One of the biggest questions entering the 2012 fantasy football season is where will Peyton Manning fall in the ranks of quarterbacks?

After missing the entire 2011 season due to complications from multiple neck surgeries, Manning was released from the Colts prior to being owed a $28 million roster bonus.

He drew the interest of many teams this offseason, before deciding on the Broncos.

Denver was a playoff team a year ago with Tim Tebow under center and certainly has some key components in place on offense.

They return their entire offensive line from a year ago and the unit will provide great protection. The team added a familiar face, former Colts’ tight end Jacob Tamme, to go along with young and talented wideouts in Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker.  The team lacks a true marquee runner, but has plenty of options to look at coming out of the backfield.

With his age (36) and recent injury history, fantasy owners should have some room for concern about him returning to full strength, but despite having plenty of eyeballs on him during his brief free agent period most NFL scouts pushed their injury concern behind. I am certainly not dispelling the possibility of a setback, but I am not going to assume it either.

The greater concerns should be the transition to playing in the elements, particularly late in the season, in the Mile High City and the Broncos’ grueling 2012 schedule.

Going from the friendly confines of the RCA Dome and most recently Lucas Oil Field where you play on turf and indoors is a far cry from what Manning could face in his new home at Invesco Field. Three of Denver’s last five games this season are at home, including in both Week 16 and Week 17, with another game on the road in Baltimore and Oakland during December.

The Broncos also have the second-toughest schedule in the NFL with non-divisional matchups set versus Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Atlanta, New Orleans, New England, Cincinnati and Houston. All of those teams made the playoffs last season.

2012 PROJECTIONS
4,485 PaYd, 33 PaTD, 12 INTs

FINAL TAKE
Even with all the clouds over him, Manning is deserving of being viewed as a top fantasy QB entering 2012 (currently have him 9th).  The upside is certainly there should he fall down in drafts. However, with his huge name recognition and all the media hype likely to follow him during training camp chances are he’ll be drafted a few rounds too early for my taste. 

There’s no doubt that top options like Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Tom Brady will go way before Manning does and rightfully so.  Manning is part of the next tier, but on the back end of it. I would easily take Cam Newton, Matthew Stafford, Tony Romo, Michael Vick, and even Eli Manning over Peyton and consider all safer and more reliable options.  Somewhere between Rounds 6-8 is the point where I definitely start considering the veteran. If you do draft him though be sure to land a solid backup just in case.

Fantasy Football denver broncos, peyton manning, fantasy advice, 2012 projections

Heading into the 2012 NFL Draft, fantasy owners were chomping at the bit to see where Alabama running back Trent Richardson would fall.  Where he landed left many disappointed.

In recent years fantasy players go to the Dawg Pound and die. Aside from Braylon Edwards’ one decent season when Derek Anderson actually looked like a quarterback in 2007, Cleveland’s offense has finished in the bottom five in the league in scoring offense in every year since 2003.

The Browns offensive line is on the upswing. While the unit lacks depth, its young core has upside. That should translate into plenty of good running lanes for the rookie.

With Montario Hardesty currently listed as the team’s No. 2 back on the depth chart, Richardson will not have to worry about competition for carries either.

In addition, Richardson’s size and ability allow him to be effective on all three downs and will lead to more touches than a typical NFL back. Richardson could easily lead the NFL in touches as a rookie.

The main concern is the team’s passing game.  The Browns drafted a 28-year old quarterback, Brandon Weeden, in the first round and aside from Greg Little there is little talent and/or experience in the receiving corps.

The poor passing attack will allow defenses to cheat and stack the box to slow down Richardson.

2012 PROJECTIONS
309 carries, 1,274 RuYd; 45 receptions,  513 yards, 5 ReTD

FINAL TAKE
As you can see I am extremely high on the rookie despite the limitations Cleveland may bring. Assuming he stays healthy Richardson will finish as a top 10 fantasy producer at the position, with the upside of being a top 5 fantasy RB.  He comes with risk though and therefore should be looked at more of a second-round pick in upcoming season drafts. His upside makes him a top 5 dynasty RB immediately

Fantasy Football, NFL cleveland browns, trent richardson, fantasy advice, 2012 projections