The list of scrambling NFL quarterbacks is long - Tarkenton, Cunningham and Young to mention but a few. The NFL has always had at least some quarterbacks that would not only tuck it and run, but do so rather successfully to the dismay of tired linebackers. But has the increase in running quarterbacks in the college ranks really fed into changing the NFL, or have they either been converted into receivers or learned to throw it away when the line breaks? Peyton Manning has been very successful in the NFL and he rarely runs. Kurt Warner - the fantasy darling one not the one last season - almost never ran either. Is it better to have a true pocket passer or can Kordell Stewart ever tease us again?

First off, let's take a look at the past four seasons for the top 18 quarterbacks each season in points per game using the most popular scoring system for quarterbacks - 1 point per 25 yards passed/10 yards rushed and three points per passing touchdown and six points for a rushing touchdown. There are many variations on quarterback scoring, but increasing passing scores and introducing negative points for interceptions merely moves the scoring curve up or down. It does very little to changing the rankings of the players relative to one another. The past four seasons stats for the best 18 fantasy quarterbacks:

What we see in the second and third tier of four players is not significant nor really consistent. The "Next 4" and the "Final 4" carry similar numbers from season to season and these round out the twelve best quarterbacks in fantasy leagues the past four years.

Where the difference comes is at the top four quarterbacks. And this is critical since they represent the difference makers, the ones that score those extra points over the average players that can spell victory for a fantasy team.

While points per game has not changed much, the manner in how they were obtained is on a definite trend upwards for rushing. The number of carries, yards and yards per carry have all been increasing for quarterback rushing. Since we are dealing with the best four quarterbacks out of thirty two starters, we are talking more about individual players than we are position wide effects. Let's look at those individuals again, only with a bit different detail.

I've highlighted specific quarterbacks in either red (rarely rush) or green (big rushers) to illustrate my conclusion. In the past four years, Peyton Manning has been an obvious stud as was Kurt Warner (at least until last season). They are prototypical pocket passers who are more likely to throw the ball away than to take off running. They are joined by Brett Favre who no longer reaches the top four, but who always turns in at least decent seasons. Last year Favre was 15th in points per game as an aberration, but that was nothing compared to where Warner swan dived.

The point is that these three passers show up each season and only Warner has missed any games in the past four years (five in 2000 and some would say all of them last year). Only Warner has managed to be better than third highest in points per game and the jury is still out on his recovery from the thumb injury.

The "green" rushers of Steve McNair, Rich Gannon, Donovan McNabb, Daunte Culpepper, Jeff Garcia, and Aaron Brooks have increased their share of the top four each season until last year they owned the best four along with new comer Michael Vick. Rich Gannon may be slowing down - his percentage of run points to overall fantasy points supports that. Michael Vick appears ready to take the torch. What is more interesting is that those players who made it big one season without using the run are not returning to the same level the next year. Nor even any of the past four years outside their one big year. The "runners" are not taking over the entire league, only the top fantasy spots. The handful of spots that spell the difference between your fantasy playoffs and mediocrity.

Another factor to consider is that pocket passing quarterbacks that reach the top four or even top eight are more likely to have stretches of good games. They will have - like Brady and Bledsoe - big first halves of the season or like Kitna or Green bigger second halves. But they are less likely to offer a full season of consistently high output. Running quarterbacks offer a more consistent output game to game, netting you points either by the pass or the run or both.

The NFL goes through phases where certain components of the game are more commonly used and eventually figured out by the defense. This, however, is less likely to affect the runners we've mentions. Quarterbacks who do not run are relying on their linemen to block and their receivers to get open and catch the ball. Key injuries on the line or to the receivers can wipe out the rhythm and chemistry that worked well. A great passer can be neutralized with just one or two great players in a secondary. Less so to a running quarterback who can beat an opponent more than one way. Even if the line is not always great and the receivers would struggle to start on any other team and even the runningbacks are not that good, the running quarterback can still gain fantasy points.

Just ask Donovan McNabb.

Bootleg on two... you ready?