Outlook: The Falcons took the leash off Ryan in 2012 and he put together the finest season of his five-year career, leading Atlanta to the NFC Championship Game. Ryan reached career highs in pass attempts (615), completions (422), passing yards (4,719) and passing touchdowns (32). For good measure, he also chipped in 141 rushing yards and completed 68.6 percent of his passes, both career highs, as he finished the season averaging 24.0 PPG. Looking forward to 2013, the Falcons have retained all of the team's key weapons with Roddy White, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez all returning. In addition, the team signed veteran free agent running back Steven Jackson to replace Michael Turner. Although Jackson represents a clear upgrade over Turner, the Falcons figure to remain a high-flying passing offense once again this season, with Jackson a solid pass catcher out of the backfield. Add it all up and Ryan figures to be a top five fantasy QB once again in 2013. ~ Dave Stringer

Comment: Had his best season in the league in 2012 (4719 yds, 32 TDs, 14 INTs). ~ Mike Krueger

Player Page | Track this player

Outlook: Entering his fifth year in the league and with the Jets having used a second-round pick to acquire Geno Smith, Sanchez is clearly at a crossroads in his career. His $8.5-million guaranteed salary and the fact that head coach Rex Ryan is facing a make-or-break season are quite likely the only two reasons he is still in New York. With Ryan in limbo, Smith will need to emerge as the clear-cut winner of the team’s quarterback competition, and spring OTA's failed to provide much evidence of that happening. That likely means that Sanchez, who has led the NFL in turnovers with 26 in each of the last two seasons, will be the team's opening-day starter once again in 2013. However, with a questionable talent level and injury issues at wide receiver plus the lack of a quality pass-receiving tight end, he's not a player that you want to be relying on for fantasy purposes. ~ Dave Stringer

Comment: The fantasy QB situation with the Jets is one to avoid this season. ~ Mike Krueger

Player Page | Track this player

Outlook: It has been three long years since Schaub's career season in 2009 when he threw for 4,770 yards and 29 touchdowns. Since then, the Texans have morphed into the league's top rushing team and Schaub has seen his passing statistics plummet. While in 2012 he topped 4,000 passing yards for the third time, he threw for just 22 touchdowns while averaging a pedestrian 18.0 PPG. With a dominant rushing attack and Schaub's lack of mobility, he doesn't contribute much in the way of rushing stats, with just four rushing touchdowns in his nine-year career. With both Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels advancing in age and the lack of a proven threat opposite Johnson, Schaub's fantasy prospects for 2013 are lukewarm at best. Consider him a mid-tier QB2 with little upside. Remember that even if running back Arian Foster were to be lost to injury, super-sub Ben Tate would take over. ~ Dave Stringer

Comment: The Texans are run-heavy inside the redzone by nearly a 2:1 ratio. Schaub remains a QB2 until this philosophy changes. ~ Mike Krueger

Player Page | Track this player

Outlook: With Matt Cassel having proven he wasn't the quarterback to take the Chiefs deep into the playoffs, Kansas City traded for former San Francisco starter Alex Smith in the offseason. Smith is coming off his most impressive run as a starter, having taken the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game in 2011 and leading them to a 6-3 record last season before suffering a concussion and losing his job to Colin Kaepernick. Smith represents a big upgrade over Cassel, but he has enjoyed his greatest success when asked not to do too much. While the “game manager” label isn't the death knell for an NFL quarterback, it just might be for a quarterback's fantasy prospects, and that has been the case with Smith. Eight years into his career, he has topped 3,000 passing yards just once and has never thrown 20 touchdown passes. In Kansas City, he will be united with head coach Andy Reid's heavily passing based offense, but the Chiefs lack proven playmakers outside of running back Jamaal Charles and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. Add it all up and there isn't much that suggests Smith will achieve fantasy glory in 2013. He rates as a lower-tier QB2 with little upside. ~ Dave Stringer

Player Page | Track this player

Outlook: Hoping to provide competition for incumbent starter Mark Sanchez, the Jets used a second-round pick to acquire West Virginia's Geno Smith. While Smith has plenty of natural ability, offseason reviews of his work during OTA's were mixed, with the Jets acknowledging prior to training camp that he would need a strong preseason to unseat Sanchez in the starting lineup. With a mixed bag of talent at the skill positions and leading wide receiver Santonio Holmes doubtful to be fully healthy on opening day, it might be in Smith's best interest to open the season on the pine. Smith has little to no fantasy value in his rookie season but is a decent prospect in dynasty leagues. ~ Dave Stringer

Comment: The fantasy QB situation with the Jets is one to avoid this season. ~ Mike Krueger

Player Page | Track this player

Outlook: Stafford enters 2013 coming off a subpar season in which he had to battle issues at wide receiver and along the offensive line. With Nate Burleson lost to a broken leg and Ryan Broyles suffering a torn ACL, the desperate Lions were forced to acquire Mike Thomas from the Jaguars. You know you're hurting when that happens. The truth is that Stafford's play didn't warrant the criticism he received. When you're down in the fourth quarter, you need to try to make things happen, hence his high interception total. His touchdown-to-interception ratio dipped to 20-17 after being a solid 41-16 in 2012, but his yardage total remained solid, dropping only slightly from 5,038 to 4,967 as he came close to being just the second quarterback in league history to top 5,000 passing yards in consecutive seasons. In 2013, the Lions still have issues at wide receiver but have added another playmaker in former Dolphin Reggie Bush. If Calvin Johnson can push a few more receptions into the end zone, Stafford could re-emerge as a solid mid-tier QB1. We like the chances of that happening. ~ Dave Stringer

Comment: Stafford has led the league in pass attempts each of the last two seasons. ~ Mike Krueger

Player Page | Track this player

Outlook: Considered a raw prospect coming out of Texas A&M last year as a first-round pick, Tannehill had a solid rookie season despite playing mostly a caretaker role in an offense devoid of talent at the wide receiver position. While the former college wide receiver has the athletic ability to develop into a solid starter, he needs to continue to learn the playbook and improve his ability to read defenses in order to become a consistent fantasy producer. Despite playing in all 16 games, he failed to top 200 passing yards in eight games, finishing the season with 3,294 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Having added Mike Wallace and Brandon Gibson at wide receiver and Dustin Keller at tight end, the Dolphins expect more from Tannehill. Provided the offensive line holds up (a major question mark), Tannehill could emerge as a mid-tier QB2 in 2013 but should be between the 20th and 25th quarterback taken in your draft. ~ Dave Stringer

Comment: Mike Wallace will help, but Tannehill will have to prove his worth to fantasy owners. He's a QB2. ~ Mike Krueger

Player Page | Track this player

Outlook: Vick has struggled to replicate his 2010 success over the past two seasons but appears set to earn another opportunity to try again in 2013. While he will need to beat out second-year signal caller Nick Foles, that seems like a mere formality. Vick has endured plenty of criticism over the past two seasons but his passing production has remained decent, the only issue being his propensity for turnovers. In the run game, Vick has remained productive, but the nine touchdowns he scored in 2010 have been replaced by a pair of single-rushing-touchdown seasons in each of 2011 and 2012. With Chip Kelly now in Philadelphia, Vick is getting a decent amount of fantasy buzz given his upside as a read-option quarterback and the talented skill position players the Eagles have on offense. The question is whether he can run that type of offense and stay healthy for an entire season. We have our doubts. Consider Vick a mid- to lower-tier QB with a solid upside in 2013. ~ Dave Stringer

Comment: Vick has won the starting job but injury risk is still a major concern. He's a good QB2. ~ Mike Krueger

Player Page | Track this player