Fantasy Football: Peyton Manning... Fantasy Afterthought??

Do you ever remember that brand new toy that you got from your parents? Or the first time you drove your new car (maybe it was just new to you)? What happened to them after awhile? Eventually you received new toys or your car was now a few years old, they had lost their special feeling. Has Peyton Manning become just an old toy or used car to us fantasy coaches? He is 34 years old and is now entering his 13th season as the starting quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts. For some fantasy coaches that is light years. No matter what type of league: redraft, keeper or dynasty, it seems we always look for the next best thing. The talking heads blast us with the high flying Saints and Patriots offenses, you need to grab Drew Brees or Tom Brady. Or do we desperately grasp on to the next stars, Aaron Rodgers, Tony Romo, and Matt Schaub. In the meantime, pushing Peyton to the back of the closet with the old Nintendo and GI Joe's, forgetting the great times we had together or could have together.  

Our quarterback position needs to be a spot that we don't have to worry about and with Peyton Manning its just plug in and let's go. He has played 210 games without an absence. No injuries means no worries. How many other 34 year old QB's can say the same thing? Likewise, he doesn't take risks within the game, whether with his body or the football, that can cause us fits. Peyton knows his limits. What about his stats? In his 12 year career, Manning has yet to throw fewer than 26 TD passes and has only twice finished with less than 4000 passing yards. Now I know some worry that at the end of the season and during the fantasy playoffs, Manning won't be there to finish the job. There is some truth in that statement but we do know that Manning will play in every game as long as he's healthy. Look at Brees last 3 weeks of last season, less that 300 yards and 1 TD pass in Weeks 15 and 16, not to mention a DNP in the last game. In just Week 15, Peyton threw 4 TD's and over 300 yards. He will get you to the Championship and this season in Weeks 15 and 16, the Colts finish with Jacksonville and Oakland. It will be a buffet of fantasy points for Manning and his crew, bringing home the Fantasy trophy to you.

The risk with other quarterbacks is also, their running game. Do you remember the Colts running game last season? You're right, neither do I. It didn't exist. The Colts have finished last in rushing the last two years. Yet, teams still have not able to stop the Colts passing game because Manning is a surgeon. He will find the open man and make the other team pay. Have things changed that much for the Colts running game since the end of Super Bowl 44? No, not at all. Manning will still have to carry the offense and that means more passing, more TD's through the air and more fantasy points.

So, when you go into your fantasy draft, keep in mind Peyton Manning as your field general. He will lead your team to victory. You can concentrate on building your team around him, instead of having one more position to worry about. And don't forget he'll still be around next year, while some other NFL team is boasting about their new quarterback saviour.