Qb: 55 Player Breakdowns

[This article contains tables. Complete tables are not available. For the complete set of tables see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]

THE QUICK READ

1. Drew BREES
2. Aaron RODGERS
3. Peyton MANNING
4. Philip RIVERS
5. Kurt WARNER
6. Donovan McNABB
7. Tom BRADY
8. Jay CUTLER
9. Matt RYAN
10. Matt CASSEL
11. Tony ROMO
12. Carson PALMER
13. Matt SCHAUB
14. Trent EDWARDS
15. Matt HASSELBECK
16. Kyle ORTON
17. Ben ROETHLISBERGER
18. Eli MANNING
19. Chad PENNINGTON
20. Jason CAMPBELL
21. Joe FLACCO
22. Kerry COLLINS
23. Brady QUINN
24. Jake DELHOMME
25. Mark SANCHEZ
26. Matt LEINART
27. Sage ROSENFELS
28. Marc BULGER
29. David GARRARD
30. Jeff GARCIA
31. Luke McCOWN
32. JaMarcus RUSSELL

1 Drew BREES
SAINTS
AGE: 30
BYE WEEK: 5
AUCTION: $22

The second man to throw for 5,000 yards in a season, Brees may have fallen 15 yards short of Dan Marino's single-season record, but he shattered another Marino mark of 4,137 yards without a 1,000-yard WR. Brees hasn't missed a game since 2004, and since joining the Saints, in '06, he has thrown for almost 1,500 yards more than anyone else, making him the clear No. 1 pick among QBs.

2 Aaron RODGERS
PACKERS
AGE: 25
BYE WEEK: 5
AUCTION: $18

[ON THE RISE] Pardon the idol-bashing, but the guy is already becoming as potent a fantasy QB as Brett Favre ever was. In terms of TDs, Rodgers's first year as a starter was on a par with Favre's miracle '07. Meanwhile his picks, just 13, tied Favre's career low. His numbers should leap this year as his connection with WR Greg Jennings and his knowledge of the offense grow.

3 Peyton MANNING
COLTS
AGE: 33
BYE WEEK: 6
AUCTION: $17

Manning has been calling his own plays for years, so the Colts' well-publicized coaching changes will not have the same impact on him as they would on a younger quarterback. What will affect his production will be the performance of Marvin Harrison's replacement, Anthony Gonzalez, and the running game. (The latter stank last year.) A safe pick for around 4,000 yards and 30 TDs again.

4 Philip RIVERS
CHARGERS
AGE: 27
BYE WEEK: 5
AUCTION: $17