Draft Prep: Scouting QBs

Some Fantasy owners look at quarterbacks as a hot commodity. Others see them as a necessity. You'll see that the number of teams in your league falls way short of the number of quarterbacks starting in the NFL. So that means that whenever you decide to pick up a passer in your draft, someone will be there. It might be Peyton Manning, or it might be Damon Huard. Ultimately, it's your call when you want to get your signal caller.

Vince Young is expected to continue his development in 2007. (US Presswire)

But this year, getting your backup quarterback should be a priority.

There are 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL, right? Of the 32, five are studs and nine more are expected to be reliable (this would be our top 14 Fantasy QBs). In teams with 10 or 12 owners that start one quarterback, there's enough for everybody.

This year, the real dropoff in reliability (not necessarily talent) on this rank list comes after the first 18 QBs. After the likes of Brett Favre, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning and Chad Pennington, a bunch of question marks spring up. Is Matt Schaub the answer in Houston? Was last year a flash in the pan for Jeff Garcia? Can Jake Delhomme rebound from an awful 2006?

So put more of an emphasis on drafting a backup this season, and even aim for a top-15 passer if you can manage, and remember to get someone who plays on your starter's bye week (preferably with a good matchup).

In closing, the lack of No. 2 Fantasy QBs may make those top-five No. 1 Fantasy QBs even more valuable than normal since odds are you won't bench them except when they're on bye.

Three Up

Vince Young, Tennessee

Young single-handedly put the Titans into the AFC Playoff race last season thanks to his awesome mobility and solid arm. Tennessee's offense is actually a mixed bag of potential-laden young players without many grizzled veterans, so there's going to be plenty of room for Young to work his magic. Between his rushing and passing, he should total at least 3,500 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Jon Kitna, Detroit

Could Kitna go from NFL backup to Fantasy stud in two seasons? That's the prospect facing him as he gets ready to conduct a young, talented Lions offense in 2007. Detroit's biggest acquisition -- rookie WR Calvin Johnson -- is expected to make an instant impact among a receiving corps that already includes 1,000-yard WRs Roy Williams and Mike Furrey. The team also added Tatum Bell to help run the football, and Bell can catch out of the backfield as well as incumbent starter Kevin Jones. With the weapons around him, Kitna is in line to put up the best numbers of his career.

Alex Smith, San Francisco

The 49ers are giving Smith the chance to succeed this season after upgrading their entire team via free agency and the draft. New to the Niners are WRs Darrell Jackson and Ashley Lelie as well as rookie Jason Hill. Between the three of them, Smith should see improved production. Smith will also have the benefit of working with the most improved defense, which should lead to some easy scoring opportunities. The only question is if Smith is ready to hold up his end of the bargain since he has continued to look tentative and failed to put up big numbers in his two seasons since entering the league as the No. 1 overall pick. If he does, then this will easily be a career year.

Three Down

Michael Vick, Atlanta

Between off-field distractions, an offense that's incorporating a lot of new plays and a coach who wants him to throw more than run, Vick will have a lot on his shoulders. Expectations remain high in Atlanta despite the Falcons changing head coaches. Vick will have help as the club signed veteran Joe Horn to anchor a receiving corps that underwhelmed last season. But unless Horn puts up the kind of numbers we saw from him in his hey-day with the Saints, Vick will struggle to put up wins as well as touchdowns for Fantasy owners.

Jake Delhomme, Carolina

For the last couple of years, Delhomme had been a Fantasy mainstay as a low-end starter. But with the Panthers getting younger at receiver and Steve Smith no sure thing to be healthy for a full season, Delhomme's star is losing luster. The Panthers signing of ex-Texans starter David Carr leads us to believe that the club is also unsure of Delhomme's future. Anyone who throws to Steve Smith will be a candidate for some big weeks, but with the rest of Carolina's receiving corps not exactly experienced (rookie Dwayne Jarrett is expected to start opposite Smith), Delhomme's numbers could further dip in 2007.

Trent Green, Miami

Green's days of being an automatic 4,000-yard passer are long gone, especially in Miami where he'll run an offense that will be run-oriented. Chris Chambers and Marty Booker aren't as great of an upgrade from Tony Gonzalez and Eddie Kennison as you might think, so keep expectations low for Green, who will be 37 when the season starts. Expecting 3,000 yards is more realistic.

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