Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
Let's discuss QB options this week. For probably over half the owners in most redraft leagues it is almost a no brainer who they will start week 1. But of course there are dynasty owners and other unique situations where they didn't just grab the 8th best QB off the board. I'll try and group these into different buckets.
Studs with good/great match ups
Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub…as I stated earlier in the week these 2 teams go for about 750 yds of combined offense every time they meet and you can be sure a lot of it will come via the air. You should turn over the keys to your franchise if you don't play one of these guys this week.
Phillip Rivers: Kansas City is going to be a better team but even without some of his weapons you gotta love Rivers in week 1. Should be a juicy match up.
Tony Romo: Washington is under new mgmt and their best DL is likely not playing. Romo and company should be able to fire on all cylinders at Fed Ex field this coming weekend.
Studs with slightly tougher match ups
Tom Brady: Cinci is pretty good at stopping the pass. I think Cinci can win the game outright but it would be hard to sit a guy like Brady the 1st week of the season. And even if the pats struggle you have to like Brady for about 250 yds and at least 1-2 scores.
Aaron Rodgers: Oh he should go for 300/3TDs most weeks but Philly is not a terrible defense and I think they will at least slow him and the Packers down just a smidge.
Drew Brees: The DL for the Vikings can create headaches at times for opposing QBs but Brees should still find plenty of room to operate. It might not be a juicy match up but 250-300 yds and at least 1 score via the air in the home opener for the defending champs.
Those 7 are going to be started no matter what I write so we'll just assume if you own them you are plugging them in. The other 20 is what will be more fun to dissect.
Brett Favre: Guy has looked terrible in the preseason, perhaps last year was really the last hoorah for this guy. I would not be itching to start him this week. I just have a bad feeling about Minnesota in the opener. Things don't seem right.
Eli Manning: Carolina is without Julius Peppers so from a pass rush standpoint I think Eli will have time and be able to find his talented WR trio plenty this week. Eli has opened with 256/TD/Int, and 216/0Td/Int the last 2 years in week 1 at home, both game against Washington.
Jay Cutler: Another top10 preseason FBG candidate and with a game against Detroit at home you would assume the best. It's a leap of faith for many owners but does Detroit really scare you? I like what they have done in the off season and think they will be improved but when you look at Cutler's schedule this has to be one of the better match ups.
Good QBs with tougher match ups
Matt Ryan: Despite Atlanta in my opinion being an easy choice to win this game you have to respect the Pitt defense and the return of Troy in the secondary. I don't think I would want to start Matt Ryan this week.
Joe Flacco: Love Flacco and what the Ravens have done in the off season to improve their passing game but against the Jets and now they have Revis back for the 1st week, no way Flacco will march in there and destroy the Jets. I doubt owners would want to start him this week if they can avoid it. 8 games last year Flacco threw for less than 200 yds.
Donovan McNabb: Not just the ankle but the match up here is not too good. He wasn't exactly lights out in the playoffs last year with several more weapons at his disposal. Can't really like this one too much this week.
Kevin Kolb: The hype train has died down. Personally I think he will be fine but many seem to think this is a rough match up. Last time we saw Green Bay they were getting a blow torch taken to them by Kurt Warner in a 51-45 contest. They were much better in the regular season but Kolb will have to throw for 225-275 yds and a score or two for Philly to have any chance in this one.
Carson Palmer: I really am on the fence here where you would rank the guy.
Tweeners or guys who don't have the track record to start with confidence
Matt Stafford: Chicago has a better pass rush but are they really going to shut down Detroit? I could see Stafford getting into a shootout to keep pace with Cutler and Martz.
Alex Smith: Seattle could be a good outing for him. He threw for 310 yds and 2 TDs at the Nest last year.
Chad Henne: 17/31/175/TD/3Int last year at Orchard Park.
Vince Young: Mostly a bye week guy anyways but he seems to have matured a lot the end of last year and going into this year. Would 50 yds on the ground and a TD or two to add to his passing yds break him into the top12-15 this week?
Definite bench weeks for these QBs?
Mark Sanchez
Matt Moore
Dennis Dixon
Trent Edwards despite a very suspect defense for Miami
Josh Freeman
Jake Delhomme
Matt Hasselbeck
Matt Cassel
A trio of QBs that might surprise this week
Derek Anderson: Seems like a good match up.
Kyle Orton: Jax is suspect in the secondary and Denver doesn't have much running game working right now, time to take to the air.
David Garrard: Always a decent play at home and Denver has a suspect defense to boot.
Who are you all on the fence about or who do you think surprises week 1?
Studs with good/great match ups
Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub…as I stated earlier in the week these 2 teams go for about 750 yds of combined offense every time they meet and you can be sure a lot of it will come via the air. You should turn over the keys to your franchise if you don't play one of these guys this week.
Phillip Rivers: Kansas City is going to be a better team but even without some of his weapons you gotta love Rivers in week 1. Should be a juicy match up.
Tony Romo: Washington is under new mgmt and their best DL is likely not playing. Romo and company should be able to fire on all cylinders at Fed Ex field this coming weekend.
Studs with slightly tougher match ups
Tom Brady: Cinci is pretty good at stopping the pass. I think Cinci can win the game outright but it would be hard to sit a guy like Brady the 1st week of the season. And even if the pats struggle you have to like Brady for about 250 yds and at least 1-2 scores.
Aaron Rodgers: Oh he should go for 300/3TDs most weeks but Philly is not a terrible defense and I think they will at least slow him and the Packers down just a smidge.
Drew Brees: The DL for the Vikings can create headaches at times for opposing QBs but Brees should still find plenty of room to operate. It might not be a juicy match up but 250-300 yds and at least 1 score via the air in the home opener for the defending champs.
Those 7 are going to be started no matter what I write so we'll just assume if you own them you are plugging them in. The other 20 is what will be more fun to dissect.
Brett Favre: Guy has looked terrible in the preseason, perhaps last year was really the last hoorah for this guy. I would not be itching to start him this week. I just have a bad feeling about Minnesota in the opener. Things don't seem right.
Eli Manning: Carolina is without Julius Peppers so from a pass rush standpoint I think Eli will have time and be able to find his talented WR trio plenty this week. Eli has opened with 256/TD/Int, and 216/0Td/Int the last 2 years in week 1 at home, both game against Washington.
Jay Cutler: Another top10 preseason FBG candidate and with a game against Detroit at home you would assume the best. It's a leap of faith for many owners but does Detroit really scare you? I like what they have done in the off season and think they will be improved but when you look at Cutler's schedule this has to be one of the better match ups.
Good QBs with tougher match ups
Matt Ryan: Despite Atlanta in my opinion being an easy choice to win this game you have to respect the Pitt defense and the return of Troy in the secondary. I don't think I would want to start Matt Ryan this week.
Joe Flacco: Love Flacco and what the Ravens have done in the off season to improve their passing game but against the Jets and now they have Revis back for the 1st week, no way Flacco will march in there and destroy the Jets. I doubt owners would want to start him this week if they can avoid it. 8 games last year Flacco threw for less than 200 yds.
Donovan McNabb: Not just the ankle but the match up here is not too good. He wasn't exactly lights out in the playoffs last year with several more weapons at his disposal. Can't really like this one too much this week.
Kevin Kolb: The hype train has died down. Personally I think he will be fine but many seem to think this is a rough match up. Last time we saw Green Bay they were getting a blow torch taken to them by Kurt Warner in a 51-45 contest. They were much better in the regular season but Kolb will have to throw for 225-275 yds and a score or two for Philly to have any chance in this one.
Carson Palmer: I really am on the fence here where you would rank the guy.
Tweeners or guys who don't have the track record to start with confidence
Matt Stafford: Chicago has a better pass rush but are they really going to shut down Detroit? I could see Stafford getting into a shootout to keep pace with Cutler and Martz.
Alex Smith: Seattle could be a good outing for him. He threw for 310 yds and 2 TDs at the Nest last year.
Chad Henne: 17/31/175/TD/3Int last year at Orchard Park.
Vince Young: Mostly a bye week guy anyways but he seems to have matured a lot the end of last year and going into this year. Would 50 yds on the ground and a TD or two to add to his passing yds break him into the top12-15 this week?
Definite bench weeks for these QBs?
Mark Sanchez
Matt Moore
Dennis Dixon
Trent Edwards despite a very suspect defense for Miami
Josh Freeman
Jake Delhomme
Matt Hasselbeck
Matt Cassel
A trio of QBs that might surprise this week
Derek Anderson: Seems like a good match up.
Kyle Orton: Jax is suspect in the secondary and Denver doesn't have much running game working right now, time to take to the air.
David Garrard: Always a decent play at home and Denver has a suspect defense to boot.
Who are you all on the fence about or who do you think surprises week 1?
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I knew I missed someone. Campbell is coming off a little injury but I'm not sure I love the match up. I figured there would be opinions all over the place on the QBs, good stuff.
