Ultimate Fantasy Baseball Ultimate Fantasy Baseball SportingNews Draft Central Stock Car Weekly Forecast



2004 KACSPORTS FANTASY QUARTERBACK PREVIEW


MANNING FINALLY CLIMBS TO THE TOP



It's here already, the fourth year of fantasy football coverage on KACSPORTS.COM, and the third year of complete pre-season rankings. Two years ago, Kurt Warner was ranked #1 for what was at the time the third year running in most publications, but has not led his team to a win since. Daunte Culpepper was a shaky #1 last year but at least played close to expectations. This years #1 is a safe bet, as the league's most consistant and durable performer finally climbs his way to the top.


  1. Peyton Manning (IND) � By far the safest pick at #1, and perhaps the only QB who merits first-round consideration. You know exactly what you�re going to get, 4200 passing yards and somewhere around 28 passing TD�s. Manning is also the most durable of all starting QB�s (Brett Favre included), starting all 96 games in his six-year career (over 100 including playoffs.


  2. Daunte Culpepper (MN) � Randy Moss�s bum foot should scuttle any talk of Culpepper being #1 on this list. Culpepper does gain on Manning with his running ability, as he�s usually good for 500-600 yards on the ground and recorded 10 rushing TD�s a couple years back. You also have the comfort of knowing that the Metrodome ventilation system will ALWAYS be behind his back. But DC has never recorded a 4000 yard season and anything over 25 passing TD�s will be gravy.


  3. Michael Vick (ATL) � Sure it�s rolling the dice a little, but you should get the breakthrough numbers expected from Vick in 2003 this year. The new-West Coast system being installed should improve Vick�s completion percentage greatly, along with the arrival of rookie WR Michael Jenkins. In league�s where rushing TD�s and yardage count double, 2002 numbers (16 pass TD�s, 8 rush TD�s) would had been the equivalent of 32 passing TD�s and 4,500 rushing yards in just 15 games. And Vick can definitely improve on that.


  4. Aaron Brooks (NO) � Next to Manning, no one has put up better numbers than Brooks over the past three years, averaging 25 TD�s while recording over 3,500 yards per season. The Saints receiving corps are second to none and Brooks can actually improve his completion percentage some. You should get a very good start when the Saints pick apart NFC West defenses in the first month, and 4,000 yards and 30 TD�s are not out of the question.


  5. Matt Hasselbeck (SEA) � Referee: �The Seahawks win the toss, what would you like to do Captain???� H-Beck: �We�re going to take the ball, I�m going to audible and throw and out pattern that the opposing cornerback smells a mile away and he�s going to return the interception for a touchdown�. Actually, before that last pass Hasselbeck was pretty good in the playoff game in blustery Green Bay, throwing for 305 yards on top of a breakout season that saw him throw for over 3,800 yards and 25 scores. After a shaky start, Hasselbeck has settled in nicely in Mike Holmgren�s West Coast system.


  6. Donovan McNabb (PHI) � Last year�s poor start was too much for ol� Rush, along with many other fantasy owners to take. McNabb did recover however and racked up over 200 yards in six of his last seven regular season games, but the drop from 46 to 22 rushing yards per contest was alarming. Hopefully the addition of Terrell Owens will get McNabb back up into the upper echelon.


  7. Trent Green (KC) � Another poor man�s Peyton Manning, Green has averaged over 3,800 yards the past three season and is coming off seasons of 26 and 24 TD�s.


  8. Marc Bulger (STL) � Just think of the upside, Kurt Warner won�t be warming up on the sidelines every time Bulger throws two incompletions in a row. The 22 INT�s were alarming, but Bulger also threw for over 3,800 yards and 22 scores. 59-year old Chris Chandler is the new #2 QB, so Bulger shouldn�t be feeling the heat in Mad Martz�s pass happy offense.


  9. Brett Favre (GB) � Repeat after me. Favre is past his prime. Favre has to deal with a thumb that will never again be absolutely right. And Favre is due to get knocked out of the box due to injury any day now. It�s all been cued up as long as the obituaries of Reagan and the Pope. But then again Favre has thrown an NFL high 91 TD passes the past three years, so write him off at your own risk. I do expect the TD number to go down however for no other reason that at the Packers have become very run heavy with Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport.


  10. Tom Brady (NE) � The Pats put it up as much as any team in football, with Brady throwing 1,128 regular season passes the past two years, with Brady throwing for nearly 7,400 yards and 51 TD�s during that span. RB Corey Dillon will bring some more balance to the New England attack, but Brady will do his part as well.


  11. Steve McNair (TN) � His frequent injuries knock him down a bit in these rankings, but the first-half MVP of 2003 wound up with a QB rating over 100 along with 24 TD�s v. only seven INT�s.


  12. Chad Pennington (NYJ) � Like Michael Vick, don�t let last year�s injury keep you from putting one cent down too far on your lists. Pennington is the most accurate passer in the game and Santana Moss will turn a few of the those hitches into long touchdowns. Don�t be surprised when one cent leads the Jets to a title somewhere down the road.


  13. Josh McCown (AZ) � Grabbing McCown in the middle rounds this year could very well be like discovering cold fusion. Second-year men Anquan Boldin and Bryant Johnson are at McCown�s disposal, along with super-rook Larry Fitzgerald. Hell, McCown didn�t even look bad throwing to Nathan Poole on the final play of last season. Add the fact that the Cards will be trailing in most games and have a pass-happy coach in Dennis Green, and McCown can�t help but have big numbers. Also the fact that Green passed on a QB with the overall #3 pick in favor of Fitzgerald, along with the release of Jeff Blake, should speak volumes.


  14. Jake Plummer (DEN) � Staying loyal to the snake over the course of an entire season can prove to be as difficult as trying to get Rock Hard Ten into the starting gate. However, when healthy Plummer had a QB rating of 91 while completing 62.6 percent of his passes and throwing 15 TD�s v. only seven INT�s. The shoddy pass defenses of the AFC West are also another plus.


  15. Byron Leftwich (JAX) � Averaged over 200 yards and a touchdown per start as a rookie, a number that should only improve with top draft pick Reggie Williams on board.


  16. Brad Johnson (TB) � Has averaged a surprising 235 yards per game over the past two years. Johnson loses Me-Shawn but picks up Joey Galloway. Charlie Garner adds a good dump-off option.


  17. Joey Harrington (DET) � Joey is out of excuses now, as he not only has Charles Rogers, but now also Roy Williams (who should be better than Fitzgerald) at his disposal. The running game should also be improved as well.


  18. Tommy Maddox (PIT) � Yes he�s erratic, yes he�s a lame duck with Ben Roethlisberger on board. But Maddox�s numbers were actually up from the previous year, throwing for 213 yards per start along with 18 TD�s. Maddox should be safe for at least the first 12 games, although you should shy away from inclement weather games.


  19. Jake Delhomme (CAR) � My sleeper pick of 2003 made me look like a genius, averaging 200 passing yards per game while throwing 19 TD�s. Jake stepped it up in the Panthers Super Bowl run, throwing for 987 yards over four games with six TD�s over one pick. Only the Panthers run-heavy offense knocks him down in the rankings.


  20. David Carr (HOU) � The face of the Texans franchise must step it up this year. Carr has averaged only 165 yards in his 28 starts, and has only thrown 18 TD�s. Be aware that Carr was gutting it through a bad wing in the latter half of 2003.


  21. Drew Bledsoe (BUF) � Less than two years after being hailed as the Bills savior, Bledsoe finds himself as a lame duck QB for the second time in four years with first-round pick J.P. Losman on board. Bledsoe�s stats went down alarmingly last year, from 24 TD�s/15 INT and 272 ypg to 11/12/179.


  22. Carson Palmer (CIN) � A high-risk pick here. The #1 overall draft choice of 2003 did not throw a pass last year, while Matt Leinhart looked just as good running the SC system. But the investment has been made, and Palmer will at least start the season ahead of Jon Kitna. Cincy has the receiving weapons in place, Palmer can either be a top-ten QB by seasons end or sitting on the bench. Watch the pre-season games and make the call from there.


  23. A.J Feeley (MIA) � Although he filled in admirably for Donovan McNabb a couple of years back, I don�t see Feeley as a huge upgrade over incumbent Jay Fiedler, although David Boston will add firepower to a receiving corps that also includes Chris Chambers.


  24. Kurt Warner (NYG) � In a pre-draft interview, SI's Paul Zimmermann was asked if any team should be interested in Warner. Dr Z's response was 'I wouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole' Even in the best case scenario, do not look for Warner to put anywhere near the prolific numbers he put up with the Rams under the Tom Coughlin system, although the receiving cupboard is not exactly bare with Amani Toomer. The best part of the Warner�s arriving in the Big Apple may be when Brenda starts calling the local radio talk shows.


  25. Jeff Garcia (CLE) � If Kellen Winslow II thought Brock Berlin was bad just wait unit he gets a load of Garcia. Although he has averaged 221 passing yards per game over the past five years, Garcia may find himself stumbling as though he was just pulled over at Jack In The Box in the cold winds of Cleveland without T.O around.


  26. Rich Gannon (OAK) � Here's a classic example on how things change in this league. Just two years ago Gannon was a weekly #1 QB. Now Gannon is 38, coming off shoulder surgery, and trying to hold off Kerry Collins while dealing with a depleated receiving corps and the loss of Charlie Garner. Still you shouldn't fare too bad with if you can tag-team Collins and Garner.


  27. Kerry Collins (OAK) � Since he's officially behind Rich Gannon on the depth chart I've had to drop him a bit, but he didn't come to Oakland to sit on the bench. Before giving way to the Bachelor in the 13th game last season, Collins had thrown the ball 500 times for over 3100 yards, although he had only 13 TD�s to show for it.


  28. Rex Grossman (CHI) - The job of a Chicago Bears quarterback (dating to the days of Mike Tomczyk, Jim McMahon, Vince Evans, and Jack Concannon) is simply to not screw things up, and hopefully the team will win 17-14. That being said, Grossman was not half bad leading the Bears to a couple of late-season wins in his two NFL starts. Lack of height is his biggest knock, but you should be able to elevate Grossman about a half-dozen spots by years end.


  29. Kyle Boller (BAL) - Throw out a 302 yard outing, most of it in come from behind fashion in Week 7, and Boller's yardage totals in his rookie year went like this: 152, 78, 98, 140, 75, 137, 156, 112. Reports on Boller early in camp are mixed, but he appears to have a new confidence as the staff takes the training wheels off this year. The addition of QB coach Jim Fassel should also be a help. Not a top option on the run-heavy Ravens, but may be better than you think.


  30. Quincy Carter (DAL) � The most wide-open QB competition this summer will be in Dallas as everyone except Danny White and Craig Morton has been brought in to challenge Q for the job. However, Drew Henson hasn�t thrown a football in anger since 2000 and Vinny Testeverde is simply a veteran mentor. Expect Q to get most of the work for the Cowboys this season.


  31. Jon Kitna (CIN) � Actually got MVP consideration for a while in 2003, as Kitna threw for 26 TD passes and nearly 3,600 yards. The bar has been set quite high for Carson Palmer to keep Kitna off the field.


  32. Mark Brunell (WSH) � On the verge of lapsing into a sugar coma upon arriving in Jacksonville, Brunell wound up driving Coach Joe Gibbs to the emergency room. It is little wonder then that Brunell eventually signed on the dotted line in Washington. Although Gibbs prefers the veteran, I don�t see Brunell as much of an improvement over Patrick Ramsey at this point.


  33. Tim Rattay (SF) � Tore his groin in mini-camp and is questionable for the season opener. The good news is that Niners were not in financial position to acquire some of the brand names on the market. Rattay created a quarterback controversy with Jeff Garcia by throwing for 490 yards and 5 TD�s through a two game stretch last year, but the team lost plenty of personnel across the board, most notably Terrell Owens.


  34. Drew Brees (SD) � Another lame duck, as Philip Rivers was not acquired to sit on the bench for more than one year. Brees numbers have not been horrible, averaging 200 yards and a TD per game in his 28-game career. The good news is that Doug Flutie drops to #3 on the depth chart, so look for Brees to be doing plenty of handing off to LaDainian Tomlinson.


  35. Patrick Ramsey (WSH) � Appeared to be one of the bigger breakthroughs early in 2003 with back-to-back 350 yard outings before injuries to Ramsey and the team around him took their ugly toll. I expect Ramsey to see some time this year, but directing an offense that will be far less pass happy.


  36. Gus Frerotte (MN) � Had a gaudy 118 QB rating in limited time last year, and threw six TD�s in two early season games in place of Daunte Culpepper.


  37. Jay Fiedler (MIA) � If he somehow beat out A. J. Feely, expect Fiedler to improve on his 180 passing yards per game with Boston on board.


  38. Billy Volek (TN) � It appeared that he was merely suffering from the flu at the time, but it turned out that Volek had actually gutted through a lacerated spleen while guiding the Titans to a late season win over Buffalo. Volek wisely turned down some free agent overtures to re-sign with Tennessee, and will probably be counted on to spell Steve McNair at some point.


  39. Marques Tuiasosopo (OAK) � Had his shot at directing the Raiders ship, but unfortunately tweaked his knee in his long-awaited first NFL start. Marques now sits behind Kerry Collins, and offers some Steve Young-like run/pass ability if pressed into service.


  40. Trent Dilfer (SEA) � Matt Hasselbeck�s durability limited Dilfer to eight passes last year, but the veteran will be ready if need be.


  41. Tim Couch (CLE) � His ongoing negotiations with Green Bay have been more drawn out than Jesse Palmer�s choice of bride on the Bachelor. Couch would be well advised to accept a trade to the Packers, as he could drop to #3 behind Kelly Holcomb in Cleveland.


  42. Kordell Stewart (BAL) � Anthony Wright has already undergone season-ending surgery, so Stewart is now in the Ravens QB mix. If the Ravens do not sign Brad Johnson, Kordell could find himself challenging Kyle Boller for the starting spot and perhaps get a shot at playing his old Steeler mates.


  43. Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) � None of this year�s draft bounty is expected to see significant time under center this year. However if pressed into duty, Big Ben would probably fare the best as he has a far better receiving corps than the other rookie QB�s.


  44. Vinny Testeverde (DAL) � Forget the age, Bill Parcells will not hesitate making the switch if Quincy Carter struggles.


  45. Philip Rivers (SD) � Graded out the highest among the class of 2004, surpassing Ben Roethlisberger on the draft board. If the Chargers struggle early and Marty Schottenheimer gets an early axe, Rivers could see some PT.


  46. Eli Manning (NYG) � Long-term, the signing of Kurt Warner is a very good thing, as Manning be thrown to the wolves on Opening Day would be nothing short of disastrous. Manning is really going to have to be something in the years to come to justify the heavy price it took the Giants to acquire him.


  47. Koy Detmer (PHI) � Still the man in Philly if McNabb goes down.


  48. Ken Dorsey (SF) � Rattay�s injury could bring him into the Niners QB mix.


  49. J.P. Losman (BUF) � Some feel that Losman will ultimately be better than the three quarterbacks selected before him, and comparisons to Brett Favre have been made. One thing JPL and Favre will have in common is playing in harsh climates.


  50. Drew Henson (DAL) � He will start #3 in Dallas behind Testeverde and Q. Carter. Bump him up a little if playing in a dynasty league.


E-MAIL ME
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1