Value of the top guys over the rest of the pack (1 Viewer)

[Hear-the-Footsteps]

Obviously it is very difficult to get a top 5 QB, the top TE (Gates), AND one of the top 2 DSTs.

In order to do this, you are likely suffering at RBs and WRs.

So I wanted to see - if you could only take one of these, which would it be.

Assuming the top 5 QBs are (in no particular order): Manning, Palmer, Bulger, Brees, Brady

(If you think the top 5 are different, that is fine, this is more a question based on strategy/theory.)

Assuming the top 1 TE is Gates.

Assuming the top 2 DSTs are Chicago and Baltimore.

Second question deals with which you are most confident will fall that way.

Meaning, you might really like having a top 5 QB (pursuant to question 1), but in the end, you may be most "sure" that Gates is certainly more valuable than any other TE.

 

[Hear-the-Footsteps]

Anyone with some insight on this?

 

[Sylira21]

The Defense question rests a lot on your scoring system. Are things like points against and yards against included? If not, then the top D's don't have enough consistency or differential (IMO) to warrant the price you are obviously considering paying.

Gates should be the #1 TE, but the price you pay for him against other TE's is just so steep. If you want to lock up a top performer, get one of the three B's at QB.

 

[SSOG]

Defenses have so ridiculously little consistency from season to season that anyone who feels most "secure" that Baltimore/Chicago will be top-2 defenses probably hasn't studied the realities of the position. Likewise, while Manning is lightyears ahead of his peers, there's no way I can say with confidence that a Marc Bulger is going to finish this year ahead of maybe a Jon Kitna, Vince Young (remember, 2800 passing + 600 rushing = 4000 passing), or even a Philip Rivers. The QBs outside of the top 2-3 wind up being a huge cluster-you-know-what with only a handful of points separating "top-5" from "top-15".

Antonio Gates, on the other hand, is as far ahead of his peers as Peyton Manning is. If this were a poll comparing Gates to Manning, I'd have to think about it for a while... but comparing Gates to Bulger or Brees? Fuhgeddaboudit.

 

[The Man with the Plan]

Gotta go with the #1 tight end which is Antonio Gates. You can always play matchups with qbs and defenses and come out pretty well especially when you have Gates who's as close to irreplaceable as you can get.