By Ryan Houston and Kirk Bouyelas, Special to SI.com

	Eli Manning will be a top-flight quarterback this season, just don't draft him too high. Al Tielemans/SI

Kirk "Dr. Football" Bouyelas
Overall Ranking: 2 / 35

I can't say that I disagree with the arguments that Ryan makes. I wholeheartedly agree with his draft methodology of taking two mid-level quarterbacks back-to-back. The fact is I have employed the same strategy many times over the years. Does the fact I agree sound strange -- especially since I have Eli ranked No. 2 and Ryan has him at No. 8? Let me further explain my position.

Our differences come by way of a ranking on a cheat sheet, not a philosophy of drafting. Every year fantasy owners turn to cheatsheet rankings to guide them in their draft. This is a big mistake and the reason I believe rankings can be misleading in general. Unfortunately, they are a necessary evil in the fantasy football world.

While I have Eli ranked No. 2, I by no means endorse his being drafted as the second overall quarterback. Now you're really confused -- right? Don't confuse a ranking with where you should draft a particular player. The key is this -- the value of a fantasy football player is not determined by their ultimate statistical production, but rather where they are drafted. While I believe that Eli will finish the year as the No. 2 overall fantasy quarterback, I would never draft him in that spot. The reason lies in what is known as ADP or Average Draft Position.

By examining the ADP of Eli Manning, we learn on average Eli is being drafted as the 61st overall selection in mock drafts. This equates to about the 6.01 pick in a 12-team league. On average, Eli is the sixth overall quarterback being drafted. Hasselbeck, Brady, McNabb and company are going before him.

The ADP also suggests that the No. 2 ranked quarterback -- Carson Palmer in this case -- is being drafted as the 45th overall selection in these mock drafts. This equates to about the 4.09 pick in a 12-team league. The third-, fourth- and fifth-ranked quarterbacks are being taken between the 4.09 pick and the 6.01 pick.

As I said earlier, I believe that Eli will finish the year as the No. 2 overall fantasy quarterback. If however, I draft him at the 4.09 pick as ADP suggests the No. 2 overall quarterback would fall, I have made a critical mistake even if Eli finishes as the No. 2 overall quarterback at season's end. Remember, the value of a fantasy football player is not determined by their ultimate statistical production, but rather where they are drafted. ADP tells me I can draft another player in the fourth round and still grab Eli a round later. By upgrading that fourth-round pick by drafting another player position, I have realized the true fantasy value of Eli Manning and improved my roster at the same time.

Now, on to where Ryan and I seem to disagree. Ryan states "While I feel he [Eli] will make great strides in his development there is no way I want this guy as my QB1 heading into my fantasy season without a worthwhile backup option." I would offer that, contrary to his statement, Ryan is in essence ranking him as a QB1 due to the fact that he ranked Eli the No. 8 overall quarterback. In a 12-team league, the No. 1 through No. 12 rated quarterbacks will all be QB1s for their respective teams. Obviously, Ryan believes, in his subconscious at least, Eli will be a QB1. Maybe not a strong QB1, but a QB1 nonetheless. Hence his draft methodology of taking two mid-level quarterbacks back-to-back.

I propose Eli and brother Peyton are in similar situations. Both the Colts and Giants have productive offenses -- ranked No. 3 and No. 4 respectively. Both averaged close to the same number of offensive plays, number of yards per game and yards per play. Both teams have talented supporting casts as well. Why would we believe they are dissimilar? Is it strictly because of Eli's completion percentage and touchdown-to-interception rate? If so, I would argue, in Peyton's first full year as a starter, he had a 56.7 percent completion rate. In Eli's first full year as a starter, he had a 52.8 percent completion rate. With a full year under his belt and maturity, that will improve. Ryan also cited a "horrific turnover ratio 30 TDs/26 INTs over the course of his career." Is it really that horrific? Eli's turnover ratio of 30 TDs/26 INTs took place over his first 23 starts. In big brother Peyton's first 23 starts, he had a turnover ratio of 39 TDs/36 INTs.

The fact of the matter is Peyton started off a little slow but quickly turned into a fantasy gem. It's called adjusting to the pro game. Eli had a similar start, and like his brother before him, will quickly turn into a fantasy gem.

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