Thanks for checking out my fantasy football quarterback guide for the 2011 NFL season. Due to the lockout teams didn’t have as much time to prepare as usual nor did those of us who write fantasy football guides. I will rank the top 15 fantasy football quarterbacks for the 2011 season. If you have questions or want to heap praise or insults on me then feel free to post a comment. This is my fantasy football quarterback draft guide for the 2011 season.
15 Matt Stafford- Detroit Lions
Stafford has all the tools to be an elite fantasy football quarterback, if he could just stay healthy. Having one of the best wide receivers in football and an offense that improves every year has Stafford ranked as one of the top fantasy football quarterbacks in 2011.
14 Sam Bradford-St. Louis Rams
Bradford had a great rookie season but needs some weapons around him to become elite. The Rams just are not spending much and his help is limited. Bradford has 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions as a rookie in a pro offense for the first time. I expect those numbers to improve in 2011.
13 Joe Flacco- Baltimore Ravens
I rank Flacco in at 13because he can’t seem to get over the hump to be an elite quarterback in the NFL. The Ravens offense can’t quite become as explosive as it maybe should be either. Long time tight end Todd Heap is gone. Lee Evans is the newest Raven reclamation project at wide receiver.
12 Eli Manning-New York Giants
Manning throws too many interceptions to be considered a great quarterback and the Giants strong running game hurts his fantasy standing as well. I think Eli will be decent but I wouldn’t draft him high.
11 Josh Freeman- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Josh Freeman is a top fantasy quarterback for 2011 but like Bradford he has few weapons. Tampa won’t spend until the cap floor is installed so Freeman has a long couple of seasons ahead of him.
10 Peyton Manning-Indianapolis Colts
Yes I have Peyton Manning ranked 10th on my 2011 fantasy quarterback draft guide. Manning is losing his touch and plays for a terrible team. Manning has a neck injury that could cause him to miss some games early in the regular season as well.
9 Ben Roethlisberger-Pittsburgh
Ben Roethlisberger managed to stay out of trouble despite a long offseason but the Steelers still have not gotten him any offensive line help. I like what the Steelers do on offense but Ben takes a beating.
8 Matt Cassel-Kansas City Chiefs
Cassel quietly has a nice season last year in Kansas City, throwing for 3,116 yards, 27 touchdown passes against only 7 interceptions. The Chiefs got him another weapon in rookie wide receiver Jonathan Baldwin. However Baldwin is currently nursing a hand injury, allegedly received in a fight with Thomas Jones.
7 Matt Schaub-Houston Texans
This is the year the Texans and Matt Schaub have to step it up and I see them doing that. Schaub will be solid all year and having Andre Johnson to throw to won’t hurt.
6 Matt Ryan-Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons went all in this year in trying to improve their offense and make a Super Bowl run. Ryan now has Roddy White and Julio Jones (if he stays healthy) and a bad defense. This means the Falcons will be airing it out this season in high scoring games.
5 Drew Brees-New Orleans Saints
Brees slipped a little bit and no longer has Reggie Bush to dump the ball to. Adding Ingram at running back helps the teams but not necessarily Brees’ fantasy value.
4 Michael Vick-Philadelphia Eagles
Vick resurrected his career with the Eagles in Andy Reid’s offense. However he did taper off towards the end of the season and has trouble with blitzes. Vick will put up good numbers with the new dream team but does not make the top 3 fantasy quarterbacks of 2011.
3 Tom Brady-New England Patriots
Brady and the Patriots are poised for a good run and Chad Johnson aka Ochocinco should help stretch the field for him. Tom Brady is still an elite fantasy league quarterback in 2011.
2 Phillip Rivers-San Diego Chargers
Rivers really stepped it up in 2010 without some of his weapons. Gates should be healthy and the Chargers will have Vincent Jackson for the whole year. Phillip Rivers will put up monster fantasy football numbers in 2011.
1 Aaron Rodgers-Green Bay Packers
Rodgers and the Packers limped into the post season and caught on fire to win the Super Bowl. There is no more accurate quarterback in the NFL than Aaron Rodgers and he has all his weapons back and healthy now. Aaron Rodgers is the best fantasy football quarterback heading into 2011.
Sources
Profootballreference.com