I'm not sure how Kyle Orton does it. You watch the guy play, and you're thinking he's not doing a whole lot statistically, but somehow by the end of the game, he has decent numbers.
Through six weeks, Orton is the starting quarterback on one of the four unbeaten teams in the NFL. Let's see … Peyton Manning … Drew Brees … Brett Favre … and Kyle Orton! Sing it with me: "One of these things … doesn't belong …"
But Orton does belong here because he's making enough plays to lead a rejuvenated team, and he has produced like a top-10 fantasy quarterback. No, I wouldn't call Orton an actual top-10 fantasy quarterback for the duration of the season. Among those quarterbacks who have fewer total points but I like better: Philip Rivers, Jay Cutler, Eli Manning, Matt Ryan, Kurt Warner, Donovan McNabb and Tony Romo. All of these guys are currently outside the top 10. That would land Orton as my No. 16 quarterback from this point forward … but that doesn't mean he's only a backup.
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Eric Karabell
