Mike Bowen Community Editor

In this week’s column, I will be breaking down quarterbacks and wide receivers/tight ends. Before, I get to the position details, here are a few more tips to consider.

When you do your fantasy football draft, make sure you pay attention to bye weeks. Don’t make the mistake of picking up three running backs with the same week off. There may be three or four running backs you really want to draft and essentially could — but check the bye weeks. If they all have the same week off, don’t draft them all. Ideally, you don’t want any position with two or more players having the same bye week.

Another important thing to look out for is injuries. If a guy is hurt and expected to miss the first four games of the season, don’t draft him, That’s stupid. That would be a complete waste of a draft pick. Also, look out for any hold outs — is anyone holding out for a new contract? It is quite doubtful that it would happen, but if a player were to sit out looking for a new deal, stay away. And here is my last piece of advice this week, don’t be the person that shows up to the fantasy football draft not knowing who the players are, what position to take first, or how scoring works.

Last week I broke down running backs, the most important position in fantasy football. This week, I am breaking down quarterbacks and wide receivers/tight ends.

Draft your first quarterback within the first four picks. If you wait too late, you will be stuck with a middle of the road player and you will struggle to get necessary points to win.

Here are my top five quarterbacks:

1. Tom Brady - Even though his offensive line crumbled in the Super Bowl and he lost a star receiver in Donte Stallworth, he is the smartest quarterback in the league. He knows when to go deep and when to dish it off to the running back for a short gain.

2. Peyton Manning - His numbers should stay steady though wide receiver Marvin Harrison is on the downward slope in his career, wide out Reggie Wayne is arguably a number one receiver playing at the number two position. He gets open and is a mismatch for any corner or safety in football.

3. Carson Palmer - This guy is a stud and should have a huge year. But, it all hinges on the attitude wide receiver Chad Johnson brings into the regular season. If the receiver decides he wants to play and at a high level, then Palmer will have the receiving corps he needs to spread the field.

4. Tony Romo - He will now have more rhythm with receiver Terrell Owens and Owens has an attachment to this QB which really hasn’t happened before. They have an on the field chemistry and TO (Owens) can separate himself from any cornerback in the game.

5. Eli Manning - I’m in the minority on this. As far as I’m concerned he established himself in the Super Bowl and I thought I was watching Tom Brady as I observed a cool and calm Eli Manning drive his team down the field in the final minute of the Super Bowl to defeat the undefeated Patriots.

Here are some receivers to shy away from:

1. Brett Favre - To retire or not to retire? That is the question. Yes, he has thrown the most touchdowns in NFL history, he has also thrown the most interceptions. Trust me, he doesn’t put up very good fantasy numbers one week to the next.

2. Whoever ends up starting in Tampa Bay - They say that Jeff Garcia is the starter. Then why do they have about eight quarterbacks at training camp?

I pretty much broke down some receivers while I broke down quarterbacks but here are my top five receivers:

1. Randy Moss - This guy is pretty much a freak. He always puts up great numbers in the regular season then fades away in the post season. Most fantasy leagues end at the end of the regular season so you don’t need to worry about Moss’ numbers dropping off.

2. Terrell Owens - Not only can he separate from any defensive back in the NFL, he can break away from tackles and pick up a lot of YAC (Yards after catch).

3. Chad Johnson - He can find his way into the end zone on any given play. You want guys that can score and are consistent. He is in the top five in receptions and yards over the past seasons.

4. Plaxico Burress - He struggled with injuries and consistency most of last year but got in a groove late last season, was hot throughout the post-season and he caught the game winning touchdown against the Pats to win the NFL Championship.

5. Reggie Wayne - He is in a fortunate situation playing the number 2 receiver slot. He is honestly the team’s best receiver but with Marvin Harrison lining up at the number 1 spot, Wayne creates a huge mismatch for defenses.

Here are some receivers to stay away from:

1. Brandon Marshall - This guy is a great receiver but he can’t keep from getting in trouble. He should get suspended and I expect him to miss a chunk of the season.

2. Jerry Porter - He was supposed to be the hot new commodity for the Jacksonville Jaguars but has been placed on the PUP (Physically Unable to Play) list.

I will give you my short tips on drafting tight ends. There are only a few that are worthy of early draft picks and here they are:

1. Antonio Gates, 2. Tony Gonzalez, 3. Ben Watson and 4. Dallas Clark. You may add a few names there but if you don’t grab one of these guys early, wait until later in your draft to take one.

Next week I will discuss defenses and kickers.

Mike Bowen is the community editor for The Lamar Ledger, an avid sports fan and a fantasy football guru. To contact him, please call the Ledger office at 719-336-2266 or email him at reporter1@lamarledger.com