Jim Irsay on Twitter has confirmed that the Indianapolis Colts have lured Kerry Collins out of retirement, and agreed to terms with him (details not yet available at the time of this article) so does this mean it’s time to raise the red flag on starting quarterback Peyton Manning?
The short answer may be yes, yes it is.
In another—more recent—report from Adam Schefter on Twitter, Schefter reports that a “braintrust” within the organization believes Manning will not be ready by opening day, despite Manning remaining hopeful.
Here’s the deal kids.
Peyton Manning’s current situation is now a cause for concern given the signing of Collins, and the supplemental news from Schefter, but Manning isn’t the only option out there for fantasy owners.
And with everyone hyper-focused on RBs and WRs early in their drafts, grabbing a quality QB 1 should be rather easy even in a 12-man league without Manning as an option.
If you look at my QB Rankings—not yet updated to reflect the news on Manning—you can see the first 13 or so QBs are all players who have just as much of a chance of putting up solid QB1 numbers in 2011 given their respected teams, so there’s plenty of quarterbacks to go around.
Now, if you’re real savvy, and the red arrow continues to point downward on Manning’s hopeful Week 1 start, you’ll reach out, and draft him as your QB2 since Manning is likely to fall in the rankings, and possibly be overlooked out of risk aversion.
Imagine that, a fantasy team with Manning and Brady—hmmm.
The moral of the story here is this: Manning isn’t going to miss the 2011 NFL season, but there is a strong case being built that his Week 1 start could be in jeopardy due to his stagnant rehab process, so fantasy owners want to draft accordingly and avoid the risky venture with their first quarterback selection.
But don’t rule Manning out altogether, lest you’ll reap what you sow.
Navigating the Ripple Effects of the Manning Situation
- Kerry Collins now becomes a slightly intriguing draft consideration ONLY AFTER you have built your team completely, and want to fill a roster slot.
- The Colts receivers may take a hit in Week 1 against a formidable Houston defense if Manning is not ready by then. Check back to my Week 1 WR Start-Sit column before opening day to get the final word, and your questions answered.
- I’m not joking when I say you could conceivably wind up with two Top 5 quarterbacks on your fantasy team such as Brady and Manning, folks.If Manning falls far enough and other managers are that afraid of the risk, you could pull off it off with the right timing and drafting process. Remember, this is not a matter of IF Manning can play, but a matter of WHEN!
Good luck, and leave a question below if you need further assistance. I’ll be happy to field them for you!
