The question facing every fantasy football player this year is whether they should spend big money on auctions or an early draft pick on top QB talent. In most seasons, that’s a question you have to ask yourself and 2010 is no different.

It can be argued that there are 4 QB quality tiers to choose from. The main 3 tiers are made up of the top 10 QBs, so if you don’t want to pay to play then 11-25 should be where you’re looking for your diamond in the rough. I don’t think it’s the worst strategy; I call it a roast QB, the idea is that you grab your QB in the late rounds or just spend $1 or $2 at auction and play the waiver wire each week to find a QB with a good defensive matchup to exploit. It can be a winning strategy and you may find a quarterback along the way. It allows you to focus a lot more resources on your other list places.

If you’re committed to a higher grade QB that there are, in my opinion, only 9 or 10 (depending on Favre) that are better than the rotisserie method, then you need to decide how many resources you’re willing to commit to the position. Now, in a 10-team league, everyone could get a decent quarterback, but in 12-team or larger leagues there’s not enough to go around, so they’re a bit more of a staple.

Let’s start at the top and work our way down according to the Fantasy Fortunes website:

1.Aaron Rodgers $45
2. Drew Brees $45

These two represent the biggest advantage in the position. Rodgers is a big part of the Packers’ offense, which looks to be strong again this year. He throws a lot and, as a bonus, he runs more than anyone at the position, racking up 5 straight touchdowns last year. He expects similar run numbers again and slightly worse passing.

Brees has the keys to what could be the top-scoring offense for 2010 and they’re loaded with weapons. He should continue to put up big numbers. I think he’s a little more confident than Rodgers.

The next step down is

3.Peyton Manning$35

Manning is a top-tier QB who sells for $10 off. His weapons are still in his place and he is the paragon of consistency. He a very safe play and he has to be hungry after last season. The concern here is that they tend to sit him out late in the season, hurting fantasy owners come championship week. I’m not as concerned this year as I don’t think the Colts will clinch home field that quickly this year. I’m a little worried about that with Rodgers if Favre doesn’t come back because without Favre the Vikings won’t pressure the Pack to win the division.

The next QBs represent a significant level break:

4. Matt Schaub $25
5. Phillip Rios $21
6. Tom Brady $18
7.Tony Romeo $13

These 4 are running very good offenses. Schaub appears to be on the verge of exploding, although injuries have been an issue. Rivers has shown that he can do it and represents decent value. Brady has never been this cheap, although Moss is getting old, Brady at this price could be the steal of the QB field. I included Romo in this tier because I think we have him a little undervalued and his connection to Austin could be a great season.

Our final tier of quarterbacks I’d be willing to commit significant resources to before stepping down as roasting quarterback is as follows:

8. Brett Favre $11
9.Donovan McNabb $10
10. Skinny Joe $9

Clearly there are guys below this that are better than bypass wire, but I don’t know if they’re worth what you’ll have to sacrifice to get them. Favre scares me and I personally would leave him alone, although if he repeats last year’s performance, someone will get a lot out of him. McNabb is going into a new offense and is hard to read, but he has the talent to put up good numbers. Flacco, on the other hand, add Boldin and he could really stand out this year. I’ll target it as a value play if I can get it at the right price.

What should guide your decision when selecting a QB is how many split points you gain or lose by choosing one QB over another. If you think Aaron Rodgers will outsmart the $10-$11 QBs by 60 points, then you need to decide if an extra $35 on your currently scheduled RB #2 will get you 60 more points than the guy you would otherwise have in the # slot. 2RB. I’d say, at the very least, he should get the same split points at QB or more. It’s easier to replace a starting quarterback with someone who scores consistent points than it is to replace a RB with a consistent scorer. But if you think you can get quality backup RBs and still afford top-tier QBs, then I say go for it because they offer a safe place to get a good separation from your competition.

If you’re skipping the top QBs and going for the steakhouse style this year, be sure to check Fantasy Fortunes every week for FAAB (Free Agent Acquisition Budget) offer amounts. We’ll be giving tips on who to add and what to bid on.

We’ll also be updating players’ weekly season value with auction values ​​to help you assess your team’s value and evaluate trades.

Good luck with your draft or auction.