We’re entering just the fifth week of the fantasy football season, and I am already convinced that Peyton Manning has fully evolved into a semi-god. The Broncos’ QB is having one of the most impressive statistical stretches of any quarterback in recent memory, as he heads into his week five matchup against Dallas with 1,470 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and a 75 % completion percentage.
The man is on a mission. Sure, it helps that he has the league’s premier pass-catching trio in wideouts Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, and Eric Decker. But the fact of the matter is that ownership of this man in one’s fantasy league could make even those fantasy owners who possess a RB 1-2 combo that consists of the likes of, say, Jacquizz Rodgers and Ryan Matthews a legitimate championship contender.
So, without further adieu, I present to you this week’s #1 fantasy QB:
1. Peyton freaking Manning.
And now, for the rest of the pack:
2. Drew Brees
3. Philip Rivers
Maybe all Rivers needed was to get out of Norv Turner’s shadow. Under new Chargers head coach Mike McCoy, Rivers has seemingly made the transition from fantasy mediocrity to elite status. While many are under the impression that Rivers will eventually fall off of his current torrid pace, during which he has completed an outrageous 73.9 % of his passes, I wouldn’t be so sure. Especially as Rivers is set to face an unspectacular Oakland defense on Sunday.
4. Michael Vick
5. Aaron Rodgers
6. Cam Newton
7. Matthew Stafford
8. Tony Romo
With two true gun-slingers at the helm of their respective teams, I expect Dallas and Denver to produce a shootout on Sunday. Denver will continue its offensive dominance against Dallas’ less-than-stellar defense, forcing Romo and the ‘Boys to chuck the ball rapidly in pursuit of a comeback. As long as he continues to look like a shell of his normally turnover-prone self, Romo is a solid QB 1 this week.
9. Matt Ryan
10. Tom Brady
11. Terrelle Pryor
12. Sam Bradford
13. Alex Smith
14. Andrew Luck
15. Eli Manning
Just four weeks in, Colin Kaepernick may have already earned the “overdrafted” label.(Photo credit: Gene Puskar/AP)
16. Colin Kaepernick
The ‘Niners finally turned things around against the Rams last week, picking up a 35-11 win. Although he tossed two TD’s, Kaepernick was still no fantasy stud, as he also lost a fumble and gained a passing/rushing total of just 178 yards. To say that the 3rd-year QB has been a disappointment thus far would be an obvious understatement. Through four games, he has compiled a lowly 5:7 touchdown-to-turnover ratio. Don’t expect a complete reversal of fortunes this week against a stout Texans’ pass defense.
17. Joe Flacco
18. Russell Wilson
19. Geno Smith
20. Ryan Tannehill
21. Matt Schaub
22. Jay Cutler
23. Andy Dalton
Dalton had a game to forget against the Browns last Sunday, completing just 54.8 of his passes for 206 yards an no TD’s. He also turned the ball over twice, both of which served as costly reminders that Dalton still hasn’t reached the level that many Bengals fans had hoped he’d be at by now. A.J. Green, Jermaine Gresham, and Giovani Bernard should provide The Red Rifle with enough weapons to succeed, but I don’t expect enough development from Dalton in the coming weeks to garner any more than a bench spot on your team’s roster.
24. Carson Palmer
25. Ryan Fitzpatrick
- Blaine Gabbert
Gabbert and the Jags have been so awful that I have decided he doesn’t even deserve a ranking – even if it would have been the very last spot.
Thursday night game: EJ Manuel, Brian Hoyer, Brandon Weeden
Byes: RGIII, Matt Cassel, Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Glennon
Opening photo credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
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