Trent Edwards, or...?

[Cliff Levingston]

First off, Cliff Levingston's starter is Matt Schaub, so his backup could be a pretty important position.

Cliff Levingston took Edwards in this draft about 3 weeks ago anticipating him being a nice sleeper with all those nice weapons to throw to, but without an offensive line to speak of and an absolutely dreadful preseason, Cliff Levingston is second guessing that move. Been trying to grab Cutler or Roethlisberger who are backups on their teams trying to use Edgerrin James (both teams hurting a little at RB), but that likely won't work. Cliff Levingston has other RBs like Mendenhall to offer up, but would prefer to sit on them a little longer and let them build value, plus you can never have too many running backs.

Anyhoo, here's who's out there on the waiver wire. 6 points per TD pass, -2 per INT, 25 yards per 1 point passing. No bonuses for passing yards. Should i drop Edwards for any of these rad dudes?

- Brady Quinn
- Shaun Hill
- Matt Stafford
- JaMarcus Russell
- Kerry Collins
- Marc Bulger
- Byron Leftwich

Edit to add: one of Cliff Levingston's good friends in the league is sitting on Romo, Favre and Orton. He offered Orton for James Davis, which Cliff Levingston turned down, but he also has Edgerrin James and Glen Coffee to re-but with. Anyone think Orton would be better than any of the above guys at the cost of James or Coffee?

[hermes]

i'm questionable about orton, i guess he is kind of banged up and can't throw deep very well (or at all)

leftwich is probably your best bet, maybe quinn

keep and eye on bulger and hill in case they have to throw a lot

the -2 for picks makes me shy away from stafford

[vincecarter4pres]

I would drop Edwards for everyone of those guys save Russell.
I like Quinn the best if he is named the starter...

[Cliff Levingston]

leftwich is probably your best bet, maybe quinn

Eh, Leftwich is more fragile than Schaub though he can zing the ball. Cliff Levingston was leaning toward quinn.

keep and eye on bulger and hill in case they have to throw a lot

Read an article on Rotoworld and they're really high on Hill. Not sure why; the guy is a noddle armed game manager who doesn't really throw deep. Cliff Levingston is going to stay away from Bulger for now especially with their complete lack of receiving weapons outside of Avery.

the -2 for picks makes me shy away from stafford

Yep, otherwise he looks pretty good tossing bombs to Calvin Johnson.

I like Quinn the best if he is named the starter...

Yea, that's where Cliff Levingston was leaning. He has to face Pitt and Baltimore 4 times, but outside of that, he's got a relatively pass-friendly defensive schedule.

[BigBurd]

In our attempts to get ahead this time of year we over value pre-season, but I'd agree that Buffalo may be a special case. The receivers get you excited, but after you factor in a big question mark as an OC, a conservative coach, a bad line, fragile QB, and no #1 RB for the first few weeks... it's ugly.

In that list, I'm also very high on Hill, especially comparatively. He's reliable, comfortable with this team mates (5-3 to end last year), and while he may not have a big arm his coach will let him throw in the red zone.

In comparison it's hard to project Kerry Collins having a much better year than last year (when he was marginal fantasy wise).

Byron Leftwich is incredibly dependent on his o-line. I like who he throws at, but teams will pressure him because he's so easy to get to. You may not have seen that in pre-season, but teams will exploit him and he'll look much worse soon. I'm amazed he was chosen as the starter; they are just buying time for their rookie.

Don't be tempted by Brady Quinn, in addition to playing great defenses he plays for a conservative coach, his #1 Edwards will see constant double teams so he'll be throwing to rotation of 2nd rate options all year. Maybe that changes if other receivers emerge, but I just don't see the upside being that high.

I can't really comment on J.Russle, but I suppose he could surprise.

In summation, I don't see how any of these guys have an upside higher than S.Hill, or are in any way more reliable.

[Cliff Levingston]

In our attempts to get ahead this time of year we over value pre-season, but I'd agree that Buffalo may be a special case. The receivers get you excited, but after you factor in a big question mark as an OC, a conservative coach, a bad line, fragile QB, and no #1 RB for the first few weeks... it's ugly.

In that list, I'm also very high on Hill, especially comparatively. He's reliable, comfortable with this team mates (5-3 to end last year), and while he may not have a big arm his coach will let him throw in the red zone.

In comparison it's hard to project Kerry Collins having a much better year than last year (when he was marginal fantasy wise).

Byron Leftwich is incredibly dependent on his o-line. I like who he throws at, but teams will pressure him because he's so easy to get to. You may not have seen that in pre-season, but teams will exploit him and he'll look much worse soon. I'm amazed he was chosen as the starter; they are just buying time for their rookie.

Don't be tempted by Brady Quinn, in addition to playing great defenses he plays for a conservative coach, his #1 Edwards will see constant double teams so he'll be throwing to rotation of 2nd rate options all year. Maybe that changes if other receivers emerge, but I just don't see the upside being that high.

I can't really comment on J.Russle, but I suppose he could surprise.

In summation, I don't see how any of these guys have an upside higher than S.Hill, or are in any way more reliable.

Thanks for the input. Cliff Levingston just pulled the trigger on Quinn after very seriously considering Hill. Looking at Hill's stats last year as a starter, he was damn good, though Cliff Levingston is worried about the change in coaching staff and the desire to pound the ball. ICLO, Quinn has more upside, so he's going with him for now, but if he starts showing that he's not a very good option, Cliff Levingston will probably be able to switch to Hill as most teams have their backup QBs set.

[BigBurd]

Interestingly enough on the Trent Edwards topic I just listened to a local radio show, on which a clearly partial Bills reporter claimed Alex VanPelt (new buffalo OC) will be simplifying things while "opening things up" and letting Trent Edwards throw deep more often.

For what it's worth they also talked up the now starting LT Demetrius Bell, estranged son of former Utah Jazz great Malone, drafted in the 7th round of 08 but never played in an NFL game. They were claiming he took the job away from Langston Walker, rather than the cut being a cost saving measure ($5M). Regardless, he's still one of three rookies on the o-line.

[Cliff Levingston]

Interestingly enough on the Trent Edwards topic I just listened to a local radio show, on which a clearly partial Bills reporter claimed Alex VanPelt (new buffalo OC) will be simplifying things while "opening things up" and letting Trent Edwards throw deep more often.

For what it's worth they also talked up the now starting LT Demetrius Bell, estranged son of former Utah Jazz great Malone, drafted in the 7th round of 08 but never played in an NFL game. They were claiming he took the job away from Langston Walker, rather than the cut being a cost saving measure ($5M). Regardless, he's still one of three rookies on the o-line.

Yea, Cliff Levingston will believe it when he sees it. The Browns at least have a top flight WR in Edwards who's coming off a down year in addition to some nice other options with Robiskie and Massaquoi along with a nice offensive line and great left tackle. We'll see how it goes, but as Cliff Levingston said earlier (maybe), hopefully he'll only have to be used for one bye week.