: Week 5)
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 Arizona Cardinals |
 6. Kurt Warner (Auction: $15) |
Warner has resurrected his career in Arizona. After passing for a combined 27 touchdowns and 30 interceptions for three teams from 2002 to 2006, he has come back to throw for a solid 8,000 yards and 57 scores over his last two seasons. Those numbers have planted him firmly back on the fantasy radar. While his age and potential injuries are cause for concern, it’s hard to ignore Warner’s recent success and the level of talent around him in the Cardinals’ passing attack. The veteran signal caller could be a steal if he falls into the middle rounds. (Bye: Week 4)
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 Dallas Cowboys |
 7. Tony Romo (Auction: $14) |
A change in offensive philosophy in Dallas and the absence of wide receiver Terrell Owens is almost certain to decrease Romo’s fantasy value. With a talented trio of backs in Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice, the Cowboys are expected to run the ball more often this season. Romo will still have opportunities to produce, but it’s hard to expect him to record monster numbers. Fantasy leaguers should still consider Romo a No. 1 quarterback in all formats-they should just be sure to temper their statistical expectations. (Bye: Week 6)
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 Atlanta Falcons |
 8. Matt Ryan (Auction: $13) |
The 2008 Offensive Rookie of the Year, Ryan looked more like a veteran in leading the Falcons to the NFL postseason. His first NFL pass went to Michael Jenkins for a 62-yard touchdown, and the excitement around Ryan has continued to grow ever since. With Roddy White, Jenkins, and tight end Tony Gonzalez in the passing attack and Michael Turner in the backfield, the sky is the limit for Ryan. A student of the game, he has that “it” factor and is on the verge of a breakout season. A No. 1 fantasy quarterback, he’ll come off the board in the middle rounds on Draft Day. (Bye: Week 4)
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 Chicago Bears |
 9. Jay Cutler (Auction: $13) |
One of the most talented young gunslingers in the entire NFL, Cutler had a breakout 2008 season with 4,526 yards and 27 total touchdowns. His success was due in large part to a change in offensive philosophies, as Cutler finished with 616 pass attempts compared to the 476 he had in 2007. However, a trade that sent him to the Bears almost guarantees a fall in most statistical categories. Cutler has fewer weapons in his new pass attack – his No. 1 wide receiver is Devin Hester, a converted defensive back — and the Bears won’t turn into a pass-laden team with the talented Matt Forte in the backfield. Fantasy owners should still consider Cutler a No. 1 quarterback, but he’s no longer an elite option at his position. (Bye: Week 5)
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 Philadelphia Eagles |
 10. Donovan McNabb (Auction: $9) |
McNabb is coming off a roller coaster season that saw him open with a three-touchdown performance against the Rams, get benched in favor of Kevin Kolb in November, and then lead the Eagles to the NFC Championship. Overall, he finished with a career high in passing yards (3,916) and his second-highest touchdown total since 2002. But where McNabb loses some of his fantasy luster is in his lack of consistent production, as he threw for multiple touchdowns in just 44 percent of his starts. Still, the veteran has an improved core of receivers with the development of DeSean Jackson and will remain a good but unspectacular fantasy starter in most leagues. Look for McNabb to come off the board in the middle rounds. (Bye: Week 4)
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 Cincinnati Bengals |
 11. Carson Palmer (Auction: $8) |
An injured elbow landed Palmer on the sidelines for 12 of the Bengals’ 16 games in 2008. He is back at 100 percent this season, however, and there’s no reason to believe he can’t return to his status as a No. 1 fantasy quarterback. He still possesses one of the stronger and more accurate arms in the league, and has a pair of outstanding pass catchers in Chad Ochocinco and Laveranues Coles. In fact, Palmer could turn into a tremendous draft value. A borderline fantasy starter who comes with his share of risk, Palmer is worth a middle-round pick. (Bye: Week 8)
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 Houston Texans |
 12. Matt Schaub (Auction: $7) |
Schaub has breakout potential if — and this is a huge if — he can avoid injuries. He has missed 10 games in two seasons with the Texans due to various ailments. When Schaub was on the field in 2008, however, his numbers were impressive. He finished with 3,043 yards and 17 total touchdowns, which projects to better than 4,400 passing yards and 25 scores over a 16-game slate. Those are the numbers of a No. 1 fantasy QB. With Steve Slaton in the backfield and superstar Andre Johnson at wide receiver, all the components are there for Schaub to succeed. He’ll be a middle-round pick. (Bye: Week 10)
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 Kansas City Chiefs |
 13. Matt Cassel (Auction: $8) |
Cassel turned out to be a huge sleeper last season, and now he’s a viable fantasy starter after an offseason trade sent him from New England to Kansas City. New coach Todd Haley will utilize Cassel’s strengths in a pass attack that includes weapons such as Dwayne Bowe, Mark Bradley, and Bobby Engram, so the potential is there for him to produce attractive numbers. However, fantasy owners need to temper their expectations. There’s no guarantee that Cassel won’t turn into the next Derek Anderson or Rob Johnson. He should be considered a middle-round selection. (Bye: Week 8)
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 Pittsburgh Steelers |
 14. Ben Roethlisberger (Auction: $6) |
Roethlisberger, who dealt with nagging injuries and an offensive line that failed to protect him consistently, was one of several big-name quarterbacks that failed to meet expectations in 2008. Despite tying a career high in passes (469), he threw for 15 fewer touchdowns compared to his 2007 totals and finished with 22 total turnovers. He went from being active in 95 percent of all NFL.com leagues in Week 1 to a mere 40 percent in Week 16. His falling value makes him a risk-reward quarterback for fantasy football. He should be seen as a borderline starter. (Bye: Week 8)
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 Seattle Seahawks |
 15. Matt Hasselbeck (Auction: $3) |
Knee and back injuries limited Hasselbeck to seven games in 2008 and landed him on the waiver wire in most leagues. His value is back on the rise for 2009 after the addition of WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh in Seattle. However, age and durability issues still make Hasselbeck a risk-reward option. New coach Jim Mora also wants a more balanced offense than his predecessor, Mike Holmgren, so Hasselbeck has little chance to produce huge numbers. If he avoids injuries, Hasselbeck could be a nice asset as a high-end No. 2 fantasy quarterback. He’ll come off the board in the middle to late rounds. (Bye: Week 7)
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 Denver Broncos |
16. Kyle Orton (Auction: $3) |
Orton isn’t synonymous with the elite quarterbacks in fantasy football. But for a five-week stretch from mid- September to mid-October in 2008, he actually led the position in points on NFL.com. Orton’s production would become less consistent as the season wore on, but overall he still made a fantasy impact despite the lack of a reliable core of receivers. Now with the Broncos as a result of the Jay Cutler trade, Orton will be the favorite to top the depth chart for coach Josh McDaniels. In an offense that will throw the ball a ton, not to mention an increase in weapons compared to his time with the Bears, Orton has a chance to produce career bests across the board. Consider him a solid No. 2 fantasy quarterback in drafts. (Bye: Week 7)
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 Buffalo Bills |
 17. Trent Edwards (Auction: $3) |
A young quarterback with 23 NFL starts under his belt, Edwards made a few strides in his second NFL season. Despite the fact that his overall numbers weren’t overly impressive, he did finish sixth in completion percentage (65.5) and recorded a career-best 14 total touchdowns. Where he still needs to improve is in ball protection, as Edwards threw 11 interceptions and lost five fumbles in 14 starts. His value is on the rise, however, as the Bills shocked the entire fantasy world with the addition of Terrell Owens. His presence in the offense turns Edwards from a low-end No. 2 fantasy quarterback and into a nice sleeper candidate. Look for the Stanford product to come off the board in the middle to late rounds. (Bye: Week 9)
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 Baltimore Ravens |
 18. Joe Flacco (Auction: $2) |
Flacco was one of several rookies to make a fantasy impact last season. While his final numbers weren’t great, he averaged 20 fantasy points on NFL.com during a six-week stretch from mid-October to November. Based on that potential, he will be mentioned as a sleeper this season. But he plays in a run-based offense for a franchise that has had one quarterback (Vinny Testaverde in 1996) pass for more than 3,100 yards and 17 touchdowns in a season. He’ll have his share of nice stat lines, but won’t become a fantasy superstar. He is worth a middle- to late-round pick as a No. 2 fantasy QB. (Bye: Week 7)
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 Miami Dolphins |
 19. Chad Pennington (Auction: $2) |
Pennington went from afterthought in 2007 to top-10 fantasy quarterback last season, when he passed for a career-high 3,653 yards and produced 20 total touchdowns for Miami. While he didn’t meet our guidelines for bonus-point production, he did pass for 250-plus yards six times. He also finished the regular season with 7 touchdown passes in his final three games. Pennington isn’t a top-notch fantasy option this season, but he is a viable No. 2 quarterback and occasional starter based on the matchups. Look for him to come off the board in the late rounds. (Bye: Week 6)
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 New York Giants |
 20. Eli Manning (Auction: $2) |
Manning has become one of the more predictable quarterbacks in fantasy football. He’ll have his share of solid stat lines at the start of the season, but he’s a virtual lock to crush your championship aspirations down the stretch. In fact, the veteran has thrown for one or fewer touchdowns in almost 80 percent of his second-half starts since 2006. That trend has kept him from entering the elite level of fantasy quarterbacks during his NFL career, and it will hold him out a prominent spot in 2009 drafts. He will also miss the presence of Plaxico Burress, who was released in the offseason. Despite his famous bloodline, Manning should be seen as no more than a fantasy reserve and occasional matchup-based starter this season. (Bye: Week 10)
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 Jacksonville Jaguars |
 21. David Garrard (Auction: $2) |
Garrard was a breakout candidate heading into last season, but injuries to his offensive line, plus a receiving corps that left much to be desired, hurt his level of production. He finished with career bests in passing yards (3,620) and rushing yards (322), but was no better than a low-end fantasy starter based on his final point total on NFL.com. The Jaguars added WR Torry Holt this year, but still lack enough playmaking options in the passing attack. In an offense that will lean on RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Garrard is no more than a No. 2 fantasy QB and occasional starter against weaker teams. (Bye: Week 7)
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 San Francisco 49ers |
 22. Shaun Hill (Auction: $1) |
Fantasy owners looking for a sleeper quarterback should target Hill. The favorite to open the 2009 season atop the 49ers’ depth chart, Hill has shown flashes of potential in his limited time on the field. In 10 career starts, he’s averaged close to 220 passing yards and produced 19 touchdowns. The 49ers will be more run-based under new coordinator Jimmy Raye, but Hill should still have his share of chances to produce. While questions about the team’s receivers and his tendency to turn over the ball are a concern, Hill’s potential is enough to warrant late-round consideration in fantasy drafts. (Bye: Week 6)
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 Washington Redskins |
 23. Jason Campbell (Auction: $1) |
Campbell posted career highs in passing yards (3,245), rushing yards (258), and total touchdowns (14) last season, but those numbers didn’t meet the expectations of his fantasy owners. After a fast start in which he passed for 6 touchdowns in the first four games, Campbell passed for just 7 scores in his final 12 games. To his credit, he is an intelligent quarterback who makes few mistakes, and he has a strong arm. But Campbell needs to be more consistent before he’ll be considered any more than a reserve in fantasy circles. He is worth a late-round choice as a No. 2 fantasy quarterback. (Bye: Week 8)
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 Oakland Raiders |
 24. JaMarcus Russell (Auction: $1) |
Russell has yet to meet expectations after two seasons in the Silver and Black. Of course, it’s hard to put up big numbers when your team makes poor personnel decisions and fields an offense loaded with underachieving wide receivers. Russell did show flashes of potential late last season with 6 touchdown passes in his final three games. That improved his value somewhat for 2009, but didn’t change the fact that he still lacks the talent around him to take a huge step forward. He is worth little more than a late-round flier as a fantasy reserve in most formats. (Bye: Week 9)
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 Cleveland Browns |
 25. Brady Quinn (Auction: $1) |
Quinn has a lot to prove before he warrants a prominent spot in fantasy drafts. He’s started just three games for the Browns in his short career, and his numbers were anything but impressive. He threw just 2 touchdown passes, both in the same game against a poor Denver defense, and his 50.6 percent completion percentage left much to be desired. What’s more, quarterbacks haven’t exactly recorded big numbers with new Cleveland coach Eric Mangini at the helm. If Quinn can hold off Derek Anderson in training camp, he is worth a late-round pick as a low-end No. 2 fantasy QB. (Bye: Week 9)
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 Carolina Panthers |
 26. Jake Delhomme (Auction: $1) |
The final images of Delhomme from last season are of his five interceptions, one fumble and a dreadful 39.1 quarterback rating in a playoff loss to the Cardinals. He is a far better quarterback than those numbers indicate, but the fact remains that Delhomme has seen a decrease in fantasy value and production in recent seasons. He finished 21st in fantasy points among quarterbacks on NFL.com last season and failed to record multiple touchdown passes in each of his final eight starts. In an offense that will remain run intensive with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart in the backfield, it’s hard to envision a scenario where Delhomme will return to the days of being a viable fantasy starter. In fact, he’s now worth little more than a late-round selection. (Bye: Week 4)
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 St. Louis Rams |
 27. Marc Bulger (Auction: $1) |
Bulger has had a quick and decisive decrease in value. After a 2006 season in which he posted career bests in yards (4,301) and touchdowns (24), Bulger has averaged 2,556 yards and 11 TDs the last two seasons. His yards-per-attempt average has dropped every year since 2004. It should also be noted that at least part of the success Bulger had earlier in his career can be attributed to former coach Mike Martz’s aggressive, pass-heavy offense. Couple his failures in recent seasons with the loss of WR Torry Holt this year, and Bulger is worth little more than a late-round flier in drafts. (Bye: Week 9)
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 Minnesota Vikings |
 28. Sage Rosenfels (Auction: $1) |
Rosenfels, who was acquired in an offseason trade with the Texans, will battle Tarvaris Jackson to open the season as Minnesota’s starter. He has put up good numbers when allowed a chance to start, but also tends to turn over the ball. In fact, he’s passed for 12 touchdowns and turned over the ball 18 times in his last 10 career starts. He will have his share of solid stat lines, but don’t overrate him just because he’s a starter. The Vikings will continue to utilize a run-based offense with Adrian Peterson in the backfield, and Rosenfels’ poor ball-protection habits make him worth no more than a late-round flier. (Bye: Week 9)
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 Tennessee Titans |
 29. Kerry Collins (Auction: $1) |
Collins led the Titans to an NFL-best 13-3 record during the 2008 regular season. However, outside of a three-week stretch in which he averaged 21 fantasy points on NFL.com, Collins had little fantasy value. With the duo of Chris Johnson and LenDale White in the backfield, the Titans lean heavily on the run and rarely build a game plan that features the passing attack. The addition of WR Nate Washington is a positive, but Collins still won’t do enough to warrant a prominent role on fantasy teams. He is no more than a bye-week option or occasional matchup-based starter. (Bye: Week 7)
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 Detroit Lions |
 30. Daunte Culpepper (Auction: $1) |
Culpepper, a one-time fantasy superstar turned journeyman, has played for four different teams in the last four years. He signed with the Lions last season and started five games, finishing with more turnovers (7) than total touchdowns (5). Culpepper has done well to get back into playing shape this offseason and should still be under center for the Lions at the start of this season, but his hold on the top spot could be short lived with No. 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford waiting in the wings. In fact, it wouldn’t be a shock to Stafford, not Culpepper, under center at season’s end if the Lions don’t reverse their losing ways. Overall, Culpepper should be seen as no more than a late-round selection in larger fantasy leagues. (Bye: Week 7)
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Tags: Bill Of Health, Bye Week, Carson Palmer, Dan Marino, drew brees, Fantasy Drafts, Fantasy Players, Finis, Indianapolis Colts, Jim Caldwell, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Offensive Threat, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Rush Yds, Team Player, Tom Brady, tony romo, Torn Ligaments
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