With training camp around the corner, football fans around the country are gearing up for the 2009-10 NFL season. And while the real pros aren’t quite ready to hit the gridiron just yet, fantasy football nation are prepping their cheat sheets, mock drafts and sleeper picks as they begin the season-long grind to fantasy stardom.

The first in a series of NYPost.com Fantasy Football previews sets up under center and takes a look at the top 10 fantasy quarterbacks entering 2009, with some feedback from Fantasy Tracker Drew Loftis. So get ready to take the snap as we kick off the fantasy football season … hut, hut, hike!

1. Drew Brees — New Orleans Saints

After the season he put together in 2008, it’s very hard not to call Drew Brees the number one ranked fantasy QB entering 2009. Brees led all QBs last season by completing 413 passes for 5,069 yards and 34 touchdowns. Brees should be the first QB taken off the board this year, hands down, as well as the only one taken in the first round. Look for this Saint to continue to put up heavenly numbers for your fantasy squad.

2009 Projections: 421 Completions, 4,828 Yards, 35 TDs 17 INTs

TRACKER’S TAKE: If he does go in the first round, don’t be the one to take him. Brees is No. 1 with a bullet, but we’re not going to look QB until the third in 10-team leagues, at the earliest, and only then if one of the top QBs slip.

2. Philip Rivers — San Diego Chargers

Ironically, the guy who took Brees’ job in 2006 finds himself second behind his predecessor in fantasy rank. Philip Rivers finally elevated himself into the upper echelon of fantasy QB’s last season and only looks to be getting better. He led the league with 34 TD passes, while posting a league-best 105.5 passer rating. Rivers has all of the tools to succeed in San Diego – with Chris Chambers, Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates, LaDanian Tomlinson, and Darren Sproles returning. Plus, a healthy Shawn Merriman should help keep the San Diego offense on the field a lot more this season.

2009 Projections: 342 Completions, 4,230 Yards, 36 TDs 15 INTs

TRACKER’S TAKE: We like Rivers as well, but we hasten to put him in front of Tom Brady in particular. He offers solid value in the fifth round.

3. Peyton Manning — Indianapolis Colts

This isn’t so much a knock on the reigning NFL MVP as it is the moves that have been made around him. Peyton arguably is still the best overall quarterback in the league, but this is fantasy football, not the NFL. Manning lost two key fundamental components that he has had since the early stages of his career – Tony Dungy and Marvin Harrison. Not only is Manning going to have to adjust to a new head coach, but the most prolific QB/WR duo in NFL history has been split up with Harrison’s departure, and it will be a long time before Anthony Gonzalez can even think about filling Harrison’s shoes. That said, you can’t go wrong with Manning, but use caution and don’t overpay for him.

2009 Projections: 367 Completions, 4,308 Yards, 32 TDs 13 INTs

TRACKER’S TAKE: We would argue Peyton hasn’t had the Harrison of old since 2006, and Reggie Wayne has done a fine job in the time since. We also are not worried about the loss of Dungy. He was never an offensive mind, and we’re certain new coach Jim Caldwell and staff are not going to get in Peyton’s way. And don’t sleep on Anthony Gonzalez. He can play second fiddle to Wayne much the way Wayne did for Harrison.

4. Kurt Warner — Arizona Cardinals

Kurt Warner seemed all but finished in the NFL after the 2006-07 season, but he somehow has become the ageless wonder by throwing for 27 and 30 touchdowns in each of the following two seasons. Warner benefits from playing in one of the most potent offenses in the NFL with Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston as his main three targets. In 2008, Warner joined Drew Brees one of two QBs to complete over 400 passes while throwing for over 4,500 yards and 30 TDs. Fitzgerald has emerged the best receiver in the NFL at the moment and it doesn’t seem as if an Boldin trade is in the near future so Warner will look to add to an already impressive career.

2009 Projections: 375 Completions, 4,324 Yards, 29 TDs 16 INTs

TRACKER’S TAKE: We’re surprised Warner is lasting a long in drafts as he is (normally going in the fifth round in 10-team leagues). But we also worry about his durability. And though we love his WRs, we still have doubts the Cardinals are the real deal.

5. Aaron Rodgers — Green Bay Packers

The transition was nearly seamless as Aaron Rodgers took over the reins in Green Bay, and his play in 2008 made Packers fans say “Brett Who?” In his first full season as a starter, Rodgers surpassed the 4,000-yard mark, something Favre didn’t do until his third season as a starter. Rodgers also led the Packers offense by throwing 28 touchdowns and added another four scores with the wheels. He has all of the tools around him to succeed, much like Rivers in San Diego. With deep threat Greg Jennings, possession receivers in Donald Driver and James Jones, and a big target tight end in Donald Lee, Rodgers should only progress.

2009 Projections: 354 Completions, 4,139 Yards, 30 TDs 15 INTs

TRACKER’S TAKE: The problem with Rodgers is that a lot of fantasy owners are high on him. You can expect him to go several picks before Rivers a maybe a full round before Warner. We wouldn’t mind having him on our roster, but not at that price.

6. Tom Brady — New England Patriots

In order to re-emerge as a top five fantasy QB, Brady needs to prove to me that he can return from major reconstructive knee surgery. However if healthy, this could be the potential steal of the draft.

2009 Projections: 334 Completions, 4,019 Yards, 31 TDs 14 INTs

TRACKER’S TAKE: We’re not worried about the knee. And neither are most fantasy owners, apparently. Brady is going off the boards about 20 picks into most drafts, so we’re hard-pressed to call him a steal. But if slips to the third, by all means grab him.

7. Donovan McNabb — Philadelphia Eagles

Wide receivers Jeremy Maclin, DeSean Jackson and Kevin Curtis will be able to stretch defenses. The additions of OL Jason Peters and RB LeSean McCoy should help protect McNabb and Brian Westbrook respectively.

2009 Projections: 347 Completions, 3,902 Yards 27 TDs 12 INTs

TRACKER’S TAKE: The worry fantasy owners have with McNabb is his injury history. Last year was the first time he’s started a full 16 games since 2003. We like his weapons, love his upside, but get nervous about durability. That said, we take him over Tony Romo in the sixth round.

8. Tony Romo — Dallas Cowboys

It may not seem serious now, but losing T.O. may hurt more than anyone in Big D could imagine. Romo needs WR Roy Williams to play like he did in 2007.

2009 Projections: 316 Completions 3780 Yards, 26 TDs 17 INTs

TRACKER’S TAKE: From a fanatsy perspective, T.O.’s departure help TE Jason Witten more than it does hurt Romo, who was no slouch before T.O. arrived (19 TDs in 10 games in 2006). But we do have reservations.

9. Jay Cutler — Chicago Bears

Cutler’s cannon arm plus Devin Hester’s phenomenal speed will form a combo that can go deep on any given play. Problem is after Hester, there isn’t much more depth at WR.

2009 Projections: 323 Completions 3715 Yards, 24 TDs 18 INTs

TRACKER’S TAKE: The lack of quality WRs is what scares us most here. We love his talent, but question his mental fortitude.

10. Eli Manning — New York Giants

While Manning benefits from having arguably the best offensive line in the NFL, he also will have to depend on unproven receivers Domenik Hixon, Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith.

2009 Projections: 303 Completions, 3529 Yards, 23 TDs 13 INTs

TRACKER’S TAKE: Eli is the perfect example of a backup fantasy QB. You can spot start him based on good matchups early in the season, throw him in with confidence on a bye week, but you don’t want to depend on him down the stretch when the winds start to swirl in the Meadowlands.