Deep Sleeper QBs

Mike Brown - Baltimore vowed to open up the passing game, and the signing of Derrick Mason should go a long way towards that. Boller is a great athlete, who has tremendous upside in a potentially up-and-coming offense. At this late in the draft, he could be this year’s Drew Brees.

Clayton Gray - The 2005 version of Kyle Boller simply looks like one of those classic late-round QBs that turns up roses. He finally has some talent at WR, and the word is that the Ravens plan to throw the ball this season. He looks like this year's Drew Brees.

Andy Hicks - Exit Travis Taylor, enter Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton and a return from injury for Todd Heap. Add in a more open passing game and less reliance on the power running game and things look up. If Boller cannot improve on his 25th ranking last year by at least 5 positions then there will be serious questions asked. Boller is developing nicely and plays within his limits. This could be a definite breakout season for the Raven signal caller and he is nice late value in any draft.

Cecil Lammey - Boller, entering his 3rd year has more weapons around him than ever before. The addition of Derrick Mason should give him a very reliable target from the WR position. Clarence Moore is a 2nd year WR that is 6’6” and gives Boller a great red zone target. Todd Heap hopes to have an injury free 2005, and is a great safety valve receiver for Kyle. Boller is getting more comfortable with this offense, and even though it’s predicated on the run it doesn’t mean Kyle couldn’t put up decent numbers. A spectacular run game, headed up by Jamal Lewis, means nothing but 1 on 1 coverage on the outside for Kyle to exploit. New offensive coordinator Jim Fassel will set up a game plan that suits what Boller does best. He should easily outplay his ADP.

"Bloom" - Boller is on the same improvement curve as David Carr and Joey Harrington – terrible first season, less terrible second season… Carr and Harrington followed with so-so 3rd seasons. Boller gets 2 new weapons in Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason this year, and should only improve from last year’s numbers. He won’t be an exciting fantasy player, but with any improvement, he will outperform his draft position and be an adequate backup fantasy QB for your team.

"BostonFred" - Boller's not exactly a deep sleeper, but he's worth a much longer look this year than in years past. The addition of Mason and Clayton is obviously nice, but Boller's four TD game in Heap's second game back from injury is reason enough to think he could emerge as a solid backup QB. If anything happened to Jamal Lewis, Boller could finally break out.

"Fullback Fro" - Kyle ranks in the lower tier of quarterbacks and for good reason. The Ravens have been near dead last the last two seasons in passing offense. But a lot has changed with this offense this year. The Ravens drafted a young gifted WR Mark Clayton in round one and brought in a very talented experienced veteran in Derrick Mason. With up and comer Clarence Moore and Todd Heap as receiving weapons, Boller could be in for a decent year.

"nittanylion" - What's the world coming to? The Ravens actually have the makings of a balanced offense this year! Jim Fassel takes over as OC, and finally has a credible #1WR option (DMason), as well as size (C.Moore), toughness (Hymes) and deep speed (Clayton). The effect of Fassel and Mason on Boller's potential should not be taken lightly. Boller has always had the support of a strong running game, (where Chet Taylor adds another valuable year of experience) and adding a proven #1 WR to the mix has the indirect event of improving the chances of Heap and the other WR's being in a position to make plays. Look for a higher completion percentage, # of completions, avg yds per pass, and PTD's this year from Boller.

"SammyJankis" - Boller struggled in his sophomore year, and sorely missed Jamal Lewis and Todd Heap who were absent for long stretches with injuries. There are reasons to be excited about Boller’s third campaign. The Ravens have added Derrick Mason. Jamal Lewis and Heap return to the starting lineup. Boller really just needs to improve his accuracy to go along with his rifle arm and quick feet. A recent AP article suggested that Billick, Fassel and Neuheissal have retooled the offense to make Boller and not Jamal Lewis, the star of the offense. Billick is convinced that Boller is ready to make the leap to becoming a top QB, “Look at his confidence, his demeanor, his understanding. He's in total control out there. That's how it should be in his third season."

"Tick" - Kyle Boller sucks. Well, he has so far in his NFL career, anyway. However, remember that he was the youngest QB to start in the NFL last season, even younger than Roethlisberger and EManning. He improved his accuracy and TD/INT ratio last season, and his attempts per game went from 21 in the first six games to 33 in the last ten games. How does this sound for an improvement around him? DWilcox / TTaylor / KJohnson to Heap / Mason / MaClayton. I expect Boller to throw a lot more, I expect his receivers to do more with the ball once they get it, and I expect his completion percentage to continue to rise (but still be lame). You can get him after the 13th round, and I say he's a bargain there and will be a dependable FF QB this season.

"Unlucky" - Many people are down on Kyle Boller, but he’s still very young, entering year three in the NFL. People will look at his poor comp% and YPA. On the contrary, I will point to his utter lack of talent surrounding him. Adding D. Mason, M. Clayton, and a potentially healthy T. Heap will help Boller’s numbers. He’s currently the #21 QB on my board.

Jeff Garcia - DET - ADP: 203 overall, QB 32 11 votes

Mike Brown - Sure, Detroit needed a solid veteran to back up Joey Harrington. But did it HAVE to be Garcia? Harrington hasn’t enjoyed the greatest job security over his career, and Mariucci may have just about run out of patience. After all the great years they had in San Fran, is it just a coincidence that Garcia is in Detroit? Uh, no. Now imagine Garcia directing an offense featuring Roy Williams, Charles Rogers, and Mike Williams, as Kevin Jones runs wild in the backfield.

David Dodds - The Detroit Lions bolstered an already talented receiving core by drafting Southern California standout Mike Williams in the first round of the NFL draft. They also added veteran TE Marcus Pollard. WR Charles Rogers returns from injury. WR Roy Williams and RB Kevin Jones both are rising stars. And this just in...Joey Harrington is horrible. His career numbers tell the story: 5.6 ypa, 48 TDs and 50 interceptions in 46 games. Jeff Garcia knows the Maruicci offense better than anyone. Even at age 35, I fully expect he will be the starting QB sometime this season for the Lions.

Clayton Gray - Of course Garcia isn't the starting QB in Detroit, but he is such an enticing prospect. Joey Harrington has done nothing but struggle over his career, and Garcia has excelled under HC Steve Mariucci in the past. What an interesting combo. The fact that Garcia can be had about six round later than Harrington makes it very worth taking a shot on the new Lion.

Cecil Lammey - Sure, Garcia’s not the starter yet, but I believe by week 4 he will be. Harrington currently has the support of his coaches (read: June coachspeak) but it won’t take much for him to be pulled in favor of Garcia. Joey will constantly be looking over his shoulder at the Steve Mariucci favorite. Garcia and Mooch worked well together in San Francisco and could easily make a great tandem in Detroit. Let’s face it, this offense has everything you’d need to be a top 5 unit. All that is missing is a consistent presence of the QB position. That’s why I believe Garcia will be the starter sooner rather than later.

Jason Wood - How Joey Harrington is going 70 spots higher than Jeff Garcia in early draft results is beyond me; have people not watched both quarterbacks play? In Harrington you have a QB who has failed to either prove himself a leader or show an ability to consistently execute the West Coast offense. In Garcia, you have a heady veteran who went to three Pro Bowls running this exact offense. I would be shocked if Garcia wasn’t the Lions starter sooner rather than later, and with the weapons at his disposal, he could be fantasy gold this late in the draft.

"Bagger" - With the amount of weapons that Detroit has on offense, it has the potential to throw up a lot of points. The biggest question mark on that offense is the quarterback, Joey Harrington. Garcia has a strong chance of unseating “Joey Heisman” as the starting QB, and will more than likely be even more effective running the west coast offense that he ran with Mariucci when they were both in San Francisco. If Harrington cannot get the offense going early in the season (or even in the pre-season for that point) Garcia will likely take over.

"BostonFred" - Garcia looked decent last year with lesser receivers, and could end up with the job. Keep in mind that Garcia faced Baltimore twice, Pittsburgh twice, the Giants, Washington, Philly and Buffalo. When he finally got a break against Cincinatti ("only" the #15 pass defense in the league), he put up 310 yards and 4 TDs against them. If Garcia takes the reins of that offense in the soft NFC North, he could be a top ten starter. Don't forget, he was the #2 fantasy QB in the league in back to back years, and he can still run the ball adequately, averaging 5 yards per carry and scoring twice last year.

"Couch Potato" - Though Garcia is currently the backup, Joey Harrington is on a very short leash. If Harrington doesn't begin the season strong there will be no hesitation to pull him in favor of Garcia for perhaps for the rest of the year. The Lions have outstanding weapons at WR and RB and expect to win now. Unfortunately for Harrington, Clayton Gray's Ultimate Strength of Schedule shows the Detroit QB with a tough first 5 games. Garcia was a poor fit in Cleveland but is a very good fit in Detroit. He played for HC Mariucci in SF in a similar style of offense and had several good years running it, including 3 trips to the Pro Bowl. If he gets his chance, he'll go from a current ADP of QB32 to perhaps a top-15 ranking on a PPG basis.

"diesel7982" - Garcia suffered through an injury-plagued 2004 season with the Cleveland Browns, throwing for 1,731 yards with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions last year. However, he finds himself in a much better situation this year, playing inside at the Silver Dome, and is surrounded by one of the most potentially dangerous set of weapons in the NFC. However, he will enter training camp as the #2 QB behind incumbent starter Joey Harrington. This is not a designation that will last long into the season though, as it is reasonable to expect Harrington to lose the starting job fairly quickly with expectations mounting on the Millen / Mariucci regime. Garcia should be able to produce solid QB2 numbers while you should be able to draft him as a QB3 or QB4.

"nittanylion" - Jeff Garcia has to be ecstatic, leaving Cleveland, and being reunited with Steve Mariucci. He's returning to a system he knows, and more importantly, he's surrounded by talented players comfortable with the offense as well. Kv Jones, Schlesinger, Bryson, Ry Williams, Rogers, Mk Williams, Kv Johnson and Pollard are arguably the best overall group of skill position players he'd had the opportunity to work with in his career. Garcia is a fiery competitor, and a veteran leader and current starter Joey Harrington is under an immense amount of pressure to perform far beyond reasonable expectations. The intent of this signing wasn't to provide a safety net in case of an injury, it was to put a QB on the field that can win games now.

"Unlucky" - Garcia is reunited with coach Mariucci in Detroit. The weapons are all there for a high powered passing game. The system should be very familiar to Garcia. The only problem is that Harrington is the starter, for now. Considering where you can draft Garcia (very late) and the potential for huge production if he starts, I see Garcia as a very wise investment of a late pick.

Gus Frerotte - MIA - ADP: 251 overall, QB 37 7 votes

Colin Dowling - I may be the only one who feels this way, but I think the Miami passing game is going to be a pleasant surprise this season. The problem is knowing which guy will be throwing the ball. The receiving group is as good as any in the league and severely underrated with Ronnie Brown, Randy McMichael, Chris Chambers, Marty Booker and David Boston. The new offensive coordinator is known for getting the ball downfield regularly. And the offensive line and running game should help keep the quarterback a lot safer then last year. Considering you can benefit from this situation in the late rounds of your draft, I’d suggest that the Miami quarterback position could be a nice sleeper this season.

Marc Levin - Though Coach Saban and the Miami front office would probably like to see AJ Feeley win the starting job and shine, Frerotte’s familiarity with OC Scott Linehan’s offense, his experience, and his composure is what the Dolphins need at QB. With an improved OL under inventive OL coach Hudson Houck, Frerotte should have more time than Feeley/Fiedler had in ’04 to find WRs Chris Chambers, Marty Booker, David Boston, and TE Randy McMichael. Even without Ricky Williams, RBs Reggie Brown, Sammy Morris and Lamar Gordon form a solid receiving crew out of the backfield. With aging players and a new scheme on defense, the Dolphins may become a pass happy team out of necessity and Frerotte has enough weapons to give you solid fantasy numbers– at least in garbage time.

Aaron Rudnicki - Frerotte has an advantage over incumbent starter AJ Feeley because he was brought in by the current coaching staff and played in the same wide open system the past few years in Minnesota. The additions of Ronnie Brown and offensive line coach Hudson Houck should dramatically improve the running game and play of the offensive line compared to 2004. Factor in that the starting QB will have a talented group of weapons in the passing game (i.e., Chris Chambers, Marty Booker, David Boston, Randy McMichael), and Frerotte seems like a very good gamble as the #37 QB drafted.

Jason Wood - Both A.J. Feeley and Gus Frerotte are being drafted after many backups, which speaks of just how woeful the Dolphins were a season ago. However, I believe Frerotte will win the job in training camp and put up reasonably productive numbers; certainly good enough to justify a late round pick as a spot starter/fantasy backup. Remember, the new Dolphins coaching staff bears no loyalty to incumbent Feeley, and Frerotte has a tremendous leg up in that he has the respect of incoming offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, from their days in Minnesota. If you’re looking for a late round backup QB who could surprise, Frerotte demands consideration.

David Yudkin - The Dolphins are still exploring starting QB options, and A.J. Feeley has been mediocre to date. The Dolphins offense has to be better than last year’s, and with a better ground game, David Boston, Marty Booker, and Randy McMichael as targets, Frerotte could serve as a viable fantasy QB2 option (although not a great one) if he were to win the starting job.

"BassNBrew" - Talent, opportunity, and a proven track record. I look for Frerotte to unseat Feeley and to have a huge impact with weapons like Chambers, Boston, Booker, and McMicheal at his disposal.

"LHUCKS" - Saban and company didn’t bring in Frerotte to ride the pine. He was brought to Miami to compete for a starting job. Gus has had some success as a starting NFL QB in the past and it’s not a coincidence that he followed his O-coordinator to Miami. With quite a few weapons at his disposal I like the value Frerotte represents deep into drafts.

Drew Bledsoe - DAL - ADP: 161 overall, QB 25 6 votes

Colin Dowling - Drew Bledsoe hasn’t been a great quarterback in some time. In fact, he hasn’t even really been a good quarterback in some time. He gets rattled easily at this point and seems to have forgotten how to perform in the clutch. However, he IS now in the micro-controlled system of Bill Parcells. While he certainly isn’t likely to go to the Pro-Bowl, seeming him throw more that 3000 yards and 20 touchdowns won’t be a surprise in the slightest, which makes him a decent sleeper in many leagues considering his draft position.

Cathy Fazio - Drew Bledsoe steps in to helm an offense in which veteran quarterback Vinnie Testaverde made 297 completions for 3532 yards in 2004. The rushing threat that Julius Jones provides will open up more opportunities for Bledsoe to get the ball to the experienced Terry Glenn and Keyshawn Johnson and the exciting tight end Jason Witten. To pick up a starting NFL quarterback in this situation, this late in the draft is a real steal.

Will Grant - Bledsoe finished 153rd overall last season, throwing for less than 3000 yards. With the Cowboys, Bledsoe won’t throw for 4000 yards, but 3250 should be well within his reach. While he probably won’t start for your fantasy squad, he’s an above average backup, and solid value in the 14th round.

Andy Hicks - If 41 year old Vinny Testaverde can rank 16th, as he did in Dallas last year, then Drew Bledsoe walks into a nice situation. Reunited with Coach Parcells and Terry Glenn, as well as having good receiving options in Keyshawn, Jason Witten and Quincy Morgan, 2005 gives Drew Bledsoe the opportunity to become a viable fantasy option once again. He makes for a nice backup or 3rd option if you can grab him.

David Yudkin - We know that head coach Bill Parcells likes to start veteran QBs. What few realize is that Parcells-coached teams have ranked in the top half of the league in passing yards 12 times in 17 seasons. That includes two Top 5 seasons in passing yards with a Parcells/Bledsoe pairing in the 90s. Bledsoe’s skills have eroded some since then, and the Cowboys don’t appear to have the best set of WRs, but Jason Witten alone could help Bledsoe approach or even crack the Top 20.

"SammyJankis" - Is Beldsoe the quarterback he used be? Not even close. But if Parcells could manage to get 3500 yards and 17 TDs out of a 41 year old Vinny Testaverde, why wouldn’t he be able to keep Bledsoe going? Bledsoe was good for almost 3000 yards and 20 TDs last year while getting battered behind Buffalo’s line. With three pro bowlers in front of him to keep him upright, Bledsoe should post strong enough numbers to make him a good fantasy backup.

J.P. Losman - BUF - ADP: 169 overall, QB 27 6 votes

Marc Levin - There are a few reasons why Losman is a decent sleeper QB. First, he has great receivers in Eric Moulds and Lee Evans. Second, he will be the starter all 16 weeks, barring injury. Third, he has the support of a good ground game. While the LT spot –a QB’s best friend - is an unsettled position right now, the rest of the OL is solid. This year, Losman could be a poor man’s Ben Roethlisberger – manage the game, accumulate decent, but not overwhelming, numbers, don’t make mistakes. If he minimizes those mistakes, he should evolve into an acceptable QB2, which saves earlier draft picks for other skill spots.

Aaron Rudnicki - Losman is an unknown quantity right now and most expect him to struggle due to his lack of experience. But, he has had a full year to get comfortable with the offense and has the weapons around him to be successful right away. McGahee will provide a consistent threat and attract most of the attention from opposing defenses, which should free up Moulds and Evans on the outside. Losman’s mobility will also help his fantasy value considerably. If he stays healthy all year, he shouldn’t have too much trouble outperforming his current ADP ranking.

Ron White - Losman is currently being drafted behind some quarterbacks that may not even start this year. The thing I like about him is that he steps into a very good offense, and he has the wheels to keep plays alive. He also stayed in Buffalo after last season and has worked extremely hard this off season. Generally when you hear of players being that dedicated during their normal time off they have a better chance to out perform expectations.

"Bloom" - Yes, Losman is in his first season as a starting QB and could flame out and amount to little or nothing this season. However, there are reasons to think that Losman could hit the ground running.. Losman worked with QB guru Sam Wyche for the entire offseason, and is already gaining the confidence of his teammates. He has a very solid set of weapons at RB and WR. He is also a good running QB, which is always a plus for fantasy. Losman’s prospects for a top 20 QB season are around the same as Carr and Harrington’s and he is going long after them – take advantage of the value.

"EBF" - Though inexperienced, Losman has a talented supporting cast and could be a surprise success in his first season as a starter. The former first round pick showed well for himself in very limited opportunities last preseason, compiling a QB rating of 96.2 and displaying nice running ability. He was hurt for most of the regular season and didn't have much of a chance to prove himself, but the Buffalo coaches thought highly enough of him to elevate him to the starting position for 2005 and release veteran Drew Bledsoe. Buffalo may be a run-first team this season and Losman may struggle to adjust to the pro game, but he's worth a shot with a late pick if you're looking for a high-reward proposition.

"Tick" - He's worth a shot. Nobody really knows what to expect of Losman, but he has good mobility and passing skills, and he's got Moulds / Evans / Reed / Parrish to throw to, plus McGahee to draw the main focus of the defense. This is a complete flier, but I'll take a shot on him this season after the 13th round as a QB3 with a chance to pass up my QB2.

Rex Grossman - CHI - ADP: 184 overall, QB 30 4 votes

Andy Hicks - Rex Grossman presents definite late value if you find yourself short of a backup Quarterback. He will be entrenched as the starter, unlike some of the other QBs that will be drafted in his vicinity. He has the No.1 wide receiver last year in Muhsin Muhammad as his main target, as well as other nice young developing receivers. Add in a simplified offense and a solid 2 pronged running attack and Grossman could be a fantasy factor this season.

Maurile Tremblay - Grossman has excellent physical tools, and he generally played well last year before injuring his knee in week 3. He is a good athlete who is a threat to run when he is healthy, and he will have decent weapons this year as Muhsin Muhammad is a terrific upgrade over David Terrell. OT Fred Miller and RB Cedric Benson should also help stabilize the Bears’ offense.

Mark Wimer - Grossman has had terrible luck with injuries, and is coming into 2005 off an ACL tear. However, he has a new, bona-fide #1 WR in Muhsin Muhammad, and a new grinder RB in Cedric Benson – both should help Grossman run an efficient offense, if he can stay healthy. Grossman could significantly outperform his probable draft position. He’s worth a flier late in the draft if you have a need to “platoon” QBs during 2005.

"Couch Potato" - Nothing is expected of him, being young and coming back from injury. However, he has last year's leading WR to throw to (Muhammad), a couple of possible playmakers in Gage and Berrian, and a pretty decent pass catcher out of the backfield in Thomas Jones. Cedric Benson should be able to provide a running threat to take some pressure off, and the OL is adequate. I could see Grossman, a 1st round pick in 2003, outperforming his current ADP of about QB33 and ending up in the QB18-20 area.

Josh McCown - ARI - ADP > 250 4 votes

Cecil Lammey - Kurt Warner was brought in this off-season to be the Cardinals starting QB. But which Warner will show up? The Kurt of 1999 that was league MVP, or the Kurt of 2004 that looked more like Brenda Warner. McCown knows this system well and after being jerked in and out of the lineup he still was able to come in and perform admirably at the end of 2004. McCown is a playmaker, capable of having big games; he just needs to be more consistent. With the addition of J.J. Arrington, and the healthy receiving trio of Boldin, Johnson, and Fitzgerald the Cardinals should have a formidable offense. If Warner goes down with an injury, Josh could step in and excel.

"BostonFred" - McCown wasn't even an adequate spot starter last year, but his running game was led by fifteen year veteran Emmitt Smith, and he didn't have Anquan Boldin for most of the year. Denny Green understands the passing game, and McCown may be the best QB on the Arizona roster. Kurt Warner played himself out of a job in New York last year by holding on to the ball too long, and that's exactly what caused Bledsoe's massive dropoff. If McCown gets an opportunity with another year under his belt, he certainly would have the weapons and the soft pass defenses in his division to excel.

"diesel7982" - Was McCown impressive last year? On the whole, not at all. He averaged about 200 total yards and 1 TD per games worth of action over 13 total games. He constantly made poor decisions and even worse, didn’t show the scrambling ability that he did in 2003. However, we did see McCown respond well to being benched in week 13, and upon his return to the starting lineup, he produced 842 yards passing, 5 yards rushing and 7 total TDs over the next 3 weeks. While he is not guaranteed to see the field this year, in 2004 we saw what a sack-taking, turnover machine Kurt Warner can quickly turn into. Denny Green has not shown any hesitation in switching away from underperforming QBs in the past, and that would put McCown back in the saddle with a healthy Anquan Boldin and a more experienced Larry Fitzgerald to throw to.

"Jurb26" - So how many people are convinced that Warner can hold onto the starting job in Arizona? I know I’m sure not. This just hasn’t looked like the same QB we saw in a Rams uniform for the past 3 years. Now insert Josh McCown. McCown seems to have a very good shot to unseat Warner at some point this year. He was the starter for the greater part of the year in Arizona last year. With the healthy return of Boldin to add to Fitz and new rookie RB Arrington, this could be one of the most lethal teams in the league when it comes to scoring points. We all know Green likes scoring points too. If you’re looking for a deep sleeper at QB, certainly keep an eye on Josh McCown. Training camp could be critical here.

Trent Dilfer - CLE - ADP: 246 overall, QB 35 3 votes

Cathy Fazio - Trent Dilfer is more known as an efficient quarterback, who does enough to get the job done, which is why is he is being overlooked in fantasy drafts. But he would make a great backup in spot situations, especially if he begins to gel with the Cleveland Browns’ receiving corps.

Aaron Rudnicki - Dilfer is being drafted way too late for a guy that has practically no competition for the starting QB job. Although the Browns have struggled on offense in recent years, the offensive line and running game look stronger than they have in awhile. While the loss of Kellen Winslow certainly hurts, he’ll still have a very solid group of WRs to throw to in Braylon Edwards, Antonio Bryant, Andre Davis, and Dennis Northcutt. Dilfer has had an up and down career but he played well at times in Seattle and should put up decent numbers this year.

"Jurb26" - Dilfer may as well be the poster boy for low/no upside fantasy players. The guy seems to have limited talent/ability and always seems to find himself in a limited environment for fantasy success. On top of that, he has lacked the ability to really hold down a starting job basically the last 5 years of his career in Balt and Sea. He did somehow manage to win a Super bowl in that time though. Well, this year, Dilfer walks into the Clev starting job and IMO a better fantasy situation than most realize. The team does not look to be good and better yet, looks like they will need to pass the ball. Dilfer looks to fall past even some of the NFL backups in a lot of drafts. He does not seem to have any great competition for PT at least early in the year and could be a late round steal here.

Patrick Ramsey - WAS - ADP: 213 overall, QB 34 2 votes

"SammyJankis" - After the 2002 draft, a lot of folks speculated that Patrick Ramsey might be the best of the QBs from that draft, ahead of Joey Harrington and David Carr. A pure pocket passer blessed with a cannon arm, Ramsey looked poised for big things down the road. But Ramsey has never found success to match his potential. From getting beat-up in Spurrier’s minimal pass protections to starting over with Joe Gibbs as he knocked the rust off, he hasn’t had the chance to blossom in an offense. Things are looking up for Ramsey though. Ramsey will enter this season as the starter and won’t have to start over in a new offense again. Down the stretch for Washington, Ramsey really settled down and begun to play well. Over the last 5 games, Ramsey averaged 202.6 yards per game and 1.4 TDs a game, which projects out to over 3200 yards and 22 TDs over a season. Jason Campbell will be a non-factor this year. If Ramsey can build on the end to his 04 season, he should surprise in 05.

"Tick" - Ramsey regressed last season coming off the bench in midseason to replace the hapless Mark Brunell. In 2003, Ramsey looked promising, finishing as QB23 despite playing only 11 games. Last season, Joe Gibbs's putrid offense held back all Redskins. Assuming Gibbs can get it together and start to look like the Hall of Fame coach he is, I think all Redskins will be bargains this season as the offense comes around. Ramsey's WRs are worse than last season, but his OL is better and I think coming in as the starter will allow him to get in synch with his receivers and put together a nice season.

Philip Rivers - SD - ADP: 207 overall, QB 33 2 votes

Cecil Lammey - The #4 pick in the 2004 NFL Draft won’t sit the bench for long. Yes, Drew Brees signed a one-year franchise deal and he will be with the Chargers one more year. But can Brees duplicate his performance from last year? There are some that say Drew cannot. If you believe that then Rivers could be your guy in 2005. Even if he doesn’t get the starting job due to Bree’s ineffectiveness, he is still only one play away from being the starting QB on a strong offense. Rivers has the quickest release that I’ve seen since Dan Marino. He is also very accurate and competitive. Marty Schottenheimer loves Rivers and he is closer to playing in 2005 than some might think.

"BostonFred" - Drew Brees came out of nowhere last year. The question is, was it him, or Gates? If Brees comes back down to earth, Rivers may end up taking that job, and after holding a clipboard, he could be a nice surprise.

A.J. Feeley - MIA - ADP: 247 overall, QB 36 1 vote

Tim Rattay - SF - ADP > 250 1 vote

"Bagger" - Although San Francisco drafted Alex Smith with their #1 overall pick, you need to look no further than the #1 overall pick two years ago (Carson Palmer) to see that player does not always even play a down in his first season. This may very well be the case with Smith in 2005, and as such, Rattay will have a lot of upside. When Rattay was healthy in 2004, he had some of the best point per game numbers in terms of fantasy points. Rattay will be drafted late and will exceed his draft spot from a point per game standpoint, which, unless you play in an overall points league, is all you really care about.

Jim Sorgi - IND - ADP > 250 1 vote

"BassNBrew" - When you get right down to it, the only viable QB sleepers in redraft leagues potentially ever worth starting are backups on prolific offenses. If you’re going to carry three QBs on your roster, you might as well swing for the fences with the third. If you ever actually need to start your 3rd QB out of necessity, you can always cut a guy like Sorgi for the Bear’s starting QB or the like sitting on the waiver wire. Sorgi showed enough to me on the road in Denver against an opponent in a must win situation to believe he could put up decent numbers if Manning went down.

Marques Tuiasosopo - OAK - ADP > 250 1 vote

"BassNBrew" - Collins has proven durable in the past, but this statue in the pocket is an accident waiting to happen. If Tui gets playing time, I suspect the outcome will be a lot different throwing to Porter, Moss, and Curry rather then the weathered over the hill crew he had two years ago. The fact that the Raiders haven’t brought in another veteran to back up Collins after Gannon’s retirement is a positive sign for Tui.

Billy Volek - TEN - ADP: 178 overall, QB 29 1 vote

"diesel7982" - I hesitate to call Volek a “deep sleeper”, as the entire fantasy world learned about him after he threw for 918 yards and 8 TDs during weeks 14 and 15 of the 2004 season. In 9 games worth of action, Volek was able to produce on average about 277 yards and 2 TDs per game as Steve McNair’s backup. While Volek is not a very good NFL QB who easily gets flustered by pass rush pressure and cannot beat a defense with a real desire to stop him, he is able to run Jeff Fisher’s “Air-It-Out” offense that the Titans have shown a propensity to switch to when they are out of the playoff race. While Steve McNair is a warrior, his body is eroding due to age and frequent injury, and he is a near-lock to miss at least a handful of games. He should be the first “true” backup QB to be taken in your fantasy draft, whether you own McNair or not.

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