The last time I heard the song Simply The Best by Tina Turner was a few years ago when I sent the YouTube link to a coworker to mock them. However, I find myself humming the tune when I think about this years quarterback class. Yes, there is plenty of fantasy depth at the quarterback position with names like Rivers, Cutler, and Roethlisberger being drafted as low end starters, but if youre going to win your league this season (which I sure hope you are), you will absolutely need an elite passer. The top tier of quarterbacks can score between 50-100 fantasy points more than the next closest player at their position, which can almost feel like youre starting an extra player on your fantasy roster in any given week. That means going out of your way to draft one of the top four quarterbacks off the board this season, a group that is exponentially better than all the rest. SIMPLY THE BEST Aaron Rodgers (Packers) - No one expected it to be easy to forget a certain player who wore number four in Green Bay, but Aaron Rodgers has helped Packers fans do just that. He is the most consistent player at the most important position and he is just entering his prime. If you draft him youre almost guaranteed to reach the fantasy post-season. Tom Brady (Patriots) - Its not often that we feel bad for Tom Brady, but last season the Patriots star eclipsed Dan Marinos single season passing record, only he wont be remembered for it because Drew Brees set the bar even higher in the same year. When it comes time to draft this season, dont forget that Brady threw for the second most passing yards in NFL history in 2011, a feat that he looks poised to repeat. Drew Brees (Saints) - This season, Brees will be without his head coach Sean Payton (suspended), his former wide receiver Robert Meachem (Chargers), and his former Pro Bowl guard Carl Nicks (Buccaneers). As someone who loves to play devils advocate, I still find it nearly impossible to mount an argument against Brees being among the uber-elite at his position. Matthew Stafford (Lions) - Stafford finally stayed healthy a year ago, which resulted in a 5,000-yard campaign. Pretty impressive numbers for the once lowly Lions offence. Stafford has the best receiver in the league catching his passes and with the questionable running game in Detroit, Stafford will once again challenge for the most passes attempted. RUN DEPENDENT Cam Newton (Panthers) - I can hear the complaints already, suggesting Im crazy for not having Newton in the highest tier. I admit that Newton has an outside chance to deliver elite fantasy stats this season, but Im banking on his rushing touchdown total of 14 coming back to earth. Newton is a hard worker who needs to improve his passing, after completing just 56.8 per cent of his throws over the final five games of his rookie season. Michael Vick (Eagles) - Heading into last years fantasy drafts, Vick was arguably the top quarterback on the board and not much has changed. Vick still has the potential to electrify the league with his rare blend of skills, but he is unlikely to play a complete slate of games and that makes him a much bigger risk than the top four. HOUSEHOLD NAMES Tony Romo (Cowboys) - Romo has one of the most talented receiving corps in the league (WR Dez Bryant, WR Miles Austin, TE Jason Witten) and he is coming off one of his best statistical seasons. It all sounds great, until you factor in the presence of RB DeMarco Murray, who will allow the Cowboys to run the ball more than in past years. Eli Manning (Giants) - The eternally disrespected Eli Manning cant be happy to find himself getting drafted outside the top five, after finishing 2011 just shy of 5,000 yards and adding another Super Bowl MVP to his resume. Nothing against Eli, but its hard to imagine him reaching the 40 touchdown passes it would require to stand near the top of the fantasy mountain. Peyton Manning (Broncos) - Much like his brother, Peyton is lower in the rankings than he probably expected. Coming off of a year away from the game due to injury, Peyton is suiting up for a new team and no longer has the perfect conditions of the dome in Indianapolis to rely on. Peyton does have weapons in Denver and could still surprise in his new uniform. Matt Ryan (Falcons) - There is plenty of hype surrounding wide receiver Julio Jones in Atlanta, but Jones success will require someone to pass him the ball. The Falcons also have veterans Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez catching passes. With an aging Michael Turner in the backfield, Matt Ryans arm is set for a big season. BLUE-CHIPPERS Philip Rivers (Chargers) - Rivers ended last season with a few strong outings. While he will be without WR Vincent Jackson (Buccaneers), he does have a healthy Antonio Gates, as well as an underrated set of receivers in Robert Meachem, Malcom Floyd and Eddie Royal. Add to that a solid pass catching running back in Ryan Mathews and Rivers could make us forget about his career high 20 interceptions in 2011. Jay Cutler (Bears) - With the reunion of Cutler with former offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates and WR Brandon Marshall, its tough not to like Cutlers prospects in 2012. Mike Tice will be calling the plays in Chicago, which should help Cutler, but his offensive line will need to come together if he is going to return to the 4,000-yard club. Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers) - There are plenty of question marks around Big Ben with a new offensive coordinator in Todd Haley and a star receiver who still hasnt reported to camp in Mike Wallace. Like Cutler, Roethlisberger is at risk behind an unproven line. However, if Wallace does eventually rejoin the team, Roethlisberger could set a career-high in passing yards. PROVE YOURSELF Robert Griffin III (Redskins) - Nothing is as volatile in the fantasy world a a rookie. Everyone wants to be the genius who drafts the next big star and after Cam Newton set the league on fire last year, the assumption is that Robert Griffin could have a similar impact. Good things are in store for Griffin, but it may take time to get acclimated in the pros. Ryan Fitzpatrick (Bills) - For a man with pedestrian skills, Fitzpatrick was an outright star early in 2011. Leave it to Chan Gailey to make the most of his quarterbacks talent. I dont believe an injury caused Fitzpatricks mid-season decline. Until the Bills find a viable second receiver, it will be difficult for the Bills quarterback to be consistent. Carson Palmer (Raiders) - Off his couch and into action for the Raiders in 2011, Palmer had his struggles and the interceptions to prove it. Palmer doesnt need to prove himself as much as he needs to show us he still has it. With a full training camp and a crew of young talented pass catchers, the veteran quarterback whose career appeared to be over may surprise folks in the coming year. Andrew Luck (Colts) - Griffin may be the sexier fantasy pick this season, but Andrew Luck shouldnt be sold short. The Colts drafted a pair of pass catching tight ends in Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen, and they still have Reggie Wayne and Austin Collie at receiver. On a team that will trail plenty of games, Luck may be the king of fantasy garbage time points. BEST OF THE REST Matt Schaub (Texans), who twice broke the 4,000-yard mark, is now in a run-first offence... Josh Freeman (Buccaneers) has a new toy in WR Vincent Jackson and a defence that will struggle to keep teams from scoring, which is a nice recipe for fantasy production... Maybe this is the year Joe Flacco (Ravens) puts it all together, or maybe its not... Andy Dalton (Bengals) is a good quarterback with a great receiver in A.J. Green, but would need to improve drastically to move up this list... Jim Harbaugh revived the career of Alex Smith (49ers), but Smiths goal is still to simply avoid mistakes... Matt Cassel (Chiefs) has a nice crop of receiver to throw to, only he is playing on a team that plans to run, run, and run some more... While they arent worthy of being fantasy starters yet, Christian Ponder (Vikings), Matt Flynn (Seahawks), and Sam Bradford (Rams) have shown glimpses of their talent... If he can beat out veteran Matt Hasselbeck, Jake Locker (Titans) has the ability to make noise this year as a sleeper thanks to a penchant for the big play and speed to gain yards on the ground... I dont think I am legally allowed to discuss NFL quarterbacks without mentioning these two words, so here it goes - Tim Tebow. Paul Stastny USA Jersey .Lazare, Que., rebounded from a shaky preliminary round to advance to the mens three-metre final at a FINA Grand Prix diving meet Friday. Justin Faulk USA Jersey . Meireles, 29, just joined Chelsea last summer from Liverpool, but departs for the Turkish side after completing his switch on Monday night. http://www.usah... . The announcement was posted on the Russia-based KHLs website. The extension runs through June 30, 2013. Both parties are required to "do everything in their power to reach a consensus" in the case of a disputed contract. [url=http://www.usahockeyteamjersey.com/t-j-oshie-usa-jersey/]T. J. Oshie USA Jersey . With a looming and frightful deadline of January 11 ticking ever closer – league-imposed date to save a 48-game season – the NHL and NHLPA appear to be furiously game-planning for positioning at this late stage in the exhausting lockout process. Ryan Miller USA Jersey . James was sentenced last month for sexually assaulting former NHL star Theo Fleury and his cousin, Todd Holt, when they played for him in the Western Hockey League in the 1980s and 90s. The sentence, handed down by Winnipeg Judge Catherine Carlson, prompted widespread outrage from both Jamess victims and the public.Brad Ross had two goals and two assists and the Portland Winterhawks rallied from a two-goal defect to earn a wild 7-6 shootout win over the Saskatoon Blades in the Western Hockey League on Tuesday. Saskatoon led 6-4 with 10 minutes left in regulation, but goals by Portland defencemen Troy Rutkowski and Joseph Morrow send the game to overtime. After a scoreless extra period, Portland went perfect in the shootout, winning 3-1. The result spoiled the outstanding performance by Saskatoons Josh Nicholls, who scored four goals and added two assists. Nicholls also scored the Blades only goal in the shootout. Nicholls, a 19-year-old right-winger with 215 games of regular-season experience in the WHL, had never scored more than two goals in a game despite scoring 34 times in 2010-11. He eclipsed his previous career-high of five points, which he set last season on March 5. Elsewhere in the WHL it was: Calgary 7 Swift Current 1; Medicine Hat 2 Kootenay 1; and Brandon 4 Seattle 1. At Portland, Ore., Ty Rattie and Brendan Leipsic also scored for the Winterhawks (6-4-11), who are about to embark on a nine-game, 17-day road trip that starts Friday in Edmonton.dddddddddddd Matej Stransky had a goal and two assists for Saskatoon (7-2-1), which fell to 1-1-1 in a five-game trip through the WHLs U.S. Division. Saskatoon goaltender Adam Todd was making his first career WHL start. He stopped 37 of 43 shots in regulation, but could not come up with a save in the shootout, allowing goals to Rattie, Bartschi and Derrick Pouliot. Mac Carruth made 33 saves for Portland, and stopped Jesse Paradis in the shootout. Hitmen 7 Broncos 1@ At Swift Current, Sask., Victor Rask scored three goals as Calgary (3-4-1) won its first Western road game of the season by beating the Broncos (4-7-1). --- Tigers 2 Ice 1@ At Medicine Hat, Alta., Emerson Etem scored his 14th goal and Tyler Bunz made 31 saves as the Tigers (8-3-0) beat Kootenay (7-3-2). --- Wheat Kings 4 Thunderbirds 1@ At Kent, Wash., Brandon (6-3-1) peppered rookie Seattle goaltender Daniel Cotton in a win over the Thunderbirds (3-4-1). ' ' '