Favre proved himself as an overhyped disappointment to fantasy owners in 2008. He led all quarterbacks in the league with 22 interceptions, ranked 11th in yardage with 3,472 and had a dipped rating in the low 80s. His arm’s last season in Green Bay, by comparison, managed a 4th ranked 4,155 yards with 15 interceptions and a QB rating of 95.7.

Another year older and still getting continuous press, it looks like Favre will lead another team into mediocrity in his 18th season of play. If he joins up with the Vikings—and it looks like he will—Favre isn’t a top contender for a starting QB spot for fantasy owners but the move will have far-reaching implications in the fantasy world.

Favre’s second retirement—from the Jets—opened the door for the Jets to bring on an asset to their future in first round draft pick Mark Sanchez from USC. Considered by many to be the top QB pick of the draft, Sanchez will force Kellen Clemens to perform to keep his starting role in New York. Head Coach Rex Ryan has said that the quarterbacks are in a “dead heat” for the top spot. Both QBs are unproven in their role and are therefore risky choices as fantasy starters.

But with Favre out of the picture, the Jets have renewed their reverance for the run game. Drafting running back Shonn Greene in the third round, the Jets are looking to supplement a ground offensive that ranked 9th in the league with RB Thomas Jones breaking out his first double digit TD season with 13 and 1,312 yards last season. Jones should have an even better 2009 behind an offense with one of the best point-of-attack metrics in the league and a quarterback that isn’t looking to squelch legions of fans and reporters. Jones will be a top fantasy contender with Favre gone.

Of course, Brett Favre in Minnesota means plenty of changes there. If Favre undergoes yet another unretirement, the slotted starter, Sage Rosenfels who is nothing special and hasn’t yet started a full season in the NFL in 8 seasons, will see another season in the backseat. Minnesota ranked 25th in passing in 2008 so its receivers will see a boost in yardage from any kind of arm.

Bernard Berrian certainly wouldn’t mind more catches that would come along with Favre—Berrian only had 48 receptions as the starting wide receiver in 2008 but came up with a spectacular league leading 20.1 yards per catch for just 964 yards. First-round draftee Percy Harvin shows Minnesota’s commitment to their lacking air-offensive. With Favre given the go-ahead for more tosses, Berrian could be a highly productive fantasy starter in 2009.

By Chris Burrows

Production on the ground is of course where the Vikings have dominated behind the imposing force that is Adrian Peterson who can only be expected to bring another breakout season even with Favre at the helm. The Vikings won’t be able to ignore the league-leading runner from 2008 who had 1,760 yards on 363 carries but his production may suffer with a more air-based offense under Favre.

On the off-chance that Favre stays retired (we can only hope), Minnesota will struggle under an under-experienced starting QB and will continue to rely on Peterson to shoulder the load. While it continues to be a painful offseason filled with Favre hype, Favre himself is apparently pain free after he underwent arthroscopic surgery in late May to repair a partially torn biceps in his throwing shoulder.