2012 Sandwich Fest Season Review: Quarterbacks

If you're looking for a respite from the A-Rod coverage, please allow Sandwich Fest to be your desert oasis.  On tap for today is a look back at the top 20 quarterbacks as per Sandwich Fest's patented Advanced QB Scoring System (patent pending).

(click to enlarge)

1. Aaron Rodgers - 431.60 pts.  Clearly I'm not as dumb as Hemrick would have you believe since I traded for the #1 QB, Aaron Rodgers.

He just needed 1.96 more points in our opening round playoff matchup and you'd be looking at the two-time defending champion.  Instead, I get shit from Hemrick.  I'm over it. Swear.  Obviously he'll be top-5 again.  If you pick Aaron Rodgers and aren't an ungrateful bastard like Hemrick, you won't be disappointed.

2. Tom Brady - 417.78 pts. Speaking of not being disappointed, The Tom Brady Show checks in at #2.  Hill and myself and anyone who's owned Tom Brady can tell you how fun it is.  Pencil him for 30 every week and don't worry about the QB1 spot.  The question is, can the great Tom Brady still be a top-5 QB without Aaron Hernandez (killed a bunch of people), Wes Welker (in Denver), and a compromised Gronk with his weekly off-season surgeries?  Yes, he can.  I mean, check this guy out.  He has the hair Bry's always wanted.

3. Drew Brees - 410.58 pts. The Drew Brees hype is ramping up with Sean Peyton back and the same complement of weapons.  He was the lone bright spot on PromNiteDumpsterBaby's also-ran squad and is no doubt looking forward to a new year.  He has James Graham, so he should throw for at least 89 TDs this year.

obligatory James Graham photo

4. Peyton Manning - 402.46 pts. The 2nd piece of the Defending Champs all-star QB roster was Mr. Peyton Manning. Much like Tom Brady, if Peyton Manning is on the field, I expect him to dominate, and he did.  He's back for 2013 and is top-5 option after finishing #4 last year.  Even at age 37, he's still rocking a Grade A Manning Face as well.

5. Matt Ryan - 402.36 pts.  Rounding out the top 5 is Matty Ice.  He's also the last QB to top 400 Sandwich Fest points last year and it's not hard to see why.  Accurate QB, throws in a dome, and has 3 elite receiving options and this year gets Steven Jackson to join the offense.  No reason to think he won't be close to this again in 2013.

6-10. RGIII, Tony Romo, Cam Newton, Matthew Stafford, and Russell Wilson.  Six through 10 includes four young QBs with upside and Tony Romo, who people used to hate, but now I think only Cowboys fans hate.

RGIII leads this group with 370 points, and could've hit 400 had he not missed a game.  Unfortunately that could happen a lot.  Dude took some big hits.  And this:

"I broke my knee man"

But he was an absolute BEAST last year when healthy.  Right Hill?

I'm surprised to see Russell Wilson made the top ten, but probably more surprised to see Newton and Stafford up this high.  It seemed like they could've been even better, especially coming off big 2011 seasons. With Stafford, it took him awhile to get going.  In his first five games, Stafford only had a QBR over 80 once and that was enough to kill Bry's season.  And as far as I'm concerned, Cam Newton sabotaged The Holo What?, and I believe killed Joe's parents.   What an asshole.

11-15. Matt Schaub, Andy Dalton, Andrew Luck, Joe Flacco, Ben Roethlisberger.  Seeing Schaub, Flacco, Benny McRape, and to a lesser extent Andy Dalton, in the top 15 makes me feel like QB isn't as deep as I thought.  Flacco already was without Anquan Boldin, and now Dennis Pitta is out too.  Ol' Rapey has a rookie RB and lost Mike Wallace.  Aside from Luck, this is a shaky group.

16-20. Eli Manning, Carson Palmer, Sam Bradford, Phil Rivers, Josh Freeman.  Still not feeling great about this group.  Although Eli, Palmer and Sammy are all in better situations this year (Eli due to injuries; Palmer in a better offense in Arizona; Rams using the draft to help out Bradford).  The other two I think are almost done, Freeman especially.

Of the crew at 11-20, I can easily see 5 of them falling out of the top 20 this year.  Who replaces them? Well for one, Kaepernick will get a full season now.  And don't be surprised if this guy:

makes a jump with a new offensive coordinator and The Black Unicorn at TE.  Other than those two, we could see Tannehill and Brandon Weeden get into that 16-20 range.

The Sandwich Fest patented Advanced QB Scoring System (patent pending) always makes QB's a unique proposition.  Do you plan to play one in the flex or not?  It's no longer an automatic.

Off Season Review: Quarterbacks

Gentlemen,

As a public service to the best fantasy league/managers in the world, I figure I'd recap, position by position, some of the moves that will effect the fantasy football landscape for this upcoming season.  I'll go position by position.  QB seems like the logical place to start.

Pay attention kids and maybe you too could join the ranks of Ryan Hemrick or Chris Hill or Bryan Cox as a Sandwich Fest Champion.

KANSAS CITY
They got rid of Matt Cassell and traded a 2nd round pick for Alex Smith.

KC has talent offensively.  Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe are two of the best at their positions.  They added Anthony Fasano at TE.  Jonathan Baldwin is a former first round pick in his 2nd year.  And of course everyone's favorite Chief, Clusty.

Smith will have to prove he's more than just a Mormon with small hands that has multiple wives but can't excel in an offense where they don't run the ball 40 times per game.  Chase Daniel was brought in to back him up.  He is more than a nothing backup and spent the last 4 years learning under Drew Brees.  For his career he's 7 of 9 for 55 yards.  Obviously you can see the potential.

OAKLAND
In Oakland, Matt Flynn will finally get his shot.  How will it turn out?  No idea.  This is Oakland, a perpetual disaster for the last decade.  Ok so I guess I have some idea.

Will he have any help out there?  Can DMC stay healthy?  Who's the starting TE with Meyers on the Giants?  More importantly, the wideout depth chart shapes out like so:

1. Denarius Moore
2. Rod Streater
3. Josh Cribbs
4. Jacoby Ford

Godspeed Matt Flynn.

ARIZONA
Arizona acquired Carson Palmer from the Raiders.  Carson Palmer is not great but he has one quality you cannot dispute:  He is not Kevin Kolb, Ryan Lindley or John Skelton.

The story of this move is really Larry Fitzgerald.  Carson Palmer can throw a football.  He gets hit too much,. He throws it to the wrong team too much.  But he's not completely incompetent and that's all Larry Fitzgerald needs.  Clearly I don't think Carson Palmer has much left but I'd bet he is viable enough to make Larry Fitzgerald a top 5 WR again.

Palmer could prove to be a nice matchup play in the 2nd QB spot, especially at home where he'll have ideal conditions.  A supporting cast of Andre Roberts, Rashard Mendenhall, Rob Housler and rookie Ryan Swope will help as well.  It's not totally crazy to think Palmer could be in a lineup at some point this year.

BUFFALO
Ryan Fitzpatrick is no longer in Buffalo.  So no more 25 for 60 for 225 yards, 1 TD and 3 INT.  Instead you'll probably see EJ Manuel start.  He's a rookie that wasn't that good in college and now they're expecting him to be a franchise QB in Buffalo.  He's like Christian Ponder, only blacker.  Kevin Kolb is also there but if they're determined to play a shitty QB, they might as well play the rookie.

NEW YORK JETS
Ok, so you're Rex Ryan.  You just finished licking your wife's feet and now need to pick a starting QB.

Do you pick this guy:

Or this guy:

There is no a chance that in a new offense, Sanchez could do alright.  But let's face it, the only chance a Jets QB has to be drafted in our league is if it's Geno Smith.  Ok, you can go back to the feet now.

PHILADELPHIA
The Iggs have a new coach and three QBs to choose from.  Chip Kelly drafted Matt Barkley in the 4th round, to join Nick Foles and Mick Vick in a competition for the starting job.  I have to think it's gonna be Vick still.  He's almost a sure bet to get hurt, but he's the best one on the roster.  Barkley has potential, but he's still a fourth round pick.  It would take a lot for him to get the nod.  And something named Nick Foles just doesn't sound like a starting NFL QB to me.

"Hey did you see Nick Foles threw for five TDs last night?"  See what I mean?

QUICK NOTES
A couple of backups who might be viable if the starter is out and the match up is good.  Matt Hasselbeck is backing up Andy Luck in Indy, and Jason Campbell is in Cleveland.   Hold on, Jason Campbell stinks.  Forget that one.  Matt Cassell is in Minnesota now and as previously mentioned, Christian Ponder is the white EJ Manuel.  Cassell could see some time before this year is out.