Quarterback Sleepers

Photo: Imagn Images

There was a time when a fantasy player could find unknown players ready to explode. These unrecognized players were dubbed "sleepers" because the rest of your leaguemates were not yet awake to them.

Related: See Running Back Sleepers here >>>
Related: See Wide Receiver Sleepers here >>>
Related: See Tight End Sleepers here >>>

And we also got our fantasy stats out of the next day's newspaper. Yes, fantasy games used to be scored over a period of days.

Things change.

Today, the stats are instant, and everyone knows about everyone. As such, the definition of a sleeper has evolved. To be clear, we define sleepers as players who we think will perform better than most expect and be undervalued at their average draft position.

Our staff recently gathered to offer up their sleepers. Here they are.

Quarterback Sleepers from Jason Wood

Dak Prescott, Dallas

Let me preface by saying I think current quarterback ADPs are very tight, and I don't have any significant disagreements with the consensus. Prescott is coming off the board as a top-10 quarterback, but I rank him QB5. The Cowboys had the No. 1 offense in the league, returned all their key pieces, and did little to improve the run game. Prescott will be throwing aplenty, and is playing for a contract, to boot.

Aaron Rodgers, NY Jets

Rodgers is being drafted as a late-tier QB2, but he's obviously capable of finishing significantly higher if he stays healthy. He has finished as a top-3 fantasy quarterback eight times and been a top-12 QB in every healthy season. The Jets have plenty of talent to augment Rodgers' push, and we have to assume the Jets will be open to adding someone like Davante Adams mid-season if that becomes an option.

Bo Nix, Denver

Generally speaking, the starting quarterback with the lowest ADP is often worth a late-round flier, particularly in Superflex leagues. The Broncos took an $85 million dead cap hit to push Russell Wilson out the door, making Bo Nix's arrival seismic in its importance. Sean Payton and the front office need Nix to work out, for all of their sakes. Nix's college experience and mobility give him a credible path to a much higher finish if he learns the offense quickly enough in the preseason. 

Quarterback Sleepers from Phil Alexander

Deshaun Watson, Cleveland

Three years of suspensions, injuries, and ineffectiveness have understandably soured the fantasy community on Watson. While it's fair to question if the quarterback who averaged at least 24.8 fantasy points per game for four straight years upon entering the league in 2017 is gone for good, you don't have to risk much to find out. Watson's rehab from shoulder surgery is progressing as planned, and head coach Kevin Stefanski said Watson has "looked like himself" in recent practices. He has top-5 quarterback upside relative to an ADP in the QB20 range of fantasy drafts.

Justin Fields, Pittsburgh

We've been told throughout the offseason Russell Wilson is Pittsburgh's starting quarterback. Wilson has started slowly in training camp due to a calf injury, allowing Fields extended action with the first-team offense. He has produced mixed results, but at least the opportunity exists for Fields to show coaches his ceiling as a playmaker. ESPN's Dan Graziano recently went out on a limb and picked Fields to win the starting job, so maybe the tide is turning. Considering he sometimes goes undrafted and would project as a set-it-and-forget starting fantasy quarterback, he's a perfect stash for the end of your bench.

Jayden Daniels, Washington

Daniels' cost is rising, but he remains the Dollar Store version of Anthony Richardson. We know Daniels will run. Last year, he led all NCAA quarterbacks with a school record of 1,134 rushing yards. Daniels is also a five-year college starter whose most lauded trait is command of the pocket. He may already be further along in his development as a passer than Richardson. In Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and Austin Ekeler, Washington has surrounded Daniels with enough weapons to succeed. Much like Richardson, however, he'll have to make it through the year healthy to pay off his ADP. At least you can get Daniels 40-50 picks after Richardson.

Quarterback Sleepers from Gary Davenport

Jared Goff, Detroit

With an aggregate ADP of QB13, Goff is one of a few quarterbacks this year that makes playing “QB Chicken” that much more viable on draft day. Yes, there’s no rushing upside with Goff, but he was second in the league in passing yards last year, fourth in touchdown passes and seventh in fantasy points. Where is the drop-off coming from in 2024? Goff averaged less than a point per game less than C.J. Stroud of the Texans last year—but while the latter’s a top-five option on some boards, Goff’s a QB2. Okay.

Matthew Stafford, LA Rams

So much for winning a Super Bowl being all that stood between Stafford and inclusion at the cool kids’ table—he went from being a good quarterback on a bad team to over-the-hill after a chunk of his 2022 season was wiped out by a neck injury. Stafford’s QB15 finish last year was nothing to do backflips about, but the Rams made the playoffs and wideout Cooper Kupp missed significant time. If his weapons stay healthy, Stafford as a player (and the Rams as a team) are going to surprise quite a few folks in 2024.

Deshaun Watson, Cleveland

Full disclosure—I have been a Browns fan since before many of the people reading this were born, so I understand how it feels to want Watson to excel in 2024 (It rhymes with gross). But by all accounts, he is healthy and motivated to show he can still be the quarterback who the Browns thought was worth $230 million and three first-rounders. Skill-position weapons. An excellent coach. One of the best lines in the league. It’s all there—all Watson has to do is play better. Oh, and he’s all but free (QB23) in most leagues.

Quarterback Sleepers from Bob Harris

Jayden Daniels, Washington

Daniels threw 40 TD passes and four interceptions at LSU in his 2023 Heisman Trophy-winning season. He also rushed for 1,184 yards and 10 TDs. That rushing ability sets him apart, and it's why he heads into training camp as QB11 on the Footballguys redraft rankings. Landing with the Commanders adds to the positive vibe. During his time in Arizona, incoming play-caller Kliff Kingsbury's offense maximized the talent of Kyler Murray, who delivered top-10 production in his first two seasons, including a QB2 finish in his second season in 2020. Last year, Anthony Richardson was a player I considered a reasonably-priced fantasy lottery ticket with million-dollar upside. With Richardson's price rising, Daniels, currently going late in Round 10, is becoming my favorite reasonably-priced high-upside option.

Kirk Cousins, Atlanta

In Minnesota, Cousins threw for more than 4,000 yards and for 29 or more touchdowns in the three seasons before the injury. He was leading the NFL in touchdown passes with 18, and he was fantasy's QB4 -- behind only Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, and Lamar Jackson -- when he went down last October. In Atlanta, Cousins will work alongside a trio of high-end talents: Bijan Robison, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. All three are being drafted as if breakouts are coming with at least some of their steam based on Cousins' presence. Cousins is currently being drafted as QB18 in Round 11.

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami

Since Mike McDaniel took over as head coach in Miami, Tagovailoa has taken off. In the past two years, the 26-year-old has ranked second in the NFL in pass yards per attempt (8.5) and passer rating (102.9), fourth in total passing yards with 8,172, and fifth in passing TDs with 54. Not coincidentally, Miami's offense also took off when Tua was at the helm. The Dolphins have scored 27.6 points per game with the lefty as their starter and 16.3 in four games Tagovailoa missed with injury in the last two seasons. Injuries, including multiple concussions, were an issue in his first three seasons. But in 2023, he showcased his promise and ability to stay healthy, leading the NFL with 4,624 passing yards while playing all 17 games. Tua, who finished as QB10 last year, is being drafted as QB15 this year.