Fantasy : DR X "Under pressure".... : Dear Fantasy Doctor X.

I knew I’d get some people’s attention with my 2007 Qb rankings. It never fails!
Especially when it comes to rankings, everyone is entitled to their own opinion as it should be, and commenting on rankings will help me get a better perspective on players and what other people see in them that I might have overlooked.

In my recent 2007 Qb rankings article, I had ranked Tony Romo and Vince Young higher than Tom Brady, Donovan McNabb and Marc Bulger.

Ranking those two young guys over these three proven veterans caught some readers’ attention.

Let your Dr X tell you how it all went by reporting what three different readers had to say.

Reader 1)
“How you can put Romo and Young over Brady, Bulger and McNabb confuses me.

Granted they are nice prospects, but putting them over proven veterans? Remember last year McNabb led all QB's by far in fantasy points before he got injured?”

Dr X’s answer to reader 1:
“First of all those rankings will go up and down all the way thru the start of the season. These rankings will change as teams sign free agents and also after the NFL draft is complete.

The overall idea will remain the same for the most part on how I ranked these two prospects, as you called them, over proven veterans.

Let's analyze these guys a little.

Tom Brady lacks good wr's and it showed last year.
He somehow found a way to make a decent season out of it, finding different receivers every week and get them to make plays.

The Patriots signed Wes Welker recently, but let's be honest....Is anybody scared of him? If they get Donte Stallworth, then it's a different story.

Marc Bulger had a sub-par season as well in 2006.
The Rams lost Kevin Curtis, a 3rd year wr, to free agency and acquired TE Randy McMichael.

Bulger was playing hurt last season and we don't know if he's fully healed yet. Also the Rams OL is not protecting Marc Bulger as it should and it showed.

Donovan McNabb, like you said, led all Qb's in points last year before being out for the season.
Just because of his past injury record and the fact that injuries occur often to him, at least 3 years in a row now, that makes me raise a red flag by his name.

The ideal solution here is to either draft another good NFL starter to back him up in your fantasy league, or just draft him as a QB2, because it would be hard to find a viable QB in the waiver wire towards the end of the year. That’s why you need to plan ahead if thinking about drafting McNabb.

Tony Romo was sensational when inserted in the starting lineup for the Cowboys. He had a great run at first and cooled off a little towards the end of the season.

The Cowboys still have Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn plus Jason Witten to bail him out of trouble. He had his struggles already so he will have learned his lessons by next year. He's not a prospect anymore.

Vince Young is a different type of Qb than Tony Romo, a more mobile one. The Michael Vick type of player that runs for a living.

Running the ball gives you fantasy points regardless and if the Titans can acquire some decent wr's he'll be a complete Qb.
This guy somehow found a way to win every week, especially at the end of the season stringing 7 wins in a row for his team.

I believe he’ll get better in his second year as I gave him his immunization shot against the famous “Sophomore Jinx”.

In other words, young age and injury-free history had a huge part in my ranking reasoning”.

Reader 2)
“The injured Marc Bulger had 4300 yds passing( his first 4000yd+ season ) and 24 TD's...Good enough to be the third ranked QB in almost every fantasy league...Very sub-par 06 season, Dr X.”

Dr X answer's to reader 2)

“Again, these rankings will change as the off season goes on depending on who the Rams sign to improve the OL or the Wr corp.
Also, as you know consistency is very important in fantasy football.

A valid example could be made when L.T. cooled down a tad during fantasy playoffs time ruining, therefore, some owner's seasons.
On the other end Marc Bulger got hot around that time but most owners who had him, myself included, didn't make the playoffs because of his poor play to begin the season.

Now, back to the numbers, I have to admit that yours was a nice try in comparing "Apples" to "Oranges.
4301 y passing yards and 24 Td's is not a sub-par season by any means, I'll give you that!

I was referring more to the consistency fact.
I should have stated it differently. I'm getting the chance to do it now thanks to your nice observation.

Now, go ahead and dust off that calculator you have by your desk and let's crunch some numbers.

4301 divided by 16 games = 269 yards a game.
Then, 24 Td's divided by 16 games = 1.5 Td a game. Very good so far. You do have a valid point. Those were Marc Bulger's numbers.

Let's crunch Tony Romo's numbers now.

2903 passing yards divided 10 games = 290 yards a game, a little better than Bulger.
19 Td's divided 10 games = 1.9 Td a game. Almost 2 Td's a game. Again, better than Bulger.

If we project those numbers in a 16 game season, Romo could have 4640 yards and 30 Td’s.

Now, the extra 11 yds per game will give you 1 more point and the extra Td per game will give you 6 more for a total of 7 points a game totaling 112 extra points in a 16 game span.

Those extra points can define the difference between a fantasy contender team and a Championship winner team.
See, that's comparing "Apples to Apples".

Reader 3)

“Hard to argue too much w/ that list Doc, save for Brady's ranking.

Granted he didn't have much last year, in terms of receiving targets; but, it's not like he had an all-star cast the year before, when he had a great season (as defined by his fantasy results in H2H leagues).

I don't know; QBs are akin to starting pitchers to me, as I will generally go w/ the established vet over the young prodigy, assuming that vet has a viable fantasy track record. I'd have him 4th on that list.
I'd drop McNabb even further than you did for the very injury factors you stated. Top-tier guy but if he's all I've got at QB, well...., doesn't exactly give me that warm fuzzy feeling that I don't have to worry about QB.

Finally, do love Cutler, both as a Bronco fan & from a fantasy perspective; however, I think it would be a mistake to expect 1st-tier numbers this season.
Do see him as a 30+ touchdown guy at some point but let's give the kid a chance to get his feet wet.
Definitely a special arm, strength, touch, & accuracy; & appears to have some poise; pretty optimistic here in Denver that he's the guy to get us back to the Promised Land.
I think 20-25 TD's are reachable numbers this year.”

Thanks for voicing your opinions and should you have additional questions, feel free to email me at: fantasydrx@yahoo.com

Your Fantasy Dr X is working on those long awaited RB rankings which will be posted soon.