Fantasy football sleepers: QB - Week 1

September 9, 2010 @ 17:00:00

By Tim Heaney
Edited by Bryce McRae

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

Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions

Fantasy value: No. 1

• Cutler should start 2010 with a bang

  Cutler starts his trip in Mike Martz's system against an opponent that he has put up points against in the past. He garnered six passing touchdowns without a thrown interception and averaged 208.5 passing yards against Detroit in two meetings last year.
• The Lions allowed a league-high 2.19 passing touchdowns per game last season and remain a defensive work in progress, even with rookie DT Ndamukong Suh and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch joining the fray. Free safety Louis Delmas (groin) is expected to play through injury, so their already weak secondary could be even more vulnerable.

Jason Campbell, Oakland Raiders vs. Tennessee Titans

Fantasy value: No. 1 or bench

• The strong-armed vet should be ready for Week 1 despite his right wrist injury and stinger suffered during the preseason. Campbell gives the Raiders a quarterback that can ... you know, pass; Hue Jackson and his new offense aim to encourage more vertical attempts.
• Per game, Tennessee allowed the second most passing yards (270.5) and the third most passing scores (1.88) to opposing throwers in '09. The Titans displayed a middling pass rush last year and now are without defensive lineman Kyle Vanden Bosch; Campbell should have a decent amount of time to throw, even with Oakland's work-in-progress O-line.
• Raiders running back Michael Bush (finger) is uncertain for Sunday's game, so if he misses the game or is limited, the Raiders might take to the air frequently. Tailback Darren McFadden is more useful as a receiver. 

Dennis Dixon, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Atlanta Falcons

Fantasy value: No. 1 or bench

• Dixon, more of a run-first QB than a true slinger, was named the starter for Week 1 and will presumably fill in until Ben Roethlisberger returns. In a spot start last year, Dixon went just 12-for-26 with 145 yards and a pick, but he added a throwing score and 27 yards with a touchdown on the ground.
• The Falcons allowed 252.7 aerial yards (bottom five in the league) and 1.56 touchdown passes per game last year; their secondary isn't imposing in real life. Atlanta was a bottom-level unit in the sacks department last year and hasn't done much to improve that standing.
• The Steelers likely won't let Dixon push the ball downfield much, instead emphasizing the run more. Despite the promising paper matchup, Dixon should be saved for two-quarterback starting lineups. Maybe his feet could satisfactorily fill that secondary spot. 

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

KFFLians are saying....

Comment

 

---

What do you think? We want to hear from you!

Name: E-mail: Please, enter the number that you see

Comment Guidelines

Tim Heaney

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

Tim co-hosts KFFL's Big Lead Sports block every Thursday (10pm-1am ET) on Sirius XM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210 | XM 87) and competes in Tout Wars (2011) and LABR (2012).

Follow him on Twitter.

See More Articles by Author

Talk Sports 24/7!
KFFL Sports Forums: Over 24,000 strong and growing!

Official Injury Report - Week 14 (12/10)
Fantasy Football Rankings: QB - Week 14 (12/09)
Fantasy Football Rankings: RB - Week 14 (12/09)
Fantasy Football Rankings: RB - Week 14 - PPR (12/09)
Fantasy Football Rankings: WR - Week 14 (12/09)
Fantasy Football Rankings: WR - Week 14 - PPR (12/09)
Fantasy Football Rankings: TE - Week 14 (12/09)
Fantasy Football Rankings: TE - Week 14 - PPR (12/09)
Fantasy Football Rankings: PK - Week 14 (12/09)
Fantasy Football Rankings: DT - Week 14 (12/09)