Second Billing

As is often the case with Brady-Manning bowls, Sunday's game will be full of fantasy football weapons. Beyond the obvious, here's a fantasy primer on the supporting actors in this week's marquee real-life matchup

THREE WHO'LL SURPRISE

Montee Ball

RB, Broncos

With three TDs in three games, Ball's suddenly a key part of the NFL's most potent O. New England, meanwhile, has struggled against the run since losing DT Vince Wilfork, allowing the 11th-most points to fantasy RBs.

Aaron Dobson

WR, Patriots

Denver's 28th-ranked pass D has allowed 7.5 yards per attempt and 18 TDs. With both Gronk and Danny Amendola fully healthy, there'll be room for Dobson to work—the way he did in Week 9, to the tune of 130 yards and two scores.

Joel Dreessen

TE, Broncos

If the knee injury that Julius Thomas suffered against the Chiefs keeps him out on Sunday, Dreessen could inherit a valuable spot in Manning's rotation. Remember, he caught five TD passes from Peyton in 2012.

THREE WHO'LL DISAPPOINT

Stevan Ridley

RB, Patriots

Average scoreboard total over the last seven Brady-Manning meetings: 57.7. If this one also develops into a shootout, Brady won't be handing off much, and Ridley's not a receiving threat—he has just 1.1 catches per game.

Demaryius Thomas

WR, Broncos

Monitor Wes Welker's concussion status closely. If Welker's good to go, then Thomas—who'll most likely face Aqib Talib, one of the league's best cover cornerbacks— should see his value diminished.

Knowshon Moreno

RB, Broncos

Every touch Montee Ball gets is one fewer for Moreno. However that balance shifts, this much remains inescapable: Inside the 10, Ball has twice as many totes over the past three weeks—and three TDs to Moreno's zero.

A FIGHT OF FANTASY

IN 2013 it's a no-brainer: Peyton's a better fantasy quarterback than his Patriots counterpart. But does that hold true across their careers? Depends on what you're looking for. A high ceiling? Between the two QBs, Brady has the two highest-scoring fantasy seasons and three of the top four; his 50-TD 2007 season remains the gold standard for all passers. Or is it consistency you crave? That would be Manning, who has outproduced Brady in six of the 10 full seasons for which they were both active. Like so much between them, the battle for fantasy supremacy is too close to call.

TOM BRADY

16.74 ppg

PEYTON MANNING

17.55 ppg

*Standard scoring (25 pass yds = 1 pt; pass TD = 4 pts; 10 rush yds = 1 pt; rush TD = 6 pts; INT = --2 pts; lost fumble = --1 pt)

PHOTO

JARED WICKERHAM/GETTY IMAGES (RIDLEY)

PHOTO

ROBERT BECK/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (BALL)