FANTASY FOOTBALL ARTICLES

Other Positions:  Quarterbacks  |  Running Backs  |  Receivers

2011 was the year of the quarterback with all-time records set in several categories. Your fantasy quarterback can be one of the biggest scorers on your team and a position that is worth understanding and evaluating. To follow is a team-by-team breakdown of their situation at quarterback and if it is worth tracking for changes in the preseason.

Position Totals by Year

No doubt that the NFL is a passing league. The passing yards and touchdowns have been on an increase for many years now and that shows up mostly in the yards per completion that has never been higher. Overall, the passing attempts and completions have been fairly close for the last three years but the average gain goes up along with the scores.

Top Ten Quarterback Totals

In fantasy terms, the top tens are always much more relevant and of interest and here we see those overall differences become more profound. The addition of Cam Newton helped the rushing touchdowns to an all-time high but the yardage has been higher overall in the past. Rushing stats are always the product of just a few players anyway. The amount of passes thrown by the top ten - never higher. You would expect the big stats in a season with three 5000 yard passers and the touchdowns followed the same path with 394 from the top ten. Last year witnessed the best quarterbacks just being so much more productive with nearly 5000 more yards than in 2010. Hard to believe that only six years ago the quarterbacks had just 222 passing scores from the top ten.

Arizona Cardinals

(Camp Watch) The Cardinals passed almost the exact same amount the last two seasons but saw an increase of around 700 more passing yards and a doubling of the touchdowns thrown. Kevin Kolb became the starter but his stats were mostly pedestrian and the team would not have seen the increase in passing stats were it not for the six games that John Skelton started while Kolb was injured. This is another one of those situations where the high-priced free agent came in and was not nearly as effective as the second-stringer already on the roster. Kolb is the most likely to start the season once again but the competition is open in camp between he and Skelton. The Cardinals added WR Michael Floyd with their 1.13 pick so the talent level hopefully rises back to the Boldin era. This is a camp watch worth noting since at worst the winner will be a solid fantasy backup and could end up being a lower level starter in many leagues.

Atlanta Falcons

All arrows are pointing up for Matt Ryan who has improved each season in yardage and touchdowns. The addition of Julio Jones did not result in any more passes thrown last year, but Ryan went from 10.3 yards per completion to 12.0 yards for 2011. His progression has never seen a monumental leap to the next year but instead a steady progression that should see him break into the elite group of quarterbacks this year. He has both Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez along with Julio Jones who should be even better in his second season. Throw in possibly the lightest passing schedule in the league and the only question is just how much better Ryan becomes this year? He is already top ten in almost all areas and the situation is ripe for him to challenge the top five.

Baltimore Ravens

While there is something to be said for consistency, in this case it is mostly abject mediocrity for a team that has a variance of only 15 yards or less for passing yards each year. That is amazing but it is also always right below the middle of the pack. Joe Flacco is considered by many to be a very good quarterback held back by a "run-first" system. He does do well on passing percentages and interceptions but in fantasy terms he always makes a nice backup quarterback and nothing more. With the same offense in place and only Jacoby Jones as a new face there is no real reason to expect anything more. It was disappointing to see the exact same thing in 2011 while other top quarterbacks were all enjoying career if not record-setting seasons.

Buffalo Bills

(Improving) Two years of Chan Gailey has had a positive effect on the offense and made Ryan Fitzpatrick go from being a backup whose only interesting characteristic was that he played at Harvard to now flirting with fantasy starter status. The overall passing numbers have improved and the Bills ranked 10th in passes, completions and touchdowns last year. Fitzpatrick is safe as the starter and has done a surprisingly good job for the last two years. But he still needs to take one more step up to make the Bills offense be special and to turn into a viable fantasy starter. He has already played with Steve Johnson, David Nelson and Donald Jones who must all take a step up as well. No new blood here but a nice progression upwards.

Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton was the biggest surprise last season when he took a team ranked #32 in completions, pass yards and passing touchdowns and then became a fantasy darling perhaps of all time. The reality is that he started out with big yardage games in three of his first four but then down the stretch was below average in passing. As a passer, he really was just average at best though that was a major upgrade from ranking #32 the previous season. His value was mainly as a runner (126-706-14) where he shattered rookie records. He's a safe starter this year obviously but the Panthers did nothing to upgrade the receivers and outside of Steve Smith the wideouts and tight ends remained average at best.

Chicago Bears

(Improving) Bringing in Mike Martz actually did little to help the Bears offense which remains below average in all passing categories. That's been pretty much the case for their storied history thanks in part to wintry weather conditions blowing in off the lake. Now Mike Tice is promoted up from offensive line coach and that should help Jay Cutler at least in pass protection since Tice knows blocking. He's putting in shorter drops and using more personnel to help block. That should help Cutler who has a nice schedule at the end of the year and is reunited with Brandon Marshall. At the least, the stats are likely to be no worse and there's a definite shot at improvement this year.

Cincinnati Bengals

Andy Dalton had a solid rookie season playing in the worst division for quarterbacks. With a 21:14 ratio of TDs to interceptions and 3507 yards passing, his second season has to be much anticipated. He lost Jerome Simpson but the Bengals drafted Sanu Mohamed with their 3.20 pick. Dalton just needs a solid camp to springboard him into the season and A.J. Green already looks like one of the elite. This could be an improving situation but a brutal schedule will likely slow down his progress if not cap what he can do with the offense.

Cleveland Browns

This has long been one of the worst passing teams in the NFL and even with a ton more passes in 2011, no progress was made. The Browns used their second pick (1.22) to nab Brandon Weeden from Oklahoma State and that could pay dividends. But they did nothing to acquire better receivers until using the supplemental draft to burn their 2013 second round pick to take Josh Gordon who only had one year of college playing time and plenty of baggage including not playing at all last season. This could be an improving situation but a rookie quarterback and receiver won't likely ignite much early in the year if at all this season.

Dallas Cowboys

There is nothing to prove this year other than if Tony Romo can play a full season for the first time in an even-numbered year and of course if the Cowboys can reach the playoffs. This has remained a top ten passing attack with or without Romo though Jon Kitna is finally in the pasture and Kyle Orton will back him up. The Cowboys lost Laurent Robinson and Dez Bryant continues to have off the field issues. Nothing for camp to prove though it would be nice to see Orton light it up in a preseason game since the backup always plays in place of Romo every other year.

Denver Broncos

(Camp Watch) Talk about changing up the dynamics. The Broncos could not part fast enough with Tim Tebow and appeased his fans by bringing in Peyton Manning fresh off his year's vacation of neck rubs. This is a very important training camp both to see what Manning will be post-injury and how he meshes with his receivers since last year was no measuring stick. Tebow had some success with Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker but never at the same time and often with neither. If Manning looks sharp again in camp, his draft stock rises along with Thomas and Decker as well.

Detroit Lions

Apparently waiting around for Matthew Stafford to finally play a full season was well worth it. The Lions have never been better at quarterback and return all the same receivers plus the rookie Ryan Broyles. Stafford passed for 5038 yards to enter the NFL record books. All training camp and preseason games mean little other than letting Stafford get back in the groove without getting injured.

Green Bay Packers

Like Stafford, Aaron Rodgers needs nothing from this summer other than to stay healthy and remain sharp. He could have entered the record books as well were he not resting in the final game and he still had 45 touchdown passes. Nothing to learn here and even all his receivers are still the same.

Houston Texans

Matt Schaub has healed from his Lis Franc foot injury and was cleared to participate in training camp. The numbers all took a hit last year and not merely because Schaub was gone along with Andre Johnson. The Texans had the most dominating rushing attack in the entire NFL and did not need to throw nearly as much anyway. This was a top five passing attack in terms of pass yardage for a few years but no more and it cannot be relied on to return even with Schaub and Johnson back. The Texans lost Jacoby Jones but he never much mattered anyway. Schaub is in a contract year and the Texans did not want to give him an early extension until they can see a full season of healthy playing in 2012.

Indianapolis Colts

(Camp Watch) The Colts are tilling the soil and planting a new crop for the first time in over a decade. This camp and the preseason games to follow are a must watch with Andrew Luck trying to reward the Colts for making him the #1 pick in the NFL draft this year. Luck has to show up and prove that Reggie Wayne's stock won't drop too much and that Coby Fleener can continue to have the same chemistry with his ex-Stanford quarterback in Luck. Likely there will be very limited fantasy value from the Colts this year but it all revolves around what Luck can accomplish this summer.

Jacksonville Jaguars

(Improving) On the plus side, there will be improvement this year. There has to be. This was one of the very worst passing offenses in literally every possible category. In a season that featured three passers exceeding 5000 yards, the Jaguars only managed 2510 yards. But Blaine Gabbert still has the confidence of the coaches which is pretty amazing given that he topped 200 passing yards in only three of 16 games. But the Jaguars did bring in Laurent Robinson as a prized free agent and drafted Justin Blackmon as the first wideout taken. Throw in Lee Evans for giggles and this is legitimately an all new set of receivers. Another situation where improvement is all but guaranteed and yet still it will likely lack any fantasy significance.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs imploded last year with Jamaal Charles being injured in week two and it was all downhill from there. That included a spotty year from Matt Cassel who missed the final seven games with a broken hand. But the new coaching staff elected to bring Cassel back and allow Kyle Orton to leave. New OC Brian Daboll spent the last three seasons running the offense for the Browns and Dolphins which hardly spawns great confidence. Brady Quinn was brought in but this remains Cassel's team. With Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston and Jonathan Baldwin this offense should improve but installing a new offense with players returning from injury make it harder to rely on. Camp should help prove if this is going to be anything more than a rebuilding year.

Miami Dolphins

(Camp Watch) This was a bad passing offense last year with poor results from Chad Henne and Matt Moore. An entirely new coaching staff includes OC Mike Sherman installing a West Coast offense and they drafted Ryan Tannehill who worked with Sherman at Texas A&M. The Fins also brought in David Garrard who is looking for a second chance. Tannehill will be the eventual starter but when that happens depends much on training camp. What is scary here is that they allowed Brandon Marshall to leave and did not replace him. Sherman was confident that his offense needs no true #1 receiver. Ironically, the Bears gladly accepted Marshall having spent the last two seasons proving that not having a #1 wideout pretty much ensures mediocrity for each and overall. This could be a changing quarterback situation as the season progresses and with arguably the weakest set of receivers in the league. No reason to follow the training camp short of playing in a 32 team fantasy league.

Minnesota Vikings

(Camp Watch) The Brett Favre era - brief as it was - has not been remotely copied in the last two seasons but the Vikings were able to end yet another past fantasy quarterback's career with Donovan McNabb released. Christian Ponder was marginally successful in his seven full games played and takes over this year. Early word from coaches is that he is "light years" ahead of last season. With Adrian Peterson coming off his knee injury, the Vikes will need throw more this year and especially earlier in the season as well. The Vikes added Jerome Simpson who has drawn favorable offseason reviews. WIth a new quarterback and Percy Harvin there, this is at least a casual camp watch to see how well Ponder will mesh with his receivers.

New England Patriots

Tom Brady finished with 5239 passing yards in 2011 to yet again get his name in the record books. He passed for 39 touchdowns for his second best mark and even rushed in three scores. Nothing to prove in camp this year other than getting used to Brandon Lloyd.

New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees shattered the all-time passing record with 5476 yards in one season and he's the lowest risk quarterback so far since he always ends up top five at worst. This is the premiere passing offense in the NFL but could be impacted by the loss of coaches and defensive players because of "Bountygate". But nothing is important in training camp other than remaining healthy now that he has received his monster payday. The loss of Robert Meachem could have a very minor impact but Brees should make that a nonevent.

New York Giants

Eli Manning also comes off a career year and returns the same receivers from last season. Hakeem Nicks might miss training camp because of his foot but Victor Cruz has already broken out and it will give Manning time with the rookie Rueben Randle and Domenik Hixon. Not much to follow here since Nicks is expected to be ready at the start of the season.

New York Jets

Sadly there is really not much to see here and yet it may end up as the most followed training camp for quarterbacks. Thanks to Tim Tebow being sent packing by Denver who was looking for a way - any way really - to part ways with the media phenomena. This is always a below average passing attack and there is no reason to change expectations even if Tebow plays a role. The Jets will likely have even weaker receivers this season so there is no reason to watch camp or preseason games. Except TIM TEBOW is there.

Oakland Raiders

(Improving) The passing stats were noticeably higher last year thanks in no small part to Carson Palmer (and by his absence, Jason Campbell). The Raiders may be in sneaky good shape since Palmer started nine games and gained 300+ yards in four of them including the 417 yard season ender. With an offseason under his belt, training camp should be even more meaningful as the Raiders install a new offense by Greg Knapp. He was there in 2007-2008 as one of the many coaches killed by Jamarcus Russell. The new offense will focus shorter passes off of play action now that Big Al is wearing wings on his pantsuit. It is worth watching to see if Palmer can be considered as a low end starter or just a fantasy back-up. This should be the best season for Raider passing in many years.

Philadelphia Eagles

Vick set a personal best in Philly bey only missing three games in 2011 instead of the four games he was out in 2010 and 2009. As always happens, his rushing touchdowns went down from nine to only one while his passing remained roughly the same. This offense could produce a nice year for him if he could ever remain healthy all season long. No changes in coaches or receivers so camp is just to sharpen skills and mostly to remain healthy.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger does well enough considering he is in the toughest division in the NFL for passers. New OC Todd Haley will install a new offense that even Big Ben has admitted is complicated. But the personnel remains the same in Pittsburgh and the well-established offense can learn a few new tricks without stumbling. With Rashard Mendenhall on the mend, chances are the Steelers will not throw any less if not more this year. But nothing to prove in camp beyond learning the new offense.

San Diego Chargers

Rivers comes off an average sort of season with the exception of throwing 20 interceptions which was about double his norm. The biggest part of training camp is the absence of Vincent Jackson. The Chargers brought in Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal to add to Malcolm Floyd and Vincent Brown. Antonio Gates says he is healthy again but he's 32 and broke down the last two seasons. This camp is worth noting to see how well Rivers is connecting with Meachem and Royal. There is no star wideout there currently and that may still be true at the end of the season. But Rivers is going to be throwing and it is a situation to follow.

San Francisco 49ers

(Improving) The 49ers have never been better than average since the days of Terrell Owens. And they have elected to keep Alex Smith at the helm despite the low numbers from 2011 when most other quarterbacks were on fire. A great defense has reduced the need to throw and made Smith more of a game manager but 2012 could be different. Frank Gore was wearing down last year and may not be as big of a factor. Plus the 49ers added Randy Moss and Mario Manningham to add to Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis. That certainly sounds like far more receivers than passes to go around but there is a chance that Moss could surprise. Worth following this summer though the risk of mediocrity here may have never been greater because there are too many potential weapons to use in what has long been a marginal passing offense.

Seattle Seahawks

(Camp Watch) There is no certainty that any fantasy value is coming to come from the passing attack in Seattle - it really very little last year. But Matt Flynn was brought in and paid $19 million with $7 million in incentives. The Seahawks also drafted Russell Wilson out of Wisconsin with their 3.12 pick and he's impressed in his limited work before training camp. This is going to be a three-way quarterback competition but the money spent says this is Flynn's to win. Jackson has never been more than a backup miscast as a starter and Wilson is too green. But Flynn has not, according to HC Pete Carroll, "grabbed" the job yet. Likely a limited value in fantasy terms regardless but it is an unsettled situation that may have some promise.

St. Louis Rams

The 2010 Offensive Rookie of the Year passed for 3512 yards and 18 touchdowns and then fell flat last season with a new offensive scheme that never took shape and a shocking nine passing touchdowns to rank worst in the NFL. But Jeff Fisher and OC Brian Schottenheimer is considering this a do-over year and disregarding the bedlam of 2011. Brandon Lloyd came in last season but has since gone to New England. This is still an offense without any serviceable #1 receiver but training camp should disclose which player is likely to lead the others. The rookies Brian Quick (2.01) and Chris Givens (4.01) will be given chances to make a difference and Steve Smith (the lesser) was brought in to add to Danny Amendola. Worth watching to see what happens with the receivers but no changes for Bradford. It would be nice to see him step it back up in camp but he has to learn yet another offense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

(Improving) The coaching upheaval should prove to be a good thing for Josh Freeman who took a dive last year when he fell from 25 touchdowns to only 16 and yet threw 22 interceptions after only six in 2010. But OC Greg Schiano has spent the last two seasons tutoring Eli Manning with spectacular results and the Buccaneers picked up Vincent Jackson. They dumped Kellen Winslow but added the best running back in the draft with Trent Richardson. This should be a very different offense with potential to be very good once it all comes together. This is a definite watch for Freeman who seemed on the verge of being a fantasy starter in 2010 and then fell from grace last year.

Tennessee Titans

(Camp Watch) Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker will compete for the starting job that eventually Locker has to end up with. What will happen is that either Hasselbeck earns the right to start the season and then hand over the job to Locker before December or Locker just wins it and starts his career. OC Chris Palmer wants to completely integrate the offense that he started last year and that bodes well for the starting quarterback. Kenny Britt may have a very slow start this year as he recovers from a couple of knee surgeries in the offseason but Kendall Wright was their 1.20 pick last April and he has already been impressive. Camp watch to see if Locker wins the starting job or if he has to wait a while longer.

Washington Redskins

The Redskins wasted no time in making Robert Griffin III the second overall pick in the NFL draft and he brings much optimism and potential to the offense. He's the rookie quarterback most like Cam Newton who shattered the myth that rookies do not matter in fantasy. The Redskins brought in Pierre Garcon and they actually expect him to become a #1 wide receiver but Griffin starts out with a less than stellar cast outside of TE Fred Davis. Aging Santana Moss remains and Leonard Hankerson will figure in. Griffin should run the ball as well which will help. Griffin's preseason games will be the best clue as to what to expect.

Other Positions:  Quarterbacks  |  Running Backs  |  Receivers

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