Rivers entered last season with question marks after his ACL surgery, but exited 2008 as the new unquestioned franchise player for the Chargers, throwing for over 4,000 yards and 34 touchdowns. With the Tomlinson domination era over, expect Rivers to maintain similar production numbers, with perhaps a slight downtick in touchdowns this year. Bonus thought… If I’m starting a dynasty league this year, the only person I want more at QB is my man Jay Cutler.
('09 Proj: 4,200 yds, 32 touchdowns) ~Jon Rascon
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There are so many reasons why I love this guy! He led the league in passer rating, threw for over 4,000 yds and was tied for the league lead in touchdowns with 34. He is a great leader, he’s durable and he is in his prime! Wait, I am not done yet. San Diego was tied for second in the league in offensive touchdowns scored and had the #7 passing attack in the league too! He plays in the AFC West, meaning the Chiefs, Raiders, and Broncos on the sched twice each! Stop salivating and put him on top of your QB cheatsheet.
('09 Proj: 4,050 yds, 31 touchdowns) ~Steve Cavanagh
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Will get the long-term extension he deserves after setting career-highs in yards (4,009), accuracy (65.3%), yards per attempt (8.4, a league-high), 300-yard games (five) and touchdowns (34, another league-high). Will be one of the first five quarterbacks selected in any fantasy draft and is a bona fide No. 1 player at the position. Has the weapons and offense to finish among the top-3 quarterbacks.
('09 Proj: 3,800 yards, 30 touchdowns, 13 interceptions) ~Stan Feldman
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After a subpar year in 2007, Rivers bounced back big time in '08 with over 4000 yards despite having a pretty average corp of receivers and a somewhere lower than 100% healthy Antonio Gates. I look for similar, if not even better numbers this season with a healthy Gates and a running game that isn't near as good as just a couple of years ago. I except the Chargers to air it out even more this season.
('09 Proj: 319-504, 4,092 yds, 35 touchdowns, 13 interceptions) ~Robb Perkins
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There were a number of factors that influenced the tremendous year that Rivers had: L.T's injury woes and the defense being so inexplicably horrible that the Chargers were forced to play from behind on many occasions were two of the main ones. Even though he clearly matured as a signal caller, there's no guarantee that all of those issues will converge once again to form the perfect environment for padding his stats. Still, he's young, improving and is only going to get better.
('09 Proj: 3,850 yards, 31 touchdowns, 10 interceptions) ~Frank Mazzola
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I hate being the last guy to write these every week. Our writers are too thorough. So I guess I don't need to tell you he threw for 4,000 yards in 2008. Instead, I'll focus on that defense. Frank mentioned them, but even the numbers - 15th in pts allowed, 25th in yards allowed and 31st in passing yards allowed mask how truly abysmal they were at giving up the big play in key moments. Even with the projected return of Shawne Merriman, I'm not seeing this defense rising from the ashes to the point that San Diego will be returning to a blended, ball-control attack. More fun-n-gun for Rivers next year.
('09 Proj: 4,150, 34 touchdowns, 14 interceptions) ~Rick Perkins