Quarterbacks: NFL Top 4 Sleeper Picks
By Wes Booth
As the warm summer nights turn to brisk autumn evenings, the start of the NFL regular season is rapidly approaching. As always, with the beginning of football comes the re-emergence of the fantasy football year as well. In this 5 part series, I will do my best Ms.Cleo impersonation to predict the top 4 fantasy sleeper picks in every major position.(QB, WR, RB, TE, DEF) Without further ado the first group, quarterbacks.
ROBERT GRIFFIN III
A former No. 2 pick and collegiate star, Robert Griffin III found a new home in Cleveland. With Hue Jackson in his first year as head coach, the quarterback known as RGIII is beginning to show his 2012 prowess. That very same showing that made him ever so publicly known.
Reports out of training camp and preseason games have all been positive. Many stating that Griffin has shown signs that he will replicate the superb statistical season he had almost 4 years ago. Josh Gordon returns in Week 5 to play in an NFL game for the first time since 2014.
Something most critics don’t realize is the amount of chemistry Gordon and Griffin displayed while together at Baylor. Gordon had 17 yards per reception while receiving passes from RGIII so expect something similar. With more targets, great coaching staff and most importantly confidence behind him, expect this 5th tier quarterback to excel into the top 10 ranking boards.
JAY CUTLER
Another projected 5th tier quarterback, this longtime Bears field general has drawn his fair share of criticism throughout the years. Through all the trials and tribulations he has stood the test of time and made more than just a mark on the NFL.
Wide Receivers have come and gone through the organization while Jay has stayed put. This says a lot about the faith put into Cutler. Though I don’t believe he will reach the top two tiers of quarterbacks, he will reach the third.
He has some great pieces around him in Chicago this coming year. From Alshon Jeffery, to newly appointed starting running back Jeremy Langford, to the 2nd highest wide receiver taken in the 2015 draft, Kevin White.
That combined with a steady showing each and every season may prove that Jay Cutler can excel even further than the projected ranking he’s received across the board. Look for him to post a rather consistent stat line that could easily place him in the top 15 instead of his average 24th spot.
JOE FLACCO
My homer pick, whom placed in the lower 20’s and has received a measly $0 auction draft price. Joe (don’t call me fluky) Flacco, the former Super Bowl MVP has regressed since his magical run back in 2012. He posted mediocre numbers with his Mötley Crüe of wide receivers but that is about to change.
While the verdict seems to be out on him NOT being elite I beg to differ (The argument is lengthy so I will keep it to a minimum). Start with the fact that he dominated en route to Super Bowl 47, matching a record TD ratio of 11/0. Doing this all with a veteran Anquan Boldin and overrated speedster Torrey Smith, Joe made believers out of many fans.
The Ravens have two major pieces and one potential superstar at last to help his cause, Steve Smith Sr. will return for another year and recently healthy Breshad Perriman spoke out, stating he will be “well worth the wait.”
Put this together with the fact that he is more mature and his o-line is better. Everything seems to be on the rise for Flacco and the future actually looks extremely bright for the Ravens franchise quarterback. I predict Joe to finish in the top 10 beside RGIII and a few other long shot 5th tier quarterbacks.
TREVOR SIEMIAN
Trevor Siemian is my last choice and what I consider to be the deepest sleeper quarterback in fantasy league this year. He’s ahead but still competiting with Mark Sanchez and Paxton Lynch for the No. 1 role. That’s why Siemian as my longest shot on this list.
There is no clear-cut No. 1 in Bronco Land, leading to a difficult decision. So I’m holding on to the fact that Siemian was the one behind Brock Osweiler and Peyton Manning last season. He learned the ropes from one of the best to ever play.
Has a good choice of targets too as Demariyus Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders are considered one of the better WR duos. Placed in a somewhat fantastic situation it’s not like the Broncos threw him to the metaphorical wolves as they say.
Siemian will start in the third preseason game, the “dress rehearsal”, so he will likely start this year. And with that opportunity, watch for Siemian to have a breakout year. He will put himself into the top 20 quarterback rankings instead of his 38th average position.