Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

	Written by Marc Caviglia
	Written By by Sean Morris

It’s never too early to start working on fantasy football rankings so Bruno Boys owner Marc Caviglia and staff writer Sean Morris have put their heads together to come up with their initial 2013 fantasy football quarterback rankings.

Both writers were of the same mind of thinking for the majority of players, however they also had some differing opinions on several quarterbacks which is why both writers contributed their reasoning behind the ranking. It’s a bit too early in the offseason to speculate about which rookies and free agents will land, Geno Smith is the only one ranked.

Keep an eye on the site for updates to these 2013 fantasy football rankings as the offseason continues because before you know it will be time for your fantasy football draft. Our fantasy football rankings are based on the following scoring system:

Scoring System Used for 2013 Fantasy Football Rankings

Pass TD: 4 pts | Other TDs: 6 pts | 25 Pass Yds: 1 pt | 10 Rush Yds: 1 pt | 10 Receive Yds: 1 pt | TOs: -2 pts

::RANKINGS UPDATED AS OF MARCH 5, 2013::

1. Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
Cavigs Rank: QB1   |  Morris Rank: QB1

Consistency is key and there isn’t anyone better than Brees. He plays in a pass first offense and continues to throw for well over 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. He has 89 touchdown passes over the past two seasons and there is no slowing him down anytime soon. -Marc Caviglia (MC)

Brees quietly led the NFL in fantasy scoring for the second consecutive year despite the absence of Sean Payton. Brees has had some turnover issues but he has plenty of weapons at his disposal and Payton is back so watch out! -Sean Morris (SM)

2. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
Cavigs Rank: QB2   |  Morris Rank: QB2

Rodgers trailed only Drew Brees and tied with Tom Brady for the most fantasy football points among quarterbacks. He has thrown for 4,000 yards in four of the last five seasons and has 84 touchdown passes against just 14 interceptions since the 2011 season. The scary thing is, he can be even better in 2013. -MC

Rodgers continues to benefit from a passing friendly division schedule and a seemingly endless stable of elite wide receivers. Rodgers will get things done again but will he be worth his annual elite draft price in a year where the position is so deep? -SM

3. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
Cavigs Rank: QB3   |  Morris Rank: QB3

Is Mr. Brady ever going to start showing his age? He’s passed for 10,062 yards over the past two seasons and continues to play at the highest of levels. Brady passed for at least one touchdown pass in every game last season and has a favorable schedule. The only concern would be the weapons at his disposal, as Wes Welker is a free agent and who knows what the team will do with Brandon Lloyd. -MC

Brady is elite but he’s a riskier pick this year than normal because of the unknown state of the wide receivers he’ll be working with. Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski will have to stay healthy and pick up the slack to keep the offense moving if Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd depart this offseason. -SM

4. Peyton Manning, QB, Denver Broncos
Cavigs Rank: QB5   |  Morris Rank: QB4

Very few predicted Manning to return to his Hall of Fame form, but the veteran did just that. He tossed 37 touchdowns against 11 interceptions and threw for 4,659 yards. The Broncos play in a weak division and with as efficient as Manning is fantasy football owners should expect a repeat performance. -MC

Manning reawakened in Denver last year where he was blessed with some of the best surrounding talent he’s ever had. Expect a similar performance this year with the only downside being his team’s ability to get too far out front. -SM

5. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers
Cavigs Rank: QB4   |  Morris Rank: QB6

Newton is one of the trickier guys to rank because of he doesn’t have tons of weapons and seemed to disappear from games at times last year. That said, no quarterback scored more fantasy points than Newton from Weeks 12-15 of of last year and his ability to run the football (741 rushing yards, 8 touchdowns) makes him matchup proof. -MC

Newton isn’t ever going to be an elite passer but he does enough with his legs to keep him in the discussion as a top five quarterback. It remains to be seen whether or not Carolina will actually give him some weapons to work with but he’s going to need better options than Greg Olsen and the rapidly aging Steve Smith to become truly elite. -SM

6. Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Cavigs Rank: QB8   |  Morris Rank: QB5

Kaepernick creates matchup problems for his opponents. His arm is accurate, he can run like a gazelle and has a very creative playbook to work with. This showed during his rise to stardom once taking over for Alex Smith, and while defenses will scheme more accordingly in 2013, it will be tough to stop CK7. That said, he still needs to do it for a full season before I consider him as a top-5 fantasy football option. -MC

Thanks to the unique San Francisco playbook and surrounding talent, Kaepernick averaged more fantasy points per game in his last 10 games than every quarterback in the NFL but Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers. I was a Kaepernick doubter for longer than most but his rocket arm, accuracy and running ability make him the best dual-threat quarterback in the league and certainly one you should consider as your starting fantasy quarterback. -SM

7. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons
Cavigs Rank: QB6   |  Morris Rank: QB8

Last season was the year Ryan finally broke out, and he did so in a big way. His 68.6 completion percentage was six percent more than his previous high and he also set career highs in passing yards and touchdowns. The Falcons offense is built to last with Julio Jones and Roddy White on the outside and if the team can retain Tony Gonzalez from retirement, expect Ryan’s numbers to be even better in 2013. -MC

Ryan finally turned the corner in his career thanks to a stellar set of receiving options and Atlanta’s newfound emphasis on the pass. Tony Gonzalez will be hard to replace if he doesn’t come back but a likely offseason upgrade at running back should help keep the offense as efficient as ever. -SM

8. Matt Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions
Cavigs Rank: QB10   |  Morris Rank: QB7

Stafford attempted 727 passes in 2012 and threw for an impressive 4,967 yards. However, the Lions had trouble in the red zone and the gunslinger could muster just 20 touchdown passes. Expect that total to be an aberration, as Stafford had 41 touchdown passes in 2011 and the Lions have already addressed their need of a receiver opposite Calvin “Megatron” Johnson. -MC

Stafford finished what will likely go down as the worst year of his career ranked as the 10th best fantasy option. Given his massive number of annual passing attempts and the almost certain offseason upgrade of his receiving corps, Stafford will be hard-pressed not to finish as a top ten quarterback again this season. -SM

9. Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Cavigs Rank: QB7   |  Morris Rank: QB11

Luck finished his rookie season No. 9 overall among fantasy scoring for quarterbacks and as he continues to mature that number will increase. He had 12 multi-touchdown games and if it weren’t for his questionable decision making (18 interceptions, 54.1 completion percentage) his numbers would have been even better. Fantasy owners should expect his completion percentage to get closer to 60 percent and shouldn’t be surprised if he flirts with 5,000 passing yards. -MC

Luck’s rookie season fantasy success can be attributed mostly to the massive number of passing attempts he was given but, like anyone, he should improve in his sophomore season. His success this season will depend greatly on the growth and development of his young teammates T.Y. Hilton, Dwayne Allen, Colby Fleener and Vick Ballard. -SM

10. Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys
Cavigs Rank: QB9   |  Morris Rank: QB9

When the matchup was right last season, Romo was playing at a high enough level that you could consider using him over any other quarterback. The problem is the consistency is never there and Romo tends to struggle in the biggest of games. Still, he plays in a high scoring division and has plenty of weapons to help his production. People like the bash Romo, but he is the best fantasy quarterback in the NFC East and should have another big season in Dallas. -MC

Romo continues to live or die by the health of his receivers and this year both Dez Bryant and Jason Witten came up huge even when Miles Austin couldn’t. With Bryant gaining elite status and the whole team back at full health Romo may be in line for one of his best years of gunslinging to date. -SM

11. Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington Redskins
Cavigs Rank: QB11   |  Morris Rank: QB10

If it weren’t for the torn ACL in the playoffs, and the uncertainty of if he will be ready to start the season, RGIII has al of the tools to be a top-7 quarterback in our 2013 fantasy football rankings. For now, he sits outside of my top-10 because I don’t have a fantasy owner to overvalue him only to be burned by his health. -MC

Griffin’s rookie season was nothing short of his spectacular but his late season knee injury puts a damper on his 2013 outlook. The likelihood of him being rushed back too soon or being hobbled early in the season make him a shaky option as a fantasy QB1 but a risk definitely worth taking as a QB2. -SM

12. Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Cavigs Rank: QB12   |  Morris Rank: QB12

There were a lot of impressive performances from rookie quarterbacks in 2012, however none were better than Wilson down the stretch. He scored 120 fantasy football points over the Seahawks’ last five games and helped propel many owners to a fantasy title. His decision making ability (26 touchdowns, 10 interceptions) and legs (489 rushing yards, four touchdowns) are a deadly combination and make Wilson a low-end QB1 option. -MC

Wilson put up some big fantasy numbers down the stretch last season but his lack of passing output (195ypg), mediocre receiving corps and lack of opportunity (only 393 attempts) lead me to be cautious about him. Until the Seahawks get away from their smash-mouth system it will be hard to trust Wilson as anything more than a low end starter. -SM

13. Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants
Cavigs Rank: QB13   |  Morris Rank: QB13

It wasn’t an impressive season for Manning, or any of the Giants for that matter. Many thought Manning would build on his 4,933 passing yard, 29 touchdown campaign in 2011, however he followed it up with 3,948 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. Not quite QB1 numbers, despite being drafted as one. Entering 2013, Manning has a lot to prove, and the receiving weapons to get back on track, though owners should be reluctant of his inconsistency (four games of five points or less.) -MC

After having a huge year in 2011, Manning came crashing back to his mediocre fantasy self. Manning will always have a few big games especially with the quality of his receivers but he’s never going to be elite especially considering his permanent tendency of throwing to players wearing the wrong jersey. -SM

14. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Cavigs Rank: QB14   |  Morris Rank: QB14

Big Ben was on the cusp of being ranked as a QB1, however the Steelers have too many question marks this offseason to worry about. When given the weapons, and a decent offensive line, Roethlisberger can make plays. The veteran will find a way to flirt with QB1 numbers all season long, but should be paired with another similar talent from our fantasy football rankings. From there, owners should play matchups. -MC

Big Ben finished 2012 averaging the 11th most fantasy football points per game of all quarterbacks but his injury problems, Pittsburgh’s continual lack of a run game, Heath Miller’s injury, and the likely loss of top receiver Mike Wallace should be seen as grave warnings. Big Ben is still a very solid quarterback but Pittsburgh is going to have to address the team’s holes at the skill positions if he has any chance of reaching his normal fantasy output. -SM

15. Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Cavigs Rank: QB15   |  Morris Rank: QB17

Flacco just won the Super Bowl and signed the biggest contract in NFL history. Fantasy football owners are going to overvalue him based on his playoff performance (11 touchdowns, 0 interceptions), however he still grades out as a back-up fantasy quarterback with some upside. As evident by his spotty completion percantage of low touchdown to interception ratio throughout his career. -MC

Flacco’s playoff emergence makes him a complete wildcard this season after years of mediocrity. It appears he’s finally found chemistry with his current receiving corps and despite the news that Anquan Boldin will almost certainly be back, it’s still hard to put faith in Flacco as a QB1 given his complete lack of consistent play in the regular season. -SM

16. Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Cavigs Rank: QB17   |  Morris Rank: QB15

Dalton showed tremendous strides (3,669 passing yards, 27 touchdowns) in his second season, however seemed to fizzle (4 touchdowns, 5 interceptions over final five games) down the stretch. This hurt his fantasy football owners and is what continues to make him a back-up in one quarterback leagues. -MC

Dalton improved in nearly every category during his sophomore season with the help of elite wide receiver A.J. Green and an improved running game. It’s reasonable to expect him to continue to grow especially if Cincinnati can land him another solid receiving target but until they do so, he’s no better than a mid-range fantasy option. -SM