Fantasy football nuts need to answer this question: have we entered a new era in drafting players for our fantasy football teams? Is this the era of the quarterback?
I think the answer is a resounding Yes.
In the past 15 years of drafting fantasy football teams, I have never selected a quarterback in the first round. In fact, I have always said that this is a fatal mistake. Moreover, in these 15 years, only one team in our league has selected a quarterback with his first pick and won the Fantasy Bowl.
So, the numbers would seem to back me up when I tell people taking a QB in round one is certain death to your fantasy football success. Now, my opinion is changing. Hey, in order to be successful year after year, you have to be flexible, especially in this risky game.
Consider this past season. Peyton Manning broke the single season record, with his 49 TD passes. If you score each pass as 3 points, this is a whopping 147 points, and this doesn’t consider any additional points for TD runs or passing yards, if your league uses this method of scoring. Can anyone argue Manning’s value as a top pick?
And what about Duante Culpepper and Donovan McNabb? Here are two more QBs, capable of 35 touchdown passes and another three to eight runs. If you play in a basic scoring league, your best running back or receiver will get you 15-20 TDs, good for 120 points at best. Compared to the 140 plus that one of these great QBs can amass, how can you pass on one of them, in favor of a Shaun Alexander or Priest Holmes?
Tough call? Maybe.
Unless you play for $30 million, like Wall Street’s bunch, in my novel, The League, you can afford to gamble on this difficult decision. The men of The League have to get it right, or it may cost someone his life! Learn more about this fascinating, soon-to-be-released novel at
Mark Barnes is the author of the new novel, The League, the first work of fiction, based on fantasy football. Learn more about this suspense thriller and Mark’s other work at
