Quarterback changes bringing hew hope

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, October 6, 2005

You know that feeling you get when you’re standing in a buffet line and you’re coming up on the tray of macaroni and cheese?

It’s getting close to empty, and what’s left has been sitting under the heat lamp for a while, it’s starting to crust onto the sides of the aluminum tray and generally doesn’t look very appetizing.

But as you inch closer to the tray, you see a server off in the distance heading your way.

Maybe, just maybe, that dish in his hand will solve your current crisis.

He comes closer and he’s eyeing that crummy old tray you dreaded. He pulls the old one out of place and sets the new one down, peels off the foil covering and -presto! – a new tray of fresh mac and cheese and you’re going to be one of the first to dig in.

That’s pretty much how quarterback-hungry fantasy football players are feeling these days.

The quarterback carousel has begun as we head into Week 5, with six teams now featuring a different starter than they did on opening day – and nearly half of those changes were made this week.

For fantasy owners struggling at the hands – or arms – of their quarterbacks, these are the kinds of changes that bring about new hope.

It’s a sad statement when you think guys such as Vinny Testaverde, Kelly Holcomb and Alex Smith can help turn your season around, but that puts you in the same boat with the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers.

Another sad statement.

Still, with these new arms – which also include Washington’s Mark Brunell Baltimore’s Anthony Wright and Arizona’s John McCown – come new possibilities.

But first you must decide what is and isn’t an upgrade, and choose which new QB to seize upon.

Clearly, there have been more than a few busts at the quarterback position. The list starts with Minnesota’s Daunte Culpepper, and continues through Houston’s David Carr, Tennessee’s Steve McNair, Jacksonville’s Byron Leftwich, New Orleans’ Aaron Brooks and New England’s Tom Brady, who’s fallen off since opening day.

And that doesn’t even count the seven starters who’ve been replaced, whether due to poor performance or injury.

That means almost half of the league’s passers that could be counted as busts, at this point.

Of the available replacements, Brunell and Testaverde are your best bets for success for the remainder of the year.

This is exactly the time of year when you need some seasoned veterans to step in, keep mistakes to a minimum and provide consistent productivity.

Brunell’s doing in Washington, averaging 250 yards in his first two starts, throwing two touchdown passes in each game and one interception.

Expect similar production from Testaverde and Holcomb who take over for the Jets and Bills this weekend. Testaverde might need to shake off some rust, but he’ll be solid and will take some shots down the field with Laveranues Coles. And that Bills receiving tandem of Lee Evans and Eric Moulds should get a boost with Holcomb at the helm.

After the trio of Brunell, Testaverde and Holcomb, it’s a whole different story for Smith, McCown and Wright, who are worth considering in that order, if at all.

Smith could fire up the passing game in San Francisco, which didn’t seem to be going too badly. Tim Rattay became the fall guy after throwing more interceptions than touchdowns and the top draft pick, Smith, now gets a shot.

In one real drive Sunday night, Smith looked poised and in control and could make a fantasy contribution as the 49ers will likely be playing comeback a lot and have yet to develop a strong running game.

McCown will likely hand the starting job back to Kurt Warner once Warner’s groin injury heals. McCown faces a tough Carolina defense this week and shouldn’t be a fantasy consideration, despite his impressive showing last week.

Wright is terrible and shouldn’t be considered as a fantasy starter.

Reporter Victor Balta: 425-339-3455 or vbalta@heraldnet.com.