Fantasy Football Rankings: Top Quarterbacks Include Matthew Stafford, Drew Brees

Who Is The Top Fantasy Football QB?
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Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) passes the ball during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, Friday, Aug. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

The pass-happy offensive schemes currently in vogue in the NFL have shaken up the overall player rankings in fantasy football. Three quarterbacks -- Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Matthew Stafford -- threw for more than 5,000 yards last season, with Eli Manning not far behind. On the ground, Panthers signal caller Cam Newton set a record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 14. The only running back with more trips to the end zone was LeSean McCoy (17 TDs).

No other running back topped 12 rushing touchdowns.

Thanks to such prodigious production, the top five players in total points scored last season in many standard formats were quarterbacks, with eight cracking the top 10 in standard leagues at ESPN.com. It wasn't too long ago when nearly every name called out during the first round of fantasy drafts would belong to a running back. But the names of LaDainian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson and Adrian Peterson have given way to Brees, Cam and Rodgers.

What will you do with the quarterback position when your fantasy football draft rolls around? Will you try to snag one of the greats in the first round? Or maybe waiting a couple rounds for Big Ben is the plan? Scroll down below to see stats for all your fantasy quarterback options and rank them for the 2012 season.

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Before You Go

2012 Top 50 Fantasy Quarterback Rankings
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers(01 of49)
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2011 Stats: 4,643 yards, 45 TDs, 6 interceptions (credit:AP)
Tom Brady, New England Patriots(02 of49)
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2011 Stats: 5,235 yards, 39 TDs, 12 interceptions (credit:AP)
Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints(03 of49)
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2011 Stats: 5,476 yards, 46 TDs, 14 interceptions (credit:AP)
Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions(04 of49)
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2011 Stats: 5,038 yards, 41 TDs, 16 interceptions (credit:AP)
Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers(05 of49)
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2011 Stats: 4,051 yards, 21 TDs, 17 interceptions (credit:AP)
Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles(06 of49)
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2011 Stats: 3,303 yards, 18 TDs, 14 interceptions (credit:AP)
Eli Manning, New York Giants(07 of49)
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2011 Stats: 4,933 yards, 29 TDs, 16 interceptions (credit:AP)
Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys(08 of49)
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2011 Stats: 4,184 yards, 31 TDs, 10 interceptions (credit:AP)
Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers(09 of49)
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2011 Stats: 4,624 yards, 27 TDs, 20 interceptions (credit:AP)
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons(10 of49)
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2011 Stats: 4,177 yards, 29 TDs, 12 interceptions (credit:AP)
Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos(11 of49)
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No 2011 Stats (credit:AP)
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers(12 of49)
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2011 Stats: 4,077 yards, 21 TDs, 14 interceptions (credit:AP)
Matt Schaub, Houston Texans(13 of49)
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2011 Stats (10 games played): 2,479 yards, 15 TDs, 6 interceptions (credit:AP)
Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears(14 of49)
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2011 Stats (10 games played): 2,319 yards, 13 TDs, 7 interceptions (credit:AP)
Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins(15 of49)
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Rookie (credit:AP)
Carson Palmer, Oakland Raiders(16 of49)
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2011 Stats (10 games): 2,753 yards, 13 TDs, 16 interceptions (credit:AP)
Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers(17 of49)
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2011 Stats: 3,144 yards, 17 TDs, 5 interceptions (credit:AP)
Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens(18 of49)
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2011 Stats: 3,610 yards, 20 TDs, 12 interceptions (credit:AP)
Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals(19 of49)
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2011 Stats: 3,398 yards, 20 TDs, 14 interceptions (credit:AP)
Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts(20 of49)
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Rookie (credit:AP)
Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers(21 of49)
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2011 Stats: 3,592 yards, 16 TDs, 22 interceptions (credit:AP)
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills(22 of49)
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2011 Stats: 3,832 yards, 24 TDs, 23 interceptions (credit:AP)
Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams(23 of49)
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2011 Stats (10 games): 2,164 yards, 6 TDs, 6 interceptions (credit:AP)
Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings(24 of49)
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2011 Stats (11 games played): 1,853 yards, 13 TDs, 13 interceptions (credit:AP)
Matt Flynn, Seattle Seahawks(25 of49)
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2011 Stats (5 games played): 518 yards, 6 TDs, 2 interceptions (credit:AP)
Mark Sanchez, New York Jets(26 of49)
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2011 Stats: 3,474 yards, 26 TDs, 18 interceptions (credit:AP)
Jake Locker, Tennessee Titans(27 of49)
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2011 Stats (5 games played): 542 yards, 4 TDs, 0 interceptions (credit:AP)
Brandon Weeden, Cleveland Browns(28 of49)
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Rookie (credit:AP)
John Skelton, Arizona Cardinals (29 of49)
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2011 Stats: 1,913 yards, 11 TDs, 14 interceptions (credit:AP)
Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars(30 of49)
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2011 Stats: 2,214 yards, 12 TDs, 11 interceptions (credit:AP)
Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins(31 of49)
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Rookie (credit:AP)
Tim Tebow, New York Jets(32 of49)
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2011 Stats (DEN): 1,729 yards, 12 TDs, 6 interceptions (credit:AP)
Kevin Kolb, Arizona Cardinals(33 of49)
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2011 Stats (9 games played): 1,955 yards, 9 TDs, 8 interceptions (credit:AP)
Matt Hasselbeck, Tennessee Titans(34 of49)
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2011 Stats: 3,571 yards, 18 TDs, 14 interceptions (credit:AP)
Chad Henne, Jacksonville Jaguars(35 of49)
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2011 Stats (4 games played): 868 yards, 4 TDs, 4 interceptions (credit:AP)
Matt Moore, Miami Dolphins(36 of49)
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2011 Stats (13 games played): 2,497 yards, 16 TDs, 9 interceptions (credit:AP)
Mike Kafka, Philadelphia Eagles(37 of49)
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2011 Stats (4 games played): 107 yards, 2 interceptions (credit:AP)
David Garrard, Miami Dolphins(38 of49)
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No 2011 Stats (credit:AP)
T.J. Yates, Houston Texans(39 of49)
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2011 Stats (6 games played): 949 yards, 3 TDs, 3 interceptions (credit:AP)
Joe Webb, Minnesota Vikings(40 of49)
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2011 Stats (11 games played): 376 yards, 3 TDs, 2 interceptions (credit:AP)
Tarvaris Jackson, Seattle Seahawks(41 of49)
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2011 Stats: 3,091 yards, 14 TDs, 13 interceptions (credit:AP)
Kyle Orton, Dallas Cowboys(42 of49)
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2011 Stats (DEN, KC): 1,758 yards, 9 TDs, 9 interceptions (credit:AP)
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks(43 of49)
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Rookie (credit:AP)
Jason Campbell, Chicago Bears(44 of49)
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2011 Stats (6 games played): 1,170 yards, 6 TDs, 4 interceptions (credit:AP)
Rex Grossman, Washington Redskins(45 of49)
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2011 Stats (13 games played): 3,151 yards, 16 TDs, 20 interceptions (credit:AP)
Shaun Hill, Detroit Lions(46 of49)
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2011 Stats (2 games played): 33 yards (credit:AP)
Vince Young, Buffalo Bills(47 of49)
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2011 Stats (6 games played): 866 yards, 4 TDs, 9 interceptions (credit:AP)
Brady Quinn, Kansas City Chiefs(48 of49)
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No 2011 Stats (credit:AP)
Matt Leinart, Oakland Raiders(49 of49)
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2011 Stats (2 games): 57 yards, 1 TD (credit:AP)