1. Drew Brees – New Orleans Saints
The Saints still can’t run the ball and their defense isn’t strong, meaning Brees will be forced to throw for big yards every game.
2. Peyton Manning-Denver Broncos
Denver plays a lot of easy defenses and the Broncos have upgraded their passing corps by signing Wes Welker in the offseason.
3. Tom Brady – New England Patriots
Everyone is worried about Welker’s departure, Hernandez’s arrest and Gronkowski’s firing, but Brady wears scrubs year after year and makes stars out of them.
4. Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers
The Packers are going to have offensive line issues this year, but Green Bay can’t run the ball and Rodgers will be forced to pass a lot.
5. Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons
Last season was the first year Atlanta switched to a vertical passing attack and Ryan should be even better in Year 2.
6. Colin Kaepernick-San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are going to rely on Kaepernick’s arm and legs this year and he’s one of the few QBs in the NFL who can stay healthy.
7. Robert Griffin III – Washington Redskins
Griffin III will put up big numbers as long as he can stay on the field, but one has to wonder how he’ll bounce back from knee surgery.
8. Eli Manning – New York Giants
A healthy Hakeem Nicks should be all Eli needs to bounce back into the top 10 rankings for fantasy quarterbacks.
9. Cam Newton – Carolina Panthers
Newton is a much better fantasy quarterback than the NFL quarterback and should be back rushing for yards and touchdowns while costing the Panthers wins with his turnovers.
10. Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions
The Lions lost Titus Young, which hurts, but Stafford still has Calvin Johnson for big plays.
11. Tony Romo – Dallas Cowboys
Dallas should be a better team on both sides of the ball this year and Romo will bump up the stats if you don’t mind high interceptions.
12. Sam Bradford – St. Louis Rams
St. Louis plans to spend a ton this year and they have a number of young sprinters for Bradford to find openings.
13. Andrew Luck – Indianapolis Colts
Luck should have another strong year and you have to like the fact that the Colts play a lot of poor defenses.
14. Jay Cutler – Chicago Bears
Cutler and the Bears’ offense struggled last season, but the playmakers are still around and should bounce back.
15. Philip Rivers – San Diego Chargers
Rivers will need to pass to keep his team in games as the defense doesn’t look great in San Diego this year.
16. Alex Smith – Kansas City Chiefs
I have Smith taller than most and it’s thanks to Andy Reid’s offense that has consistently produced great passing results in Philadelphia.
17. Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh will look to set up the run more this year, making Roethlisberger more of a fantasy backup than a starter.
18. Andy Dalton – Cincinnati Bengals
Dalton makes too many mistakes, but the Bengals have great pass catchers and this guy is also capable of running.
19. Joe Flacco – Baltimore Ravens
Flacco lost Boldin and now Dennis Pitta at tight end and will have more trouble without his more consistent weapons.
20. Carson Palmer – Arizona Cardinals
Coming out of Oakland and having Larry Fitzgerald to pass by should make Palmer a backup fantasy QB worth having this season.
21. Matt Flynn-Oakland Raiders
Flynn will have plenty of fast weapons to throw if the offensive line can keep him off long enough to look downfield.
22. Josh Freeman – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Freeman is in danger of losing his starting job and Doug Martin is the focal point of the offense, but this gunslinger could be in the top 15 if he isn’t replaced.
23. Matt Schaub – Houston Texans
The Texans just don’t pass enough to give Schaub more value, but he’s a very consistent quarterback.
24. Jake Locker – Tennessee Titans
Locker will make mistakes, but he’s capable of making plays with his legs, which helps value his fantasy football.
25. Christian Ponder – Minnesota Vikings
The opposing defenses will focus on stopping the running game, which should open up the field for Ponder.
26. Michael Vick – Philadelphia Eagles
Vick has a chance to be taller, but there’s really no reason to believe he starts more than 8 games since he’s not a smart quarterback and gets injured regularly.
27. Brandon Weeden-Cleveland Browns
The Browns are an up and coming team and Weeden would be ranked higher if he didn’t have to face the Steelers and Ravens 4 times a year.
28. Mark Sanchez – New York Jets
The Jets won’t go through as well, but Sanchez should win the starting job and be a capable fantasy backup in the deep leagues.
29. Ryan Tannehill – Miami Dolphins
Miami is going to be terrible and Tannehill won’t have time to pitch even with some good new weapons available to him as a wide receiver.
30. Blaine Gabbert – Jacksonville Jaguars
Gabbert has the arm strength but lacks the football savvy and many are giving up hope that he will acquire them anytime soon.
