The 2006 season saw several rising
stars and struggling veterans at the quarterback position.
While the top two Quality Quarterbacks came as little surprise
(Carson Palmer and Peyton Manning) a few others did (i.e.
Drew Brees). One thing is certain about 2006, although L.T.
dominated on a week to week basis in the fantasy football
world, a Quality Quarterback (QQB) still held great value
on any team roster. It was interesting in several of the leagues
I played in to see the overall affect and outcome of L.T.
led teams. The difference in the success of the teams that
had L.T. on their roster in the leagues I competed in was
clear; the successful teams had a Quality Quarterback (QQB)
on their roster and the mediocre teams did not. Though there
is little doubt that a STUD running back is of ultimate importance,
having a QQB should be next on your priority list. Before
I breakdown the results of the 2006 season, here’s a
quick reminder of the Quality Season requirements…
Quality Season (QSn) (revised definition):
Any NFL Quarterback whom has averaged a minimum of 11.50ppg
(not 11.75ppg). The quarterback must have started or played
in at least 12 games in order to qualify.
<>Points Settings
Point per 50 yards passing
Points per 20 yards rushing
6 points for all TDs
(-2) points for INTs
<>11.50 ppg over 16 games may look like the following
numbers:
3,400 passing yards
50 rushing yards
22 total TDs
10 INTs
2006 Quality Quarterbacks, “The Main Stays”
Rnk POS Name
Team
Gms PYrds PTDs
INTs RsYds RsTDs
PPG
1 QB Peyton Manning
IND 16
4,397 31
9 36
4
17.61
2 QB Carson Palmer
CIN 16
4,035 28
13 37
0
14.03
3 QB Drew Brees
NOR
16 4,418
26 11
32
0 14.00
4 QB Marc Bulger
STL
16 4,301
24 8
44
0
13.51
5 QB Michael Vick
ATL
16 2,474
20 13
1,039 2
12.96
6 QB Tom Brady
NWE
16 3,529
24 12
102
0 12.23
The group above continues to do nothing but impress. All six
were projected to have QSn in 2006, and none disappointed.
Manning ran his incredible run of QSn to 8 in a row. While
icon and NFL’s best leader Tom Brady ran his own streak
to 5 straight seasons. Both quarterback’s names are
in permanent ink for a 2007 QSn. Palmer is another sure thing
in 2007, as he fought through his ’05 playoff injury
to another awesome statistical season. This was no surprise
hear my words from our Pre-Season
Draft Guide in 2006, “Palmer is too tough and talented
to be kept from a QSn in 2006 or the years to come.”
As Palmer was displaying his toughness, Brees and Bulger were
both extremely efficient passers inside. Each thrived in offenses
built to score at anytime and from anywhere. It’s highly
likely that if protected well, each will follow up their 4k
passing yard campaigns with successful QSn in 2007. Last summer,
I noted in the Pre-Season Draft
Guide that, “Vick is going to notch his 3 QSn in
2006, and his second in a row.” In 2006, he did just
that rushing for over a thousand yards and throwing 20 TDs
for the first time in his career. If Vick is on the field
in 2007 for more than 11 games, he should be the most inconsistent
and exciting QQB.
2006 Quality Quarterbacks, “Sleepers Rising”
Rnk POS Name
Team
Gms PYrds PTDs
INTs RsYds RsTDs
PPG
7 QB Jon Kitna
DET 16
4,208 21 22
156
2 11.62
8 QB Philip Rivers
SDG
16 3,388
22 9
49
0 11.51
“Kitna… can easily be penned in as a great QSn
sleeper candidate for 2006.” Words from last summer
in the FFMastermind.com Pre-Season
Draft Guide, in which I made clear that my top sleeper
candidates for QQBs were Kitna and Rivers. Both rose to the
occasion in 2006 posting strong campaigns. To a certain degree,
they were inconsistent. Kitna had a stretch of 10 games in
which he threw more than a single touchdown only once. Rivers
on the other hand had 6 games with less than 200 yards passing
and 3 games where he was unable to throw a touchdown pass.
Each in their own right though was successful, Kitna success
was largely do to his offense and 4200 passing yards. Rivers
had the benefit of the best player in football and the best
tight end in football. I am happy to say that each raised
the bar in their play enough to garner a QSn in 2006, its
too bad neither was on any of my rosters.
2006 Disappointments
Rnk POS Name
Team Gms PYrds PTDs
INTs RsYds RsTDs
PPG
12 QB Jake Delhomme
CAR
13 2,805 17
11 12
0
10.52
15 QB Ben Roethlisberger
PIT 15
3,513 18 23
98
2
9.94
n/a QB Byron Leftwich
JAC
6 1,159
7 5
41
2
11.54
n/a QB Daunte Culpepper
MIA 4
929 2
3
20
1 7.90
Few quarterbacks were as disappointing in 2006 as Daunte Culpepper.
I thought (like many) that he would return to form and put
up QQB numbers last season. I should have heeded my own warning
from last June, “Culpepper though has to rehab and show
he can stay healthy.” It was very apparent a couple
quarters into the 2006 season that Culpepper was not fully
healthy. In fact, he only appeared in 4 games before the Dolphins
shut him down in 2006. In the games he did play in, he posted
a 7.90ppg, horrible by his former standards and QQB standards.
Considering his prospects this season it looks like Culpepper
will become an ex-QQB very soon. Jake Delhomme was a major
disappointment in 2006 for both fantasy football and Carolina
Panthers fans alike. Jake was a pro-bowler the season before
yet struggled early without Steve Smith, and never got on
the same page with Keyshawn Johnson. Carolina was a Super
Bowl favorite but only managed an 8-8 regular season record.
Jake will probably have a short lease with David Carr backing
him up in 2007. Big Ben’s off-season troubles and bad
decisions spilled over into the 2006 regular season. His numbers
and leadership were very disappointing with Pittsburgh missing
the playoffs and their leader throwing 23 INTs. At least Ben
appeared in almost all of Pittsburgh’s games, Byron
Leftwich played in only 6 games in 2006. As once again, he
could not stay healthy. It’s interesting that a player
as tough as Leftwich gets injured so often. Though, the reasons
for him being injury prone are not a mystery, as he constantly
leaves himself open for big hits. Leftwich did post numbers
(when he played) good enough for a QSn, however he only appeared
in half the games needed to qualify. It will be very difficult
to count on any of these guys as QQBs in 2007.
Just Short in 2006
Rnk POS Name
Team
Gms PYrds PTDs
INTs RsYds RsTDs
PPG
9 QB Matt Hasselbeck
SEA 12
2,442 18 15
110
0 11.03
10 QB Eli Manning
NYG
16 3,244 24
18 21
0
10.87
11 QB Vince Young
TEN
15 2,199 12
13 552
7
10.64
n/a QB Donovan McNabb PHI
10 2,647
18 6
212
3 17.75
“Eli meanwhile seems to have the easiest road to QS
in '06. Although in reality you never really know when Plaxico
Burress will disappear into the night.” Even as Plaxico
was unseen disappearing into the New York lights in several
games in 2006, the team leader and quarterback Eli Manning
was seen walking into the night sky. Eli visibly disappeared
in key situations several times in 2006. Yes, the Giants started
6-2 in 2006, but crawled to a 2-6 final 8 games. Eli threw
less than 2 TDs in 9 games in 2006, including stretches of
five and three games. In the end he did not throw enough to
post a QSn. Hasselbeck played solid football in 2006, though
it was not enough falling short at 11.03ppg. He struggled
with injuries himself and several inconsistencies among his
usually reliable weapons. Vince Young had little to no weapons
during his rookie campaign of 2006, yet often played spectacularly.
He appeared in every game except one and rushed for 7 TDs.
He had an unimpressive 12 touchdown passes in 2006 yet still
managed 10.64ppg. McNabb on the other hand was having a spectacular
season in 2006, before a freak injury struck against Vince
and the Titans. McNabb’s 17.75ppg was best in the NFL
for all quarterbacks, no matter the number of games played.
McNabb could have very well achieved his first MVP trophy
and assuredly his sixth QSn in 2006, if not for the sideline
tumble.
2006 QQB Pre-Season Projections
Sinkers:
Misses- none
Hits- T. Green KCC (missed 8 games, 6.72ppg), Brett Favre
GBP (9.82ppg, 16th ranked QQB), Steve McNair BAL (9.06ppg,
18th ranked QQB), Drew Bledsoe DAL (missed 10 games, 10.45ppg)
*Words from summer of ’06: “In '06 veterans Brett
Favre and Trent Green's QS (Quality Seasons) streaks came
to an end… every game seemed to show more and more that
age is catching up to them. At this point I think it’s
practically impossible for either to have anymore QS. Thus
I unofficially lay to rest two now former, Quality QBs.”
Studs:
Misses- E. Manning NYG
Hits- C. Palmer CIN, M. Vick ATL
Too Early to Tell- M. Leinhart ARI (8.95ppg, 1st QSn projected
for ‘08)
Solid Options:
Misses- B. Roethlisberger PIT (9.94ppg, 15th ranked QQB)
Hits- V. Young TEN (no QSn but rising)
Too Early to Tell- B. Leftwich JAC (11.54 in 6 games played,
waiting again in ’07), J. Cutler DEN (12.98ppg in 5
games, unreal rookie stretch)
Sleepers:
Misses- C. Simms TBB (horrible 3.99ppg in 3 games before injury)
Hits- J. Kitna DET, P. Rivers SDC, , C. Frye CLE (7.99ppg
in 13 games; not close to Kitna or Rivers though)
Sell! Sell! Sell!:
Misses- none
Hits- J.P. Losman BUF (decent number but inconsistent), Rex
Grossman CHI (an extremely inconsistent 10.12ppg), Kyle Bollier
BAL (never saw significant time in ’06), Chad Pennington
NYJ (not a QQB in ’06, but I thought he’d be released
by now)
Streaks Ending
In 2005, there were a couple of quarterbacks who ended extensive
runs as QQBs. In 2006 three quarterbacks streaks of multiple
QSn came to an end; D. McNabb PHI, J. Delhomme CAR, and M.
Hasselbeck SEA. While McNabb’s 17.75ppg were best among
all quarterbacks in 2006, he once again succumbed to injury.
It's interesting though that had the standards used for days
gone by been applied, McNabb would have been a QQB in 2006.
McNabb had 2 consecutive QSn in ’04 and ’05. Like
their respective teams, both Delhomme and Hasselbeck did not
perform at the familiar high level. Hasselbeck was not a QQB
for the first time since 2002, in his second full season with
the Seahawks. Meanwhile, Delhomme was often erratic and missed
three games late in the season due to injury.
The Beginning of Something Special?
Special- extraordinary; exceptional, as in amount or degree
(www.dictionary.com)
There is little doubt that Carson Palmer's last two seasons
have been only the beginning of something special. Palmer’s
2006 campaign officially has begun what could very well be
a Manning or Favre like run over the next 6-7 years as a QQB.
Michael Vick accomplished his 3 QSn in 2006, and is an exceptional
athlete and fantasy performer. There are major concerns though
about the current off-field issues that may or may not hinder
him from continuing this pace. While Palmer is looking at
the Hall of Fame and Vick is staring at possible charges,
Philip Rivers quietly began what could be a solid run. The
acquisition of Norv Turner in the off-season should do nothing
but help young Rivers. If San Diego is actually able to develop
a third compliment (WR-Vincent Jackson?) to L.T. and Gates,
at the wide receiver position, watch out.
Outlook for ‘07
The standards were raised in the summer of 2006 for achieving
a Quality Season (QSn). However, in order to perfect this
quarterback fantasy breakdown sometimes adjustments are necessary.
The only change made, was the readjustment of the ppg standard.
It was originally 11.50 ppg, and thus it returns to its original
form for good. As we look towards 2007, it will be interesting
to make projections as to who will have the top end success
as a QQB and who will just miss out. It is going to be difficult
considering that there are so many consistent quarterbacks
at the top and several young guns rising. Nevertheless, like
the summer of 2006, the projections made in the 2007 FFMastermind.com
Pre-Season Draft Guide, will be cash money.