Well it’s almost here. Later today the Chargers will take on the Raiders in the first game of what is, for most good and self-respecting leagues, the first round of the fantasy playoffs.
I can barely contain my excitement.
So to help everybody out, I’ll be posting rankings of all the positions (except kicker, really who cares?) over the next few days, starting with QBs tonight.
Here’s how I ranked the players. I took six categories (ability of the player, strength of opponent, health, weather, and motivation of player and team to play hard) and then ranked the player from 1-10 in each category. I added it all up and voila we have rankings. As I rank the player I’ll also give strengths and weaknesses:
Disclaimer: These rankings are based on Wednesday’s weather reports for the weekend, which are calling for snow in New York and Pittsburgh. If that doesn’t happen, move Donovan McNabb, Eli Manning, Tony Romo and Ben Roethlisberger up about 7 points
Must-starts
1. Peyton Manning 51 points (Strengths: weakness, health of opponent, Weakness: struggling offensively)
2. Kurt Warner 48 (S: weakness of opponent, great weather; W: turnovers)
3. Drew Brees 47 (S: big motivation, due for bounce back game; W: Falcons D solid)
4. Aaron Rodgers 46 (S: weakness of opponent; must-win game; W: it’ll be freezing!)
5. Jay Cutler 44 (S: weakness of opponent; Broncos rule K.C. in Denver; W: Chiefs surprisingly solid against pass)
Should produce good numbers
6. Brett Favre 42 (S: weakness of opponent; bounce-back game; W: that’s a looooong flight to Frisco)
7. Matt Cassel 41 (S: going against worst pass defense in NFL, Pats in must-win situation; W: another long flight, Wes Welker dinged up)
8. Kyle Orton 41 (S: Jags’ depleted secondary is awful, due for a big game; W: he’s really not that good)
9. Matt Ryan 41 (S: weakness of opponent, kid can play; W: he and Falcons due for a stinker, Saints are an NFC South team at home (8-0 so far))
10. Jake Delhomme 40 (S: Panthers must-win, and their at home (see above); W: Bucs’ pass defense is pretty good)
Big names, low points
11. Chad Pennington 39 (S: Buffalo reeling; game isn’t in Buffalo; W: Dolphins are a run-based offense)
12. Philip Rivers 37 (S: He’s got a ton of weapons; Raiders given up?; W: Oakland’s pass defense actually good; he’s been struggling lately)
13. Eli Manning 36 (S: Even without Plaxico Burress he’s got weapons, he’s a very consistent performer; W: It’s supposed to snow, Philly’s pass defense is good)
14. Donovan McNabb 35 (S: Giants have been distracted all week, he looked great last week; W: Snow (above), Giants pass rush is full force and will attack all day)
15. Matt Hasselbeck 35 (S: Pats’ pass defense isn’t great, he’s coming around; W: It’s supposed to rain, Seahawks are downright terrible)
Give ‘em a shot, but only if you’re completely desperate
16. Joe Flacco 34 (S: Ravens in a must-win, he’s been playing great; W: Like Ryan, he’s due for a real clunker, Redskins’ pass defense is solid)
17. Gus Frerotte 34 (S: Weakness of opponent, weather won’t be a factor; W: It’s GUS FREROTTE)
18. Daunte Culpepper 33 (S: Revenge factor going up against old team, Vikings’ pass defense middle of the road; W: He’s got one guy to throw it to)
19. Shaun Hill 33 (S: Jets’ pass defense is their weakness; W: He doesn’t have a lot to work with and he’s really not very good)
Not the week to play them
20. Tony Romo 30 (S: He’s good and he’s got weapons; W: It’s supposed to snow, Pittsburgh’s field is notoriously bad, he’s not 100 percent, Steelers’ defense is heroic)
21. Ben Roethlisberger 30 (See above, plus injured knee slipping in mud at practice on Wednesday)
22. Jason Campbell 30 (S: Redskins need him to step up; W: Ravens defense eats QBs like him for breakfast, Portis banged up)
23. Trent Edwards 30 (S: Dolphins pass defense is beatable; W: He’s injured, the game is in Toronto, he’s really not that good)
24. Matt Schaub 30 (S: Packers defense is reeling; W: He’s still recovering from a knee injury, it’s the Packers’ run defense that is really bad)
25. Jeff Garcia 30 (S: He’ll be motivated to play; W: Panthers should win (see above), he just doesn’t put up big numbers)
Don’t even think about it
Kerry Collins 29
Tyler Thigpen 29
Marc Bulger 28
David Garrard 27
Ryan Fitzpatrick 25
JaMarcus Russell 21
Ken Dorsey 15
Tonight’s game
As for the rest of the San Diego and Oakland players in tonight’s game besides Rivers I see it like this: LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates are must-starts. San Diego’s defense is a sneaky play, but don’t bench a great defense for them. Wide receivers Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson are both No. 3 wideouts at this point, with Jackson obviously the better choice. The Raiders’ two-headed backfield is really too hard to figure out. Justin Fargas will likely get most of the carries and maybe 70 yards, while Darren McFadden will likely see the goal-line carries. Don’t play either unless you are desperate … and if you were that desperate you likely wouldn’t be in the playoffs. TE Zach Miller isn’t a terrible play, but only in yardage leagues because the Raiders will be hard pressed to score more than one TD.
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