Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a huge fantasy football season in 2011 and should continue right where he left off.

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1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers

Rodgers is coming off an incredible 2011 season where he threw for over 4,600 yards with 45 TD passes and only 6 interceptions. He also ran for over 250 yards and scored three rushing TD’s. Rodgers will once again be the biggest weapon in a high powered Packer offense in 2012. Green Bay is a pass happy offense that will put up big points every week, so Rodgers will have no problem putting up similar numbers this season. Without doubt he should be the #1 QB off the board in all fantasy drafts.

2. Tom Brady, Patriots

Brady also plays in a pass friendly offense with a load of talented pass catchers. Brady is coming off a year where he threw for over 5,200 yards and had 42 total TDs (39 passing, 3 rushing). With the addition of big play WR Brandon Lloyd to go along with Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, the Patriot signal caller should be able to attack the 5,000 yard mark and 40 plus TDs once again.

3. Matthew Stafford, Lions

Stafford was able to stay healthy in 2011 to play all 16 games and we were able to see what type of fantasy numbers he can put up. He managed to throw for 5,038 yards and 41 TD passes and with a WR like Calvin Johnson to throw to fantasy owners will continue to see big things. As long as Stafford can avoid injury he will be considered an elite fantasy QB.

 

4. Drew Brees, Saints

Brees set an NFL record with 5,476 passing yards in 2011 and added 46 touchdown passes. Brees has been as consistent as they come and will once again post great fantasy numbers. Saints are another team with a throw first attitude and Brees and company have no problem piling up the points against their opponents. Even with head coach Sean Payton suspended, look for Drew Brees to keep the Saints’ offense rolling.

5. Cam Newton, Panthers

Newton had a great rookie season throwing for over 4,000 yards with 35 total TDs (21 passing, 14 rushing). Newton is only going to get better and if he can cut down on his interception total his fantasy numbers will be huge. With the improvement he can make as a passer and the fact he is the Panthers #1 goal line rusher Newton should easily be considered a top 5 fantasy QB in 2012.

6. Tony Romo, Cowboys

Romo threw for over 4,000 yards and 31 TDs even though he dealt with injured ribs throughout the 2011 season. With WRs Miles Austin and Dez Bryant along with his safety blanket Jason Witten, Romo should be able to surpass last year’s totals for a solid 2012 fantasy season.

7. Eli Manning, Giants

Eli threw for almost 5,000 yards in 2011 and added 29 TD passes. As long as Manning can get a healthy Hakeem Nicks back and with the emergence of Victor Cruz, he should be a lock to throw for well over 4,000 yards again and 30 touchdowns.

 

8. Phillip Rivers, Chargers

Rivers is coming off what is considered a poor 2011 season, but still managed to throw for over 4,600 yards and 27 touchdowns. The downside was he threw 20 interceptions. The Chargers did lose Vincent Jackson in the off season, but they added WRs Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal. Plus with TE Antonio Gates healthy, Rivers should have a big bounce back year and he will again be considered an elite fantasy QB.

9. Michael Vick, Eagles

In 13 games last season Vick had 3,303 passing yards with 18 TD passes and 14 INTs. He also rushed for 589 yards and a touchdown. This was not the Michael Vick fantasy owners were hoping for in 2011. If Vick can stay healthy in 2012 he can put up big fantasy numbers and carry your team on any given week. Vick is an injury risk, but he is capable of turning your fantasy team into a champion.

10- Matt Ryan, Falcons

Ryan threw for 4,177 yards and 29 TDs last season. With one of the NFL’s top receivers in Roddy White, up and coming star Julio Jones and the idea that the Falcons will start throwing more and riding the arm of Ryan, he should exceed his production from 2011.

11- Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers

Big Ben is coming off a very non impressive season. He did manage to throw for over 4,000 yards, but only had 21 TD passes and threw 14 INTs. He will still have speedy Mike Wallace alongside dangerous Antonio Brown and with the running game without Rashard Mendenhall, Roethlisberger should be putting the ball in the air a ton. He will have no problem getting over 4,000 yards and upping his TD total as long as he can stay healthy.

12- Peyton Manning, Broncos

Hopefully we will see a healthy Manning this year after he missed all of last season. If he is ready he can still put up the fantasy numbers that warrant him QB1 status. Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas can be solid WRs for Peyton and help him be the steal of the 2012 draft.

13- Robert Griffin III, Redskins

Griffin could be a fantasy star in 2012 just as Cam Newton was last year. He has great athleticism to go along with his strong arm and he will be able put up good weekly numbers in the air and on the ground. Griffin may not be worth drafting as your starter, but may crack fantasy lineups soon enough.

14- Joe Flacco, Ravens

Flacco may never be considered an every week starter due to his inconsistent play and RB Ray Rice being the focal point of the Ravens’ offense. But Flacco can be a solid fantasy backup and can be used occasionally pending on his matchup.

15- Jay Cutler, Bears

Cutler may see a boost in his production this season with the addition of WR Brandon Marshall. Marshall gives Cutler his first bonified #1 WR since coming to Chicago. Cutler could have a pretty nice fantasy year, but not sure if he can be more than a QB2.

16- Matt Schaub, Texans

Schaub’s draft position will drop from where he’s been drafted in previous fantasy drafts. He is coming off a 2011 season where he played in just 10 games due to a foot injury. With WR Andre Johnson making plays and RB Arian Foster catching passes out of the backfield, Schaub can definitely find his way back into fantasy starting lineups. He can easily get his passing yards over 4,000 and add 25-30 TD passes.

17- Carson Palmer, Raiders

Palmer will get his chance in 2012 to work with the Raiders’ offense from the start. He can be a very good QB2 and have some quality fantasy weeks. With play maker Denarius Moore and a healthy Darren McFadden, Palmer will be a great backup and bye week replacement on any fantasy squad.

18- Josh Freeman, Buccaneers

Freeman had a terrible 2011 season, throwing only 16 TD passes and 22 INTs. Fantasy owners expected so much more from Freeman after his 2010 season where he had 25 TD passes and only 6 INTs. With Vincent Jackson coming to Tampa to help out what was a pretty poor receiving core, Freeman gets a legitimate #1 option. If Freeman can avoid the mistakes he will have the opportunity to bounce back and show 2010 was no fluke.

19- Andy Dalton, Bengals

Dalton had a very impressive rookie year in Cincinnati throwing for just under 3,400 yards with 20 TD passes. Dalton should only get better as a starting NFL quarterback and his fantasy numbers will improve as well. He may not be considered a fantasy option just yet, especially because of the division the Bengals play in, but Dalton is not that far off.

20- Alex Smith, 49ers

Alex Smith has never been a fantasy option in the past, but with the additions of Randy Moss and Mario Manningham joining Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis, Smith has the weapons for him to put up some good numbers. If Jim Harbaugh can show trust in Smith and have him throw the ball more he may finally put himself on the fantasy map.

21- Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills

Fitzpatrick is coming off a season where he threw for over 3,800 yards and had 24 TD passes, but he also threw 23 interceptions. Fitzpatrick must cut down on his mistakes or he will only be considered an injury replacement at best.

22- Sam Bradford, Rams

The Rams are hoping Bradford can show some of the promise he did as a rookie in 2010. Last year was a disappointment for him as he dealt with injury and poor play. The Rams weapons don’t seem like enough to make Bradford relevant for fantasy owners.

23- Andrew Luck, Colts

Luck will no doubt go through a learning process in his rookie season. He has all the tools to become a solid NFL QB, but he doesn’t figure to be a fantasy standout in 2012. He may be worthy stashing on your fantasy roster if you can afford holding the spot for him.

 

24- Matt Hasselbeck, Titans

As long as Hasselbeck can keep the starting QB job away from Jake Locker, he is capable of having pretty good fantasy statistics. Hopefully the Titans will have a healthy Kenny Britt back to boost their receiving core and help Hasselbeck to a solid 2012 season.

 

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This entry was posted on Thursday, August 16th, 2012 at 5:23 pm and is filed under Fantasy Football. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.