There has been a lot of hype over this week’s matchup between the Colts and Pats. The AOL Sports Blog has a good track on how Manning’s 2004 season through eight weeks compares with Brady’s first eight weeks. Through those games, they match up as so:

Manning: 26 TDs, 4 INTs, 5 sacks
Brady: 30 TDs, 2 INTs, 8 sacks

Keep in mind that Brady has been kept in the game longer than needed on several occasions so far, and once/if they lock up home field advantage, he will miss one, maybe even two weeks of playing time. But, between you and me, I’m pretty sure Belichick will be sure he gets at least 50 TD passes to prove a point.

For the record, I got the Pats this week, but I’ll be rooting for Indy. NE just seems too much like the Yankees for my taste.

The numbers are not as important as who I think will be the top 3 in each category. You’ll notice that I have LT rushing for fewer TDs than he did in 2006, but he’ll still get a ton of receptions and scores through the air. Same goes for Steven Jackson. There are some other stats that are not included that can affect a person’s fantasy value, so don’t misconstrue these predictions. Vince Young (in my opinion) is not (yet) a very good quarterback, but his wheels move him from bottom 5 QB to top 15. Sleepers do not indicate fantasy sleepers, merely persons that have a chance to slip into the top 3 in one of their respective categories.

PASSING

Yards:

Marc Bulger - 4,400
Drew Brees - 4,300
Peyton Manning - 4,150

TDs:

Marc Bulger - 34
Peyton Manning - 32
Tom Brady - 31

Sleeper - Jon Kitna

RUSHING

Yards:

Ladainian Tomlinson - 1,750
Steven Jackson - 1,700
Frank Gore - 1,675

TDs:

Steven Jackson - 20
Ladainian Tomlinson - 18
Willie Parker - 15

Sleeper - Edgerrin James

RECEIVING

Yards:

Chad Johnson - 1,550
Reggie Wayne - 1,400
Torry Holt - 1,300

TDs:

Terrell Owens - 15
Torry Holt - 13
Chad Johnson - 12

Sleeper - Roy Williams