Tag: Matt Ryan (Page 35 of 39)

      Four ways to turn an NFL team around in one offseason

      November 3, 2008 /

      John HarbaughEach year the NFL provides examples of how teams can rise from the basement to the penthouse in just one offseason. 2008 is no different, as the Ravens, Falcons, Dolphins and Jets have all won as many games this year as they did all of last season.

      Here are four ways NFL teams can turn around their misfortune in just one offseason along examples from the 2008 season.

      1. Get a strong, football-minded front office person to construct the team.
      2008 Example: Miami Dolphins
      It’s safe to say at this point that Bill Parcells knows what he’s doing. He’s won everywhere he’s gone and it would have been naïve to think he wouldn’t turn around the Dolphins at some point. But the fact that he’s done it this quickly is remarkable and speaks volumes for how necessary it is for teams to have good front office people in place to run the day-to-day operations. Parcells is a football-minded guy and he can judge talent. He parted ways with long-time veterans Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor because he knew they weren’t going to play key roles in Miami’s future. Sure the Dolphins lost veteran talent, but they also were focused on moving forward. Parcells also went out and found a competent quarterback in Chad Pennington and drafted a franchise left tackle in Jake Long. Now the Fish can compete on a weekly basis, unlike last season when they were dead in the water (no pun intended) before games even started. Teams can’t win if their front office makes huge draft mistakes and can’t fit individual pieces into one big puzzle. Credit the Dolphins for spending big on a proven winner in Parcells. They might not make the playoffs this year, but they’re competing again and soon enough, the postseason will become a reality.

      2. Find a head coach who understands the fundamentals and basics.
      2008 Example: Baltimore Ravens
      When John Harbaugh was hired by the Ravens this offseason, it certainly didn’t turn a lot of heads or make big headlines. He wasn’t the hottest NFL coordinator or a big name college coach, but he did come from a franchise in Philadelphia that understands that winning football games comes down to understanding fundamentals and basics. Fans and pundits get lost in big free agent signings, “Wildcat” formations and gimmicky offenses, but football games are won when teams don’t turn the ball over, limit their mistakes and play physical. Baltimore isn’t a flashy team, but they’ve gotten back to the basics under Harbaugh and now are once again contenders. They do the little things right and are now competing on weekly basis. The job Harbaugh has done with rookie quarterback Joe Flacco has been amazing as well, because overall, the young man hasn’t looked overwhelmed very much this season and appears confident. That’s a testament to Harbaugh and his coaching staff for knowing how to handle a rookie quarterback and not falling into the pitfalls that most teams do with rookie signal callers.

      Matt Ryan3. Find a quarterback.
      2008 Example: Atlanta Falcons
      Not everything is about the quarterback. There are 53 players on a roster and all 53 of those players have a role in whether or not a team wins on Sunday. But you can’t consistently win with poor quarterback play. People like to criticize Rex Grossman the year the Bears went to the Super Bowl, but the fact of the matter is that he made plays throughout the season. The Falcons were criticized for passing on Glenn Dorsey in this year’s draft to take a gamble on Matt Ryan. Then they were criticized for naming Ryan the starter in preseason. But new GM Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Mike Smith saw something special in Ryan and knew that he had the maturity to suffer the ups and downs that rookie quarterbacks go through. And outside of some accuracy issues, Ryan has been nothing short of phenomenal. He has won the respect of his teammates and coaches, is already coming through in the clutch and perhaps most importantly, has put the Michael Vick era to rest. The Falcons did a lot of things right this offseason, but none was bigger than drafting a franchise quarterback they can hopefully lean on for years to come.

      4. Find the missing piece.
      2008 Example: New York Jets
      Things haven’t all been good for Brett Favre in New York, but there’s no question he has lit a spark under a franchise that desperately needed one. Nothing against Chad Pennington, but even at this point in his career, Favre can do more things on a football field than most quarterbacks. He takes risks that sometimes blow up in his face, but more times than not, those risks turn into big rewards and he’s made the Jets more unpredictable this year on offense. Teammates rally around Favre and want to play for him because when it’s crunch time and the game is on the line, they know he’s done it all before. The Jets haven’t had that in a quarterback for some time and while Pennington deserves more credit for his play than he got in New York, Favre has filled a huge void for that franchise. Sometimes all a team needs is one piece. If the Jets make the playoffs this year, Favre won’t be the only reason but he would certainly have played a huge role.

      I have to mention that all four of these teams have done well in the other categories, as well as the ones I specifically used them as examples in. The Dolphins and Falcons each have new head coaches that are turning out to be fantastic hires and Atlanta found a solid new GM in Dimitroff. The Ravens also look like they have found their quarterback of the future in Flacco and as previously mentioned, Parcells’ decision to sign Pennington looks like a smart one.

      Granted, these aren’t the only keys for a team turning things around. I made no mention of defense or offensive line, which are two gigantic things that play into the success of a NFL franchise. But nevertheless, these four moves are critical and they have meant so much to the teams that are playing well again this season.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Midseason NFL Power Rankings: Contenders & Pretenders Edition

      October 27, 2008 /

      The NFL is mixed bag of emotions every week in terms of how teams play from Sunday to Sunday, but it’s fair to at least take an early look at the contenders and pretenders.

      Below is a midseason power ranking of all 32 teams. Along with a ranking, each team gets slapped with a “contender,” “pretender,” or “What time does April’s draft start?” label as well.

      We’re heading into Week 9. I fully expect that these rankings will mean absolutely nothing by Week 10, but screw it – let’s have some fun.

      Midseason Power Rankings

      1. Tennessee Titans (6-0)
      It’s kind of hard not to rank the only undefeated team left in the NFL at the No. 1 spot, but the Titans also deserve it. Their offense isn’t flashy outside of Rookie of the Year Candidate RB Chris Johnson, but QB Kerry Collins has provided enough savvy veteran play to allow the defense to win ballgames. And speaking of the defense, it might be the most clutch unit in the NFL season.
      Midseason Status: Contender

      2. New York Giants (6-1)
      What the hell happened in Cleveland two weeks ago? Eli Manning looked like…well…he looked like Eli Manning pre-postseason 2007 and the defense clearly had no idea how to stop Derek Anderson and that high-powered Browns’ offense (read the sarcasm please). Still, the defending champs have four things going for them right now that make them the best team in the NFL: A quarterback, a running game, a defense that gets after the quarterback and they can win on the road.
      Midseason Status: Contender

      3. New England Patriots (5-2)
      People are just going to think I’m putting the Pats this high because they’re the Pats. But the reason why I’m putting the Pats this high is because Bill Belichick is on a mission to prove people wrong. And once he sets his sites on proving people wrong, nothing can stop him. Not even Tom Brady on the sideline.
      Midseason Status: Contender

      4. Carolina Panthers (6-2)
      Their win against Arizona in Week 8 was unimpressive to say the least, but good teams find ways to win even when they don’t play that well. I think this team has a ton of fraud in them, but it’s hard to argue with how well the defense is playing and how much of a different team they are with Jake Delhomme under center. If they can keep running the ball as well as they have, Carolina will win the NFC South.
      Midseason Status: Contender

      5. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2)
      The Steelers should have beaten the Giants last Sunday – plain and simple. They had control of the game but a botched snap and some failed protection for Ben Roethlisberger cost them a win. I still think the offensive line is going to be an issue all season, but every time you think Pittsburgh is going to take a step back and start stumbling, they prove that they can win tight games with key players on the sidelines.
      Midseason Status:       Contender

      6. Buffalo Bills (5-2)
      I know they lost to Miami last week, but a young team is going to have games like that. If Trent Edwards and the rest of the offense doesn’t don’t turn the ball over as much as they did in the fourth quarter, they might beat the Dolphins and ride a 6-1 start into the postseason. They need to start game planning on how to take the Pats down though, because their Week 17 showdown could determine if they make the postseason.
      Midseason Status: Contender

      7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-3)
      The Bucs are who they are at this point – a team that will rely on defense and play it close to the vest on offense. Jeff Garcia will never be the guy slinging frozen ropes into the secondary, but no one is asking him to. As long as he continues to take care of the football, he gives his running backs and defense a chance to win the game. This team won’t impress all season, but they’re fundamentally sound and should bounce back from blowing opportunities to win in Dallas on Sunday.
      Midseason Status: Contender

      8. Washington Redskins (6-2)
      I know they’re 6-2, but something is up in Washington. Clinton Portis has been fantastic, but they couldn’t beat the previously winless Rams at home after beating division rivals Dallas and Philadelphia on the road, and then struggled against Cleveland and Detroit the past two weeks. Jason Campbell has excelled in the West Coast Offense up to this point and Clinton Portis has been the best back in the league, but eventually the passing game will have to come up with more big plays and Portis needs to stay healthy. I’ve liked this team since preseason (I picked them to go to the playoffs), but again, something doesn’t seem right with this team.
      Midseason Status: Contender

      9. Chicago Bears (4-3)
      If the Bears could play four quarters on a consistent basis, they might be 7-0 right now or at worst, 6-1. They had the Panthers, Bucs and Falcons beat in the fourth quarter of each of their losses and found ways to lose. But QB Kyle Orton is playing fantastic and the defense (while banged up) is still one of the best. They need to get healthy though, because Orton and the offense can’t put up close to 50 points a week like they did against the Vikings in Week 7.
      Midseason Status: Contender

      10. Philadelphia Eagles (4-3)
      The Eagles’ record isn’t very impressive, but watch out – this could be the second half team of the season. Donovan McNabb is playing as well as he has in recent years and if he and Brian Westbrook can stay healthy, Philly could still make a run at the Giants and Redskins in the NFC East. The defense is also playing incredibly well and props to Asante Samuel for living up to that huge free agent contract so far.
      Midseason Status: Contender

      11. Green Bay Packers (4-3)
      Kudus to QB Aaron Rodgers because nobody expected him to play this well in the first half of the season. He’s getting a ton of help from wideouts Greg Jennings and Donald Driver in the passing game, but he needs the offensive line to start opening up holes for Ryan Grant, and for Grant to start breaking off some longer runs like he did last year. Getting Al Harris back on defense will certainly help and the Pack should battle the Bears in the NFC North the rest of the way.
      Midseason Status: Contender

      12. Denver Broncos (4-3)
      The Patriots proved on Monday Night Football two weeks ago that Denver is fraudulent. The defense isn’t good has been saved by the incredible play of QB Jay Cutler and the offense up until this point. If the defense can figure out a way to start tackling people, this could be a dangerous team. But for now, there should be major skepticism surrounding the Broncos, especially considering they are one Ed Hochuli correct call and one Martin Gramatica made field goal away from being 2-5.
      Midseason Status: Contender because of their record and the fact that the rest of the AFC West is a mess.

      13. Arizona Cardinals (4-3)
      I would have no issue ranking the Cards higher if they could only win on the road. They outplayed the Panthers for two and a half quarters last Sunday but couldn’t avoid key mistakes and big plays in the end. Still, this team is incredibly tough to beat at home and plays in a weak division. The NFC West is still theirs to win, but again, they need to figure out a winning recipe for their road woes.
      Midseason Status: Contender

      14. Dallas Cowboys (5-3)
      Who knows if Tony Romo will come back 100% and until he does, Brad Johnson will have plenty of opportunities to sink Wade Phillips and company. The defense played well in the win over the Bucs, but Tampa had their opportunities all game and probably should have handed the ‘Boys their third loss in a row. Considering the rising Eagles and the rest of the tough division, I’m going out on a limb now: Dallas misses the playoffs this year.
      Midseason Status: Pretender

      15. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4)
      I’m trying to stand behind this team, I really am. But if they can’t run the ball, they can’t win. And the defense hasn’t been as good as it was last year to make up for the offense losing its luster. This is another team like the Colts where I know they should probably be ranked lower, but it’s hard knowing that at any point they can turn things around.
      Midseason: Status: Pretender

      16. Indianapolis Colts (3-3)
      It’s tough ranking the Colts this low despite knowing full well that at any moment Peyton Manning could start being Peyton Manning again and Indy goes on a tear. Maybe they beat the undefeated Titans on Monday night and turn things around. Who knows, But the defense has major issues and without a completely healthy Manning, there’s not much optimism in Indy this year.
      Midseason Status: Pretender

      17. Atlanta Falcons (4-3)
      They’re better than you think – they’re just not there yet. Rookie Matt Ryan and Michael Turner are the real deal and Roddy White is quickly emerging as one of the best young wideouts in the league. The defense is also playing better than the stats indicate, although injuries and a possible suspension for Grady Jackson are starting to mount up. Given the division they play in, the Falcons probably fall short of the postseason this year. But after the disaster that was 2007, an 8-8 finish would be an incredible accomplishment for first-year head coach Mike Smith and his team.
      Midseason Status: Pretender

      18. New Orleans Saints (4-4)
      The Saints are probably better than the Falcons at this point, but what’s going to happen if they lose Deuce McAllister and half of their defensive line to suspensions? They’re already without Reggie Bush and no team can lose that many starters and still be competitive week in and week out. This will be an interesting team to follow over the short term because they’re certainly good enough to make the playoffs, but trouble is looming on the horizon.
      Midseason Status: Pretender

      19. Baltimore Ravens (4-3)
      It’s hard what to make out of the Ravens this year. They were absolutely trounced by the Colts three weeks ago, but have since rebounded to beat the Dolphins and Raiders in convincing fashion. I guess that’s a mark of a young team playing with a rookie quarterback. Either way, the defense is still elite and there’s no reason the Ravens can’t challenge in the AFC North, but similarly to the Atlanta, Baltimore should take an 8-8 finish.
      Midseason Status: Pretender

      20. San Diego Chargers (3-5)
      This is no better than an 8-8 team this year, which is tough to swallow considering they should have been competing for a Super Bowl. LanDainian Tomlinson and the defense are struggling and Philip Rivers (as good as he’s been) can’t do it on his own. They just haven’t been consistent all season.
      Midseason Status: Pretender

      21. New York Jets (4-3)
      There’s no doubt that Brett Favre has provided this team with a spark and they’re finally exciting to watch. But he’s also killing them with his reckless play and they could have easily lost their second consecutive game to a weak Chiefs team last Sunday in the Chiefs. Favre will keep them afloat, but probably not for much longer.
      Midseason Status: Pretender

      22. Cleveland Browns (3-4)
      The Browns are certainly on the comeback trail after winning three of their last four games and hung with the Redskins in a tough environment two weeks ago. They could easily rank higher if Derek Anderson can play as well as he did against Cleveland and Jacksonville the rest of the year. Defensively, this is a much-improved team with the offseason additions they made (namely Shaun Rodgers) and the Steelers still haven’t pulled away in the AFC North. The Brownies could still turn things around.
      Midseason Status: Pretender

      23. Miami Dolphins (3-4)
      It’s hard to argue with the job Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano have done in Miami this year and the Dolphins could really rank anywhere from 19 to this spot. I rank them a little lower because I still think some of the teams listed ahead of them have more upside this year, although their win over the Bills last Sunday was impressive. As with the Falcons and Ravens, the Fish are moving in the right direction.
      Midseason Status: Pretender

      24. Houston Texans (3-4)
      This team has so much young talent, but they can’t put it together on a week-to-week basis. Matt Schaub has had a roller coaster ride so far, too, but Houston is getting nice contributions from rookie Steve Slaton and of course, big-time playmaker Andre Johnson. Some thought that this team would be one of the big surprises in the NFL, but they might have to wait another year for the Texans to make a postseason run.
      Midseason Status: Pretender

      25. Minnesota Vikings (3-4)
      Everyone’s chic pick in the NFL has stumbled this year and things could go from bad to ugly in the matter of a week or so. Both Pat Williams and Kevin Williams could be suspended soon and without them, the Vikings’ vaunted run defense will look awfully suspect. This team could really collapse in the second half.
      Midseason Status: Pretender

      26. St. Louis Rams (2-5)
      Jim Haslett has this team playing hard again and had the Rams played with Steven Jackson Sunday in Foxboro, but they might have come away with a huge upset. The NFC West is brutal this year, but St. Louis will probably struggle to win five or six games, although that would certainly be an improvement over where Scott Linehan had this team going.
      Midseason Status: When does April’s draft start?

      27. Seattle Seahawks (2-5)
      The fall of Mike Holmgren’s team has been painful. Holmgren shouldn’t go out this way, but injuries and poor defensive play has ransacked one of the best teams in the NFC for under a decade. It’ll be weird not seeing the Hawks in the postseason this year.
      Midseason Status: When does April’s draft start?

      28. Oakland Raiders (2-5)
      The Raiders have fight under interim head coach Tom Cable, but they also had fight under Lane Kiffin before Al Davis axed him a couple weeks ago. The defense could be very good with a few more pieces and the offense is loaded with young talent, but it’ll probably be another year of the Raiders drafting in the top 5 again.
      Midseason Status: When does April’s draft start?

      29. San Francisco 49ers (2-5)
      Mike Singletary should be commended for trying to light a fire under the Niners’ asses, but it’s probably too little too late. They need a real quarterback and an offensive line to open up holes for RB Frank Gore. (Mike Martz just read that and said, “Offensive line? What the hell is that?”)
      Midseason Status: When does April’s draft start?

      30. Kansas City Chiefs (1-6)
      This once proud franchise is a mess and Larry Johnson’s situation is despicable. It’s nice to see the team take action and keep him on the sidelines, but somebody better get through to him quick because there’s not a lot of hope for this franchise. They need some of the key players to start being leaders and obviously a crap load more talent.
      Midseason Status: When does April’s draft start?

      31. Cincinnati Bengals (0-8)
      I still think the Bengals are the best winless team in the league…
      Midseason Status: When does April’s draft start?

      32. Detroit Lions (0-7)
      …wait, no – the Lions are the best winless team in the league. Ah forget – who gives sh*t?
      Midseason Status: When does April’s draft start?

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Refs blow crucial call in Falcons-Eagles game

      October 26, 2008 /

      Falcons-EaglesIt wasn’t anywhere near as crucial as Ed Hochuli’s gaff in the Broncos-Chargers game earlier this season, but the refs blew another call Sunday, this one costing the Falcons a chance to possibly drive for a late score and beat the Eagles.

      The 27-14 final suggests that Philadelphia soundly handled Atlanta, but it doesn’t provide the full story. Rookie QB Matt Ryan connected with Roddy White for his second touchdown pass of the game to cut the Eagles’ lead to 20-14 with just under four minutes remaining in the game.

      After forcing Philly to go three and out on their next possession, the Falcons were set to get the ball back with just over two minutes left and no timeouts. But after returner Adam Jennings let a punt bounce at his feet, the refs called a muff and awarded the Eagles the ball at that spot. Replays clearly showed that the ball never touched Jennings but because the Falcons had used all of their timeouts, they couldn’t review it. Brian Westbrook (who had a huge day coming back from injury) then broke off a 39-yard touchdown run to put the game away.

      Granted, Atlanta might not have scored anyway, but they never got the opportunity either. And it seems that more than ever, refs are way too flag-happy and it has cost teams chances to win ballgames. Earlier in this game, Trent Cole was flagged for a 15-yard personal foul penalty for a hit on Ryan that couldn’t have been a worse call. Cole hit him square and it wasn’t head-to-head or malicious at all.

      I hate to talk about blown calls because they happen to every team every week. But they’ve seemed especially bad this year and it looks like they’ll continue throughout the season.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      NFL Week 8 Primer

      October 26, 2008 /

      Eli ManningSunday’s Best: Giants (5-1) at Steelers (5-1), 4:15 PM ET
      Does a matchup get more physical than this? The biggest news surrounding this game on the injury front is that Willie Parker is expected to return to the Steelers’ backfield this week after missing last Sunday’s win over the Bengals after aggravating his knee injury. He faces a tough front seven of the Giants, who bounced back last Sunday against San Francisco after being embarrassed on Monday night football two weeks ago in Cleveland. New York’s defense complied six sacks, forced four fumbles, intercepted two passes and held the 49ers to 2 of 10 on third downs. One thing to note is that the Steelers were manhandled by an Eagles team early in the season that runs a similar defensive scheme as the Giants do. Expect the G-Men to game plan against the run while blitzing Ben Roethlisberger early and often. Pittsburgh’s banged up offensive line is ranked 28th in sacks allowed, which doesn’t paint a pretty picture for Big Ben this weekend. Still, expect a Steeler defense pumped for the opportunity to stifle Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs and the rest of New York’s explosive offense.

      Upset Watch: Falcons (4-2) at Eagles (3-3), 1:00 PM ET
      Bragging alert: I’ve called the last four upset-watches and five of the first seven this season. And if Martin Gramatica wasn’t awful, I would have nailed the Saints over the Broncos in Week 3 as well. I’m going out on a major limb this week in calling a Falcons upset over the Eagles. Not only is Philly a 9-point favorite, but the Eagles are also 9-0 under Andy Reid coming off the bye. But I’ve bought hard into the Matt Ryan hype and happen to believe Atlanta is better than what people are making them out to be. They trust Ryan to make throws in the passing game, can run the ball with Michael Turner and have beaten two quality teams in the Packers and Bears in their last two games. For them to walk away with a win on Sunday, however, the defense will need to step up. Donovan McNabb is shredding opposing defenses and will likely have Brian Westbrook, Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis back from injuries. But the Falcons have moved the ball well this year, are protecting Ryan (which will be huge this week against Jim Johnson’s blitz-happy defense) and are coming off a bye themselves. They have a lot of momentum after the win over the Bears and have been a more physical team under first-year head coach Mike Smith. A win might be out of reach, but at the very least, I’m calling for a Falcons cover.

      LaDainian TomlinsonIntriguing Matchup: Chargers at Saints, 1:00 PM ET
      Both of these teams were highly regarded as playoff contenders in preseason – if not Super Bowl contenders. But both of struggled with inconsistency so far and the Saints will be without Reggie Bush for the next 3 to 4 weeks. LaDainian Tomlinson has not looked like the same MVP back he’s been in recent years, but QB Philip Rivers has more than picked up the slack. Which one of these teams can get back on track this week playing overseas in London? Chances are, the winner might be able to save its season while the loser could start to fall off the playoff radar. (Especially New Orleans, who now plays in a surprisingly tough NFC South.)

      Other Notable Games:
      Cardinals (4-2) at Panthers (5-2)
      Had it not been for the Giants-Steelers game, this matchup might have been the best the NFL had to offer this week. Each team is starting to make some noise, but both have also looked incredibly bad at times this year (see the Cardinals effort against the Jets and the Panthers against the Buccaneers).

      Buccaneers (5-2) at Cowboys (4-3), 1:00 PM ET
      No Tony Romo again for Dallas – will Monte Kiffin’s defense eat Brad Johnson alive?

      Colts (3-3) at Titans (6-0), 8:30 PM ET Monday
      The Monday night matchup is a great one. Can Peyton Manning turn around the Colts’ misfortunes this year against the surprising undefeated Titans?

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Are the young guns taking over fantasy football?

      October 16, 2008 /

      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.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

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