For as many records as Peyton Manning has broken in his 18-year career, there are quite a few differing opinions on the future Hall of Famer.
He has often been criticized for his career playoff record, which was below .500 before the Super Bowl run this past winter. And even after the Super Bowl 50 victory, his critics weren’t satisfied because he was only a “game manager”.
Furthermore, dirty off the field secrets from Manning’s past have surfaced within the last couple months and caused some to question the quarterback’s true character.
Regardless of those opinions, there is no denying that Manning will go down as the greatest fantasy quarterback of his era.
Even though Manning was a catalyst to the passing era the NFL resides in today, he played a majority of his career during some golden running backs years. In the mid-2000’s, running backs like LaDainain Tomlinson, Marshall Faulk, and Shaun Alexander would routinely score 20 touchdowns in a single season. Then later in Manning’s career, guys like Chris Johnson and Adrian Peterson were rushing for 2,000 yards.
Despite that, Manning was so dominant that owners often considered him as valuable to their fantasy teams as those running backs.
Since 2000, only four quarterbacks have possessed a preseason ADP ranked in the top four. Not only is Manning one of those four signal callers, he did it twice (2000 and 2005). Then in 2006 and 2007, his ADP ranked fifth and sixth, respectively.
How does that compared to other elite quarterbacks of Manning’s era? Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers have only had a preseason ADP ranked in the top four once while Drew Brees has never done it. Other possible future Hall of Fame quarterbacks such as Ben Roethlisberger, Philip Rivers, and Tony Romo have never even come close.
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In fact, even though there is more passing in the league now than ever, a quarterback hasn’t possessed an ADP ranked in the top five since 2011. It might be a long time until owners see a quarterback with an ADP among the top five players multiple years again.
If that alone isn’t convincing enough to call Manning the greatest fantasy quarterback of his era, his numbers will be.
Manning has 14 4,000-yard seasons, which is, by far, the most by any quarterback. Drew Brees is second with nine. Furthermore, Manning is the only quarterback to ever thrown for over 50 touchdowns in one season. He also has a season with 49 touchdown passes.
From 1999-2010, an era running backs still largely dominated, he threw for at least 4,000 yards every season except one. The one he didn’t was 2005, but the Indianapolis Colts started that season 13-0 and therefore, rested Manning a lot during December.
The previous season, “The Sheriff” led the league with 49 touchdowns, a 9.2 yards per attempt average and a 121.1 passer rating. The touchdown and passer rating numbers set new NFL records.
Neck surgery prevented Manning from playing at all in 2011, but he returned better than ever with the Denver Broncos the following year. In 2012, he led the league with a 68.6 completion percent, throwing for 4,659 yards and 37 touchdowns.
But 2004 and 2012 aren’t even in the running as his best fantasy season ever. That title would belong to 2013 when Manning broke more league records with 5,477 passing yards and 55 touchdowns.
Although injuries and age slowed him down dramatically in fantasy circles these past two years, owners will hardly remember Manning for his finish. He will be remembered as the most dominant fantasy quarterback of the last two decades.
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