Ed Barkowitz: QBs Rivers, Orton are lighting things up in the NFL
QUARTERBACK PLAY has been so erratic this season, you've been reduced to following injury updates for Bruce Gradkowski.
Drew Brees has six touchdowns and five interceptions in his last three games. Matt Schaub has been held to fewer than 200 yards in three of five games. Even Peyton Manning threw in a clunker Sunday against the Chiefs.
But out west, Philip Rivers and Kyle Orton are putting up pinball numbers at a record pace. The production from Rivers, the NFL's leading passer with 1,759 yards, isn't nearly as unexpected as what Orton (1,733) has done. Since Orton generally was picked much later, his play has been much more rewarding for fantasy owners who either drafted well before selecting Orton, traded their primary quarterback to bring Orton off the bench, or both.
"I'm happy for Kyle's success, in terms of what he has been able to do and how we have needed him to play and he has responded very well to this point in the season," Denver coach Josh McDaniels said.
Sunday's matchup at Baltimore was predictably difficult until Orton salvaged the afternoon with some splendid work in garbage time. A line of 314 yards, two scores and no picks is just dandy.
Even though the Broncos fell to 2-3, Orton is beginning to feel more appreciated by Denver fans, many of whom thought the Broncos got the raw end of the Orton-for- Jay Cutler deal before last season. An extra benefit is how Orton has made Brandon Lloyd the NFL's leading wide receiver in yardage. On draft boards, Lloyd was somewhere between late-round reach and you-must-be-kidding.
The Broncos are second in passing and dead last in rushing - by a whopping 23.8 yards fewer than the 31st-ranked Saints. Their inability to run the ball, however, is killing them in the red zone, where Denver has become too predictable.
Sunday, the Jets visit Denver, giving Orton owners a similar dilemma as last week. With Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis limping, and the knowledge that the Jets previously have given up good numbers to Chad Henne and Brett Favre, Orton (and Lloyd) must be played. Garbage-time numbers don't mean much in real football, but in fantasy, they're golden.
POSITION WATCHQuarterbacks: Aaron Rodgers (concussion) practiced yesterday and needs only to be cleared by doctors to start Sunday against the visiting Dolphins . . . Sure wouldn't mind having the Steelers defense, since it looks as if the Browns will start Colt McCoy . The rookie out of Texas looked lost during training camp and needs a visit to Heinz Field as much as a Cavs fan needs a LeBron James Heat jersey . . . Jay Cutler is expected to start again for the Bears on Sunday. He says the concussion he suffered in Week 4 was the first of his career. Maybe he forgot the one he had while with the Broncos or the three at Vanderbilt uncovered in news clips by the Chicago Tribune.
Running backs: Dallas coach Wade Phillips says Felix Jones will get the ball more following Jones' 15 carry, 109-yard effort against Tennessee. Jones gets the Vikings this week, making him a low-end No. 2 back . . . Cleveland's James Davis should be on the radar if Peyton Hillis is troubled by a quadriceps injury . . . Ray Rice finally showed life Sunday, with 133 yards and two TDs vs. Denver. He faces a New England defense Sunday he lit up for 103 and 159 yards in 2009.
Wide receivers: The Eagles' Jeremy Maclin deserves a play against the Falcons, which has held such guys as Larry Fitgerald and Marques Colston in check, but gave up 100-yard games to Pittsburgh's Hines Ward and the Saints' Lance Moore . . . Been a rough year for Detroit's Calvin Johnson and we're not even at Halloween. He lost his franchise quarterback in Week 1; the same game, he lost a TD because of a stupid rule about incomplete passes. He has yet to crack 100 yards and is now fighting a shoulder injury . . . The biggest beneficiaries to New England's dealing Randy Moss appear to be rookie Brandon Tate and tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski .
WEEKLY RANKINGS Based on projected production for Week 6QUARTERBACKS
1. Drew Brees, Saints, at Bucs
2. Matt Schaub, Texans, vs. Chiefs
3. Eli Manning, Giants, vs. Lions
4. Philip Rivers, Chargers, at Rams
5. Peyton Manning, Colts, at Redskins
6. Kyle Orton, Broncos, vs. Jets
7. A. Rodgers, Packers+, vs. Dolphins
8. Brett Favre, Vikings+, vs. Cowboys
9. B. R'thlisberger, Steelers, vs. Browns
10. Tom Brady, Patriots, vs. Ravens
11. Tony Romo, Cowboys, at Vikings
12. Matt Ryan, Falcons, at Eagles
13. Kevin Kolb, Eagles, vs. Falcons
14. D. McNabb, Redskins, vs. Colts
15. Mark Sanchez, Jets, at Denver
RUNNING BACKS
1. Chris Johnson, Titans, at Jaguars
2. Adrian Peterson, Vikings, vs. Cowboys
3. Michael Turner, Falcons, at Eagles
4. Arian Foster, Texans, vs. Chiefs
5. R. Mendenhall, Steelers, vs. Browns
6. Ray Rice, Ravens, at Patriots
7. Frank Gore, 49ers, vs. Raiders
8. M. Jones-Drew, Jaguars, vs. Titans
9. Steven Jackson, Rams, vs. Chargers
10. Matt Forte, Bears, vs. Seahawks
11. LeSean McCoy, Eagles, vs. Falcons
12. Michael Bush, Raiders, at 49ers
13. A. Bradshaw, Giants, vs. Lions
14. L. Tomlinson, Jets, at Broncos
15. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs, at Texans
16. Jahvid Best, Lions, at Giants
17. Joseph Addai, Colts, at Redskins
18. Ronnie Brown, Dolphins, at Packers
19. R. Mathews, Chargers, at Rams
20. Felix Jones, Cowboys, at Vikings
21. M. Lynch, Seahawks, at Bears
22. Ryan Torain, Redskins, vs. Colts
23. M. Tolbert, Chargers, at Rams
24. Peyton Hillis, Browns, at Steelers
25. B. Jackson, Packers, vs. Dolphins
WIDE RECEIVERS
1. Roddy White, Falcons, at Eagles
2. Miles Austin, Cowboys, at Vikings
3. B. Marshall, Dolphins, at Packers
4. Hakeem Nicks, Giants, vs. Lions
5. Randy Moss, Vikings, vs. Cowboys
6. Andre Johnson, Texans, vs. Chiefs
7. Reggie Wayne, Colts, at Redskins
8. Anquan Boldin, Ravens, at Patriots
9. Brandon Lloyd, Broncos, vs. Jets
10. Mike Wallace, Steelers, vs. Browns
11. Santana Moss, Redskins, vs. Colts
12. Percy Harvin, Vikings, vs. Cowboys
13. Malcom Floyd, Chargers, at Rams
14. DeSean Jackson, Eagles, vs. Falcons
15. Santonio Holmes, Jets, at Broncos
16. Pierre Garcon, Colts, at Redskins
17. Wes Welker, Patriots, vs. Ravens
18. Greg Jennings, Packers, vs. Dolphins
19. M. Colston, Saints, at Bucs
20. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles, vs. Falcons
21. Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs, at Texans
22. Hines Ward, Steelers, vs. Browns
23. Calvin Johnson, Lions+, at Giants
24. Michael Crabtree, 49ers, vs. Raiders
25. Kenny Britt, Titans, at Jaguars
TIGHT ENDS
1. Dallas Clark, Colts, at Redskins
2. Antonio Gates, Chargers, at Rams
3. Vernon Davis, 49ers, vs. Raiders
4. Zach Miller, Raiders, at 49ers
5. Tony Gonzalez, Falcons, at Eagles
6. Brent Celek, Eagles, vs. Falcons
7. Jason Witten, Cowboys, at Vikings
8. Dustin Keller, Jets, at Broncos
9. Chris Cooley, Redskins, vs. Colts
10. A. Hernandez, Patriots, vs. Ravens
+ Injury concerns. Byes: Bengals, Bills, Cardinals, Panthers
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Ed Barkowitz, who can't wait for 18-game NFL seasons so that quarterbacks like the Caleb Hanies and Colt McCoys of the world can start crucial games, has been writing about fantasy football for the Daily News since 2001. Send e-mail to fantasyfootball@phillynews.com .