Larry Fitzgerald: The Best Player in the NFL?

Would you consider drafting a wide receiver with the No. 1 overall pick in a start-up Dynasty draft? You should.

Larry Fitzgerald is entering his prime at age 26, and if last year's playoffs are any indication, he's now the most dominant player in the league. Considering his talent, work ethic, reliability, and the career path of dominant wide receivers, Fitz will be a threat for 100/1,500/12 every year for the next six-to-eight years. He certainly has Greg Jennings' attention:

"This guy, the reason he's so good is his work ethic. His work ethic is second to none. I don't really talk about guys like this. This guy has earned everything he has gotten and accomplished. I mean, this morning he texted me and said, 'I'm a grinder, I'm working harder than you.' I ran 21 10s. I mean, that's how competitive he is. Every day he's been texting me about what he's doing, if I'm doing something. I mean, I thought I worked hard.

"I went up there [to Minnesota] and I'm like, 'You really opened my eyes, really opened my eyes.' I worked hard but he really pushes himself to the limit, to the max. And it's like, you don't find guys that are that well on top but are still climbing to get higher and higher. I just can't say enough about this guy and I don't really put guys on that pedestal, but he is deserving of everything he gets."

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Dynasty Rising/Falling: Tight Ends

I posted this article on Rotworld's Pancake Blocks blog on Wednesday afternoon. It's a list of five TEs rising and five TEs falling in value since the beginning of offseason practices in May.

Since the unveiling of our first offseason Dynasty rankings back in May, spring practices have seen several players gaining momentum while others are losing steam. Here’s a brief look at the tight end movement:

Rising

1. Greg Olsen – Easily the Bears' best red-zone threat, the athletic Olsen is expected to exploit mismatches this season by lining up anywhere in the offense. Following the addition of Jay Cutler, FoxSports.com's John Czarnecki is predicting that Olsen will "double his production from 2008." We won't go quite that far, but we do forecast a 67/790/6 line this season.

2. Jermichael Finley – Finley spent his rookie season showcasing major knucklehead potential, but he must be doing a 180 this offseason. Both his quarterback and his coordinator have praised his progress, and he has a very real chance to unseat Donald Lee as the starter this summer.

3. Brent Celek – Celek has started just a dozen games in his NFL career, yet he already owns the franchise tight end record for yards in a game and receptions in a playoff game. Andy Reid confirmed that Celek has improved his blocking, and OC Marty Morninweg spoke glowingly of the tight end's progress in announcing that he will have a more significant role this year.

4. Vernon Davis – While admitting that it wouldn't be a popular viewpoint, Evan Silva thoroughly covered Davis' offseason rise shortly after we released the Dynasty rankings in late May. An every-down tight end who has proven to be a fantasy asset in the past, Davis is primed to catch far more passes than last season.

5. Jared Cook – By all accounts, Cook was the most impressive rookie at Titans OTAs. He may already be a "total mismatch" for opposing defenses, and coach Jeff Fisher expects him to be a playmaker. Blessed with freakish athletic ability, Cook has the most fantasy upside of all rookie tight ends. He could be starting as soon as 2010 with Bo Scaife signed to a one-year deal.

Honorable Mention: Dustin Keller, Zach Miller, Martellus Bennett, Randy McMichael, Martin Rucker

Falling

1. Tony Gonzalez – First-half numbers: 40/369/3. Second-half numbers out of the Chiefs' pistol spread offense: 56/689/7. Gonzalez won't have benefit of the spread offense this season, and Falcons OC Mike Mularkey has made it clear that the future Hall of Famer will be asked to do more blocking in the run-oriented offense. Expect numbers closer to the first-half of last season rather than the second-half.

2. Bo Scaife – Coming off a career season, Scaife missed his opportunity to cash in on a long-term deal. Instead the Titans franchised him for one year while selecting his 2010 replacement in the draft. Kerry Collins figures to use his wideouts more this season, which will bring Scaife's numbers more in line with career norms.

3. Donald Lee – Lee entered the offseason as nothing more than a TE2 with low upside, but he's now entering training camp in a dogfight to keep his job. Even if he holds off Finley as the nominal starter for another year, the two would cancel out each other's fantasy value.

4. Visanthe Shiancoe – Silva already knocked this one out of the ballpark in late May. Shiancoe's production was situation dependent in 2008, he'll be forced to block more often, and he'll lose targets to Percy Harvin.

5. Owen Daniels? – The question mark is there simply because there's nothing in Owens' play that merits a downgrade, but the Texans' actions suggest a willingness to play hardball on a long-term deal. After locking up backup Joel Dreessen in February, they drafted potential pass-catching stud James Casey and blocking stud Anthony Hill. Meanwhile, the team fined Daniels for missing mandatory minicamp and showed no inclination to extend his contract. His value isn't dropping yet, but it sure seems like the Texans are preparing for a future without him.

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Scouts, Inc: Film Analysis Shows LT2 on the Decline

Scouts, Inc.'s Matt Williamson highlights the reasons for LaDainian Tomlinson's current high-risk, low-reward Dynasty value. Aging and injury-prone players may often be worth a roll of the dice if there's a reasonable chance of a perfect-storm monster season still left in the tank, but Tomlinson's ceiling is no longer 2,000 total yards and 20+ touchdowns. The high-end reward isn't worth the risk of being left holding the bag on a value-drain.

It pains me to say it because I respect what he has accomplished a great deal, but LaDainian Tomlinson is heavily on the decline and the end is near for an all-time great running back. I base this on one thing -- film.

Tomlinson clearly was injured to some degree throughout last season, and I really have no way of judging how severe those injuries were. Also, his offensive line declined to some degree as well in 2008. But the Tomlinson of old would have shined despite the blocking he received last season. He was that good in his prime. He is not that good now.

. . .

First, he has taken a beating over the years. Despite his tremendous elusiveness and vision -- he rarely took big head-on shots -- the wear is beginning to deteriorate his once massive skill set.

He no longer explodes out of his cuts like he once did. He rarely breaks long runs -- one of the very first things to go in a great running back. His trademark jump cuts are not what they once were. He doesn't make your jaw drop in the open field and doesn't move the pile as he once did. Some of this can be attributed to his toe injury, but last year's Tomlinson is more of what we will see than the great Tomlinson of the past. At this point, he gets what is given to him and little more.

Tomlinson eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark only twice last season, with a high of 106 yards. Those two games were against the Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints -- not exactly high-end run defenses. Tomlinson's eyes see the play to make, but his body can't finish it off. That is what happens when great players decline.

Tomlinson's game isn't going to fall off a cliff; it should be a more gradual slide. His yards per carry declined in each of the past two years, dipping to a measly 3.8 in 2008. There will be fewer and fewer highlight runs -- even though he is now a part of a deadly passing offense that will pull defenders out of the box.

The injuries probably will continue to be a problem -- that is simply what happens to running backs with the number of carries he has logged . . . He is now a complementary piece of an exceptional offense. Philip Rivers must be the central figure.

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Dynasty Rising/Falling: Wide Receivers

I posted this article on Rotworld's Pancake Blocks blog on Monday afternoon. It's a list of five WRs rising and five WRs falling in value since the beginning of offseason practices in May.

Since the unveiling of our first offseason Dynasty rankings back in May, spring practices have seen several players gaining momentum while others are losing steam. Here’s a brief look at the wide receiver movement:

Rising

1. Chad Ochocinco – Ocho may have murdered your 2008 fantasy season with a lethal combination of a bad attitude, zero commitment, and Ryan Fitzpatrick's noodle arm, but there's reason to believe that his actions are speaking louder than his words this year. He at least appears to be legitimately primed for a turnaround.

2. Brandon Marshall – As Rosey pointed out earlier, Marshall has thus far avoided an NFL suspension for the 2009 season. He still holds major knucklehead potential, but it now looks like a fully healthy Marshall will be suiting up for the Broncos in Week 1 despite his drama-filled offseason.

3. Josh Morgan – A series of injuries held Morgan back as a rookie, but he's a leading breakout candidate after stealing the show in OTAs. Versed in both the "X" and the "Z" spots, Morgan will start alongside Michael Crabtree now and into the future. Beat writer Matt Maiocco, one of the best in the biz, predicts Morgan will top Niners receivers in production this year.

4. Ted Ginn – Three months ago I argued that Ginn was entering a make-or-break season; his offseason progress bodes well for the "make" side. He was dominant at times in OTAs, and Football Outsiders as well as the local beats believe he's ready to take the next step.

5. Chris Henry – I've been calling Henry a poor man's Randy Moss since he came into the league, and Carson Palmer has seen that potential this offseason. Henry's fantasy ceiling has always made him a worthwhile roster stash, and he could finally make good on the potential now that he's working to turn his troubled personal life around.

Honorable Mention: Vincent Jackson, Santonio Holmes, Donnie Avery, Mike Walker, Chaz Schilens, Pierre Garcon, Steve Johnson, Jarett Dillard/Mike Thomas

Falling

1. Derrick Mason – The future is now for 35-year-old receivers. The only problem is that Mason's future may not involve professional football. Nobody seems to believe Mason will hang up the spikes this summer, but the fact remains that he's an aging receiver coming off a severe shoulder surgery showing little desire to suit up for the Ravens in 2009.

2. Antonio Bryant – The Bucs are moving to a run-oriented offense, and Bryant admits his numbers may drop as the new coaching staff plans to spread the ball around. Worse, last year's fantasy playoff MVP may have "not ready for prime time" rookie Josh Freeman throwing him the ball by this year's fantasy playoffs. Bryant's value has never been stable, so his owners need that present production to offset future uncertainty.

3. Deion Branch – Branch admits his knee will never be the same after undergoing a rather nebulous second surgery this offseason. With T.J. Houshmandzadeh as the go-to guy, Nate Burleson as the deep threat and rookie Deon Butler in the slot, where does that leave Branch in Greg Knapp's offense?

4. James Hardy – The first receiver off the board in many rookie drafts last summer, Hardy was already falling behind seventh-rounder Steve Johnson by November. Shortly thereafter he tore his ACL which kept him out of OTAs and will likely result in a lost season. No longer a big part of the Bills plans, Hardy may bounce around before gaining another shot at a starting role.

5. Darrius Heyward-Bey / Kenny Britt – Both first-round rookies are behind the eight ball going into training camp after suffering hamstring injuries during spring practices. DHB was being counted on as a starter opposite Chaz Schilens while Britt was expected to push veterans Nate Washington and Justin Gage for playing time. While their long-term futures remain bright, fantasy owners may miss out on a valuable opportunity to gauge their NFL potential early in the season.

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Sports Data Hub: Fantasy Points Since 2006

After stumbling across SportsDataHub.com last week, I immediately added them to my RSS Reader and have enjoyed quite a few of their articles. Today's feature, Fantasy Points Since 2006, piqued my interest on several players:

- Despite missing a full season, Tom Brady still ranks 12th among all players over the past three seasons.

- As author Kyle Smith points out: "Additionally, this will also tell you a little something about Eli Manning, despite the fact he has 68 touchdown throws over the past two seasons, how overrated he is from a fantasy perspective." It's also why I pound the pulpit on issues such as Kurt Warner's value vs. a mediocre option like Eli. Quarterbacks who don't finish in the Top 6 or 8 in points per game just aren't worth that much because they're putting you at a competitive disadvantage on a weekly basis. Warner may be a short-term solution, but, by definition, that beats the hell out of a long-term competitive disadvantage.

- Loyal followers of this blog can feel free to raise their hand to following question posed by the author:

The fact that LaDainian Tomlinson is No. 1 on this list is about as predictable as a reality star deciding they want to get into acting. But raise your hand if you figured that Steven Jackson would have the third-most fantasy points among backs and fifth-most in the entire league over the past three seasons. If you’re raising your hand right now, you probably not only look pretty dumb, you’re also not telling the truth.

I've often used talent and points per game for my defense of S-Jax's always-high Dynasty ranking, but it turns out he needs no defense. Despite the fluke injuries, he's fifth overall in total points over the past few seasons and No. 3 among running backs.

- More from the author:

Should you learn anything from each of the running backs on this list for your upcoming fantasy draft, it should be this - receptions are important. Each back on this list is adept at catching the ball out of the backfield.

Bingo! That's exactly why I've been hesitant to place Michael Turner in the top tier and another reason why I remain high on Frank Gore despite two relatively disappointing seasons. It's also why Ryan Grant and Shonn Greene have limited upsides.

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Thoughts on Ahmad Bradshaw's Value

A followup to a question on the FBG message boards:

Q: Where do you see Ahmad Bradshaw this year? A decent flex option or a guy you hold in case Jacobs gets hurt?

A: He could be both this season a la Derrick Ward last season. My thoughts on Bradshaw:

• I was very impressed with his play down the stretch in the 2007-08 playoff run. He ran bigger and tougher than you would expect for a back of his size (5'10/198).
• I've been disappointed that he's not as much of a receiving threat as he profiled coming out of Marshall, and he doesn't hold a candle to Ward on blocking ability. Bradshaw caught 56 passes at Marshall in 2005, so it appears to be more of a blocking issue than a hands issue.
• I've had Danny Ware on a deep sleeper watch list for a couple of years. Football Outsiders, surprisingly, expects Ware to beat out Bradshaw for 1B duties to Jacobs' 1A, but I side with Newsday's Bob Glauber who predicts a breakout season for Bradshaw.
• GM Jerry Reese confirmed that Bradshaw is ahead of Ware and will step in when Jacobs goes down with one of his injuries.
• Andre Brown, one of my favorite mid-round rookies, limits Bradshaw's long-term upside. Bradshaw's contract is up after the 2010 season, so it's conceivable that he would land a more significant timeshare role in two years.
  

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Dynasty Rising/Falling: Running Backs

I posted this article on Rotworld's Pancake Blocks blog on Friday afternoon. It's a list of five RBs rising and five RBs falling in value since the beginning of offseason practices in May.

Since the unveiling of our first offseason Dynasty rankings back in May, spring practices have seen several players gaining momentum while others are losing steam. Here’s a brief look at the running back movement:

Rising

1. Pierre Thomas – Ultra-effective as a runner, receiver and goal-line option, Thomas has overtaken Reggie Bush as the fantasy back to own in the Saints offense. While his coach flirted with bigger backs, Thomas spent the offseason adding muscle to grind out tough inside yardage and withstand a heavier workload. Jon Gruden's pick as the best-kept secret in the NFL has "breakout" written all over him.

2. Ray Rice – Based on his work in OTAs, Rice is now poised to lead the Ravens' three-headed attack. Already the best backfield pass-catcher, he's added noticeable bulk and improved his blocking skills. Considering McGahee's possible (probable?) 2010 exit and John Harbaugh's belief that Rice has everydown-back abilities, he could see his value skyrocket by next offseason.

3. Darren McFadden – Savvy Dynasty league owners realize that temporary patches like Justin Fargas don't keep special talents on the bench for long. Leaving the debilitating turf toe injuries behind, McFadden showed off his trademark explosiveness during spring practices. In fact, there's talk of the offense "hanging its hat" on his work in the passing game this season.

4. Felix Jones – After Felix showed off dominant playmaking ability in six rookie games, owner Jerry Jones spent the offseason insisting that the former Razorback will be a "major touch-factor" in 2009. Though he still has work to do on his receiving and blocking, it's clear that the Cowboys want to force-feed their most explosive weapon double-digit touches on a weekly basis.

5. Ronnie Brown – The addition of Pat White will reduce his Wildcat impact, but Brown is expected to see more carries in a traditional role after sharing the backfield with Ricky Williams last year. Now 19 months removed from ACL surgery, Brown reportedly looked "fit, faster than ever and like he should be the team’s featured back" during OTAs.

Honorable Mention: Jerome Harrison, Rashad Jennings, Derrick Ward, Ahmad Bradshaw, Jerious Norwood

Falling

1. Brian Westbrook – Following preseason ankle surgery at age 30, Westbrook is now at the stage where an in-season injury buries his future value as much as his present value. More of an injury risk than ever, Westbrook is so important to the Eagles' renewed Super Bowl chances that the team figures to use extreme caution in monitoring his workload.

2. Marshawn Lynch – The three-game suspension stole the headlines, but it's the presence of Fred Jackson that dents Lynch's long-term value. After signing Jackson to a four-year deal, the Bills have made it clear that Jackson's role will expand at Lynch's expense.

3. Le'Ron McClain / Willis McGahee – Rice's gain is a net loss for McClain and McGahee. McClain's ceiling will be limited as he concentrates on short-yardage duties while McGahee continues to battle knee and work ethic concerns. With a cloudy future, McGahee owners can no longer count on a starting role.

4. Thomas Jones – Jones used spring workouts to posture for a new contract, and the Jets responded by trading up to grab his eventual replacement with the first pick in the third round. With a new coaching staff in town, the 31-year-old is in danger of losing touches to Leon Washignton and goal-line work to Greene.

5. Marion Barber – The precipitous drop in Barber's efficiency highlights his overuse in the first half of 2008, and the Cowboys are now determined to work in both Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. MBIII can still be a productive fantasy asset in his "closer role," but consistency will be an issue going forward.

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Dynasty Rising/Falling: Quarterbacks

I posted this article on Rotworld's Pancake Blocks blog earlier today. It's a list of five QBs rising and five QBs falling in value since the beginning of offseason practices in May.

Since the unveiling of our first offseason Dynasty rankings back in May, spring practices have seen several players gaining momentum while others are losing steam. Here’s a brief look at the quarterback movement:

Rising

1. Brett Favre – He’s heading into the season as a red light injury risk for the first time in his career, but the Vikes’ offense is ready to explode into elite fantasy territory. Football Outsiders Almanac predicts a lofty 3,500+ yards, 25 TDs and a 66% completion rate for Favre this season.

2. Kyle Orton – Expected to be the starter all along, Orton absorbed Josh McDaniels’ offense and made quick work of Chris Simms in the quarterback “competition.” After two months of drama and speculation, his top receiving weapon is vowing to attend camp on time.

3. Carson Palmer – The elbow still leaves room for doubt, but all signs were positive this spring. Led by a rejuvenated Ochocinco and a reformed Chris Henry, the Bengals receivers boast more depth and playmaking ability this season than last.

4. Alex Smith – GM Scot McCloughan’s pet project reportedly threw with “stunning accuracy” while outplaying Shaun Hill in pajamas this spring. If Smith manages to snag the starting job away from Hill this preaseason, he’ll be throwing to the most talented group of receivers he’s ever had.

5. Matt Leinart – Rave reviews about Leinart’s newfound maturity and work ethic are pouring in, and he’s finally mastered Ken Whisenhunt’s offense. Should Warner go down with an injury or retire after the season, Leinart will be at the helm of one of the NFL's most explosive offenses.

Falling

1. Shaun Hill – Even if he makes for an interesting QB2 gamble in redraft leagues, it’s clear that the Niners don’t see him as the long-term answer. Ever in danger of a permanent demotion, he could lose all value at a moment’s notice.

2. JaMarcus Russell – Squandering the momentum he had built up with a strong finish to 2008, Russell authored a disastrous spring. As if the overwhelming concerns about his work ethic weren’t enough, he now has a motivated Jeff Garcia breathing down his neck.

3. Sage Rosenfels – The practically perfect backup QB was poised for a breakout season with a dangerous deep threat (Berrian), healthy red zone weapon (Rice), explosive rookie playmaker (Harvin) and a dynamite rushing attack. Instead, it looks like he’ll be carrying the clipboard for Favre.

4. Joe Flacco – His only reliable pass-catcher claims he’s now retired while his third receiver and both veteran tight ends are limping through another summer. Are the Ravens ready to unravel this season?

5. Derek Anderson – Despite Eric Mangini’s insistence that the starter won’t be named until deep into preseason action, Brady Quinn is the unanimous favorite among those covering the team. As Football Outsiders Almanac points out, Anderson is little more than a three-game wonder at this point in his career.

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ESPN's John Clayton on Matt Ryan

ESPN.com's John Clayton touched base on Matt Ryan, Tony Gonzalez and Michael Turner in an indepth article on the Falcons offense. Since I've had Ryan ranked as a Top-5 Dynasty QB all offseason, I especially enjoyed the Peyton Manning/Tom Brady comparisons.

As for Ryan, I haven't been this excited about a quarterback prospect since Peyton Manning came into the league in 1998. Ryan has it all. He can make all the throws, he has a fourth-quarter presence similar to Manning or Tom Brady's, and he's a student of the game. In the first quarter of last season, Ryan had progressed enough he was able to get to his fourth read and complete passes.

Ryan has the ability to go into a no-huddle, three-receiver set with Roddy White, Michael Jenkins and Harry Douglas and still feature Gonzalez. With those types of weapons, you'd think Ryan would throw 40 passes a game and the Falcons would score 30 points each Sunday. The Falcons could be the eastern version of the New Orleans Saints.

...

Even though Peyton Manning is known more for this throwing than for how he manages the running game, look what happened to the Indianapolis Colts this offseason. One of the things that makes Manning's offense work so well is the stretch running play -- which Manning uses as a threat to get the play-action passing game going. So even though the Colts cut Marvin Harrison -- Manning's favorite pass-receiving target -- the Colts used a first-round pick on a running back, UConn's Donald Brown, and not a wide receiver. The Colts are coming off their worst rushing seasons.

It will be interesting to see if Ryan tries to manage games the way Manning does. The Colts have perfected the nine- or 10-possession game. While most games feature 12 to 13 possessions, Manning tries to win by executing long, time-consuming drives, which give his defense a chance to rest and be fresh. If the Colts score on five of their nine possessions, they are going to score around 27 points a game.

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Quarterback Rankings | July 15, 2009

QUARTERBACKS

TIER ONE

1. Peyton Manning, IND | Age: 33.5 | Contract: Thru 2012 | Value Score: 99

2. Drew Brees, NO | Age: 30.6 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 99

3. Tom Brady, NE | Age: 32.1 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 97

TIER TWO

4. Matt Ryan, ATL | Age: 24.3 | Contract: Thru 2013 | Value Score: 92

5. Aaron Rodgers, GB | Age: 25.8 | Contract: Thru 2014 | Value Score: 89

6. Philip Rivers, SD | Age: 27.8 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 88

7. Tony Romo, DAL | Age: 29.4 | Contract: Thru 2013 | Value Score: 86

TIER THREE

8. Jay Cutler, CHI | Age: 26.3 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 80

9. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT | Age: 27.5 | Contract: Thru 2014 | Value Score: 78

10. Donovan McNabb, PHI | Age: 32.7 | Contract: Thru 2013 | Value Score: 77

11. Matt Schaub, HOU | Age: 28.2 | Contract: Thru 2012 | Value Score: 75

12. Carson Palmer, CIN | Age: 29.7 | Contract: Thru 2014 | Value Score: 75

13. Kurt Warner, ARI | Age: 38.3 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 72

TIER FOUR

14. Eli Manning, NYG | Age: 28.6 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 63

15. David Garrard, JAX | Age: 31.5 | Contract: Thru 2014 | Value Score: 62

16. Trent Edwards, BUF | Age: 25.9 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 60

17. Joe Flacco, BAL | Age: 24.7 | Contract: Thru 2012 | Value Score: 59

18. Matthew Stafford, DET | Age: 21.6 | Contract: ____ | Value Score: 54

19. Mark Sanchez, NYJ | Age: 22.9 | Contract: ____ | Value Score: 52

20. Matt Cassel, KC | Age: 26.3 | Contract: Thru 2014 | Value Score: 51

21. Matt Hasselbeck, SEA| Age: 34.0 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 50

TIER FIVE

22. Kyle Orton, DEN | Age: 26.8 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 40

23. Matt Leinart, ARI | Age: 26.3 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 38

24. Brady Quinn, CLE | Age: 24.9 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 35

25. Chad Henne, MIA | Age: 24.2 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 32

26. Jason Campbell, WAS | Age: 27.7 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 30

27. Sage Rosenfels, MIN | Age: 31.5 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 28

28. *Michael Vick, UFA | Age: 29.2 | Contract: Free Agent | Value Score: 27

TIER SIX

29. Shaun Hill, SF | Age: 29.7 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 18

30. JaMarcus Russell, OAK | Age: 24.1 | Contract: Thru 2012 | Value Score: 17

31. Marc Bulger, STL | Age: 32.4 | Contract: Thru 2013 | Value Score: 15

32. Jake Delhomme, CAR | Age: 34.6 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 14

33. Josh Freeman, TB | Age: 21.7 | Contract: ____ | Value Score: 14

34. Chad Pennington, MIA | Age: 33.2 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 12

TIER SEVEN

35. Vince Young, TEN | Age: 26.3 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 7

36. Luke McCown, TB | Age: 28.2 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 7

37. Byron Leftwich, TB | Age: 29.6 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 7

38. Kerry Collins, TEN | Age: 36.7 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 7

39. Pat White, MIA | Age: 23.6 | Contract: ____ | Value Score: 7

40. Tarvaris Jackson, MIN | Age: 26.4 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 6

41. Alex Smith, SF | Age: 25.3 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 6

42. Daunte Culpepper, DET | Age: 32.7 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 6

TIER EIGHT

43. Kevin Kolb, PHI | Age: 25.0 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 4

44. Dennis Dixon, PIT | Age: 24.7 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 4

45. Derek Anderson, CLE | Age: 26.2 | Contract: Thru 2010* | Value Score: 4

46. Colt Brennan, WAS | Age: 26.0 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 4

47. Matt Moore, CAR | Age: 25.1 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 3

48. Kevin O'Connell, NE | Age: 24.5 | Contract: Thru 2011 Value Score: 3

49. Tyler Thigpen, KC | Age: 25.4 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 3

50. Brian Brohm, GB | Age: 23.9 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 3

LONG-SHOTS

51. Brett Favre, MIN? | Age: 39.9 | Contract: UFA | Value Score: 2

52. Kellen Clemens, NYJ | Age: 26.3 | Value Score: 2

53. Drew Stanton, DET | Age: 25.4 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 2

54. Jeff Garcia, OAK | Age: 39.5 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 2

55. Seneca Wallace, SEA | Age: 29.1 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 2

56. Chris Simms, DEN | Age: 29.0 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 2

57. Nate Davis, SF | Age: 22.3 | Contract: ____ | Value Score: 2

58. Brett Ratliff, CLE | Age: 24.1 | Value Score: 2

59. Jon Kitna, DAL | Age: 37.0 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 2

60. Troy Smith, BAL | Age: 25.2 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 2

61. Rhett Bomar, NYG | Age: 24.2 | Contract: ____ | Value Score: 2

62. Stephen McGee, DAL | Age: 23.9 | Contract: ____ | Value Score: 2

63. Josh Johnson, TB | Age: 23.4 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 2

RUBBISH

64. Dan Orlovsky, HOU | Age: 26.1 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 1

65. Billy Volek, SD | Age: 33.4 | Contract: Thru 2010 | Value Score: 1

66. Kyle Boller, STL | Age: 28.3 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 1

67. Rex Grossman, HOU |Age: 29.0 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 1

68. Brian Griese, TB | Age: 34.5 | Contract: [UFA] | Value Score: 1

69. John Beck, BAL | Age: 28.1 | Value Score: 1

70. Josh McCown, CAR | Age: 30.2 | Value Score: 1

71. David Carr, NYG | Age: 30.1 | Value Score: 1

72. Charlie Whitehurst, SD | Age: 27.1 | Value Score: 1

73. Caleb Hanie, CHI | Age: 24.0 | Value Score: 1

74. Ryan Fitzpatrick, BUF | Age: 26.8 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 1

75. Patrick Ramsey, TEN | Age: 30.5 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 1

76. Tom Brandstater, DEN | Age: 24.9 | Contract: ____ | Value Score: 1

77. Curtis Painter, IND | Age: 24.3 | Contract: ____ | Value Score: 1

78. Mike Teel, SEA | Age: 23.7 | Contract: ____ | Value Score: 1

79. J.T. O'Sullivan, CIN | Age: 30.0 | Contract: Thru 2011 | Value Score: 1

80. John David Booty, MIN | Age: 25.2 | Value Score: 1

81. Andre Woodson, NYG | Age: 25.4 | Value Score: 1

82. J.P. Losman, UFA | Age: 28.5 | Contract: [UFA] | Value Score: 1

83. #Brodie Croyle, KC | Age: 26.5 | Contract: Thru 2009 | Value Score: 1

84. Damon Huard, SF | Age: 36.2 | Contract: ? | Value Score: 1

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