Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2001

Movin’ on up

Once Aaron Brooks is named the Saints’ starting QB, he should shoot up your draft board

By Jeff Agrest, Senior editor

If this holds true — and we have no reason to believe it won’t — draft boards around the world will be greatly impacted. Brooks is a big-time talent with a huge fantasy upside, and in my mind, he’s worth a starting spot in many leagues.

In the current issue of Pro Football Weekly, we ranked Brooks No. 15 on the QB board. That will change with an official announcement that he’s "the guy." Personally, I’d place Brooks eighth, knocking Elvis Grbac to ninth and Brett Favre to 10^th. That’s the kind of ability Brooks has.

I recall touting Brooks late last season when then-Saints starter Jeff Blake went down with a broken foot. Having heard Packers observers speak highly of Brooks during his time in Green Bay, it seemed the kid had talent. The Saints seemed to think so as well, trading a third-round pick to the Packers for Brooks’ services.

The forgotten member of the QB Class of ’99, Brooks showed great potential in Blake’s stead last season. He threw for 441 yards and two touchdowns in Week 14 vs. Denver. He ran for 108 yards on 11 carries the following week vs. San Francisco. He finished his five-plus game run with 1,514 passing yards, nine TD passes, 170 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Brooks is from the same mold as two other "classmates," the Vikings’ Daunte Culpepper and the Eagles’ Donovan McNabb. Culpepper, of course, is in a league of his own, but you could argue that Brooks is the better fantasy threat than McNabb. Just compare their situations. Brooks has the better running game, more proven receivers, an equally strong defense. Why not rank Brooks higher than McNabb?

Go ahead. I won’t stand in your way. But keep in mind, as much upside as Brooks has, McNabb has more than a season’s worth of experience under his belt. Brooks has the five-plus games from last year. Personally, I’d go with the more proven player. Can such a philosophy blow up in my face? Sure. But arguing between Blake and McNabb is like arguing between Culpepper and Kurt Warner. You’re going to win either way.

In several mock drafts we’ve conducted here at the home office, I’ve been able to take Brooks about midway through. Not anymore. He’s big-time starting material. So adjust your draft boards accordingly.

"In Our Opinion" fantasy columns have now resumed for the 2001 season. Columns will appear daily, Tuesday through Friday, throughout the regular season. The Fantasy Doctor has returned with your pigskin prescriptions, so send your fantasy questions to the Doc's attention at fantasydoctor@pfwa.com

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