Empty the Bench

Ranks Preview by Brian Spencer

If you own Kurt Warner, you have to start Kurt Warner. The Cards’ favorable fantasy playoff schedule is part of the reason you drafted him. But I guarantee that 90% of his owners are anything but ecstatic about putting him in the lineup after that steaming pile of shit he dropped on Candlestick Park Monday night in his team’s embarassing 24-9 loss to the 49ers. You’re lucky if you survived in spite of what was probably his worst performance of the season, given the timing.

The raw stats were bad. Real bad: 16-29 for 178 yards, 0 TDs, 2 INTs, 1 fumble lost, and 4 sacks taken. In ETB’s scoring format, that shook out to -1.37 fantasy points. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story here: the man looked distant, sullen, and simply grateful to be trotting over to the sideline in one piece. Warner has never been one of the league’s more emotional guys, but his body language was all wrong all game long and couldn’t have been inspiring confidence in his teammates during their comeback attempts (feeble though they were).

We understand that concussions are serious business, and so, finally, does the NFL. That’s fine. But if all those hits he’s taken over the years have permanently gotten into his head, then he needs to step aside and let Matt Leinart take his place. It’s only one game, and just 2 weeks ago he was brilliant in picking apart the Minnesota Vikings, but there was something definitely off about his demeanor on Monday. The football gods are smiling on him and the Cardinals pass attack this week in gifting them a dream matchup against the Detroit Lions and their league-worst pass defense, but still, it makes you wonder if this is the beginning of the end to Warner’s illustrious career.

See also:
See also:
- Week 15 RB Ranks
- Week 15 WR Ranks
- Week 15 TE Ranks
- Week 15 DEF Ranks

1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints vs. DAL
2. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts @ JAX
3. Matt Schaub, Houston Texans @ STL
4. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers @ PIT
5. Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals @ DET
6. Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia Eagles vs. SF
7. Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers vs. CIN
8. Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys @ NO
9. Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings @ CAR
10. Tom Brady, New England Patriots @ BUF
11. Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins vs. NYG
12. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. GB
13. Vince Young, Tennessee Titans vs. MIA (Check Status)
14. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens vs. CHI
15. Eli Manning, New York Giants @ WSH
16. Alex Smith, San Francisco 49ers @ PHI
17. Chad Henne, Miami Dolphins @ TEN
18. Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos vs. OAK
19. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears @ BAL
20. Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals @ SD
21. Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs vs. CLE

Kurt Warner Photo Credit: Icon SMI