Well, it’s that time once again…no, not time to bail Marcus Vick out of jail again, but time to get crackin’ on doing your homework for the 2007 Fantasy Football season!  Luckily for you, I did all the work, so all you have to do is read up and kick some butt in your leagues this season!  ASM’s very own Andrew Mindzak will break down each position player by player, and give you all the low down you will need to have a successful draft this year.  
   
First, we will start with the Quarterbacks.  One thing that is pretty much a certainty, Peyton Manning will put up amazing numbers, but who do you look for if you are not lucky enough to draft him?  Here are my pre rankings for the Quarterback class of 2007:

1.  Peyton Manning – QB Indianapolis Colts
2006 Stats                
G    Yards    TD    INT    Rating
16    4,397    31    9    101.0

Peyton Manning is Spanish for ‘the best fantasy QB.  Period’.  Peyton Manning finally won the big game, but don’t look for him to slack off one bit!  He still has his laser for a right arm and wideouts Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne at his disposal, not to mention rookie Buckeye wideout Anthony Gonzalez.  Joseph Addai will be the feature back this year, and TE Dallas Clark is always a viable option, as it seemed Manning went to him often in the playoffs.  Look for Peyton to put up another very solid season, as you can almost count on him being in the top 2 in TD passes, yards, and coolest commercials (“they’re saying moooooovers”).

2007 Projections            
G    Yards    TD    INT    Rating
16    4,210    37    12    101.9

2. Carson Palmer – QB Cincinnati Bengals
2006 Stats                
G    Yards    TD    INT    Rating
16    4,035    28    13    93.9

Carson Palmer had quite the impressive ’06, especially considering he just came off major knee surgery less than 1 year before the start of the season.  Blessed with a cannon for an arm, and several top notch offensive weapons, a successful ’07 is pretty feasible.  WR’s Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are top tier no matter what team they would be on, and having Rudi Johnson in the backfield will keep opposing defenses more than honest.  Look for Palmer to have another solid year in 2007.  Now if he can only keep the rest of the Bengals out of jail….

2007 Projections            
G    Yards    TD    INT    Rating
16    4,150    31    14    96.5

3. Tom Brady – QB New England Patriots
2006 Stats                
G    Yards    TD    INT    Rating
16    3,529    24    12    87.9

Tom Brady put together yet another solid campaign in 2006.  Although he tapered off from his 2005 numbers, where he put up over 4,000 yards passing, 2007 looks to be especially promising with the key additions of Donte’ Stallworth and Randy Moss.  The only question yet to be answered is which Moss will show up….Now I’m not a betting man (ok, maybe a little here and there) but I would guess the Raider Randy will show up instead of the Minnesota Moss.  

2007 Projections            
G    Yards    TD    INT    Rating
16    3,721    26    14    86.2

4. Drew Brees – QB New Orleans Saints
2006 Stats                
G    Yards    TD    INT    Rating
16    4,418    26    11    96.2

Drew Brees answered any and all questions about his shoulder in ’06 with a monster year.  Brees led the NFL in passing yards on the way to an amazing run to the NFC Championship game.  Brees has bruising running back Deuce McAllister in the backfield as well as receiving threat Reggie Bush, not to mention Marques Colston who came out of nowhere to put up over 1,000 yards.  Brees will have another solid year in ’07; just don’t look for the same ridiculous numbers from ’06.

2007 Projections            
G    Yards    TD    INT    Rating
16    3,854    25    12    87.6

5. Marc Bulger – QB St. Louis Rams
2006 Stats                
G    Yards    TD    INT    Rating
16    4,301    24    8    92.9

Marc Bulger had a stellar 2006 season, setting a career high with TD passes (24) while only throwing a measly 8 INT’s.  He has excellent weapons in Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce (yes, he is still playing) and new additions WR Drew Bennett and TE Randy McMichael will have Bulger drooling every time he steps to the line.  RB Steven Jackson is a pass catching beast which gives Bulger one more viable option, as if he needed it.  Did I mention he plays half of his games indoors?  

2007 Projections           
G    Yards    TD    INT    Rating
16    3,954    26    11    91.8

6. Donovan McNabb – QB Philadelphia Eagles
2006 Stats               
G    Yards    TD    INT    Rating
10    2,647    18    6    95.5

Donovan McNabb was having a stellar year before going down with a knee injury in week 11.  Although he was having a huge year last year, it would be tough to imagine him repeating this year, mainly with the loss of receiver Donte’ Stallworth.  Reggie Brown will now be the main man in the receiving corps, but it still seems like a bunch of #3 WR’s to me (Kevin Curtis, Hank Baskett, Greg Lewis) backing up Brown.  D-Mac will still have Brian Westbrook in the backfield who is good for 60-70 receptions, and TE L.J. Smith is pretty solid as well.  Provided he can remain healthy (19 games the past 2 seasons) and one of those wideouts can step it up, D-Mac should have a solid year.

2007 Projections           
G    Yards    TD    INT    Rating
14    3,384    22    11    90.6

7. Matt Hasselbeck – QB Seattle Seahawks
2006 Stats               
G    Yards    TD    INT    Rating
12    2,442    18    15    76.0

Matt Hasselbeck had a rough 2006 campaign as he was slowed by injuries (to him and Alexander) and a less effective offensive line than the previous year.  Matt will bounce back nicely this year, as he will have a healthy Alexander in the backfield, and Deion Branch looks to step into the #1 WR role very nicely.  The acquisition of Marcus Pollard will give him a nice target over the middle, and young wideout D.J. Hackett should give him a good deep threat as well.  Look for Hasselbeck to come back strong in ’07 and put up some very solid fantasy numbers.

2007 Projections           
G    Yards    TD    INT    Rating
16    3,348    21    11    91.8

8. Philip Rivers – QB San Diego Chargers
2006 Stats               
G    Yards    TD    INT    Rating
16    3,388    22    9    92.0

Eli Manning who??  Philip Rivers is making those Giants look pretty foolish so far for trading him away to get the younger Manning.  Rivers had an excellent 2006 season in his first full season as a starter.  He threw 22 TD passes compared to only 9 INT’s.  He seems to be flourishing out west, and with new coach, offensive genius Norv Turner, expect even bigger things from Rivers.  He has an excellent target in TE Antonio Gates and some guy LaDainian Tomlinson (I really hope you note my sarcasm here) in the backfield. 

2007 Projections           
G    Yards    TD    INT    Rating
16    3,750    24    10    93.4