Tuesday, November 05, 2024

Fantasy Football, Featured

Belly Up Fantasy Writer’s Sleeper Quarterbacks

Are you getting ready for draft season? We are here at Belly Up Fantasy Sports. We are here to give you all the information you need to win your draft, and bring you one step closer to winning your fantasy league. Below, we present our sleeper QB’s going in to the 2020 season. Sleeper QB are guys that are going undervalued in drafts, and WILL out perform their current draft position. At least, that is what we are predicting. As a crew, we give you a full list of QB that can be found in the later rounds of drafts, however provide big time upside for your squad. Please enjoy the article, and send any of us a message on twitter giving your sleeper QB in 2020.

Tyrod Taylor – Christopher Pinto (@AggieKappaSig)

Aug 24, 2019; Carson, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks linebacker Mychal Kendricks (56) grabs Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) in the backfield during the first quarter at Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Tyrod “The Cheat Code” Taylor aka Ty-GOD, has definitely been off the fantasy radar for some time now but is my Fantasy Deep Sleeper Quarterback. He left Cleveland in his rearview mirror to be reunited with an old friend, mentor, and coach Anthony Lynn of the Chargers. I have been high on Tyrod for some time and expressed my affinity for him during our podcast BellyUpFantasyLive during our “My Guys” episode. Tyrod was the bridge for the dual-threat quarterback between Vick and Jackson. He along with Lynn rocked the turf and the Fantasy Football community utilizing Taylor’s unique skillset; helping the Bills lead the league with 2,630 rushing yards in 2016 when Lynn was his offensive coordinator.

In 2015 when Taylor started for the Buffalo Bills he averaged 19.33 fantasy points per game, in 2016 he averaged 18.06 fantasy points per game, in 2017 where the first season away from Lynn he averaged 14.84 fantasy points per game. Yikes! Flash forward to today, where Taylor and Lynn are back together and they couldn’t be happier! Lynn has stated to reporters that Taylor is “in the driver seat” and “Taylor is a heck of a quarterback” even with the addition of the rookie quarterback in the draft it will be Taylor’s job to lose.

Lynn is tired of turning the ball over as they where among the league leaders last year,  “I believe every year he’s started in this league he’s been the No. 1 quarterback in taking care of the football. … So, if we can just take care of the football and take it away, we’ll be OK” as stated by Lynn. Taylor also in 46 starts with the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns, he tossed just 18 interceptions and lost just four fumbles.

In NFL history, only the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers has a better interception rate than Taylor’s 1.47%. Lynn and Taylor seem to be a match made in heaven. Some other assets for Taylor are, Pouncey coming back from a year off from neck surgery. Pouncey is healthy and able to participate as soon as possible which bodes well for the O-line! Taylor also has an amazing cast around him with Allen, Williams, Henry, Ekeler, and Jackson. My bold projection for Tyrod Taylor is (487.76 attempts / 312.66 competitions / 23 TDs / 12.91 INTs) & (68.24 carries / 478.99 yards / 3.67 TDs / 1.8 INTs) Which will put Tyrod Taylor roughly at 250.69 total fantasy points and 15.67 fantasy points per game. At his current ADP Tyrod “The Cheat Code” Taylor is a Deep Fantasy Sleeper and possible League Winner. 

Daniel Jones – Ryan Hicks (@realryanhicks)

Daniel Jones had quite the prolific 2019 season for a rookie. In 12 games, he threw for 3027 yards and 24 TDs on 61.9 completion percentage, adding 279 yards rushing with 2 TDs. Yes, he had 12 INTs and 18 fumbles. But he also played with one of the worst offensive lines(38 sacks in 12 games), missing his best weapons for stretches, all while learning a new offense. In 2019 he finished 15th in ppg just behind Rodgers and just above Brady. No way he finishes that low in 2020 with the improved line and another year in the system. I have him as QB11 and see his upside even higher.

Drew Lock – Kevin Wilson (@KEVIN62WILSEA)

One of the biggest sleepers in the NFL, let alone the quarterback position, has to be Drew Lock. Already designated by me as a value play, Lock should be shooting up boards by the time draft day comes around.  There will be no new quarterback jitters to worry about this season as he started the final five games for the Broncos.  In those five games, his stats were outstanding.  Lock completed exactly 100 out of 156 passes for 1,020 yards. In addition, he threw for seven touchdowns and only three interceptions.

Pretty good numbers, wouldn’t you say?  But the above doesn’t reflect Lock’s most important stat of all.  Denver was 4-1 with him as their starting quarterback.  Also, Joe Flacco is nowhere on the roster (I’ll give Bronco fans a moment for a silent prayer here). The starting job is all locked up, so to speak.  There are offensive weapons aplenty for him to use in the Mile High City.  Those include Gordon, Lindsey, Sutton, Jeudy, and Fant, to name a few.  Calculate it all and it is fasten your seat belts as Lock rockets up the ladder in real life and fantasy.  No question, Lock is one of the fantasy football draft sleepers.

Sam Darnold – Billy Whitt (@bwhitt24)

Sam Darnold is coming into his 3rd year under center for the New York Jets. His growth and development were stunted in 2019 by an early-season Mononucleosis diagnosis. This kept Sam sidelined for a month after a 17-16 Week 1 loss to the later playoff-bound Buffalo Bills. Stumbling out of the blocks to a 1-7 start, Darnold lead the Jets to a 6-2 record over their final 8 contests – a stretch where Darnold tossed 13 TDs and only 4 interceptions. His supporting cast of WR Jamison Crowder, RB Le’Veon Bell, and emerging TE Chris Herndon are all returning.

Factor in the additions of 2nd round pick and athletic freak, WR Denzel Mims, journeyman speedster, WR Breshad Perriman, and the ageless wonder, RB Frank Gore. The Jets are making a noticeable effort to get #14 the help he needs to continue to grow. Darnold ended 2019 as QB #27 and comes into this season with enormous potential to outperform his ADP and launch himself into a much more respected tier of fantasy Quarterbacks. 

Dwayne Haskins – Charles Garner III (@CharlesLGarner)

Haskins averaged a measly 9.30 fantasy points per game last season in the nine games that he appeared in. This is lower than what you’d be expecting from your QB1 and even your QB2 most weeks. These numbers may be worrisome, but if we focus more on growth rather than his whole season last year, you see an extreme amount of improvement and potential. Looking at Haskins first three appearances last season he threw four interceptions to go along with zero touchdowns not eclipsing 150 yards in any of those games. All around those are terrible numbers, especially for fantasy purposes. The next three games he improved throwing for two touchdowns and two interceptions hitting 150 yards two out of the three games.

While these numbers still are not great it shows vast improvement. The last three games of the season are the main focus of why he may be a sleeper pick this season. In weeks 15 and 16, Haskins eclipsed 150 yards and was on pace to pass that landmark in week 17 as well if he did not go down due to an injury. In those games his touchdown to interceptions ratio was also a 5:1 margin. The 9.30 fantasy points per game increases to 16.18 points per game looking at the final three games of the season. If Haskins can continue to grow he may surprise a lot of people this season and should be considered a nice late round sleeper option.

Gardner Minshew – Nate Herman (@NateHerman27)

After an impressive rookie season, Gardner Minshew looks to take another step forward this season. In 14 games, Minshew recorded 3,271 passing yards, 21 TDs, and 6 INTs last season. For a rookie on a subpar team, these numbers are impressive. The Belly Up Fantasy Sports crew has Minshew as our QB22. As my backup QB, I would love to have Minshew. You can snag this guy in the last few rounds of the draft. Hence, making him a low risk, high reward pick. If Minshew doesn’t have a great year, you can look to the waiver wire for another QB2. If Minshew takes another step forward, he may be one of the best steals of the draft. 

Being on the Jaguars makes Minshew’s life a bit harder. Jacksonville’s WR core consists of DJ Chark, Dede Westbrook, and Chris Conley. Outside of Chark, the Jaguars have very mediocre WRs. The Jaguars did draft Laviska Shenault Jr. and brought in TE Tyler Eifert. These aren’t drastic upgrades, but it does give Minshew two more viable targets. The focal point of the Jaguars offense is Leonard Fournette. Last season Fournette rushed for more than 1,100 yards but only found the endzone 3 times.

If Fournette can continue his success running the ball, and find the endzone a few more times. Then, a lot of pressure will be taken off Minshew. Lastly, since the Jaguars aren’t a great team. They will most likely be down in the fourth quarter in a lot of games. This should give Minshew more opportunities to sling the rock. As a late-round backup QB, I love the upside and breakout potential of Gardner Minshew this season.

Joe Burrow – Travis Sumpter (@tjsumpter55)

I have Joe Burrow as my sleeper quarterback. I’ve heard names such as Andrew Luck, Tony Romo, Jared Goff, Carson Wentz, Andy Dalton, and even Joe Montana compared to Burrow. That is a pretty good list within itself. Now I am not saying Joe Burrow is going to have a record setting season from the get go; I do however feel he will carry over some of that momentum from the National Championship. Burrow will revitalize this team. I currently have him slatted at QB13 overall and Burrow is definitely my late round sleeper QB target in redrafts.

Ben Roethlisberger – Houston Wentzel (@BellyUpHouston)

Roethlisberger went down Week 2 with an elbow injury that would make him miss the rest of the 2019 season. After watching Antonio. Brown force his way out of town, it was expect that JuJu and Big Ben would light up the fantasy scoreboards in 2019. However, with the Ben’s injury, JuJu was a let down for all owners. Recently, Roethlisberger and company have been working out together. Big Ben’s elbow has been recovering appropriately and should be ready for the 2020 season.

So, why do I pick him as my sleeper? Well, Big Ben finished as a Top 10 fantasy QB in both 2017 and 2018. Yes, Brown has left town, but I think their receivers now are better than they were before. Manning the troops is JuJu Smith-Schuster and also add in everyone’s (and I mean everyone) breakout WR in Diontae Johnson. I like the other pieces they landed in Chase Claypool and Eric Ebron. Both guys are going to be threats in the red zone. Finally, don’t forget about James Washington and how electric he can be in this offense. I fully expect Big Ben to outperform his current ADP of being the QB 19 off the board.

Make sure to check out other Belly Up Fantasy Sports articles.