National Football League

Ed Barkowitz: QBs Rivers, Orton are lighting things up in the NFL

Published Oct. 15, 2010 10:13 a.m. ET

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QUARTERBACK PLAY has been so erratic this season, you've been reduced to following injury updates for Bruce Gradkowski.

Drew Brees has six touchdowns and five interceptions in his last three games. Matt Schaub has been held to fewer than 200 yards in three of five games. Even Peyton Manning threw in a clunker Sunday against the Chiefs.

But out west, Philip Rivers and Kyle Orton are putting up pinball numbers at a record pace. The production from Rivers, the NFL's leading passer with 1,759 yards, isn't nearly as unexpected as what Orton (1,733) has done. Since Orton generally was picked much later, his play has been much more rewarding for fantasy owners who either drafted well before selecting Orton, traded their primary quarterback to bring Orton off the bench, or both.

"I'm happy for Kyle's success, in terms of what he has been able to do and how we have needed him to play and he has responded very well to this point in the season," Denver coach Josh McDaniels said.

Sunday's matchup at Baltimore was predictably difficult until Orton salvaged the afternoon with some splendid work in garbage time. A line of 314 yards, two scores and no picks is just dandy.

Even though the Broncos fell to 2-3, Orton is beginning to feel more appreciated by Denver fans, many of whom thought the Broncos got the raw end of the Orton-for- Jay Cutler deal before last season. An extra benefit is how Orton has made Brandon Lloyd the NFL's leading wide receiver in yardage. On draft boards, Lloyd was somewhere between late-round reach and you-must-be-kidding.

The Broncos are second in passing and dead last in rushing - by a whopping 23.8 yards fewer than the 31st-ranked Saints. Their inability to run the ball, however, is killing them in the red zone, where Denver has become too predictable.

Sunday, the Jets visit Denver, giving Orton owners a similar dilemma as last week. With Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis limping, and the knowledge that the Jets previously have given up good numbers to Chad Henne and Brett Favre, Orton (and Lloyd) must be played. Garbage-time numbers don't mean much in real football, but in fantasy, they're golden.

POSITION WATCHQuarterbacks: Aaron Rodgers (concussion) practiced yesterday and needs only to be cleared by doctors to start Sunday against the visiting Dolphins . . . Sure wouldn't mind having the Steelers defense, since it looks as if the Browns will start Colt McCoy . The rookie out of Texas looked lost during training camp and needs a visit to Heinz Field as much as a Cavs fan needs a LeBron James Heat jersey . . . Jay Cutler is expected to start again for the Bears on Sunday. He says the concussion he suffered in Week 4 was the first of his career. Maybe he forgot the one he had while with the Broncos or the three at Vanderbilt uncovered in news clips by the Chicago Tribune.

Running backs: Dallas coach Wade Phillips says Felix Jones will get the ball more following Jones' 15 carry, 109-yard effort against Tennessee. Jones gets the Vikings this week, making him a low-end No. 2 back . . . Cleveland's James Davis should be on the radar if Peyton Hillis is troubled by a quadriceps injury . . . Ray Rice finally showed life Sunday, with 133 yards and two TDs vs. Denver. He faces a New England defense Sunday he lit up for 103 and 159 yards in 2009.

Wide receivers: The Eagles' Jeremy Maclin deserves a play against the Falcons, which has held such guys as Larry Fitgerald and Marques Colston in check, but gave up 100-yard games to Pittsburgh's Hines Ward and the Saints' Lance Moore . . . Been a rough year for Detroit's Calvin Johnson and we're not even at Halloween. He lost his franchise quarterback in Week 1; the same game, he lost a TD because of a stupid rule about incomplete passes. He has yet to crack 100 yards and is now fighting a shoulder injury . . . The biggest beneficiaries to New England's dealing Randy Moss appear to be rookie Brandon Tate and tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski .

WEEKLY RANKINGS Based on projected production for Week 6QUARTERBACKS

1. Drew Brees, Saints, at Bucs

2. Matt Schaub, Texans, vs. Chiefs

3. Eli Manning, Giants, vs. Lions

4. Philip Rivers, Chargers, at Rams

5. Peyton Manning, Colts, at Redskins

6. Kyle Orton, Broncos, vs. Jets

7. A. Rodgers, Packers+, vs. Dolphins

8. Brett Favre, Vikings+, vs. Cowboys

9. B. R'thlisberger, Steelers, vs. Browns

10. Tom Brady, Patriots, vs. Ravens

11. Tony Romo, Cowboys, at Vikings

12. Matt Ryan, Falcons, at Eagles

13. Kevin Kolb, Eagles, vs. Falcons

14. D. McNabb, Redskins, vs. Colts

15. Mark Sanchez, Jets, at Denver

RUNNING BACKS

1. Chris Johnson, Titans, at Jaguars

2. Adrian Peterson, Vikings, vs. Cowboys

3. Michael Turner, Falcons, at Eagles

4. Arian Foster, Texans, vs. Chiefs

5. R. Mendenhall, Steelers, vs. Browns

6. Ray Rice, Ravens, at Patriots

7. Frank Gore, 49ers, vs. Raiders

8. M. Jones-Drew, Jaguars, vs. Titans

9. Steven Jackson, Rams, vs. Chargers

10. Matt Forte, Bears, vs. Seahawks

11. LeSean McCoy, Eagles, vs. Falcons

12. Michael Bush, Raiders, at 49ers

13. A. Bradshaw, Giants, vs. Lions

14. L. Tomlinson, Jets, at Broncos

15. Jamaal Charles, Chiefs, at Texans

16. Jahvid Best, Lions, at Giants

17. Joseph Addai, Colts, at Redskins

18. Ronnie Brown, Dolphins, at Packers

19. R. Mathews, Chargers, at Rams

20. Felix Jones, Cowboys, at Vikings

21. M. Lynch, Seahawks, at Bears

22. Ryan Torain, Redskins, vs. Colts

23. M. Tolbert, Chargers, at Rams

24. Peyton Hillis, Browns, at Steelers

25. B. Jackson, Packers, vs. Dolphins

WIDE RECEIVERS

1. Roddy White, Falcons, at Eagles

2. Miles Austin, Cowboys, at Vikings

3. B. Marshall, Dolphins, at Packers

4. Hakeem Nicks, Giants, vs. Lions

5. Randy Moss, Vikings, vs. Cowboys

6. Andre Johnson, Texans, vs. Chiefs

7. Reggie Wayne, Colts, at Redskins

8. Anquan Boldin, Ravens, at Patriots

9. Brandon Lloyd, Broncos, vs. Jets

10. Mike Wallace, Steelers, vs. Browns

11. Santana Moss, Redskins, vs. Colts

12. Percy Harvin, Vikings, vs. Cowboys

13. Malcom Floyd, Chargers, at Rams

14. DeSean Jackson, Eagles, vs. Falcons

15. Santonio Holmes, Jets, at Broncos

16. Pierre Garcon, Colts, at Redskins

17. Wes Welker, Patriots, vs. Ravens

18. Greg Jennings, Packers, vs. Dolphins

19. M. Colston, Saints, at Bucs

20. Jeremy Maclin, Eagles, vs. Falcons

21. Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs, at Texans

22. Hines Ward, Steelers, vs. Browns

23. Calvin Johnson, Lions+, at Giants

24. Michael Crabtree, 49ers, vs. Raiders

25. Kenny Britt, Titans, at Jaguars

TIGHT ENDS

1. Dallas Clark, Colts, at Redskins

2. Antonio Gates, Chargers, at Rams

3. Vernon Davis, 49ers, vs. Raiders

4. Zach Miller, Raiders, at 49ers

5. Tony Gonzalez, Falcons, at Eagles

6. Brent Celek, Eagles, vs. Falcons

7. Jason Witten, Cowboys, at Vikings

8. Dustin Keller, Jets, at Broncos

9. Chris Cooley, Redskins, vs. Colts

10. A. Hernandez, Patriots, vs. Ravens

+ Injury concerns. Byes: Bengals, Bills, Cardinals, Panthers

Ed Barkowitz, who can't wait for 18-game NFL seasons so that quarterbacks like the Caleb Hanies and Colt McCoys of the world can start crucial games, has been writing about fantasy football for the Daily News since 2001. Send e-mail to fantasyfootball@phillynews.com .