Peyton Manning turned 36 in March.

He is trying to recover from multiple neck surgeries that wiped out his 2011 season, and he admits his arm strength isn't completely back.

Then there's this: In his first 13 years in the NFL, Manning averaged 4,218 yards passing and 32 total touchdowns.

And this: In 2009 and 2010, he had norms of 4,600 yards and 33 TDs.

And this: Has there been a better fantasy quarterback in your lifetime? (Remember, Kurt Warner only had three huge years -- 1999, 2001 and 2008. Here, look.)

So where would you place Manning -- once as safe of a pick as you could make on draft day -- in the quarterback pecking order entering this season? I ranked him 10th, one behind another risky injury selection, Michael Vick, and one ahead of a safe choice, Matt Ryan.

The reasoning: If Manning plays the entire season, he could be better than any fantasy QB not named Rodgers, Brees, Brady and Newton.

Granted, he could also take a brutal hit that puts his career in jeopardy. But I would be willing to take that risk after the top nine QBs were off the board, knowing that I need to make sure I select another quarterback soon after.

Without further delay, our early rankings:

Rank, player, team (bye week): GP, Passing yards-TD-Int, Rushing yards-TD
1. Aaron Rodgers, GB (10): 15, 4,643-45-6, 257-3
2. Drew Brees, NO (6): 16, 5,476-46-14, 86-1
3. Tom Brady, NE (9): 16, 5,235-39-12, 109-3

4. Cam Newton, Car (6): 16, 4,051-21-17, 706-14

5. Matthew Stafford, Det (5): 16, 5,038-41-16, 78-0

6. Eli Manning, NYG (11): 16, 4,933-29-16, 15-1

7. Philip Rivers, SD (7): 16, 4,624-27-20, 36-1

8. Tony Romo, Dal (5): 16, 4,184-31-10, 46-1

9. Michael Vick, Phi (7): 13, 3,303-18-14, 589-1

10. Peyton Manning, Den (7): Did not play

11. Matt Ryan, Atl (7): 16, 4,177-29-12, 84-2

12. Ben Roethlisberger, Pit (4): 15, 4,077-21-14, 70-0

13. Matt Schaub, Hou (8): 10, 2,479-15-6, 9-2

14. Jay Cutler, Chi (6): 10, 2,319-13-7, 55-1

15. Robert Griffin III, Was (10): Rookie

16. Joe Flacco, Bal (8): 16, 3,610-20-12, 88-1

17. Josh Freeman, TB (5): 15, 3,592-16-22, 238-4

18. Andy Dalton, Cin (8): 16, 3,398-20-13, 152-1

19. Carson Palmer, Oak (5): 10, 2,753-13-16, 20-1

20. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buf (8): 16, 3,832-24-23, 56-0

21. Alex Smith, SF (9): 16, 3,144-17-5, 179-2

22. Andrew Luck, Ind (4): Rookie

23. Sam Bradford, StL (9): 10, 2,164-6-6, 26-0

24. Matt Cassel, KC (7): 9, 1,713-10-9, 99-0

25. Mark Sanchez, NYJ (9): 16, 3,474-26-18, 103-6

NOTE: All statistics are from the 2011 season.

QUICK SLANTS: In the last four seasons, Rodgers has 147 combined passing and rushing touchdowns and has averaged 4,259 yards passing. ... In that same span, Brees has thrown for at least 4,388 yards and 33 TDs each year. ... Brady has a combined 79 TD tosses the last two years. ... Prior to playing a full season in 2011, Stafford appeared in 13 games in his first two NFL campaigns. ... Eli Manning has had three consecutive 4,000-yard seasons, and he has a norm of 29 TD passes in that stretch. ... Rivers, possibly because of the departure of Vincent Jackson in free agency, is underrated by some sites, despite averaging 4,399 yards and 30 TDs the last four seasons. ... Romo, who played six games in 2010, averaged 4,334 yards and 30 total TDs in 2009 and '11, when he appeared in all 16 contests each year. ... Ryan has norms of 3,941 yards and 30 total TDs since 2010. ... In 2009 and '10, Schaub averaged 16 games, 4,570 yards and 27 TDs. He could be a great value pick in the middle rounds. .. Flacco's yards passing the last three years: 3,613, 3,622 and 3,610. ... Freeman was terrible for much of last season, but was productive in 2010 (3,451 yards, 25 TDs, six interceptions). ... If Sanchez holds off the legend of Tim Tebow and starts all season, he is better than many fantasy backups. He had 32 combined passing and rushing TDs in 2011.

NEXT: Running backs

In this week's column for the print and Web editions of the News-Herald (spend the extra 75 cents on Saturday!), we will have an expanded sale.

Our three big purchases, if you will, concern Ray Rice, Brandon Marshall and the Panthers' Steve Smith (not the former Giant who was held without a catch last week in his Eagles debut). Our three sales involve Reggie Wayne, DeAngelo Williams and Chad Ochocinco.

None of which is to say we're down on Wayne and we're stating the obvious -- that Rice, Smith and Marshall are good. It involves predictions -- for example, buying that Peyton Hillis won't rush for 1,000 yards this season (don't worry, Browns fans, this isn't one of our beliefs) or selling the possibility of Steven Jackson ever staying healthy.

Anyway, here are two more predictions that didn't make the column because of space constraints.


BUY


Tim Hightower will be a top-20 fantasy running back.

Hightower had 25 of Washington's 26 rushing attempts in Week 1, and he proved in 2008 and '09 with Arizona that he can be an effective source of touchdowns (a combined 18 on the ground in those two years). Hightower is capable of being a big asset in the passing game (he had 63 receptions in 2009), and he averaged 4.8 yards per carry in 2010.

Granted, he plays for Mike Shanahan, who has toyed with our emotions at running back before. But Week 1, in which Hightower had 97 total yards, one TD and three receptions, seems to be a sign of good things to come.

SELL


Assuming Matthew Stafford can stay healthy, he's a top-10 quarterback.

Yes, that's a big assumption regarding Stafford, who played in three games last season and 10 in 2009, his rookie year. Stafford threw for 305 yards, three TDs and an interception Sunday at Tampa Bay, and, dating back to last season, he has 757 yards passing, nine TDs and two picks in his last three games.

This week, the Lions play host to the Chiefs, who were torched by Ryan Fitzpatrick last week, so you should consider Stafford a must-start this week.

Regardless, Stafford has thrown as many interceptions as touchdown passes (22) in his brief career. He could be great. He could be mediocre. He could be on injured reserve by Week 4.

If you drafted Stafford as a backup, my advice is sell high.

We'll address the impact of the Vikings unceremoniously dumping Randy Moss -- and seemingly infuriating everyone but Brad Childress in the process -- but first we'll take a quick trip around the NFL as we enter Week 9, just past the halfway point for leagues that play a 13-game regular season and three-week postseason.

-- Cadillac Williams, you had a good run, or at least an injury-filled one. But that sound you heard Sunday was the keys being handed to LeGarrette Blount, who rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries against the Cardinals. Granted, it was the Cardinals, but considering the state of fantasy running backs, I'd play the young Buc who has rushed for 192 yards on 33 carries (5.8) in his last two games.

Start 'em

-- Jacob Tamme, TE, Colts: Hey, why not? First, you'll probably have to pick him up, since Tamme was owned in only 4.2 percent of the leagues on ESPN.com entering Week 8. Tamme didn't have a catch all season and had six catches for 47 yards in his three-year career prior to Monday. After a six-reception, 64-yard, one-TD performance in place of Dallas Clark against the Texans, he's certainly worth a starting spot.

-- Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions: He threw for 212 yards, four touchdowns and one interception his his first game since Week 1. He also has Calvin Johnson on his team. That's good enough for me.

-- Steve Breaston, WR, Cardinals: In his first appearance since Week 3, he had eight receptions for 147 yards. He's played in only four games and his quarterback may or may not be Derek Anderson, but if you need a third receiver, you could do a lot worse than a player who has 22 receptions for 330 yards in four games. An aside: Arizona's schedule in Weeks 14-16 (fantasy playoff time): home against Denver, at Carolina, home against Dallas.

Sit 'em

-- Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys: He bruised his left forearm and sprained his ankle in Week 8. Since rushing 14 times for 109 yards and catching four passes for 17 yards in Week 5, he has 31 rushes for 89 yards (2.9) and zero touchdowns. The only positive (and it's not Marion Barber still poaching the goal-line carries): Jones has 16 catches for 102 yards in that span.

-- Donald Driver, WR, Packers: He's been bothered by thumb and quad injuries, leading to the veteran failing to catch a pass in back-to-back games. The Packers have a bye in Week 10, so it might make a lot of since to rest him Sunday against the visiting, reeling, rancid, rudderless (feel free to insert your negative description here) Cowboys.

Stock up

-- BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Patriots: Now this is a surprising development. A Patriots running back has a TD in five straight games, and his name sounds like someone you would choose to represent you if you're a Vikings fan deciding to sue Childress for neglect of talent. Green-Ellis had 17 carries for 112 yards and two scores against the Vikings. In the five-game span, he has rushed for 330 yards and six TDs, averaging 4.8 yards per carry.

Stock down

-- Jahvid Best, RB, Lions: Sunday, he split carries with Kevin Smith. The rookie had five TDs in his first two games and has zero in five contests since. He has rushed for 199 yards in the five games and is no longer an automatic start. Best is much better suited to PPR formats. He's on pace for 82 receptions this season.

-- Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks: He had nine carries for 7 yards in Week 8 at Oakland. He got some of our hopes up by scoring a TD in his first game after being traded by Buffalo to Seattle, but the former fantasy must-start has 33 carries for 96 yards (2.9) with zero TDs and zero receptions in his last two games.

Two of the top eight quarterbacks -- Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub -- are on a bye this week, and Michael Vick (rib injury), David Garrard (concussion) and Vince Young (knee) are out or likely to be out.

Garrard and Young are emergency options anyway, but you might consider this week exactly that if you're 2-4 or 1-5 and have Manning on a bye, with the prospect of him returning to an offense that must do without Dallas Clark and Austin Collie.

As we did with a column for the running backs, wide receivers and tight ends for Friday's print and online editions, we'll break down the top quarterbacks who are available in more than half of the leagues on ESPN.com. This will be blog style instead, but it won't be any less memorable.

1. Matthew Stafford, Lions (owned in 23 percent of the ESPN leagues): You'll have to wait a week, since Detroit is off Sunday, but it should be worthwhile. Stafford will return from a shoulder injury that has sidelined him since the opener to face the Redskins (No. 31 vs. the pass) in Week 8. The Jets (No. 22 vs. the pass) and Bills (11 touchdown passes allowed, the third-most in the league) follow. Then there's this: In Stafford's absence, Shaun Hill and Drew Stanton combined to throw for 1,542 yards and 10 touchdowns in 5 1/2 games.

2. Matt Cassel, Chiefs (24.7 percent): Granted he's had one or zero touchdown passes in three of his five games, but he's thrown for three scores in two of his last three. Even better: Kansas City's next three games are against the Jaguars (No. 28 vs. the pass, a league-high 14 TD passes allowed), Bills (11 TD passes allowed) and Raiders (12 TD passes allowed, the third-most in the league).

3. Alex Smith, 49ers (16.4 percent): In his first four games, the embattled top overall pick of the 2005 NFL draft had three TD passes and seven interceptions. In Smith's last two contests, he has five TDs and two picks. The 49ers' schedule is also favorable, beginning with a road game at Carolina and a home date vs. Denver (No. 26 vs. the pass) the next two weeks. Following a Week 9 bye, the 49ers will play host to the Rams (No. 20 vs. the pass) and Buccaneers (No. 16), followed by a game at Arizona (No. 26).

4. Josh Freeman, Buccaneers (14.4 percent): This is where it gets much more dicey. Freeman has a respectable passer rating (83.4) and has thrown only three picks in five games, but he has just 1,043 yards and six TDs. The schedule, however, is favorable -- a home game Sunday against the Rams (No. 26) and a Week 8 date at Arizona (No. 26).

5. Sam Bradford, Rams (29.7 percent): He's thrown one TD pass or fewer in four of six games, and his passer rating is 69.3. Translation: About what you would expect for a rookie. His growing pains should ease Sunday at Tampa Bay and in Week 8 at home against Carolina.

6. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks (19.5 percent): How the mighty have fallen. Hasselbeck has three touchdowns and five interceptions in his last four games. The only positives for Hasselbeck from a fantasy perspective are the next two games on the schedule -- Sunday against the visiting Cardinals (No. 26) and next week at the Raiders (12 TD passes allowed).

Let's take a quick trip down the field after a hectic first full day of the (cue any ESPN analyst) National Football League season.

-- He only threw 10 passes before suffering a concussion, but I'm not feeling very good about my Kevin Kolb prediction. With a game at Detroit looming in Week 2, expect Michael Vick to be the most popular player on the waiver wire this week. Vick threw for 175 yards and a touchdown and ran for 103 yards on 11 carries Sunday against the Packers.

-- If Matthew Stafford does, in fact, miss 4 to 6 weeks with a shoulder injury, as NFL.com is reporting, Calvin Johnson's value takes a significant hit. Stafford should have been viewed as a fantasy backup, but if you need help at QB in a 12-team league, it's OK to cut him for another option.

-- Packers running back Ryan Grant ran for 45 yards on eight carries before suffering an ankle injury. He says he'll be back this week, and we should believe him since he's never missed an NFL game due to injury. But the Pack will play the Bills at home in Week 2, and backup Brandon Jackson (63 yards rushing, two receptions for 12 yards) is more than capable of filling in for a back who rushed for 1,253 yards and 11 TDs last season.

-- Speaking of bad predictions, how about Texans running back Arian Foster? Third round doesn't seem so bad.

-- Stock up: Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks, Bucs receiver Mike Williams, Jags receiver Mike Thomas, Jags QB David Garrard, Colts receiver Austin Collie, Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant, Cardinals receiver Steve Breaston, Redskins receiver Santana Moss, Rams receiver Mark Clayton (the former Raven, not Buccaneer).

-- Stock down: Panthers QB Matt Moore, Jags receiver Mike Sims-Walker, Colts receivers Pierre Garcon and Anthony Gonzalez, Redskins QB Donovan McNabb, 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree.

-- Don't get too excited about Broncos receiver Brandon Lloyd, who had five receptions for 117 yards.

-- Do be encouraged by Broncos receiver Eddie Royal's numbers Sunday (eight receptions for 98 yards). He might be back to his 91-catch 2008 self.

-- I'd say Maurice Jones-Drew (23 carries for 98 yards, three catches for 15 yards) is fine.

-- Don't worry about Michael Turner yet. The Steelers allowed 89.9 yards rushing per game last season, and they should be better this year, provided Troy Polamalu plays more than five games.

-- Welcome back, Matt Forte.

-- Wes Welker, you are amazing.

-- Do the Raiders have wide receivers?

We'll get into the running back messes, er, situations, later this week.