Last time we talked about the drafting the QB position in fantasy football within the aspects of rounds 1-7. Whether or not it’s the right idea to take a QB early (Brees/Rodgers) over waiting till later on (Romo/Stafford/RG3) is still yet to be determined.
However, no player is immune to injury, and no fantasy team is solid without a stacked bench. A good backup can fulfill many purposes, trade bait, depth at a position, etc. So which QB’s can you find in a reasonable round? Read on and find out.
Rd 8-9- Michael Vick, Eli Manning, Carson Palmer
This is where usually one team has to panic since another took two of the top 12 qb’s. I wouldn’t worry though, the history is there with Eli Manning to be a potential starter. He’s a guy who’s cracked 4000 yards 3 out of the past 4 seasons. Carson “King of the Garbage Time” Palmer, is in the same boat.
He’s got tremendous upside (Bruce Arian’s offense has always been pass happy). Also, if Palmer can crack a top 10 appearance in yards last year with Oakland, imagine what he can do with capable receivers. Vick is the weirdest of the trio, he’s in a quarterback competition with Nick Foles and may not be the starter, however, it was only 2 seasons ago that this guy was carrying fantasy teams.
He’s always has the breakout potential and can win a week for someone solo. Take this as a boom or bust pick, if Vick is on, you look like the smartest guy in the room, if he’s off, well you’ve seen how bad he can be.
Rd 10-11- Andy Dalton, Joe Flacco, Ben Roethlisberger, Josh Freeman
One’s a Super Bowl winning QB, the other is a two-time Super Bowl winner and the other two are up and coming qb’s. Don’t buy into the Flacco trap, he may be great on the field and for Baltimore, but with Dennis Pitta possibly out for the season, and his best option being Torrey Smith and Ray Rice, avoid Flacco at all costs this year.
Dalton on the other hand, could be a huge sleeper. He’s got a beast in A.J. Green to throw to. Two TE’s that could be the next incarnation of Gronk/Hernandez, and a running game to boot. I’m a firm believer that Dalton could throw for 4000 yards and close to 30 td’s this season.
Freeman’s got the weapons at WR, and a pass catching muscle hamster in the backfield. He’s also in a contract year and will be pushed by head coach Greg Schiano.
Finally, there’s Roethlisberger, at best you’re looking at a 4000 yard passer with 25+ td’s thrown and a few rushing TD’s to boot, at worst you’re seeing a 3000 yard passer. However (I’m just pulling a random stat here), Big Ben has done better recently in odd number seasons (2009,2011) than even number one’s.
Just sayin.
Rd 12-14 Jay Cutler, Phillip Rivers, Matt Schaub,
Wow, how some have fallen. All three of these guys can be given claims to be taken over previously mentioned QB’s. This is a make or break year for Schaub, the Houston front office has been rumbling that their team is good enough to go all the way, and Schaub’s been seen as a potential weak link.
Rivers has been amazing up until last year. Since 2008 he averaged over 4000 yards and at least 27 touchdowns a season. Expect him to bounce back from last year’s horrific season. Cutler, by this point you know what you’re getting with him. One week, he’ll be the best QB in the NFL, the next three weeks… You’ll be lucky to get 10 fantasy points with him.
Draft Cutler at your own risk.
Rd 15-Undrafted- Sam Bradford, Ryan Tannehill, Alex Smith, EJ Manuel/Kevin Kolb, Brandon Weeden, Mark Sanchez/Geno Smith, Matt Flynn, Jake Locker/Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matt Cassel/Christian Ponder, Blaine Gabbert/Chad Henne
Out of this entire group of non draftees, there still is a lot of talent. Call me crazy, but if Henne can win the starting job in Jacksonville, he can be a valuable fantasy backup. Tannehill is an up and comer with the weapons to be great. Weeden has two competent coaches–in Rob Chudzinski and Norv Turner–with him who know how to produce points.
Smith with Andy Reid and Dwayne Bowe? Sounds like a match made in heaven. Finally, you can’t deny the potential of rookies Geno Smith and EJ Manuel. Are both on crummy offenses?
Yes, but it’s round 15, not like you’re taking a big risk here and there’s a lot of rewards to reap if you’re correct.