Fantasy football

Young QBs become worthy options

By GREG AUMAN
Published September 27, 2005

Young quarterbacks are rarely reliable enough to be fantasy starters, but anyone who took a gamble on Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger or the Giants' Eli Manning as a backup has to be pleased with the early returns.

Everyone knew Roethlisberger was a winner after his rookie season, but his first three weeks have shown him to be a fantasy winner as well with 688 yards, six touchdowns and zero interceptions. He's the fifth-best fantasy scorer overall in the league, on pace to nearly double the 17 touchdown he threw last season.

Manning, too, was far too unproven for most fantasy owners to draft even as a backup. But after three games, he's tempting, especially after a 352-yard, two-touchdown game in a loss at San Diego on Sunday.

Manning's career high was 201 yards, and he had that covered by halftime.

As he gets in rhythm with Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey , his fantasy value could surpass many of the league's veterans whose numbers are waning. Aaron Brooks and Kurt Warner , we're talking to you.

UNBEATABLE: Seattle's Shaun Alexander and San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson were consensus top-five picks going into the season, and both showed why Sunday.

Tomlinson (192 yards, three rushing touchdowns and even a passing touchdown) and Alexander (140 yards and four touchdowns) had huge games, the kind that can win a fantasy weekend all by themselves.

Of the league's top seven rushers, they're the only ones with more than two touchdowns this season, and that's why they're in a tier of their own.

Bucs rookie Cadillac Williams , leading the league with 434 yards, is a no-brainer to start every week now, and his value will only increase as Tampa Bay finds new ways to get him the ball. One plus for him entering the season was his pass-catching ability, and he has one reception for zero yards in his first three games. That'll change before too long.

The league's best dual-threat running back is Eagles star Brian Westbrook , who has 235 receiving yards and three touchdown receptions.

Of the league's top 22 rushers, he's the only one with even 100 receiving yards, and that's keeping him among the top fantasy runners.

REMEMBER THEM?: You could do a lot worse than to stock your lineup with a bunch of former Bucs receivers. San Diego's Keenan McCardell is tied for the league lead with four touchdowns, and Dallas' Keyshawn Johnson is right behind him with three. Even Seattle's Joe Jurevicius has two scores, matching his total in each of his last two injury-shortened seasons in Tampa Bay.

McCardell is the best fantasy play of the three simply because Drew Brees doesn't have much else to throw to besides tight end Antonio Gates . Johnson's yardage is nowhere near teammate Terry Glenn (336 yards), who should end up as Dallas' best touchdown target.

Speaking of former Bucs, who would have thought the Colts' best fantasy player would be their defense? No offense to Tony Dungy , but even with Indy's strong start, that defense is the football equivalent of a Rockies pitcher. I can't bring myself to risk putting one on my roster.

THIS AND THAT: With Kyle Orton 's five interceptions and Cedric Benson 's zero carries, it's a good time to avoid any Bears rookies. Thomas Jones - hey, another former Buc - isn't a bad play with four touchdowns and 276 yards. ... Has Mewelde Moore emerged as a go-to back in Minnesota? With 23 carries for 101 yards Sunday, it sure looks that way with talk of Minnesota even trading Michael Bennett to former Vikings coach Dennis Green and Arizona, which could use a reliable runner. ... Is Cincinnati's defense available in your league? It really shouldn't be, not with 12 interceptions in three games. It's the league's No.2 fantasy defense, impressive considering it has yet to score a defensive touchdown. It should have no problem containing Houston and the NFL's worst scoring offense this weekend.

--Times staff writer Greg Auman writes a weekly fantasy football column. Have a lineup question or a comment? E-mail him at auman@sptimes

[Last modified September 27, 2005, 08:11:14]