My Quarterback Sleepers...Scrutinize at will

[RosterDoc 0]

The QB pool is deeper this year than I can ever remember.

 

1. MATTHEW STAFFORD - Is he still a sleeper at this point? Seems like we're all jumping on the Lion offensive bandwagon and with good reason. The additions of Burleson/Scheffler, drafting of Best and continued growth by Calvin Johnson make it almost impossible for Stafford to fail. I've done 4 mock drafts so far and the earliest Stafford went in any of them was the 12th round. I can easily see him throwing 4000 yards and 25 TDs this year

 

2. MATT CASSEL - I like what KC did in the off season.....A LOT. Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles ensure a stout running game and more importantly defenses will respect the run and wont stack the box. Cassel will have time to throw this year. Dwayne Bowe had great OTAs....Chambers is serviceable and rookie Dexter McCluster should have a Percy Harvin-ish type year. All the chips are in place for Cassel to surprise fantasy owners this year.

 

3. JOE FLACCO - I'm only calling him a sleeper because I picked him up in the 11th round of a draft on Monday. People still don't have faith in the Delaware Kid. Boldin comes to town to provide a big bulky across the middle possession WR who instantly increases Flaccos TD total. Ray Rice will be on the field even more this year and that means more 2 yard dump offs that Rice takes 50 yards down the field. Flacco will be a reliable every week starter.

 

4. VINCE YOUNG - This is of course assuming he doesnt get suspended for his moronic strip club incident. Young is similar to Flacco in that Chris Johnson can take a 3 yard screen to the house from anywhere on the field. Kenny Britt is an up and coming wide receiver and Young has an odd chemistry with TE Bo Scaife. The real reason he's a sleeper is his feet. He can get you a TDs worth of points on the ground any given week.

 

5. ALEX SMITH - The Niners beefed up the O-line in the draft which is most beneficial to Frank Gore, but an increased running threat means less pressure on Smith. Crabtree should take major strides in year 2 and Vernon Davis is still a beast. If you don't grab an elite QB, Smith is a guy you can spot start with a good matchup.

 

6. MARK SANCHEZ - Everyones convinced the Jets will run every play, but I'm not so sure. Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Jericho Cotchery and Dustin Keller. Those guys all have talent and can make plays. Shonn Greene is still raw, and when LDT is in there he has very soft hands. Sanchez will be a very sneaky pick, and he could pay dividends more than a few times.

 

So thats my thought on QB sleepers! What do you think?

 

[Cara 0]

The QB pool is deeper this year than I can ever remember.

 

1. MATTHEW STAFFORD - You have him being a top 10ish fantasy qb? A bit early in my opinion. He is a second year player playing behind a weak offensive line. He is also playing against 3 very good defenses twice this season. If you are not penalized for INT's, he will make a good number two. You have him as a legitimate number one, which isn't going to happen this season.

 

2. MATT CASSEL - Cassel's destiny is tied to Bowe, for better or worse. Bringin in Charlie W. was a slick move and I can see him having a decent season, but not as a QB 1. The Raiders and Broncos have improved defensively, easily as much as the Chiefs have offensively. I have him as a bye week fill in type of guy. If he is your true starter, you are in trouble.

 

3. JOE FLACCO - I don't consider him a sleeper in any way, shape, or form. Everyone has him picked to be a legit starting number one guy this season. I could see him putting up low end number one numbers this Fall, provided his injury prone WR's are healthy. That will be the key to his season. I am high on him, but not as a guy I will draft as my starter. If all your other positions are looking good, he may be able to help you though.

 

4. VINCE YOUNG - I think you are drinking the Kool-Aid. This offense revolves around CJ, not Young. Young is horribly off the mark on most of his passes. He has a flair for the dramatic, which earns him ESPN time, but he's not a legit fantasy starter and may never be. Don't buy the Britt hype just yet.

 

5. ALEX SMITH - I agree on Smith. You aren't overselling him, just stating the facts. When he plays my lowly Rams, he may be a starter. lol

 

6. MARK SANCHEZ - He could look good in certain situations, but I doubt if it is very often. I can't see him being a factor in more than a few games, at best.

 

 

[RosterDoc 0]

All great insights!

 

These are guys I wouldnt draft as my starter but could put up QB1 stats more than a few times this year. I'm not pegging Stafford as a top 10 QB just yet, but I do think close to 4000 yards is likely as the Lions will still be behind often and he'll have to throw a lot.

 

Cassel is definitely tied to Bowe, but I'm on the Bowe train. He's finally shut his mouth and had a clean off season. This could be the year Bowe finally lives up to his previous expectations.

 

Flacco is definitely a fantasy starter, I put him as a sleeper because I'd seen him being drafted so low!

 

Smith/Sanchez are serviceable guys, certainly not every week starters, but can start with the right matchup.

 

I think Young SUCKS as a real life QB. He couldnt hit water if he fell out of a boat and Britt while promising is still very raw. Young does though possess fantasy value because of his feet. Johnson helps because he catches a lot of balls and can take any one of them for a long TD ala Ray Rice.

 

Again none of these guys except Flacco should be drafted as a fantasy starter. Its a draft choice of going with a stud QB or 2 guys like this and play the matchups. This season I think QB is deep enough to stock up on RB/WR early and play the matchups with QB.

 

[Cara 0]

I have been trading for Bowe in nearly all my leagues. In some, I got him for a 2nd round pick in the rookie draft. That is insane. If he pans out, great! If he doesn't, I haven't lost anything at all. I traded Robert Meachem for Bowe and two 2nd's in the rookie draft. His stock is so low right now. When a player's stock has hit rock bottom, I will usually take a chance on him if he has any upside at all. Bowe has tremendous upside this season. Hopefully he stays out of trouble, but as I said, his stock is so low you can get him for next to nothing so it really will not matter if he falls on his face. Buy low and be happy with the results. I have him down as a 78(ish) catch guy with 8 TD's if he stays out of trouble. If you can get that production for nothing, take it.

[Mike MacGregor 20]

I like Stafford all right, but "easily" 4,000 and 25... um, I would take a chance on the kid if I have a starter I'm relatively more confident in (Romo, Rivers) than other more risky starters (Cutler, Kolb).

 

The backup QB I probably like the most amongst potential sleeper candidates in your list is Cassel, and it seems fewer people like his prospects, which is a good thing from a value standpoint. Like you said, they should be able to run the ball well given the RB talent, and I think as Cara said Weis could have the biggest impact on Cassel's game.

 

Flacco - not really a sleeper. I'm not as high on him as most people.

 

Wouldn't touch Young starter or backup. If I get him as my backup I waited too long.

 

I like Smith's prospects, but a lot of people are on that train.

 

Doubtful I'll be drafting Sanchez this year.

[Mike MacGregor 20]

I have been trading for Bowe in nearly all my leagues. In some, I got him for a 2nd round pick in the rookie draft. That is insane. If he pans out, great! If he doesn't, I haven't lost anything at all. I traded Robert Meachem for Bowe and two 2nd's in the rookie draft. His stock is so low right now. When a player's stock has hit rock bottom, I will usually take a chance on him if he has any upside at all. Bowe has tremendous upside this season. Hopefully he stays out of trouble, but as I said, his stock is so low you can get him for next to nothing so it really will not matter if he falls on his face. Buy low and be happy with the results. I have him down as a 78(ish) catch guy with 8 TD's if he stays out of trouble. If you can get that production for nothing, take it.

 

Bowe was the 23rd WR taken in a mock I'm in now, which I think is fair value. There weren't too many guys who went before him I would pass on for Bowe - Wes Welker and maybe Hines Ward. About the only guys drafted after Bowe I would prefer was Pierre Garcon taken 3 WR picks later.

[Cara 0]

Great info. Thanks.

 

With the 23rd WR, I think my projections should be pretty close.

[sirensong 111]

I like Stafford all right, but "easily" 4,000 and 25... um, I would take a chance on the kid if I have a starter I'm relatively more confident in (Romo, Rivers) than other more risky starters (Cutler, Kolb).

 

 

yeah--i'm always suspicious with "easily" attached to predictions like 4000/25. that's less than 10% off romo's '09 season with a top-rated offense, so i don't think "easily" is appropriate here.

 

interesting list though.

[RosterDoc 0]

Maybe 'easily' was the wrong word lol. I am in no way shape or form comparing Stafford to Rivers/Romo. All I'm saying is Stafford will be drafted as a backup in every single fantasy draft, but will wind up starting for teams say half the season. In 10 crappy games as a rookie he had 2267 passing yards. The only player he had to pass to last year was a very grumpy Calvin Johnson. Now he has a happier Johnson, a field stretcher in Nate Burleson, a solid TE in Scheffler (if Pettigrew is healthy I like him too) plus a pass catching RB in Best.

 

Now he averaged a low 220 yards passing per game last season. Take that 220 and pan it over the 6 games he missed and his total yardage for 2009 wouldve been 3587. We all know Stafford will improve in year 2, so yes I think 4000 yards is a very realistic shot.

 

yeah--i'm always suspicious with "easily" attached to predictions like 4000/25. that's less than 10% off romo's '09 season with a top-rated offense, so i don't think "easily" is appropriate here.

 

interesting list though.

 

 

 

[famousb 11]

Flacco was atop5 QB for the first 6 weeks of the season last year. Now he has 2 new weapons (yes, I think Stallworth helps Flacco out) to complement Mason, Rice and the TEs.

I have him in 2 leagues, with Cassel backing him up in one - and i'm more than happy with that situation.

 

if you want a deeper sleeper - Matt Moore. W/ CAR's defensive troubles, they will have to pass more this season, and the WR situation doesn't scare me much because they can throw to any of 3 solid TEs and also DWil/Stewart...

[Bert 1,128]

 

4. VINCE YOUNG - This is of course assuming he doesnt get suspended for his moronic strip club incident. Young is similar to Flacco in that Chris Johnson can take a 3 yard screen to the house from anywhere on the field. Kenny Britt is an up and coming wide receiver and Young has an odd chemistry with TE Bo Scaife. The real reason he's a sleeper is his feet. He can get you a TDs worth of points on the ground any given week.

 

[PackYourNut 47]

Chad Henne!

[dcgangstas 41]

Nice list, Rosterdoc.

 

I agree with all of those selections. I particularly like Alex Smith as a sleeper. I think he's really beginning to get the feel fo the pro game, and Michael Crabtree gives him a legitimate WR threat to go with V-Davis.

[jdon 28]

I really like the sanchez sleeper pick... I am going to target him as my number 2 quarterback for two reasons: braylon edwards and santonio holmes... and the fact that when they opened it up a little in the postseason he did very well.

 

plus: I see ryan as the kinda guy who will still take a strike with a deep ball late even when they are up...

[RosterDoc 0]

Yeah Sanchez/Smith could definitely shock some people this year.

 

I love Smith because of Gore. The Niners now have a real solid O-line and defenses will always respect the run, leaving Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree to run over the secondary.

 

Sanchez isnt getting any love anywhere. Last season was a great learning experience for him and the addition of Holmes shows commitment to the offense. The Jets are built to win right now and wont settle for less. They won't restrict Sanchez to just a game manager this year.

 

I love Cassel too. Dwayne Bowe was finally clean this winter and comes into camp real strong. KC will run effectively and Cassel could surprise!

 

I really like the sanchez sleeper pick... I am going to target him as my number 2 quarterback for two reasons: braylon edwards and santonio holmes... and the fact that when they opened it up a little in the postseason he did very well.

 

plus: I see ryan as the kinda guy who will still take a strike with a deep ball late even when they are up...

 

 

 

[#1LionFan 0]

I agree with a previous poster that Henne needs to be on this list and that Flacco cannot really be considered a sleeper. I hope you are right about 4k+25tds.

 

A deep, deep sleeper is Matt Moore. He looked good at times last year...he has a whole offseason to digest the playbook and get comfortable with the WRs. It is a setback that Smith is out for a while but this could help in a way that the young guys get more work. He has a great O-line and a running game that all teams have to gameplan for. I would be happy to get a stud QB early then fill all other positions and get Moore in the last round or two as my backup.

[tanatastic 2,062]

I agree with a previous poster that Henne needs to be on this list and that Flacco cannot really be considered a sleeper. I hope you are right about 4k+25tds.

 

A deep, deep sleeper is Matt Moore. He looked good at times last year...he has a whole offseason to digest the playbook and get comfortable with the WRs. It is a setback that Smith is out for a while but this could help in a way that the young guys get more work. He has a great O-line and a running game that all teams have to gameplan for. I would be happy to get a stud QB early then fill all other positions and get Moore in the last round or two as my backup.

 

Great insight on potential sleepers, but Im still taking a top qb this year for a few reasons. First reason is that im so scared of picking wrong if I wait! Second is that FF strategy always dictates that the person who takes rbs that pan out early and a qb super late that doesnt finish much worse than the top guys (wich happens every year) has more than an edge on the league...But the safe qb pick is just that, safe. I want peyton in the first round 6-12 to ensure that I dont draft a bust, I dont trust myself enough to gamble on the "serviceable" qbs and find this years schaub.

 

 

But for what its worth, I like garrard to have a better season than expected.

[HeirCoryell 0]

Great insight on potential sleepers, but Im still taking a top qb this year for a few reasons. First reason is that im so scared of picking wrong if I wait! Second is that FF strategy always dictates that the person who takes rbs that pan out early and a qb super late that doesnt finish much worse than the top guys (wich happens every year) has more than an edge on the league...But the safe qb pick is just that, safe. I want peyton in the first round 6-12 to ensure that I dont draft a bust, I dont trust myself enough to gamble on the "serviceable" qbs and find this years schaub.

 

 

But for what its worth, I like garrard to have a better season than expected.

 

This just seems like the perfect year to not use an early pick on a QB. Or even a middle round pick depending on value and where the top QBs are drafted.

[fantasymind 1]

The QB pool is deeper this year than I can ever remember.

 

1. MATTHEW STAFFORD - Is he still a sleeper at this point? Seems like we're all jumping on the Lion offensive bandwagon and with good reason. The additions of Burleson/Scheffler, drafting of Best and continued growth by Calvin Johnson make it almost impossible for Stafford to fail. I've done 4 mock drafts so far and the earliest Stafford went in any of them was the 12th round. I can easily see him throwing 4000 yards and 25 TDs this year

 

2. MATT CASSEL - I like what KC did in the off season.....A LOT. Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles ensure a stout running game and more importantly defenses will respect the run and wont stack the box. Cassel will have time to throw this year. Dwayne Bowe had great OTAs....Chambers is serviceable and rookie Dexter McCluster should have a Percy Harvin-ish type year. All the chips are in place for Cassel to surprise fantasy owners this year.

 

3. JOE FLACCO - I'm only calling him a sleeper because I picked him up in the 11th round of a draft on Monday. People still don't have faith in the Delaware Kid. Boldin comes to town to provide a big bulky across the middle possession WR who instantly increases Flaccos TD total. Ray Rice will be on the field even more this year and that means more 2 yard dump offs that Rice takes 50 yards down the field. Flacco will be a reliable every week starter.

 

4. VINCE YOUNG - This is of course assuming he doesnt get suspended for his moronic strip club incident. Young is similar to Flacco in that Chris Johnson can take a 3 yard screen to the house from anywhere on the field. Kenny Britt is an up and coming wide receiver and Young has an odd chemistry with TE Bo Scaife. The real reason he's a sleeper is his feet. He can get you a TDs worth of points on the ground any given week.

 

5. ALEX SMITH - The Niners beefed up the O-line in the draft which is most beneficial to Frank Gore, but an increased running threat means less pressure on Smith. Crabtree should take major strides in year 2 and Vernon Davis is still a beast. If you don't grab an elite QB, Smith is a guy you can spot start with a good matchup.

 

6. MARK SANCHEZ - Everyones convinced the Jets will run every play, but I'm not so sure. Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Jericho Cotchery and Dustin Keller. Those guys all have talent and can make plays. Shonn Greene is still raw, and when LDT is in there he has very soft hands. Sanchez will be a very sneaky pick, and he could pay dividends more than a few times.

 

So thats my thought on QB sleepers! What do you think?

 

Good thoughts on this---every year there are guys who go from being drafted as backups to being starters, so, this is a topic that is especially important for teams that plan to wait on drafting a Qb. This year, as much as any in recent memory, I think the quality depth is good enough and the backups have upside enough to warrant waiting on Qb until the mid rounds. Of the guys on your list, I love Flacco as a breakout candidate, I like Stafford and Smith as borderline QB1/2, and am unsold on the others. I am not sold on the KC offense being anything special and don't believe Bowe and Chambers are enough for him to be anything other than a spot starter. Sanchez is interesting but I think he is at least a year away from being a fantasy factor...the formula in Ny starts with the defense and a ball control run game, so, until I see differently, I am not sold on Mark. Vince Young will always provide some additional points with his legs, but, the Titans don't seem to have enough weapons not named Chris Johnson for him to really be an impact Qb. I see Baltimore becoming a much more balanced attack and could see Flacco ending up in the 25-28 TD range. I think Smith will have some big games and some games where he watches Frank Gore do all the heavy lifting, so he might be more of a matchup guy. I think Stafford will throw for over 4,000 yards, but the TDs may still be more tough to come by...maybe 4,000+ and 19-21 Tds? I see him putting up alot of yardage well after the games have been decided...

 

How about adding Matt Ryan to this list? Third year Qb, solid running game, good weapons in the passing game with Roddy White and Gonzo---I would take him over any of the guys listed except for maybe Flacco...And, if you want to roll the dice a bit, what about Leinart in Arizona? Potentially good ground game, arguably the best receiver in the game and two very serviceable wideouts to pair with him...He can be had for cheap and, with the weapons around him, could end up putting up 3500+ yards and 23-26 Tds if things break right...

[huskerinct 1]

Chad Henne!

BINGO, BANGO, BONGO!!!

The fact that just one person mentioned Henne, should show just how off the radar this guy is. He should easily be a solid back up, or a spot starter. Brandon Marshall is too T.O. like, and will have at least one solid trouble free season. Henne gets my vote.

[bull19007 0]

Don't know that I'd consider him a sleeper but all David Garrard does each year is average 3500 yds passing 15 td passes another 300+yards rushing and 2-3 rush td's. This puts him in the top 15-16 QB's each year and you could do a lot worse for your backup QB. Is Garrard a fantasy starting QB? No, but he's good for 3-4 solid games each year. If you're holding off on drafting one of the top 7-8 QB's, I'd suggest taking Garrard as your backup.

[FeelingMN 273]

I won't touch Cassel. He's just not that good.

 

I like Flacco as a QB you can wait on and get solid production each week....allows you to pad other areas of your team.

 

Matt Ryan is another guy who you can wait until the 6th/7th and land a steady starter. I actually like him more than Flacco.

 

I also agree on Henne...and think he would pair nicely with a Flacco/Palmer type. I will draft him on every one of my teams this year. Love his potential.

[Smileseers 54]

Matt Hasselbeck and Carson Palmer look like good values to me right now as my QB2.

[RosterDoc 0]

Did a few mock drafts this past week. Some interesting notes...

 

Stafford went 12th round

McNabb went 10th round

Ryan went 9th round

Flacco went 8th round

Cassel/Smith/Henne all went 13th round

Garrard went 17th round

 

This is the deepest QB pool in recent memory. If you miss out on a top QB you can definitely grab 2 solid QBs late in the draft to play matchups with.

 

I think Stafford over 4000 yards is a lock...and so is 25 TDs. Like you said...a lot of his yards could come after Detroit is out of the game...theres lots of garbage time for Stafford to lob TDs to Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson.

 

McNabbs stock has dropped heavily. I still think the Skins will wind up getting another WR...but McNabb has put up good stats with a lot less.

 

Ryan/Flacco should end the season close to each other, both are solid but won't get you those 350 yard 3 TD type games. You can count on say 220 and a TD at least most weeks.

 

Henne I thought would go earlier and yes he's somewhat of a sleeper. Marshall definitely helps but I think people are still scared of the wildcat dampening his production.

 

Everyones still down on Cassel....KC had great OTAs and Bowe will be back. The run game takes the pressure off and this offense should move the ball consistently.

 

Smith is on the rise as a matchup starter, I wouldnt draft him as my starter but he would start for my team a few times.

 

I have no faith in Garrard. I can't picture the Jags being good this year. Garrard was awful in 2009 and he only has Sims-Walker to throw to.

 

[soopacee 0]

 

 

just watch the game against AZ. last year.....just proves his potential

[Bert 1,128]

just watch the game against AZ. last year.....just proves his potential

Just watch the game against SD last year.....just proves his potential.

 

Instead of looking a one game I'll stick with his body of work in the NFL:

 

57% completion %

72.3 passer rating

0.82 TD to INT ratio

He has the mental stability and capacity of Lindsey Lohan.

 

Not what you want out of an NFL QB.

[Chargersin08 0]

The QB pool is deeper this year than I can ever remember.

 

1. MATTHEW STAFFORD - Is he still a sleeper at this point? Seems like we're all jumping on the Lion offensive bandwagon and with good reason. The additions of Burleson/Scheffler, drafting of Best and continued growth by Calvin Johnson make it almost impossible for Stafford to fail. I've done 4 mock drafts so far and the earliest Stafford went in any of them was the 12th round. I can easily see him throwing 4000 yards and 25 TDs this year

 

2. MATT CASSEL - I like what KC did in the off season.....A LOT. Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles ensure a stout running game and more importantly defenses will respect the run and wont stack the box. Cassel will have time to throw this year. Dwayne Bowe had great OTAs....Chambers is serviceable and rookie Dexter McCluster should have a Percy Harvin-ish type year. All the chips are in place for Cassel to surprise fantasy owners this year.

 

3. JOE FLACCO - I'm only calling him a sleeper because I picked him up in the 11th round of a draft on Monday. People still don't have faith in the Delaware Kid. Boldin comes to town to provide a big bulky across the middle possession WR who instantly increases Flaccos TD total. Ray Rice will be on the field even more this year and that means more 2 yard dump offs that Rice takes 50 yards down the field. Flacco will be a reliable every week starter.

 

4. VINCE YOUNG - This is of course assuming he doesnt get suspended for his moronic strip club incident. Young is similar to Flacco in that Chris Johnson can take a 3 yard screen to the house from anywhere on the field. Kenny Britt is an up and coming wide receiver and Young has an odd chemistry with TE Bo Scaife. The real reason he's a sleeper is his feet. He can get you a TDs worth of points on the ground any given week.

 

5. ALEX SMITH - The Niners beefed up the O-line in the draft which is most beneficial to Frank Gore, but an increased running threat means less pressure on Smith. Crabtree should take major strides in year 2 and Vernon Davis is still a beast. If you don't grab an elite QB, Smith is a guy you can spot start with a good matchup.

 

6. MARK SANCHEZ - Everyones convinced the Jets will run every play, but I'm not so sure. Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Jericho Cotchery and Dustin Keller. Those guys all have talent and can make plays. Shonn Greene is still raw, and when LDT is in there he has very soft hands. Sanchez will be a very sneaky pick, and he could pay dividends more than a few times.

 

So thats my thought on QB sleepers! What do you think?

lol