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TOP-10 KEEPER QBs

In the past couple weeks I ranked the top 10 keeper RBs and WRs. Fellow blogger Rick Kinigson joined in the fun with his own list of QB keepers, but undeterred, I completed my QB rankings, if for no other reason than to stir up more debate. While Rick did a great job on his list, we clearly disagree at almost every spot, as you can see here:

1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers (6-2, 220 ; age 27)
99 total TD's (86 passing, 13 rushing) over his only three years as a starter and 12,394 passing yards to go with another 879 on the ground say enough about his top-notch production. The fact that he's only 27 and still improving is a scary concept—scary at least for opposing defenses and unfortunate fantasy owners who will face him in future playoffs. With the other greats in their early to mid 30s, it seems as if Rodgers will hold the championship belt for many seasons to come.

2. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (6-5, 236 ; age 29)
As ridiculous as Brady was last year, Rivers was equally impressive considering what he did in a worse offense with all his weapons either physically falling apart or sucking his thumb like a petulant child. If Vincent Jackson had shown up and Antonio Gates and Malcolm Floyd stayed 100|PERCENT| this true gunslinger would have had a 5,000 yard season with nearly 40 TD's. That would have made him the fantasy MVP without a doubt. At 29, if he's got any weapons, he will be the primary challenger to Rodgers for the foreseeable future.

3. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (6-0, 221 ; age 32)
14,077. That's the only stat you need to rank Brees here. That's the number of pass yards he's had over the past 3 seasons, or 875 yards more than the next most by Mr. Manning (if you have to ask which Manning you shouldn't even be reading this list. Sidebar—only one is a Mister. Eli is just Eli). Oh and if you need another number, try this one: 103—his league-leading total TD's over those three years.

4. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (6-4, 220 ; age 33)
The 36 – 4 TD to INT ratio with no #1 wide receiver is just ridiculous. Everyone knows the pretty boy is a Hall-of-Famer in waiting, but he lands here simply because he'll be 34 at the start of the season, coming of foot surgery, and likely still without a proven #1 WR. Even if the Pats add a true #1 target, I'm betting he never matches those absurd numbers again. In all seriousness, we may never see another 9 game stretch of multiple TD's and no picks from anyone.

5. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts (6-5, 230 ; age 35)
I know this seems low for Mr. Manning. He's one of the greatest of all time and one of the most consistent as well. And yes he did have one of his best overall statistical seasons last year with a rotating door of inexperienced receivers. But he's 35 and still has no semblance of a running game to take any attention off him or his receivers. I foresee a decline.

6. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles (6-0, 210 ; age 30)
Vick was a fantasy revelation last season. In 9 of the 10 games he started and finished he put up multiple TD's with numerous monster games. But it appeared that defenses were figuring out how to slow him a bit late in the season. So while I'm not sold that he can continue the blistering pace, it's simply impossible not to drool over the quarterback-friendly offense with great weapons and the immense upside. He may do some leapfrogging on this list.

7. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys (6-2, 230 ; age 30)
Before going down last year, Romo was averaging more than 300 yards a game and 2 TD's through 5 starts. Those are elite numbers. He's done it before, he's just young enough and he may have the best pair of receivers in the league with Miles Austin and Dez Bryant to go with a top-tier TE in Jason Witten.

8. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans (6-5, 237 ; age 29)
Though he was a bit inconsistent last year, Schaub has piled up over 9,100 yards and 53 scores the past two seasons without missing a start (a big deal for a former injury risk). Only Mr. Manning has him beat out on yards over that time frame, and last I checked he still throws to Andre Johnson.

9. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (6-5, 242 ; age 29)
Big Ben can make all the throws and he's shown increased production and efficiency over recent seasons. With the emergence of Mike Wallace as the best big-play receiver in the league and the development of up-and-comers like Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown I'd start Roethlisberger with confidence in any league.

10. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6, 250 ; age 23)
Freeman was the model of consistency last season with only one bad performance all year. He threw at least 1 TD in 15 of 16 starts and had an excellent 25 – 6 TD to INT ratio. With the addition of solid rushing numbers, he proved that he can be counted on week in and week out. While he may not win you a week with a monster game (though he did have a 5-TD'er), he sure as hell won't lost you many. At only 23, with promising weapons at his disposal, the upside with this Roethlisberger/McNabb mix is almost as enormous as he is.

Of all the positions, this was the easiest group for me to rank. That is largely due to the fact that unless you own one of the top six on this list, you really shouldn't keep a QB anyways. Even in 10 and 12 team leagues I don't condone or recommend keeping a QB after Vick. The difference between the 7th guy and the 12th guy simply isn't big enough to warrant it. If you miss out on the top tier, do the smart thing and keep or draft your 2nd or 3rd running back instead.