He wasn't the most popular pick, Eli Manning had a solid Sunday with 277 passing yards and three touchdowns. Now people are suggesting it could be shades of Big Blue's Super Bowl run of 2007-08. For someone looking for a QB in the divisional round, would you recommend Manning?
Manning has had a terrific fantasy season, but would I start him ahead of Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees or Tom Brady? Um…no, thanks. At best, he's the fourth-best option at the quarterback position because I think he has a better shot to advance than Tim Tebow. The Giants are playing at a high level right now, but keep in mind that this is the same team that was embarrassed by the Washington Redskins at home less than one month ago. And I don't love their chances of getting past the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, either. I've been on the Saints bandwagon since the start of the postseason, and I'm not jumping off now. So if you need a quarterback, I still think it's Brees - he's just playing at a different level.
Don't be the half-witted doggie who gets distracted by the shiny keys. Eli Manning - while superior to his older brother in January - is going to lose this weekend in Lambeau. Stick with Aaron Rodgers, the best QB in the game.
I would not. With Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees, it's just not necessary to pick up Eli Manning. The Giants racked up 172 yards rushing on Sunday. I expect them to continue to try to run the ball so as to limit the Packers' offensive possessions. That means that Manning will have less pass attempts than normal, and by virtue, a lower propensity to get high fantasy points. Even if he does throw three touchdowns, are the Giants going to the Super Bowl? I seriously doubt that eventuality.
Considering that I picked Eli in the first round, yes, I can recommend him to my friends. The trendy pick is obviously Aaron Rodgers, but I'm worried his decision to join Tau Kappa Epsilon this week will challenge Eugene Robinson soliciting a police officer and Tony Romo's trip to Cabo San Lucas as the most questionable decisions before a playoff game. Well, I'm sure Rodgers will be just fine. But I like the Giants because I expect them to beat the Packers this week. Though, the late avalanche of pundits jumping on the bandwagon has me concerned. Still, I've pushed all-in on Eli way back in our fantasy preseason schedule. Why not compound the mistake as I continue to ride him here?
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- Jason Smith NFL.com
Eli has sleeper appeal
I think you have to take Eli for two reasons: one, he's always capable of a 400-yard day. But more importantly, if you pick up Rodgers or Brees or Brady, sure, you'll get big points, but they'll be less than what everyone else who already selected them will get. So that will make it really hard to catch anyone in front of you who already has one of those QB's. They'll get double points this round, while you get single points. If you need a QB, you have to take a chance on someone who not a lot of people have so you can maintain the possibility of winning. And while Eli has a tough task ahead of him, the Giants certainly are good enough to pull the upset, and you'll be looking awesome with Eli and Rodgers out if it happens. I'm more confident in Eli than Tebow going forward.
I violated my cardinal rule of fantasy football on wild card weekend, I got cute. This question about Eli Manning is a reminder of why you can't afford to make the same mistake I did. I'm not upset with myself for playing the match up of a running back from a run-identity offense agaisnt the horrible Giants run defense, but Michael Turner had not indicated (outside of a game against the putrid Bucs) that he was anything but a shell of his former self from fantasy seasons past. Now Eli Manning has certainly been more productive than Michael Turner this year, but by no stretch was his season remotely close to those of Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers, all quarterbacks that are still available for the Playoff Challenge. After what Brees put together on Saturday night, following the numbers he already stacked up from the regular season, it's impossible to understand how anyone would select anybody but Brees...especially if that player wasn't named Aaron Rodgers.
It's hard to deny that Eli Manning had a nice game on Sunday, but we started last week's debates by leaning on Drew Brees and nothing that took place this weekend changes that stance. Right now, Manning is probably the fourth-best quarterback left in the playoffs. That's not a bad thing, but with Aaron Rodgers, Brees and Tom Brady still left on the board, it will take some doing before we give him the nod.
