It seems like there are a number of middle- to late-round young QBs that are thriving this year in fantasy football. Here are eight guys that are 26 years-old or younger and are all in the top 20 in total fantasy points scored in 2008. This list doesn’t even include other sub-30 guys like Eli Manning (27), Matt Schaub (27), Tony Romo (28), Drew Brees (29) and J.T. O’Sullivan (29), who are also tearing it up.
Most of these players were available in the 7th round or later in a typical fantasy draft, and one probably wasn’t drafted at all. I listed their current ranking in parenthesis next to their name and calculated what kind of numbers they’re currently on pace to finish with. Fantasy points are calculated using Antsports’ High Performance Scoring System.
Without further ado, here’s the list (in order of current fantasy ranking)…
(Note: For the “on pace” stats, “29/11” represents 29 TD and 11 INT)
1. Aaron Rodgers (QB2)
Age: 24
On pace for: 3952 pass yards, 29/11, 280 rush yards, 8 rush TD, 23.7 FPPG
Rodgers has stepped into a very tough situation and has performed beyond even the most optimistic of expectations. Sure, the Packers are only 3-3, but Rodgers isn’t directly responsible for any of the team’s losses. He is confident in the pocket and has a strong and accurate arm. Moreover, he has a nice set of wheels to create more time to throw or to take off and try to get a first down himself. Most of us thought he’d have to take over for Brett Favre after #4 hung ’em up (for good), and even that would have been a tough situation. But to deal with all that went on this summer and still perform so admirably once the season started – that’s truly impressive. Looking ahead, he has the Colts, Titans, Vikings and Bears, so the upcoming schedule is not easy. His schedule gets quite a bit tougher going forward, so it’s going to be interesting to see if he can carry his good start through the entire season.
2. Jay Cutler (QB4)
Age: 25
On pace for: 4514 pass yards, 32/13, 176 rush yards, 22.4 FPPG
Sure, Cutler is definitely on the cocky side – he recently said that he has a stronger arm than John Elway and Brett Favre – but he’s been backing up the talk with great play. He was a fantasy sleeper heading into the season, but he’s developed into a top tier QB in most fantasy leagues. Like most of the guys on this list, Cutler has a host of weapons to throw to, including Brandon Marshall, Tony Scheffler and rookie sensation Eddie Royal, and Mike Shanahan seems to be throwing more than ever. His schedule is mediocre going forward, but it doesn’t really matter. He’s an every-week starter at this point. The only big concern is a Week 15 matchup at Carolina.
3. Philip Rivers (QB5)
Age: 26
On pace for: 3971 pass yards, 37/11, 27 rush yards, 21.1 FPPG
Is LaDainian Tomlinson wearing down or is Rivers just this good? The Chargers are no longer relying on LT2 to move the chains. The 2008 Phillip Rivers is stronger and more sure of himself, and he’s willing to take a chance now and then. This has made him the centerpiece of one of the best passing attacks in the league. And in Antonio Gates, Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson, he has plenty of weapons to throw to. There’s no telling how Tomlinson is going to perform as he continues to recover from his turf toe, but one thing’s for sure – Rivers is an every-week fantasy starter from here on out. His schedule is pretty even going forward, with no really tantalizing matchups and only one bad matchup (IND in Week 12).
4. Kyle Orton (QB9)
Age: 25
On pace for: 3696 pass yards, 21/11, 107 rush yards, 16.8 FPPG
Orton has to be the biggest surprise on this list. Before the season, it was kind of a joke that the Bears had decided not to pursue a QB in free agency and that they were going to hand the keys to Orton again. Well, he has proved all of his doubters wrong. The Bears have opened up their offense and allowed Orton to make precise strikes down the field. This complements a strong running game that features Matt Forte (who can also catch the ball out of the backfield). What’s most impressive is that Orton is having this kind of a season without a legitimate #1 WR. Devin Hester is improving, Brandon Lloyd is hobbled and Rashied Davis has been a nice surprise. Looking forward, Orton’s schedule is pretty favorable, with nice matchups in Week 9 (DET) and Week 12 (STL). The only really scary matchup is Week 10 against the Titans. I am so proud that I got through this whole writeup without referring to him as “Neck Beard.” (Dammit, I just did it again!)
5. Jason Campbell (QB12)
Age: 26
On pace for: 3365 pass yards, 16/0, 168 rush yards, 15.6 FPPG
Campbell is working on his third offense in as many years, but he’s done an excellent job of grasping the complexities of the West Coast Offense. As a whole, the Redskins are one of the biggest surprises of the season, and it’s due in no small part to Campbell’s steady play at QB. He still has yet to throw an interception, and while he’s not going to have a ton of multiple TD games, he probably isn’t going to throw multiple picks either. Campbell benefits from a strong running game that features Clinton Portis, along with two pretty good receivers in Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El. Rounding out the weapons is the underrated Chris Cooley at TE. Looking forward, Campbell’s schedule is mixed, making him a good candidate for a QBBC situation. The bad news is that he has tough matchups in Week 14 (BAL) and Week 16 (PHI).
6. Matt Ryan (QB17)
Age: 23
On pace for: 3104 pass yards, 13/8, 136 rush yards, 13.3 FPPG
It’s not often that a rookie QB comes into the league and immediately plays well. The only two that spring to mind are Ben Roethlisberger (2621 yards, 17/11), who actually started his rookie season as the third QB on the depth chart, and Peyton Manning (3739 yards 26/28), who played pretty well but threw a ton of picks. That’s not bad company for Matt Ryan. The rookie has been unspectacular but very solid, leading the Falcons to wins over two pretty good teams – the Packers and the Bears – in the last two weeks. His schedule going forward is mixed, and it’s tough to depend on a rookie QB to play well every week, so he’d best fit as part of a QBBC. He has especially good matchups in Week 11 (DEN) and Week 13 (SD).
7. Ben Roethlisbrger (QB18)
Age: 26
On pace for: 3053 pass yards, 19/10, 90 rush yards, 14.2 FPPG
Of all the guys on this list, Roethlisberger has been the biggest disappointment. He’s been battling nagging injuries and the Steelers’ pass offense just hasn’t clicked on a consistent basis. The good news is that he had a bye week to get healthy, but the bad news is that his schedule doesn’t get any easier from here on out. Even worse, he has a brutal pair of games in Weeks 15 & 16, when he faces the Ravens and the Titans, respectively. I think he’ll finish in the top 12 by the end of the season, but it isn’t going to be pretty.
8. Trent Edwards (QB20)
Age: 24
On pace for: 3033 pass yards, 13/6, 48 rush yards, 12.7 FPPG
Edwards’ “on pace” stats are a little misleading because he was knocked out of the game at Arizona after only attempting three passes. If that game is completely removed, and we assumed he played a 15-game season, he would be on pace for 3487 pass yards, 15 TD and eight INT, resulting in a FPPG of 15.5. He has a nice rapport developing with Lee Evans, and Marshawn Lynch’s presence in the running game takes a lot of pressure off of the young QB. Edwards’ schedule is pretty favorable from this point forward with four good matchups (SD, NYJ, NYJ, DEN) against just one tough one (believe it or not, CLE). Moreover, two of his good matchups (NYJ, DEN) take place in Weeks 15 & 16, so Edwards is a guy you could lean on down the stretch.
