Fantasy Football: It’s Time to Let Go of Peyton Manning

This is not some hot take article or some controversial statement, but I think it deserves emphasis nonetheless. I’m not some Broncos or Peyton Manning hater, I’ve been a fan of his since the Colts days. He has even won many of us some league championships.

But it has to be said: Peyton Manning is finished as a top quarterback. Done. And you probably drafted him too high. But that’s okay. Cut your losses now and pick up someone better. Stream quarterbacks. Make a trade. Do something that gets Peyton Manning off your roster, because he is not and will not do it for you this year in standard leagues. Unlike the Broncos, your fantasy team can’t afford to rely on a defense to win you weeks. Fantasy defenses just don’t score enough points.

His Production is Terrible

To date, Manning has scored 68.56 points (give or take a few depending on league scoring). In six games, he’s averaging 254 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs. Last year after six games, Manning averaged 308 yards, 3 TDs, and .5 INTs per game. In 2013 after the same stretch, he averaged an absurd 363 yards, 4 TDs, and .3 INTs. While his 2013 numbers aren’t even a consideration, the decline is real, and it must be taken seriously.

The defenses aren’t scared of Peyton passing on them anymore, which is letting him score big in the yardage category, but he’s also throwing plenty of completions to the other team as well. The man has 10 INTs, which is leading the NFL (one above Matt Stafford). This has led to kicker Brandon McManus being turned into a stud, while their run game has turned into a pumpkin.

Peyton is Far, Far Behind the Pack

Generally, there isn’t much differentiation between quarterback fantasy points. Sure, there are those who are clear top guys like Aaron Rodgers and Andrew Luck from year to year, but overall, you can find great, similar production from QBs 5-15, and occasionally go even deeper and still find 20 point games.

Peyton Manning isn’t even in that muddled middle. He is the QB28 in fantasy. Out of all the quarterbacks who started the season with the starting job and still have it through week 6, he’s ahead of only two: Nick Foles and Teddy Bridgewater. Both of whom have had their bye weeks, unlike Peyton Manning.

Sep 17, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) is hit by Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston (50) during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Broncos won 31-24. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Of the quarterbacks who have more points than him, the list is quite shocking. Just above him are Andrew Luck and Brian Hoyer, two players who haven’t even played every game this year. While he has yet to break the 70 point mark, 16 players have more than 90 points, and 9 have broken 100.

Of the players ahead of him, you can easily get players who you probably think are terrible off the waiver who will outperform Peyton, including: Alex Smith, Colin Kapernick, Josh McCown, Matthew Stafford, and Jay Cutler. Even Kirk Cousins, Jameis Winston, and Marcus Mariota are outscoring him. If you closed your eyes and chose a starting quarterback every week this year at random, chances are you’d choose one that outscored Peyton Manning that week.

Streaming quarterbacks is an effective strategy, and if you do it well, you could end up with a consistent starter (just ask the folks who drafted Carson Palmer or Andy Dalton at the end of their drafts, or picked up Tyrod Taylor early). It’s a painful thing to watch, but Peyton Manning’s decline has arrived swiftly, and it’s not going to get better.

Say it with me, to the Nationwide jingle: “I will drop Peyton today.”

Next: Digging Deep On The Waiver Wire

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