Week 4 QB projections   •  NO Stats

QB Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

HT: 6-1, WT: 220, Born: 1-15-1979, College: Purdue, Drafted: Round 2

2011 Projections

Average draft position

Current as of September 6th. [Full ADP list]

Overall: L Fitzgerald (17), F Gore (18), Drew Brees (19), G Jennings (20), S Jackson (21)
Position: M Vick (9-QB2), T Brady (15-QB3), Drew Brees (19 - QB4), P Rivers (24-QB5), T Romo (35-QB6)
Click here for a comparison of these players.

PPR Average draft position

Current as of September 6th. [Full PPR ADP list]

Overall: M Wallace (25), R Wayne (26), Drew Brees (27), M Austin (28), P Rivers (29)
Position: M Vick (15-QB2), T Brady (24-QB3), Drew Brees (27 - QB4), P Rivers (29-QB5), T Romo (44-QB6)
Click here for a comparison of these players.

Best Case

Brees has clearly been one of the top fantasy weapons, regardless of position over the past several years. He has thrown for at least 3,159 yards and 24 touchdowns in each of the past seven seasons and at least 4388 passing yards in all five seasons with the Saints. He has been a top-2 fantasy quarterback in three of the past five years and as a top-8 in seven straight years. He has completed at least 64% of his passes in all five seasons with the Saints to go along with 155 touchdown passes. He is 32 years old and in the prime of his career and the Saints are blessed with good skilled position talent to get the ball too. Brees knows this system like the back of his hand and he is a fantastic leader for the Saints team.

Worst Case

Brees had his worst season with the Saints last year despite throwing for 4600 yards and 33 touchdowns. His 22 interceptions and pedestrian 7.0 yards per passing attempt simply were not up to his usual high standings. He had fought injury woes throughout the season though and he still managed to finish as the 6th best fantasy receiver.

Outlook

Brees is a fantasy monster. The only thing that could keep him from another 4000 passing yards and 30 touchdown season is if injury strikes and he has missed just two starts in his last 112 opportunities. Expect another big season from Brees in 2011.

Why he is overvalued

David Dodds - Despite throwing for 4,620 yards and 33 TDs in 2010, I think there is a lot of reason to think that won't be duplicated this year. Brees' yards per attempt plummeted to just 7.00 (down from 8.5 ypa in 2009). He achieved the wild passing numbers throwing the ball a numbing 658 times. And despite this many attempts, he managed to finish only as the 6th best QB last year. With the additions of quality backs added to the roster and an improved defense, Brees won't have the opportunity to live up to his ADP expectations.

Latest News

Saints | Drew Brees frustrated with contract talks (Wed Feb 8, 10:42 AM) - New Orleans Saints impending free-agent QB Drew Brees has publicly stated he has no concern a new long-term deal will be struck with the team; however, he is privately telling some teammates his frustrations are starting to rise over the lack of progress in contract negotiations.

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Saints | Drew Brees wins Offensive Player of the Year (Sat Feb 4, 08:42 PM) - New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees was named the Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year Saturday, Feb. 4. He fell short of the AP's Most Valuable Player Award, garnering just two of the 50 possible votes. Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers won the award with 48 votes.

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Saints | Expect talks with Drew Brees to heat up after Super Bowl (Fri Feb 3, 01:57 PM) - New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said contract talks with impending free-agent QB Drew Brees will begin in earnest after Super Bowl XLVI.

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Saints | Drew Brees expects to sign soon (Thu Feb 2, 01:31 PM) - Updating a previous report, New Orleans Saints impending free-agent QB Drew Brees said he fully expects to reach a new agreement with the team before the free agency period begins in March. 'Contract talks are underway as we speak,' Brees said. 'I have all the confidence we're gonna get the deal done very soon.'

Our View: File this under 'biggest no-brainer in the history of Earth.'
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Saints | Drew Brees expects offer soon (Thu Feb 2, 01:21 PM) - New Orleans Saints impending free-agent QB Drew Brees said his agent is talking with the Saints about a new contract and expects to receive an offer in the near future.

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More News

2011 Schedule

2011 Game Summaries

Week 1 - Drew Brees started the new season with an all-around accomplished display at Lambeau Field despite having to play from behind throughout the game. The Packers defensive front stifled him often, so Brees had to be mobile in the pocket and at times he made some risky throws into tight windows, especially between the hashes in the short to intermediate range. The Packers secondary maintained a high level of play throughout the game, meaning Brees often had to settle for check down patterns to Sproles. The coverage of the home team was so tight on one particular play that Brees panicked and took a sack which backed the offense up at least ten yards. Brees' decision making overall was sound and he showed good accuracy on most of his completions. The Packers defense mixed up their pre-snap alignments, but the cerebral passer was able to decipher the code more often than not. Off play action in the first quarter, Brees attracted FS Nick Collins to the line of scrimmage and took advantage of his over aggressiveness, tossing a touchdown pass -- albeit slightly inaccurately -- to WR Robert Meachem on a post route. Brees recognised the error instantly and capitalised. With the Saints in need of some plays from their leader, Brees executed a beautiful pump and go with WR Devery Henderson for a score in the third quarter. The cornerback stopped his feet and was unable to regain momentum to catch up with the wide out, who trotted in untouched. In the two minute drill, Brees was clinical in his approach. He completed a phenomenal pass to WR Marques Colston down the seam with trail coverage from CB Charles Woodson and coverage over the top from a safety, threading the needle to find his man. On a well-designed red zone play, Brees faked a backside smoke route, then faked a draw, only then to throw right to a wide open Jimmy Graham. The play confused the Packers safeties, who were out of position.

Week 2 - He certainly was slowed down some by the Bears vs what he saw in Green Bay the week previously. Drew is excellent working the short game and just when the Bears thought they could bottle him up he would hit a long pass play to Henderson or later n Jimmy Graham. Brees was calm even when the defense was bearing down on him. He never made a critical mistake the entire afternoon which is difficult against the Bears. Brees certainly was not dazzling by any means but he was very efficient. He never looked rattled and he seemed to know exactly who to throw the football to. It's difficult to get excited about dump offs, screens, and short out routes but just when you think there isn't much to his game he will dial up some stretch play on the defense. With Colston out, Moore still not 100%, it's difficult to say how limited he is in this offense right now. The offense did not have an outstanding day but the again the Bears had shut down Atlanta pretty good the week before so it's not surprising that Brees and the Saints had to earn every yard in this game.

Week 3 - n a game where the Saints were not able to mount a consistent rushing game, Brees arm was called on to carry the team. While trailing in the fourth quarter especially, nearly every play was a passing play until the final two minutes. Brees had good protection for much of the day, but threw an interception on one play the pocket broken down. His second interception was a miscommunication between he and Jimmy Graham, who didn't break off his route where Brees expected. Brees worked the pocket well and made good use of pump fakes. Late in the game he looked to Lance Moore heavily. The Saints pass blocking was especially strong down the stretch.

Week 4 - Drew Brees had a somewhat average fantasy day that was let down by some key turnovers. The Saints somewhat strive to have a balanced offense but often end up throwing almost twice as much as they pass even against a Jacksonville offense that only put up 10 points all game. Brees was accurate from the pocket, decisive and the Saints relied on their QB to pick up first downs. Brees relied heavily on TE Graham and RB Sproles to make plays for him however. He targeted Sproles on many third downs as a security blanket out of the backfield which was a successful strategy and hit Graham down the middle of the field for big plays when the defense looked vulnerable. Brees showed a lapse in vision as he attempted to get the ball to Sproles but failed to see the JAX LB who made an easy interception. He had a tipped pass easily go into the hands of a Jaguar defender for his second interception and could have been picked a third time in the redzone but another Jaguar could not hold onto the pass. Brees played a lot of short ball and although had some mistakes, really kept the Saints on the field and made some big plays with TE Graham which was enough to win this game handily.