Today's installment of Choose Your Quarterback pits Drew Brees vs. Aaron Rodgers, the Nos. 2 and 3 assets in my rankings of the 32 presumed starting quarterbacks.
Here's a week-by-week fantasy breakdown of Rodgers vs. Brees, just in case you're torn on which quarterback to grab in Round 1 or 2:
Week 1 -- Brees (@ Atlanta) over Rodgers (@ Seattle)
Week 2 -- Rodgers (vs. N.Y. Jets) over Brees (@ Cleveland)
Week 3 -- Brees (vs. Minnesota) over Rodgers (@ Detroit)
Week 4 -- Brees (@ Dallas) over Rodgers (@ Chicago)
Week 5 -- Brees (vs. Tampa Bay) over Rodgers (vs. Minnesota)
Week 6 -- Rodgers (@ Miami) over Brees (BYE)
Week 7 -- Brees (@ Detroit) over Rodgers (vs. Carolina)
Week 8 -- Brees (home) over Rodgers (away) -- HEAD-TO-HEAD
Week 9 -- Brees (@ Carolina) over Rodgers (BYE)
Week 10 -- Rodgers (vs. Chicago) over Brees (vs. San Francisco)
Week 11 -- Rodgers (vs. Philadelphia) over Brees (vs. Cincinnati)
Week 12 -- Brees (vs. Baltimore) over Rodgers (@ Minnesota)
Week 13 -- Rodgers (vs. New England) over Brees (@ Pittsburgh)
Week 14 -- Rodgers (vs. Atlanta) over Brees (vs. Carolina)
Week 15 -- Rodgers (@ Buffalo) over Brees (@ Chicago)
Week 16 -- Brees (vs. Atlanta) over Rodgers (@ Tampa Bay)
Week 17 -- Rodgers (vs. Detroit) over Brees (@ Tampa Bay)
FINAL TALLY
Brees gets the slight edge on Rodgers, 9-8
BREAKDOWN
1. We're splitting hairs with the matchups from Weeks 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 15, 16 and 17, reiterating just how close Rodgers and Brees could be during the August drafts.
2. Here's something in Rodgers' favor: He gets the nod for three of the four fantasy-playoff periods over Brees (Weeks 13-15) ... althought the Saints passer draws the start for Fantasy Bowl Week (vs. Atlanta).
3. From Weeks 10-17, the Packers have five games at Lambeau Field, along with blustery road trips to Minnesota (an outdoor home venue for 2014-15) and Buffalo. That means Rodgers could theoretically experience bad weather for seven of his final eight outings -- with a roadie at Tampa Bay (Week 16) as the only obvious oasis.
4. You can't go wrong with either quarterback at the top of the draft: Rodgers has an elite receiving corps (Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Jarrett Boykin, rookie Davante Adams), a top-10 running back (Eddie Lacy) and the greenlight for 35 or more passes per week.
Brees, in turn, has the best tight end in football (Jimmy Graham), a reliable No. 1 wideout (Marques Colston) and two high-upside receivers (Kenny Stills, rookie Brandin Cooks). Brees -- the only QB to pass for 5,000 yards in three consecutive seasons -- is also a lead-pipe cinch for 300 yards and/or three TDs at the Superdome.
5. The only worries here? Can the Saints' backfield of Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas and Khiry Robinson take the pressure off Brees in the red zone? Can any tailback come close to replicating Darren Sproles' three-year average of 101 receiving targets per season?
Jay Clemons can be reached on Twitter, day or night, at @FOX_JayClemons.
