Brett Favre is back in Minnesota. Today, August 17th, Favre landed in Minnesota and was driven to the Vikings training facility. Favre has still not decided if he will return for his 20th NFL Season, but it seems safe to say that his ankle has healed where he can play again. The age-old question is: does he still have game? The answer is not at all an easy one. I think he is mentally tough to play, but his physical toughness is going to be strongly questioned as the season progresses.
Brett is 40 years old, and he holds almost every single quarterback record known to man. He is one of the best quarterbacks of all time. He is respected all around the league, and the future hall of famer deserves to play. Despite his drama queen like behavior in the last two off seasons, he has contributed so much to the game of football that this sport will never be the same without him. He is a three time MVP from 1995 to 1997. He has two Super Bowl appearances including a championship win against the New England Patriots. No matter who your team is, Brett Favre has a home in National League Football. He is among the greatest, and to anybody who sees him, it is a true honor. I wish I got a chance to seem him play at Lambeau field. Now, I hope to see Green Bay's new quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, in Green Bay.
How will Favre survive the tough, grueling 2010-2011 season? I do not think he will. His fantasy value is declining by the second. The more he plays this season, the weaker is ankle and body will be. I truly do not think he can handle the physicality of football by mid season's end. The last time he was on a NFL football field was in New Orleans when the Vikings lost a heart breaker to the Saints in the NFC Championship Game decided in overtime on a field goal. The Saints' defense figured out how to handle Favre. They exposed Favre for who he is. He is a forty-year-old football player with a bad ankle and poor mobility. In the NFC Championship game, the Saints went right after Favre. The defense beat him up bad. Most football fans thought that game was the last of Favre's career and so did I.
However, no one could count Favre out. After all the Favre drama in Minnesota, he is finally back in Viking territory. It is too soon to tell whether the Vikings will get the Brett of 2009-2010 or a worn down player who is well past his glory days. So, it is not wise for fantasy owners to draft Favre in the early rounds. I predict he will have a good season early on if he plays again, but the Vikings are going to have to rely heavily on their running game with Adrian Peterson in the second half of the season. If Favre decides not to play this season, Tarvaris Jackson is another sleeper to look out for. If Favre does play, take a deep look at some of the Vikings' key receivers because Brett loves to throw down the field. The Vikings' receivers to watch this year include Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, and Bernard Berrian.
If Brett Favre plays, can the Vikings make the playoffs? They will make the playoffs if Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels can take some of the pressure off Favre and his injured ankle. Also, Peterson is going to have to carry a bigger load than in years past. If they make the playoffs, they will make the postseason as a wild card team. I do not think Minnesota has enough this season to derail the Packers who have emerging star Aaron Rodgers behind center.
No matter Favre's decision, the Vikings will be ready to play come week one, which makes the NFC North one of the toughest divisions in professional football. Just like the Vikings organization, fantasy owners need to complete their drafts regardless if Brett Favre is playing or not because he should not impact your league positively or negatively if he does play. In fantasy leagues, I would suggest that he is no better than a backup quarterback to use in case of a bye week, a injury by another quarterback on your roster, or to use in favorable match ups. Brett Favre will be valuable to the Minnesota Vikings and to fantasy owners in the 2010-2011 season, but be aware, his numbers will be down.
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