In our position preview, I ranked the top three fantasy QBs this way: 1) Drew Brees, 2) Aaron Rodgers and 3) Peyton Manning.
We may be splitting hairs here. These are the top three QBs heading into the season and you can’t go wrong with any of them. But I’d take Brees first and here’s why:
1. He’s always playing in Week 16.
Peyton Manning has put up some monster numbers in W16 in recent years. 364 yards and 3 TD in 2008, 311 yards and 3 TD in 2007, and 205 yards and 3 TD in 2006. But he also had just 192 yards and zero TD against the Jets last year and a 116-yard, zero-TD performance in a meaningless game against the Seahawks in 2005. Sometimes the Colts’ Week 16 games don’t matter and when that happens, Manning isn’t going to play a whole hell of a lot. Drew Brees (and Aaron Rodgers) are far more likely to be in a meaningful Week 16 game.
2. He plays indoors in Week 16.
Not only does Brees have a nice matchup with the Falcons in the cozy Georgia Dome in Week 16, he also has the Rams at home in Week 14, which is often the first week of the fantasy playoffs. He does have the Ravens on the road in Week 15, so it’s not all rosy for Brees. Conversely, Rodgers has the Lions indoors in Week 14 (!!!), but then he has two tough, cold weather games at New England and at home against the Giants. If there’s a title on the line, I’d rather that weather not be a factor.
3. He has an easier schedule this year.
According to Footballguys’ strength of schedule, Brees has an improved schedule while Rodgers’ projects to be tougher. (Manning has the easiest of the three, but that would only increase the chances that he’ll be limited in Week 16.)
