Posted by Mike Caprio July 6, 2009

If you’re a Fantasy Football player and new to Keeper League GM—Welcome.

Ready to make the jump to Elite QB? (Icon Sports Media)

For our many baseball fans, we will continue the great Baseball Keeper League content as we begin the “Dog Days of Summer” right on through the Off-Season  ”Hot Stove”, but as you’ve undoubtedly noticed we’re also covering Dynasty League Football.

Today we begin our 2009 Top 10 Football Dynasty League Keepers for those who participate in a Keeper/Dynasty League format.  While most of our content is geared towards the Keeper League GM, it should also add value for those in traditional Fantasy Football Leagues.

Without further adieu, here are the Field Generals…

1. Drew Brees (Age: 30)-2008 Stats-5,069 Yards, 34TD, 17 Int, 65.0% Completion, 7.98 YPA

Dan Marino sweated the last three offensive plays of the New Orleans Saints regular season, when Drew Brees came within 16 yards of breaking his record for single season passing yards.  Brees returns with a healthy Reggie Bush and Marques Colston to attack opposing defenses.  The challenge for Brees will be that this season’s non-division games has him facing the NFC and AFC East.  For this season and the long-haul, Brees is clearly at the top of the quarterback class.

2. Tom Brady (Age: 32)-2008 Stats-76 Yards, 0 TD, 0 Int, 63.6% Completion, 6.91 YPA

If not for a fluke opening day injury that robbed Brady of a full NFL season, he would easily sit atop the board. Following his magical 2007 season where he passed for 4,806 yards with 50 TD vs. 8 Int. (117.2 QB Rtg.), look for Brady to return to form with his vast weaponry intact (Moss, Welker) with new toys, Joey Galloway and Fred Taylor at his disposal to keep linebackers honest.  At 32 years old, and an entire season of loving at the hands of Giselle, Brady could battle Brees for the top spot among NFL QB’s.  His first order of business begins opening weekend at home against the Buffalo Bills …those 60 minutes will tell whether there is any rust with your franchise quarterback.

3. Peyton Manning (Age:  33)-2008 Stats-4,002 Yards, 27 TD, 12 Int, 66.8% Completion, 7.21 YPA

Peyton is a perennial top QB in fantasy football since his rookie season in 1998.  This season, however, will mark a bit of a regime change in Indianapolis, not just with the departure of Tony Dungy, but with the exodus of his assistant coaches, Tom Moore (OC) and Howard Mudd (OLC), who have mentored Peyton throughout his ten year NFL career.  If you add the departure of go-to WR Marvin Harrison, Peyton’s role as the Top 3 Fantasy QB’s could be in jeopardy.  One thing to keep in mind is that he is Peyton Manning and anything is possible when you put a football in his hands.

4. Philip Rivers (Age: 27)-2008 Stats-4,009 Yards, 34 TD, 11 Int, 65.3% Completion, 8.39 YPA

This young man is ready to join the elite QB’s the NFL this season.  At just 27 years old, Rivers went 6-1 in his division, while sacking the Denver Broncos and Mike Shanahan (and subsequently Jay Cutler with Brandon Marshall in tow).  This season brings a weaker division, but with it a difficult non-division schedule that like Brees, presents challenges with the toughest divisions in football, with the AFC and NFC East for the young thrower.  The key metric for Rivers will be protection; his 25 sacks last season forced too much pressure on the young slinger.  Any upgrade in protection will pay dividends for his owners.

5. Donovan McNabb (Age: 33)-2008 Stats- 3,916 Yards, 23 TD, 11 Int, 60.4% Completion, 6.86 YPA

McNabb is one of those QB’s you hate to love.  He’ll break out of the gate then find himself on the shelf for 4-6 games.  He’s only completed 16 regular season games in 4 of his 9 years in the NFL.  However, the Eagles have retooled this off-season with the drafting of rookies Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy to join second year wide-out Desean Jackson, a healthy Kevin Curtis, and the always dangerous Brian Westbrook.  If you are in a win-now situation on draft day, I would look to McNabb for a career year—one that might bring Philadelphia it’s second professional championship this year.

6. Aaron Rodgers (Age: 25)-2008 Stats-4,038 Yards, 28 TD, 13 Int, 63.6% Completion, 7.53 YPA

Rodgers sat patiently as tornado #4 blew through training camp last year, just quietly preparing for the regular season.  Fantasy owners who had Taxi’d or gambled on a pick of the young man were rewarded handsomely with 28 TD’s in his first full season.   Two challenges for Rodgers remain his high sack total last season (34), and the significant drop-off in performance on the road.   The latter you can chalk-up to rookie jitters against some tough defenses (with another challenging season of road defenses in ‘09), but the sacks remain an issue.  At just 25 years of age, Rodgers provides a clear opportunity for a fantasy franchise to invest early and pay dividends down the road.

7. Tony Romo (Age: 29)-2008 Stats-3,448 Yards, 26 TD, 14 Int, 61.3% Completion, 7.66 YPA

Jeez.  Why so low?  Concerns over Tony Romo will become deafening in Irving, Texas this season as expectations rise in concert with increased competition (pass defense strength of schedule), and talent departure (Owens).  At Age 29, Romo is set to begin his prime, but late season fumbles, a very public relationship w/ Jessica Simpson, with Jerry Jones breathing down his neck spell calamity to me.  The Giants and Eagles are the class of the NFC East in 2009, and Romo will take the heat…appropriately or not.  Draft/keep with caution.

8. Matt Ryan (Age: 24)-2008 Stats-3,440 Yards, 16 TD, 11 Int, 61.1% Completion, 7.93 YPA

Ryan took the skeptics to the cleaners and the Falcons to their first playoff birth in 4 seasons.  With an added red zone threat in Tony Gonzalez and one year under his belt, look for Ryan to join the ranks of premiere quarterbacks.  Suitors should be aware that the Falcons have the 7^th most difficult passing strength of schedule in the NFL this season.  Though he was only sacked 17 times last season, when defenses put the pressure on (Tampa, Philadelphia, Carolina, Denver, and New Orleans) Ryan’s QB Rating dropped to a woeful 65.9.

9. Jay Cutler (Age: 26)-2008 Stats-4,526 Yards, 25 TD, 18 Int, 62.3% Completion, 7.35 YPA

Outside of his documented immaturity, Cutler can throw.   Unfortunately, like most Bears quarterbacks before him, his options at receiver are suspect.  Devon Hester and Rashied David, spelled by Matt Forte and Greg Olsen are questionable at best.  If the Bears are able to add a Plaxico Burress/Brandon Marshall things could change, but at press time, nothing appears imminent. Cutler has also had fits against the 3-4 Defense, which he will face six times this season: twice against the Packers, the Browns, Steelers, Ravens and 49ers (3-4/4-3 Hybrid).

10. Carson Palmer (Age: 29)-2008 Stats-731 Yards, 3 TD, 4 Int, 58.1% Completion, 5.67 YPA

There will be a lot of people in Cincinnati happy to see Carson Palmer healthy again…not the least of whom is Marvin Lewis.  The challenge for the Bengals will be the supporting cast around Palmer, with the departure of T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and the rapid deterioration of Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, Palmer’s lone dependable receiver comes with the recent arrival of Laveranues Coles.  In Palmer’s last healthy season in 2007 he had 4,131 Yards, 26 TD, 20 Int. (86.7 QB Rtg)

For those who are looking for a short-term fix at Quarterback, Kurt Warner and Matt Hasselbeck provide an opportunity to wait  in your draft and still compete this season.

Next up Runnings Backs…

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