Fantasy Football 2011: Top 25 Quarterbacks Printable Cheat Sheet

Fantasy football is back and the quarterback position is as difficult to manage as always. When is the right time to grab a back up quarterback? The best time to grab a back up quarterback in fantasy football drafts is after drafting two running backs two wide receivers and one tight end. The following are the top 25 QB's in fantasy football draft order.

Fantasy Football Top Tier Quarterbacks of 2011

No.1. Michael Vick: Philadelphia Eagles

Michael Vick was a pick up for most fantasy football owners when Kevin Kolb went down against the Green Bay Packers early in the season. Forward thinking fantasy football owners had Vick as their third quarterback and may have won their league.

Beware of Vick's decline as he begins to take punishment later in the season. He struggled as the season ended and was a beaten man by the time he walked off the field in defeat against the Green Bay Packers in the NFL Wild Card Playoffs.

No.2. Aaron Rodgers: Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers ended the fantasy football season as the sixth best quarterback but he did suffer two concussions during the season. 2011 will be a much better year for Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers will shore up the offensive line to give him much better protection.

No.3. Philip Rivers: San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers offense will come out of the gate strong in 2011 and Phillip Rivers have a much better core of receivers to work with. Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates will be present to begin the season and Rivers has already developed his supporting cast. The development of Ryan Mathews will also be crucial to Rivers fantasy football success.

No.4. Drew Brees: New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints were brought down a peg in the NFL Playoffs to end their 2011 campaign for the Super Bowl but Drew Brees will bounce back and have another 4,000 yard plus season for his fantasy football owners. If there is an NFL Lockout it may benefit Brees and some of the older New Orleans Saints players.

No.5. Peyton Manning: Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning finished the 2010 fantasy football season at the top of the heap once again but in the NFL Playoffs he showed signs of slowing down. Manning averaged four more points per game than Drew Brees in the regular season. If Manning is already on a fantasy football team he is still a keeper and if he is available in the first round of the fantasy football draft he must be taken but remember to have a plan B.

No.6. Tom Brady: New England Patriots

Tom Brady ranked fourth among fantasy football quarterbacks in the 2010 regular season but the New York Jets may have unlocked the key to defeating him and the New England Patriots in 2011. Brady is a match up quarterback. He looks for weaknesses and he acts on them during the game. The Jets defense played a soft amoeba like defense that flexed to the weak side. Brady will be on the low side of 4,000 yards in 2011 or high end of 3,000.

No.7. Matt Schaub: Houston Texans

Matt Schaub will rebound in 2011as a top five quarterback but he may get off to a slow start. If he falls to the second round of a fantasy football draft he will be a steal. Schaub will be working through a second year of adjusting to high powered running attack and now that he knows how to set up the play action pass effectively he will be dangerous.

No.8. Tony Romo: Dallas Cowboys

The injury to Tony Romo will cause many to pass on the talented Dallas Cowboys quarterback. This is good news for fantasy football owners looking for a quarterback in the first round of their draft. Romo will be rested and anxious to gt his season underway. He may push the first few weeks so be open to trade for him if he is on another roster and gets off to a poor start.

Fantasy Football Second Tier Quarterbacks of 2011

No.9. Matt Ryan: Atlanta Falcons

Matt Ryan is on the cusp of becoming a top tier quarterback. He has one more season to put up some strong fantasy football numbers and with Roddy White as the Atlanta Falcons number one receiver he has a golden opportunity to bump one of the top tier quarterbacks in 2011.

No.10. Eli Manning: New York Giants

Eli Manning is anaverage fantasy football quarterback and if he is available for a fantasy football owner at the end of the second round he must be taken. Manning has his better days and the rumors are that there may be some sure handed receivers coming his way in the 2011 off season.

No.11. Jay Cutler: Chicago Bears

Fantasy football leagues that take points away from quarterbacks for interceptions and six points for a pick six touchdown may not be a good league to draft Jay Cutler. Cutler ranked between 13th and 17th in most fantasy football leagues for the 2010 NFL regular season.

No.12. Joe Flacco: Baltimore Ravens

Joe Flacco ranked 12th in the regular season fantasy football points. Flacco under performed all season and he may be a gamble in this spot but the Baltimore Ravens QB may be more comfortable with his receivers.

No.13. Donovan McNabb: Minnesota Vikings

Donovan McNabb will be in another city once the NFL Lockout is over but do not move him up the fantasy football draft order. McNabb is aging rapidly but he still has some skills that will make him a solid fantasy football back up.

No.14. Carson Palmer: Cincinnati Bengals (Retired but Possible Seahawk?)

Carson Palmer ranked eighth this season among fantasy football quarterbacks in the regular season but he is in decline. Palmer will be dealing with a flock of young receivers and possibly another rookie receiver once the 2011 NFL season is underway and he will drop out of the top ten fantasy football quarterbacks.

No.15. Ben Roethlisberger: Pittsburgh Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger may win Super Bowls but he is not a top 10 fantasy football quarterback in the NFL.Roethlisberger will be a solid fantasy football back up.

Fantasy Football Third Tier Quarterbacks of 2011

No.16. Matt Stafford: Detroit Lions

Matt Stafford is an up an coming fantasy football quarterback and is worth drafting late as a back up quarterback for a fantasy football team with a top five QB.

No.17. Ryan Fitzpatrick: Buffalo Bills

Ryan Fitzpatrick can go either way in the 2011 fantasy football season. he is a good quarterback to gamble with in this spot.

No.18. Jason Campbell: Oakland Raiders

Jason Campbell gets a vote of confidence with the Oakland Raiders hiring of Offensive Coordinator Hue Jackson.He will be a perfect spot starter on a fantasy football team.

No.19. Sam Bradford: St Louis Rams

Sam Bradford had a great season for nt having a number one receiver step up. With a new offensive coordinator and some wide receiver help through free agency and the NFL Draft Bradford will have a good 2011 NFL season.

No.20. Mark Sanchez: New York Jets

Mark Sanchez can be a detriment in a fantasy football league that takes off points for picks or rewards many completions.

No.21 Tim Tebow: Denver Broncos

Tim Tebow scored touchdowns for the Denver Broncos and his fantasy football owners on the ground and through the air and he will get his share in 2011. He is still a gamble and will be a third quarterback that could develop into a spot starter for a desperate fantasy football owner.

No.22. Josh Freeman: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Josh Freeman may be ranked low but many defensive coordinators may have stumbled on some weaknesses of the young Freeman. He is a third string fantasy football quarterback.

No.23. Matt Hasselbeck: Tennessee Titans

Can Matt Hasselbeck last an entire season? Good question and the answer may be to take Charlie Whitehurst late in the fantasy football draft instead of Hasselbeck.

No.24. Kevin Kolb: Arizona Cardinals

Michael Vick took his job last season and now it is time for Kolb to show what he has to offer. Don't get caught up in the hype. Gamble pick at best.

No.25. Kyle Orton: Denver Broncos?

Where will Kyle Orton be in 2011. A smart fantasy football owner will be prepared to take him late in the draft.

Statistical sources:

www.lasvegasinsideinfo.com

www.yahoosports.com

www.nfl.com