RADIO
There are a few things in life that are nearly impossible to imagine ever happening. Seriously, from pigs flying to the Chicago Cubs winning a World Series title, as human beings, we’ve become fairly comfortable with the certainty of what surrounds us. Sure, from time to time, there’s an event or two which shakes things up a bit, but overall, we’ve got a good idea of what’s happening in society.
Now, as far as the NFL is concerned, one constant of the past 18 years has been the stability of Peyton Manning’s play out on the open field. Whether it be for the Indianapolis Colts or Denver Broncos, the older Manning brother has always been a dependable option. Well, unfortunately for fantasy owners all over the country, that no longer appears to be the case. In fact, Manning’s backup, Brock Osweiler, is clearly the more favorable option for the Broncos at this point.
Seriously, until further notice, Osweiler is the team’s best bet. The Broncos’ Week 11 matchup with the Chicago Bears marked the young quarterback’s first start of this career. No, he didn’t go out there and look like Tom Brady 2.0 when it came time for “The Golden Boy” to replace Drew Bledsoe, but he did put up a some respectable numbers, throwing for 250 yards on 20-of-27 passing, two touchdowns and—here’s the big one—no interceptions.
While there might be a handful of Manning supporters who can’t bear to imagine the thought of their beloved hero “riding some pine” near the end of his career, at this point, if being completely honest, he has little going for him. Not only is Manning 39 years old, but he’s thrown a total of 17 interceptions in nine games this season. On top of that, his mobility is all but nonexistent and he’s virtually immobile.
Even more damning for the five-time MVP, after a solid performance against the Bears, it’s become painfully obvious that Osweiler is better equipped to properly implement and carry out coach Gary Kubiak’s offense.
Reports Don Banks of SI.com, “Playing in cold, windy conditions in Chicago, Osweiler took five sacks, but he looked very comfortable running coach Gary Kubiak’s offense, and Ronnie Hillman’s 102 yards rushing on 21 carries was a much-needed complement to Osweiler’s passing performance.”
Needless to say, though the Manning debacle will most assuredly win many headlines as it runs its course, fantasy owners needn’t pay much attention. Regardless of whether or not Manning returns to the starting lineup—or to the Broncos, for that matter—neither he nor Osweiler should command much attention in the ever-competitive world of fantasy football.
