1.) Tom Brady (QB) – New England Patriots
In each of his last six seasons, Brady has been good for 3,500-plus passing yards and 23 or more touchdown passes. Last season, he notched a career-high 4,806 passing yards and set the National Football League record in touchdown passes with 50. He has never hurled more than 14 picks in a season and has the arm candy to prove his monumental stature in the game. Brady is undeniably up there with the greats at the position no matter what the buffoons in New York or anywhere else say. That’s why he’ll be drafted before Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and his bum knee this year. Don’t forget, Brady has maintained his durability by playing in every single game since 2002. Plus, having wide receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker can’t hurt his already supreme value.

2.) Peyton Manning (QB) – Indianapolis Colts
Although my hatred runs deep for Manning, he’s still one of the best signal callers to ever grace the field. However, his health this year will be worth monitoring since he had an infected bursa sac removed from his left knee Monday, July 14. Word out of Indianapolis is that the commercial star will be out four to six weeks, which likely means that there may be some significant rust for the University of Tennessee alum to shake off as the season commences. Other than some concern over his knee procedure, Manning is the quintessential stallion. Armed with the likes of wide receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, he has dominated the game for a decade. He has thrown for 4,000-plus yards in eight of his 10 NFL seasons and has never thrown less than 26 touchdown passes in any given year. He sports a lifetime 64.2 completion percentage and boasts a nasty 260.2 yards per game over his career. In addition, like Brady, he is a picturesque vision of durability in one of the toughest games on earth having played in every contest since his inaugural campaign with the Colts in 1998.

3.) Drew Brees (QB) – New Orleans Saints
Some would say that Mr. Tony Romo Simpson should be sitting pretty here, but I beg to differ. I mean, Brees threw for 510 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2006 season, Romo has done nothing. Anyways, over his last two campaigns, he has thrown for 4,400-plus yards with at least 26 touchdown passes. He has three consecutive seasons with 500-plus passing attempts, which includes the 652 he aired out last year. Despite only having one true threat in wide receiver Marques Colston, you must remember that reception addict Reggie Bush is waiting for his true breakout campaign. Also, word out of New Orleans is that coach Sean Payton truly believes in the abilities of wide receivers Robert Meachem and Lance Moore. The numbers don’t lie and neither do I, Brees will once again dominate in the humid dome air down in the bayou this year.

4.) Tony Romo (QB) – Dallas Cowboys
I think this guy is talented, but I can’t stand his secretive adoration for Tom Brady. He won’t admit it, but he wants to be him, you can see it in his eyes. Last season, he finished third amongst NFL gunslingers in passing yards (4,211) and second in touchdown passes (36). In addition, he was tied for second in the league with 19 interceptions and on occasion exhibited a glaring inability to get the job done in the clutch. However, there is no denying his death defying skill set on the move, especially with tight end Jason Witten and wide receivers Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton roaming the pasture. Not to mention, wide receivers Terry Glenn and sleeper snag Sam Hurd will also be grabbing the wannabe Hollywood star’s passes. Despite my cruelty to the sultan of backwards hat photos, Romo is as good a grab as any and should continue to mature as his experience as an NFL signal-caller continues to broaden.

5.) Ben Roethlisberger (QB) – Pittsburgh Steelers
After a 2006 season that was obviously derailed by injuries, “Big Ben” returned in regal fashion last year. He was positioned third amongst NFL quarterbacks in touchdown passes (32) and only threw 11 picks on the year. He recorded his second straight campaign with 3,000-plus yards, nearly doubled his touchdown total of 18 from 2006 and basically cut his interception total of 23 from 2006 in half. He is supported by an elite arsenal of pass catchers in tight end Heath Miller and wide receivers Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes and Nate Washington. Although Roethlisberger poses a Herculean stature, the Pittsburgh offensive line must learn how to block. Over the last two seasons, he has been sacked a grand total of 93 times. Coming off a career year, the 6-doot-5, 241-pound beast should be a very safe pick for a very lucky owner.

6.) Carson Palmer (QB) – Cincinnati Bengals
He has wide receivers T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson (at least for now). He has notched 3,800-plus passing yards and 26 or more touchdown passes over his last three campaigns. He has proved over and over that he can hurl the ball and connect on a dime. However, wide receiver Chris Henry has finally seen his last pair of handcuffs in the City of Cincinnati and the threat of losing Johnson due to stupidity looms overhead like a storm cloud on the Serengeti. Plus, he will have a whole new crop of hands catching passes this season, so a slight regression might be on the horizon. But I’m as sure as a Brady touchdown pass to Moss that he’ll somehow amass 4,000 yards with at least 25 scores. Draft at your own risk, but tell me one time when Palmer has really let you down. That’s right, he hasn’t!

7.) Derek Anderson (QB) – Cleveland Browns
My only concern here is the investment in quarterback Brady Quinn. I just feel that if Anderson exhibits any pattern of slippage, Quinn will be on the field instantly. On the flip side, it may be hard for Anderson to falter with Joe Thomas manning the line, tight end Kellen Winslow, Jr. racking up catches and wide receivers Braylon Edwards and Donte’ Stallworth burning up the turf. Last season, Anderson finished ninth amongst NFL quarterbacks in passing yards (3,787) and fifth in touchdown passes (29). He’s a 6-foot-6, 229-pound machine that possess fantastic field vision and the instincts of a saber-toothed tiger. To me, he resembles a young Tom Brady, which shouldn’t come as a surprise on a Romeo Crennel coached football team. Granted, he’ll have Quinn breathing down his back, but the room for improvement is vast, as Cleveland’s offense should be one of the most potent in the game during 2008.

8.) Matt Hasselbeck (QB) – Seattle Seahawks
Hasselbeck finished last season eighth amongst NFL quarterbacks in passing yards (3,966) and tied for sixth in touchdowns passes with 28. Plus, he only threw 12 picks on the year. This could be a monumental season for the 32-year-old Boston College alum. Seattle’s running game will be a mix of T.J. Duckett and former Dallas Cowboys running back Julius Jones. Wide receiver D.J. Hackett is now a Panther and Deion Branch will be returning from a knee injury. If I were to guess now, wide receiver Nate Burleson will be the prime target for Hasselbeck all season, his speed and growing maturity point to a sleeper in the making. Hasselbeck has perfected coach Mike Holmgren’s notorious offensive scheme, so don’t hesitate to conjure up thoughts of another huge year from the ageing Hasselbeck, he still has all the physical tools to successfully pass early and often.

9.) Eli Manning (QB) – New York Giants
Until proven otherwise, I’m forced to put this beneficiary of a missed holding call by the Giants’ entire offensive line at this spot. New York retained tight end Jeremy Shockey, still have wide receiver Plaxico Burress and will count heavily on the hands and helmet of wide receiver David Tyree. But don’t let Manning’s out of body experience during Super Bowl XLII fool you. He has never thrown more than 24 touchdown passes in a season and has gradually increased his number of interceptions every year. In fact, he was tied with Palmer and Detroit Lions quarterback Jon Kitna for the NFL lead with 20. He is a mistake prone wreck that will undoubtedly be rattled by a healthy Shockey’s continuous banter. Expect the same old Manning that you’ve grown accustomed to with a few glimpses of glory.

10.) Jake Delhomme (QB) – Carolina Panthers
The return of wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad and addition of former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.J. Hackett should vault Delhomme up your draft board like a bottle rocket. Not to mention, wide receiver Steve Smith is still comfortably in the fold. Although the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Cajun only played in three games last season due to an elbow injury, his three seasons with 3,200-plus passing yards still shine bright in the minds of potential owners. A healthy Delhomme can be an absolute tyrant towards opposing defenses, especially when he’s hitting on all cylinders with Smith. Expect a special season from the rejuvenated star.

Rob McCarthy has played fantasy sports since the days of tediously transferring his daily points from the Boston Herald to a tattered notepad every morning. He has been featured on Yahoo! Sports, FOX Sports and currently scribes for KFFL.com. In addition, Rob is an avid fan of all Boston sports.