LestersLegends.com

Supposedly today is the day that we find out Brett Favre will join the Vikings.  If his shoulder holds up he should still be able to produce.  He has some weapons to work with in WRs Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice, Bobby Wade, and Percy Harvin, TE Visanthe Shiancoe, and RBs Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor.  The Vikings will have two new faces on their Offensive Line, but it still should be a solid unit anchored by Steve Hutchinson.  If Favre doesn’t try to force the issue he could be a solid backup fantasy QB this year.

He faces Cincinnati, Carolina, and Chicago in the fantasy playoffs.  The Bears game is in Chicago so weather may be a factor.  His best matchups this year are Cleveland and Detroit in Weeks 1 & 2, St. Louis in Week 5, Detroit in Week 10, and Arizona in Week 13.  At this point in his career he is a fantasy backup so it may be wise to pair him with Jay Cutler, Aaron Rodgers (ironically), Dre Brees, or Philip Rivers who have byes in Week 5 or Eli Manning or Matt Schaub who have byes in Week 10.  Favre will be drafted in the later rounds.  I’m not sure what kind of production to expect from  him.  I’m goign to low ball him initially at 3200 yards and 18 TDs.

Image courtesy of Icon SMI

David Garrard had a disappointing 2008 season.  Most of the team did, in fact.  Their Offensive Line was crippled with injuries.  Their Defense took a major step back.  About the only productive players was Maurice-Jones Drew.  2009 should look a little better as they bolstered their O-Line in the offseason with the addition of Tra Thomas, Eugene Monroe, and Eben Britton.  They also added Torry Holt to improve their WR play.  Maurice Jones-Drew is an excellent receiver out of the backfield and Marcedes Lewis is a solid pass-catching TE. 

Jacksonville’s fantasy playoff schedule consists of Miami, Indianapolis, and New England so it’s unlikely you’ll use Garrad in the fantasy playoffs.  During the season they have some decent matchups against Arizona in Week 2, St. Louis in Week 6, and Kansas City in Week 9.  Peyton Manning and Tony Romo have byes in Week 6 so he could be a decent option to pair with them.  I wouldn’t trust any of the Week 9 bye teams as a #1 QB so it doesn’t pay to pair Garrard with them.

Image courtesy of Icon SMI

Jake Delhomme had a disappointing 2008 season.  Still, he has Steve Smith, one of the games most electrifying WRs at his disposal so he maintains fantasy relevance.  Muhsin Muhammad had a solid year, but at 36 you begin to wonder about a drop off.  This is a clearly a run-first team and Delhomme is a spot fantasy starter at best.

You can’t use him in the fantasy playoffs as he faces New England, Minnesota, and the Giants.  He faces Arizona and New Orleans in Weeks 8 & 9, which appear to be his best matchups.  He could be paired with Carson Palmer, Matt Cassel, Tom Brady, or Big Ben, who have byes in Week 8.  I wouldn’t trust any of the Week 9 bye teams as a #1 QB so it doesn’t pay to pair Delhomme with them.

Image courtesy of Icon SMI

Trent Edwards gets the luxury/challenge of being T.O.’s newest QB. The good news for Edwards is that T.O. usually plays nice the first year in a new destination.  Plus, T.O. will probably be on his best behavior for his reality show.  In addition to Owens, Edwards has speedy Lee Evans, who just may be the best #2 WR Owens has played with in a long time.  With the attention Owens garners, Edwards and Evans could connect on some deep balls.  He also has three RBs capable of catching the ball out of the backfield in Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson, and Dominic Rhodes.  Edwards could be a breakout candidate.

His fantasy playoffs schedule consists of Kansas City, New England, and Atlanta.  I wouldn’t gamble on him in Weeks 15 & 16, but the opening round of the playoffs against Kansas City is intriguing.  He has a couple of decent matchups during the year.  First, he plays New Orleans in Week 3.  He also faces Cleveland in Week 5, which could be of interest to Jay Cutler, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Philip Rivers owners, who are on bye that week.  Edwards will be a late round pick and I expect him to have around 3300 yards and 18 TDs.

Now we get to see what Orton has.  He was a standout at Purdue and finally has some weapons to work with in Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal.  He doesn’t take much of a step back with his Tight Ends as Daniel Graham and Tony Scheffler aren’t far off from Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark.  He is going to a more pass-happy Offense and should see an increase in production, though he’s clearly a backup fantasy QB.

He should get off to a solid start facing Cincinnati and Cleveland in the first two weeks.  He plays the Chiefs in Week 13.  Unfortunately his best matchups aren’t in bye weeks, with lessens his value as a backup fantasy QB.  His fantasy playoffs matchups are Indy, Oakland, and Philly, which are probably a moot point because if you’re relying on him as your #1 QB, you’re probably not in the fantasy playoffs.  I would probably try and pair him with Brees or Manning.  Brees has a bye in Week 5 and Orton faces New England.  Peyton has a bye in Week 6 and Orton faces San Diego.  Denver faces Baltimore when Tom Brady is on bye so I wouldn’t pair them up.  Orton will be a late round pick and I’m putting him on a 3300 yard, 18 TD season.