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View Full Version : Manning returning to practice; Cutler set to break out in 2008



Magnificent Seven
08-27-2008, 05:36 PM
The status of Peyton Manning has been a huge topic of conversation in fantasy football circles in recent weeks.

The All-Pro quarterback underwent a surgical procedure to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee in mid-July, which landed him on the physically-unable-to-perform-list throughout training camp. But after several weeks of rest and treatment, it looks like Manning is set to return to action.

The Colts activated Manning on Tuesday, and he was expected to go through team drills for the first time Tuesday afternoon. That's very positive news for both the Colts and fantasy owners.

While his return to practice is certain, Manning will not play in the Colts' preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. Owner Jim Irsay did tell NFL Network's Adam Schefter that Manning has "a good chance" to be under center in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears, but there are no guarantees.

Manning has long been one of the most durable and productive quarterbacks in the league, so it's difficult to envision a scenario where he wouldn't be active. In fact, he's never missed an NFL start. Manning has also thrown for more than 4,000 yards in eight of his past nine seasons, so it's no wonder he's so valuable in fantasy land.

Barring setbacks, Manning will remain one of the first three quarterbacks taken off the board in most fantasy drafts. Even in a worst-case scenario where he would miss the opener, I'd still consider him a second-round selection.

If that situation comes to fruition, owners who do draft Manning should target the likes of Aaron Rodgers (vs. Minnesota) or Jeff Garcia (at New Orleans) as their interim No. 1 quarterback based on their very favorable matchups.
Cutler making waves in the preseason

With all the talk about Manning's knee, the trade of Brett Favre to New York and how Rodgers will fare as the starter in Green Bay, fantasy owners have been flooded with quarterback chatter.

But lost in all the field-general fodder is the emergence of Jay Cutler this preseason.

Cutler has thrown for a combined 293 yards and three touchdowns in his last two starts. He also had a passer rating of more than 118.0 in those games, which is an extremely impressive number. The strong-armed Vanderbilt product has also competed 30 of 43 passes (69.7 percent) and looks like a quarterback who is primed for a breakout season.

While he was inconsistent in 2007, Cutler did show flahes of brilliance that point to future success in the Mile High City.

Cutler started slow with multiple-touchdown performances in just two of his first nine starts, but he finished the season on a high note. In fact, he recorded two or more scores in four of his final seven games, including a 244-yard, four-touchdown explosion against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs entered that contest with one of the better pass defenses in the league.

Despite the overall inconsistencies, Cutler still finished with close to 3,500 passing yards and 21 total touchdowns. Those numbers were good enough to finish in the top 12 in fantasy points among quarterbacks on NFL.com. Based on how he's looked in the preseason, Cutler should improve on that status in 2008.

Despite the fact that he'll be without his favorite target, Brandon Marshall, for at least the first two weeks of the regular season, Cutler is still a quarterback whose draft value is on the rise. He's well worth a middle-round selection and should be targeted by owners who want to focus on running backs and wideouts in the first five rounds.

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