Fantasy football sleepers: QB - Week 1

September 7, 2011 @ 17:08:49

By Tim Heaney
Edited by Cory J. Bonini

Fantasy football sleepers: QB | RB | WR | TE | PK | DT

In this article KFFL breaks down the fantasy football sleepers of the week. We will avoid marquee names because players of that caliber are rarely benched, regardless of their matchup. Instead, we will focus on the players that make your fantasy lineup decisions stressful each week. Read on to learn which midrange to low-end players you wouldn’t necessarily consider that you need to get into your lineup.

Fantasy football sleepers: Quarterbacks

Mark Sanchez, New York Jets vs. Dallas Cowboys

Sanchez primed to toast 'Boys

Fantasy value: Midrange No. 1

• Sanchez lost Braylon Edwards as a target but gained a surer pair, albeit older, pair of hands in Derrick Mason, as well as a potentially rusty but talented Plaxico Burress. That's a decent trio when you add Sanchez favorite Santonio Holmes. Though his 17 scoring tosses in 2010 were pedestrian compared to the rest of the league, Sanchez's total was an improvement over his rookie season.
• He'll have a chance to start his junior year on a solid path. The Cowboys carried one of the most vulnerable secondaries in the NFL last season, and despite the acquisition of safety Abram Elam, that unit remains a weak point. That's doubly enforced by their limited time to install their new defensive system, which could eventually be solid but probably not in Week 1.
• Dallas could also be without starting cornerbacks Terence Newman (groin) and Michael Jenkins (knee). While Jenkins could still suit up, it's looking like Newman will miss the game.

Rex Grossman, Washington Redskins vs. New York Giants

Fantasy value: No. 1 or bench

• The G-men are typically considered one of the stouter D's in the league, but the tackling side has been plagued with injuries. Pass rusher Osi Umenyiora (knee) and rookie cornerback Prince Amukamara (foot) won't be available for at least Week 1. Cornerback Terrell Thomas tore his ACL and will miss the entire season. Starting middle linebacker Jonathan Goff (knee) will also miss the entire year. Though New York has proven they can plug in pieces and carry on Perry Fewell's system, this much damage to their cache could leave them ripe for the picking.
• Mike Shanahan named Sexy Rexy the Week 1 starter. Despite the ample jokes, this isn't a terrible thing for this O; Grossman has experience in it when OC Kyle Shanahan was directing the Houston Texans' attack. He's more of a QB2 for leagues that employ them, but, say, if you lost Peyton Manning (neck) for this week, here's one place to look for a last-minute fill-in.
• Against the Giants in Week 17 last year, Grossman went 26-for-44 for 336 yards and two touchdowns. A better understanding of the O and a weakened opponent make for a surprisingly productive day.

Fantasy football sleepers: QB | RB | WR | TE | PK | DT

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Tim Heaney

Since the Boston University alum joined KFFL in 2006, his work has been featured by USA Today/Sports Weekly and Yahoo! Sports, among numerous publications.

Tim competes in Tout Wars and LABR and appears every Wednesday on 1570 AM WNST in Baltimore, as well as frequently on Sirius XM Fantasy Sports Radio.

Follow him on Twitter.

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