Fantasy Football’s Most Overrated and Underrated Quarterbacks for 2010

In 2009, did you draft Matt Schaub as your QB in round 8? You could’ve selected QB Carson Palmer who ended up outside the top 15 fantasy QBs while Schaub was in the top five. Did you take a chance and select QB Brett Favre?

Favre was typically the 18th QB selected in fantasy drafts but ended up the sixth highest scoring option at QB. Each season presents new opportunities and new set of circumstances. When you select a QB is a tough decision.

If you miss out on Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers, there are other options. Reach too soon and you seriously hamstring your team’s chances to win the championship. Select wisely and you can win your league.

Quarterbacks

Tom Brady, New England Patriots: OVERRATED

Brady is a great QB, no question. But he is a reach if you are the team to grab him in the 3rd round, which is where he is going in drafts so far this offseason. Brady was typically the second QB drafted in 2009 and despite a tough season, he’ll likely still be taken in the first three rounds of your draft. Now, if you can take Brady in the 6th or 7th round, that makes sense. But the production in 2009 does not match his draft position and it’s a leap of faith to assume he’ll ever come close to his gaudy 2007 statistics where he threw for 50 touchdowns. Brady will be 33 when the season starts, Randy Moss is already 33, Wes Welker is coming off a serious injury, Torry Holt is the WR3 and he hasn’t been fantasy relevant in a few years. All in all, there are too many red flags and concerns to reach for Brady since you know someone will in your draft.

Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys: UNDERRATED

It’s simple. Due to fewer turnovers and more passing yards, Romo came within about a half point of QB Drew Brees in average fantasy points scored per game. Currently, you can grab Romo in the 4th or 5th round and is usually the seventh QB taken in fantasy drafts. Maybe it’s because most people hate the Cowboys, but don’t let emotion or personal subjectivity come between you and a successful fantasy football team. The Cowboys drafted WR Dez Bryant, which can only help Romo in the long term. Felix Jones was recently named the No. 1 RB who is a far better back than RB Marion Barber. WR Miles Austin came on in a big way last season. If Bryant is able to replace WR Roy E. Williams in the lineup, Romo has to be considered a low-end top tier QB in 2010.

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers: OVERRATED

I honestly have no idea why anyone would select Big Ben. He’s been suspended, he can’t possibly have his mind and body fully dedicated to football right now. He lost WR Santonio Holmes. And you’d have to reach up to round 7 or 8 to grab Roethlisberger. The Steelers did pass the ball quite a bit in 2009, but regardless, there’s just no sense to take the risk with him.

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens: UNDERRATED

This selection is based on two key factors. Firstly, Flacco improved in three key statistics in 2009: completion percentage, TD rate, and INT rate. Secondly, the Ravens added WR Anquan Boldin. Everybody has to have a respect for Ravens WR Derrick Mason who’s put up solid numbers for about a decade now but Boldin really opens things up for the Ravens’ passing game. This move allows WR Mark Clayton to slide into the slot where he’s a better fit and everything seems to be sliding into place for Flacco. If you can’t grab a big name QB like Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, there’s no harm in waiting until round 7 or 8 to select Joe Flacco.

Written By: Matt De Lima