- The Washington Times - Thursday, September 26, 2013

ANALYSIS/OPINION:

Let’s talk about quarterbacks. A thought [or two] on every starter from Week 3:

• Tom Brady: He’s going to be OK.



• Ryan Tannehill: If there’s one player you can get off waivers right now that you should stash for a late-season run or as value in a trade, it’s Tannehill. He’s quietly becoming a great QB.

• E.J. Manuel: His time will come, but not this year.

• Geno Smith: I still don’t trust him.

• Andy Dalton: Dependable fantasy backup, but that’s it.

• Joe Flacco: The anti-fantasy QB.

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• Ben Roethlisberger: Antonio Brown is the only player keeping him on fantasy rosters.

• Brian Hoyer: He’ll beat out Brandon Weeden.

• Andrew Luck: The one QB I regret not drafting.

• Matt Schaub: He is who we thought he was.

• Jake Locker: Meh.

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• Blaine Gabbert: Double meh.

• Peyton Manning: Death and taxes.

• Alex Smith: If only you got points for checkdowns.

• Philip Rivers: The lack of weapons already is catching up to him.

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• Terrelle Pryor: As Raiders QBs go …

• Tony Romo: Criminally underrated as a fantasy QB. A poor man’s Peyton Manning.

• Michael Vick: If you can’t say anything nice …

• Robert Griffin III: I’m not sure he’ll ever live up to the hype.

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• Eli Manning: I don’t understand him or his career arc.

• Jay Cutler: He’ll never be a quality fantasy starter, and I’m certain he doesn’t care.

• Matthew Stafford: I know he’ll never live up to the hype. His 2011 numbers were an abberation.

• Aaron Rodgers: Has he peaked?

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• Christian Ponder: He seems like a nice guy.

• Drew Brees: Death and taxes, NFC version.

• Matt Ryan: Tony Romo, NFC South version.

• Cam Newton: Better than I thought so far this year, but still too erratic.

• Josh Freeman: I can’t believe I drafted him as a starter just two years ago. He’s in freefall.

• Russell Wilson: You cannot underestimate what he is capable of.

• Colin Kaepernick: Too much talent not to succeed. Right?

• Sam Bradford: Stafford Lite.

• Carson Palmer: 2005 seems like a million years ago.

Week 3 Lineup Crime: In my never-ending shuffle to put together a great receiving corps (it starts with Dez Bryant and Brandon Marshall, so maybe I’m trying harder than I need to), I thought I had a coup when I picked up DeAndre Hopkins off waivers. Once I had him, I was starting him. But that meant benching James Jones or Jordan Cameron (there is no specific tight end spot in this league). I wasn’t going to get burned again by benching Jones, who was on my bench in Week 2 when he caught 11 passes for a career-high 178 yards against the Redskins. I benched Cameron instead. He then went out and caught a career-high three TDs (including one on a fake field goal). So Hopkins is back on my bench this week. Cecil Shorts, too. You should probably start both of them.

Week 4 Lineup Time: The Bills’ defense gave up two long TD receptions to the Jets last week. Start Torrey Smith. Give Dwayne Bowe one more week. Great matchup against the Giants. I think the Jaguars will show some life against the Colts. I expect a good game from Maurice Jones-Drew. He won’t approach 200 yards again, but Antonio Brown should have his way with the Vikings. I’m about to give up on Stevan Ridley, but I like Aaron Dobson against the Falcons. You could do much worse than being “stuck” with Ryan Tannehill as your bye-week starter against the Saints.

• Matt Pallister can be reached at mpallister@washingtontimes.com.

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