(Kyle Orton - Courtesy Getty Images)
Yes, you read the headline correctly.
Before the start of the season, I never would have even suggested that anyone should draft Kyle Orton. Chicago’s history of quarterbacks mixed with the losses of Bernard Berrian and Muhsin Muhammad seemed to make drafting Kyle Orton, who last season passed for 478 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions in three starts, a silly prospect.
Fast-forward five weeks into the NFL regular season, and it’s not hard to understand why I would suggest starting Kyle Orton over Peyton Manning. Forget for a moment that Manning is cold and just consider this: Orton is red hot right now.
Look at the numbers: he’s thrown at least two touchdowns each of the past three weeks and last week he didn’t throw an interception; he’s also passed for at least 199 yards in each of those games, peaking last weekend with 334 yards. Now, if that isn’t enough, just keep in mind that the Bears, who have scored at least 24 points in four of five games this season, take on the Atlanta Falcons this weekend. Atlanta’s defense ranks 22nd in passing yards per game and 14th in points per game allowed. The Falcons have also allowed over 600 passing yards the past two weeks, against the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers.
That’s the case for Orton. Now, let’s take a look at Manning.
Manning is understandably off to a slow, sputtering start this season. He missed preseason and that lost time meant the offense’s timing is off, as is his on-field relationship with teammates. That will take time to rebound, and I think that Manning and Co. will be hot again by week eight. He brought back some faith this past week when he led the Colts to score 21 fourth quarter points in a come-from-behind victory.
But from a fantasy football perspective, Manning is almost a must-bench this week. Let’s set aside that Manning has five touchdowns and five interceptions in four games this season, despite throwing the football more than most quarterbacks this season - he’s averaging close to 40 attempts per game. Just consider that the Colts play Baltimore this weekend. Now, I pointed out in a previous post that Ravens have the best defense in the NFL (and it’s not even close). Remember, Baltimore’s defense has allowed three touchdowns this season (the offense allowed another two on turnovers), and, on the whole, opposing offenses have scored less than eleven points per game this season.
No player is a good start against a defense like that.
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