Fantasy football sleepers: Quarterbacks

September 7, 2011 @ 10:12:59

By Cory J. Bonini
Edited by Keith Hernandez

KFFL.com's analysis of fantasy football sleepers will help you identify the characteristics that go into making up a sleeper. These gems can be fairly well-known players or the lesser heralded guys you may not know much about. Fear not, since no one likes doing the dirty work, KFFL.com has done it for you!

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Note: All average draft position (ADP) figures are based on 12-team, non-PPR leagues unless specified otherwise.

Quarterbacks

Tony Romo | Dallas Cowboys | ADP: 6th round

2011 Projected NFL/Fantasy Football Statistics

Pass Att		Pass Com		Pass Yds		Pass TDs		Int		Run Att		Run Yds		Run TDs		Tot TDs
Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi
533	583	335	385	4183	4583	29	33	14	16	24	34	107	137	0	2	29	35

We have struggled with the decision to include Romo on this list all offseason since he isn't a true sleeper. In short, fantasy owners seemingly have forgotten how good of a fantasy producer he has been in his career. One injury-shortened year and fantasy leaguers have jumped ship.

Dez Bryant, Miles Austin, Jason Witten, Felix Jones, DeMarco Murray ... Dallas has some weapons in the passing game. Romo averaged the sixth most fantasy points per game in 2008 and 2009; he came in second on a per-contest basis in 2007.

Romo comes off the board as the seventh quarterback, on average. That may seem like a fine placement, and it probably is. Just make sure you do not overlook what he accomplished prior to 2010.

Matthew Stafford | Detroit Lions | ADP: 9th round

2011 Projected NFL/Fantasy Football Statistics

Pass Att		Pass Com		Pass Yds		Pass TDs		Int		Run Att		Run Yds		Run TDs		Tot TDs
Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi
497	547	299	349	3593	3993	24	28	12	14	22	32	82	112	1	3	25	31

Stafford's talent is no secret, and the same can be said about his injury-prone ways. Through two years in the league, he still hasn't completed enough games to qualify for a full season, thus making him practically an advanced rookie. Coming off a major shoulder injury, Stafford has declared himself 100 percent.

A roaring good season ahead

First of all, is it probable he suffers another major injury? Entirely possible, yes. Probable, no. Statistically speaking, a third straight injury-plagued campaign is unlikely, but you still have to be concerned.

A top-10 fantasy football positional turnout is quite realistic if Stafford remains healthy all year. Detroit has bolstered their offense with rookie Titus Young, who figures to come out of the slot. Veteran stud Calvin Johnson returns to start alongside Nate Burleson, while tight end Brandon Pettigrew proved to be a very reliable outlet last year. Jahvid Best's hands and speed out of the backfield are tough to match.

Stafford is currently being drafted in the ninth round as a low-end No. 1 or strong No. 2 quarterback. In other words, many fantasy owners have already taken note of his upside and are not shy to roll the dice on him staying healthy. You shouldn't be, either. Ideally, he is a top backup. It may seem suicidal on the surface, but Stafford is a smart gamble as a weak No. 1 with the potential for greater.

Kevin Kolb | Arizona Cardinals | ADP: 15th round

2011 Projected NFL/Fantasy Football Statistics

Pass Att		Pass Com		Pass Yds		Pass TDs		Int		Run Att		Run Yds		Run TDs		Tot TDs
Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi
519	569	313	363	3685	4085	21	25	14	16	28	38	94	124	0	2	21	27

The former Philadelphia Eagle has shown a strong command of the offense in preseason. Take notice of the little things, such as a quick snap of the head on play-action passing and keeping his eyes downfield. The biggest criticism of Kolb in Philly was his inability or unwillingness to move the ball downfield with vertical passes. His yards-per-attempt average through three preseason games: 6.3, 7.3 and 10.3, respectively.

Larry Fitzgerald helps any quarterback look good, of course, but Andre Roberts has come into his own, and Early Doucet is finally healthy. Todd Heap shouldn't be heavily involved in the weekly game plan, but the veteran has been a nice safety blanket for Kolb in preseason play. The running game should be competent, and Kolb's protection is good enough to get by.

Draft him as a midrange No. 2 with high upside. The Cardinals like to move the ball in chunks, and Ken Whisenhunt isn't afraid to put it up 40 to 50 times if he has to.

Tarvaris Jackson | Seattle Seahawks | ADP: N/A

2011 Projected NFL/Fantasy Football Statistics

Pass Att		Pass Com		Pass Yds		Pass TDs		Int		Run Att		Run Yds		Run TDs		Tot TDs
Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi	Lo	Hi
480	530	274	324	3059	3459	13	17	10	12	56	66	345	375	3	5	16	22

The Minnesota Vikings cast off Jackson, and Seattle has welcomed him with open arms. He is the undisputed starter in an offense that he grew up in. He will be reunited with OC Darrell Bevell and wideout Sidney Rice, whom he has experience with in Minnesota. The 'Hawks added Robert Gallery at guard and Tom Cable as their line coach; tight end Zach Miller also comes over from the Raiders.

Jackson catches a lot of flak, but he hasn't ever been given a legitimate chance on a team with talented pass catchers. While he won't have Adrian Peterson to rely on, Marshawn Lynch is a capable back and is good enough to keep defenses honest. Jackson's biggest problem has been his inability to stay healthy.

Draft T-Jax as a backup to an elite starter to be safe, and consider him as a late-round choice that comes with a little risk. Maybe you'll have a bargaining chip by midseason.

QB | RB | WR | TE | PK | DT

KFFLians are saying....

Comment

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1

Nick, at 05:25 on 08/23/11, says: What about Kevin Kolb as a sleeper? He has a guy like Larry Fitzgerald to throw to and not a good RB core which means they probably will pass more and more as the season goes on if their RB's do not produce. It just seems like a combination that might produce alot of passing yards.

Report!

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2

jimmythegeek2, at 07:34 on 08/31/11, says: If you seriously think Tarvaris Jackson is a sleeper you haven't seen many Vikings games the last few years. He's simply not an accurate passer and he had plenty of chances in Minnesota.

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Cory J. Bonini

Cory J. Bonini is a senior editor at KFFL. In late 2002, Bonini joined the KFFL staff as a research analyst. He vaulted himself into one of the industry's leading fantasy analysts.

Bonini has been involved in fantasy sports since 1996. A member of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association as well as Fantasy Sports Writers Association, he has been featured in print, on the radio and is also a published writer on scores of sites. Bonini co-hosts Big Lead Sports on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio each Wednesday evening from 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. ET.

Bonini was recognized with the 2010 Best Article in Print Award from the FSWA and was a finalist for the same award in 2011. In '11, he finished first overall in the FSWA NFL experts challenge that featured 60 of the industry's best competitors.

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