Factoid

August 29, 2020

Old quarterbacks

Roethlisberger a fantasy starter at 38?

Researching Pittsburgh this week, I see that camp reports on Ben Roethlisberger have been very positive. He's 38 and coming off a major elbow injury, but he's been feeling good and throwing well at camp -- says it's the first time his elbow hasn't hurt in years. Can he put up top numbers?

We live in an era where quarterbacks starting (and even excelling) into their late 30s happens more commonly. Growing up I remember thinking of Dan Fouts as an old man quarterback, but he was 36 in his last season. There will be six quarterbacks at least that old starting on opening day this year; that's 20 percent of the league.

Since 2000, there have been 53 quarterback seasons where a 36-year-old (at least) started more than half the year (9-plus games). Half (26) of those guys finished as top-12 fantasy quarterbacks -- starters in typical leagues. About a third (8) of those players were at least 38 years old, so less common, but it does happen. That's the track record to consider for Roethlisberger (and also guys not coming off major injury: Rivers, Brady, Brees).

Table shows all the quarterbacks to start more than half the time at age 36 or older in the last 20 years. Active players are in bold. Top-12 players who were 38 or older are in italics.

OLD QUARTERBACKS, 2000-2019
Year	Player	Age	GS	Cmp	Att	Yds	TD	Int	Rk
2013	Peyton Manning, Den.	37	16	450	659	5477	55	10	1
2015	*Tom Brady, N.E.*	38	16	402	624	4770	36	7	2
2016	Drew Brees, N.O.	37	16	471	673	5208	37	15	2
2002	Rich Gannon, Oak.	37	16	418	618	4689	26	10	2
2018	Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt.	36	16	452	675	5129	34	16	2
2017	*Tom Brady, N.E.*	40	16	385	581	4577	32	8	3
2014	Peyton Manning, Den.	38	16	395	597	4727	39	15	3
2008	Kurt Warner, Ariz.	37	16	401	598	4583	30	14	4
2015	Carson Palmer, Ariz.	36	16	342	537	4671	35	11	5
2015	Drew Brees, N.O.	36	15	428	627	4870	32	11	6
2012	Peyton Manning, Den.	36	16	400	583	4659	37	11	6
2001	Rich Gannon, Oak.	36	16	361	549	3828	27	9	6
2009	Brett Favre, Min.	40	16	363	531	4202	33	7	7
2007	Brett Favre, G.B.	38	16	356	535	4155	28	15	7
2017	Philip Rivers, LAC	36	16	360	575	4515	28	10	7
2006	Brett Favre, G.B.	37	16	343	613	3885	18	18	8
2005	Brett Favre, G.B.	36	16	372	607	3881	20	29	8
2018	*Drew Brees, N.O.*	39	15	364	489	3992	32	5	9
2018	Philip Rivers, LAC	37	16	347	508	4308	32	12	10
2007	Kurt Warner, Ariz.	36	11	281	451	3417	27	17	10
2008	Brett Favre, NYJ	39	16	343	522	3472	22	22	11
2017	*Drew Brees, N.O.*	38	16	386	536	4334	23	8	11
2014	Tom Brady, N.E.	37	16	373	582	4109	33	9	11
2000	Vinny Testaverde, NYJ	37	16	328	590	3732	21	25	11
2013	Tom Brady, N.E.	36	16	380	628	4343	25	11	11
2019	Aaron Rodgers, G.B.	36	16	353	569	4002	26	4	12
2018	Tom Brady, N.E.	41	16	375	570	4355	29	11	13
2009	Kurt Warner, Ariz.	38	15	339	513	3753	26	14	13
2019	Philip Rivers, LAC	38	16	390	591	4615	23	20	13
2019	Tom Brady, N.E.	42	16	373	613	4057	24	8	15
2004	Vinny Testaverde, Dall.	41	15	297	495	3532	17	20	16
2016	Carson Palmer, Ariz.	37	15	364	597	4233	26	14	16
2018	Eli Manning, NYG	37	16	380	576	4299	21	11	16
2001	Doug Flutie, S.D.	39	16	294	521	3464	15	18	17
2019	Ryan Fitzpatrick, Mia.	37	13	311	502	3529	20	13	18
2011	Matt Hasselbeck, Ten.	36	16	319	518	3571	18	14	18
2007	Jeff Garcia, T.B.	37	13	209	327	2440	13	4	19
2016	Tom Brady, N.E.	39	12	291	432	3554	28	2	21
2017	Josh McCown, NYJ	38	13	267	397	2926	18	9	21
2008	Jeff Garcia, T.B.	38	11	244	376	2712	12	6	23
2017	Eli Manning, NYG	36	15	352	571	3468	19	13	23
2001	Chris Chandler, Atl.	36	14	223	365	2847	16	14	24
2019	Drew Brees, N.O.	40	11	281	378	2979	27	4	25
2006	Brad Johnson, Min.	38	14	270	439	2750	9	15	25
2010	Jon Kitna, Dall.	38	9	209	318	2365	16	12	25
2001	Vinny Testaverde, NYJ	38	16	260	441	2752	15	14	25
2008	Kerry Collins, Ten.	36	15	242	415	2676	12	7	25
2002	Rodney Peete, Car.	36	14	223	381	2630	15	14	25
2005	Brad Johnson, Min.	37	9	184	294	1885	12	4	26
2010	Brett Favre, Min.	41	13	217	358	2509	11	19	28
2008	Gus Frerotte, Min.	37	11	178	301	2157	12	15	29
2015	Peyton Manning, Den.	39	9	198	331	2249	9	17	31
2006	Mark Brunell, Was.	36	9	162	260	1789	8	4	31

It is a fairly short list of 38-year-old quarterbacks who finished as top-12 quarterbacks. All of those guys are Hall of Famers (current or future): Favre, Manning, Brady, Brees.

I won't be drafting Roethlisberger as my starter anywhere, but I like him as a No. 2 quarterback with upside to finish as a top-10 or 12 guy, if healthy.

--Andy Richardson

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