As the years go by and things change in the NFL, so too do they in fantasy football. More and more teams are using two and even three running backs in an attempt to keep their best players healthy, driving their fantasy value down. At the same time, no team is willingly using a quarterback by committee. As a result, you are starting to see a trend that is leading to quarterbacks getting drafted higher every year in fantasy leagues. As you look at the Bruno Boys 2008 Quarterback “Snooze Alarm” Rankings, keep that in mind.
Having not one, but two quality quarterbacks on your roster can help drive you to the playoffs and even a championship, so it’s important you evaluate all the quarterbacks and not just concern yourself with the top 10 arms. Luckily, the Bruno Boys help do that for you and below have identified our favorite sleepers and undervalued players at the quarterback position. Two are league veterans poised for a big rebound after injury-riddled seasons last year, while the other two are young guns looking to take the next step.
Ranking System: The higher the “Snooze Alarm” Ranking, the more sleeper value or undervalued the player has.
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Marc Bulger – St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams were a mess last season thanks to a plethora of injuries that plagued the clube, including quarterback Marc Bulger. Bulger missed the better part of five games because of injuries, but even when he was on the field, he wasn’t that good. Without left tackle Orlando Pace, also a victim of the injury bug, on the field to protect his blindside, Bulger started making bad decisions in the pocket, which led to bad throws. He started the season off with two touchdowns and no interceptions in his first two games, then had seven interceptions and no touchdowns in his next three outings.
Bulger finished the 2007 season with 2,392 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. That’s quite a disappointment for a guy many had ranked in the top five for fantasy quarterbacks heading into the year.
Bulger will rebound this season. Players that were injured last year are now healthy and will be able to take some pressure off Bulger. The Rams wanted to upgrade the receiving corps and did so with the additions of draft picks Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton to complement Torry Holt and Drew Bennett. Plus, new offensive coordinator Al Saunders has a reputation for putting a lot on his quarterbacks, but that should be nothing new to Bulger who had to deal with Mike Martz. Saunders’ timing-based passing offense will suit Bulger well.
Bulger earns FOUR SNOOZE ALARMS, topping the Bruno Boys list of quarterback sleepers and undervalued players heading into 2008. The Bruno Boys have Bulger ranked as the 10th best quarterback, but the bottom line is this is a guy who still has great potential and ability. He was believed to be a top five quarterback entering last year for a reason.
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Jake Delhomme – Carolina Panthers
Unlike Bulger, Jake Delhomme started the 2007 season on a hot note as he threw eight touchdowns and just one interception in the team’s first three games. But, it was during the team’s third game when Delhomme was throwing a short pass and immediately motioned to the sideline. In postgame reports, Delhomme and the Panthers didn’t think it was serious, but it only took a few days to learn that the quarterback had severely damaged the ligament in his elbow. He underwent Tommy John surgery, normally reserved for pitchers in baseball, and missed the rest of the season.
Once Delhomme went down, the Carolina Panthers went in a downward spiral. The team used David Carr, Matt Moore and even signed Vinny Testaverde, but nothing worked like it did when Delhomme was playing.
Nobody will ever confuse Delhomme with a Hall of Fame quarterback, but he knows the Panthers’ offense well and now the team has added some playmakers to help him. Carolina signed free agent wide receivers D.J. Hackett and Muhsin Muhammad to take pressure off Steve Smith, then drafted Jonathan Stewart to complement DeAngelo Williams in the backfield. Throw in emerging tight end Jeff King and what was an atrocious offense last year suddenly looks like a potent one this year.
The Bruno Boys have Delhomme rated as the 16th-best quarterback and for this he earns THREE SNOOZE ALARMS. Delhomme is healthy now, has new weapons on offense, and could easily pick off right where he left off last season.
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Jason Campbell – Washington Redskins
Over the past few years, Jason Campbell has been a young quarterback that’s been on a slow rise. A first-round talent with a huge arm, Campbell has had to deal with three offensive coordinators in his four seasons in the league, including the upcoming one. Yet, despite all this turnover, he’s continued to progress, albeit at a snail’s pace. In his first full season as a starter last year, Campbell threw for 2,700 yards, 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions before a dislocated patellar ligament in his left knee cut his season three games short.
After having Joe Gibbs as coach in his first three seasons, Campbell will now be coached by Jim Zorn. Gibbs had his teams run more conservative offenses, while Zorn will implement the Air Coryell offense, a version of the West Coast offense. This may seem like a big change, but Campbell is heady enough to take it in stride and be productive this season.
To help Campbell adjust to the new offense, the team went and drafted him some new weapons in the form of receivers Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas, as well as tight end Fred Davis. Add those guys to Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle El and Chris Cooley and there will be no shortage of targets for Campbell.
While Campbell has plenty of help around him, he will still need to show that he can embrace the new offense while increasing his production. He is rated by the Bruno Boys as the 20th quarterback, but has the potential for more and for this has received TWO SNOOZE ALARMS.
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Matt Schaub – Houston Texans
After three seasons as a backup in Atlanta, Matt Schaub finally got the chance to start after a trade from the Falcons to the Texans last summer. Schaub started the season well enough, throwing five touchdowns and three interceptions while completing 73.9 percent of his passes in the team’s first four games. After that, Schaub took a few hits and dealt with concussion-like symptoms, while playing in seven more games before backup Sage Rosenfels finished the season.
Altogether, Schaub threw for 2,241 yards, nine touchdowns and nine interceptions, while helping the Houston Texans finish at their best mark in team history at an 8-8 mark.
Schaub should continue to progress this season as the Texans look to field their most complete team in their short history in the league. Schaub has one of the best receivers in the game to throw to in Andre Johnson, and the two will make a devastating pair. Opposite Johnson is deep threat Kevin Walter, who is a solid second receiver. The offense is rounded out by underrated tight end Owen Daniels, as well as running backs Ahman Green, Chris Brown, Mike Bell and Steve Slaton. The Texans have never had this much potential on offense, and the connection between Schaub and Johnson could lead to 10-15 touchdowns alone.
Still, Schaub needs to prove he can stay healthy for a full season. If he can avoid injury issues, he could return to the form he showed in the team’s first four games of last season. As the 17th-rated quarterback by the Bruno Boys, Schaub receives ONE SNOOZE ALARM.
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Position by Position BUST Rankings (click to view)
Bring out the Pepto (Bust) Rankings - Quarterbacks
Bring out the Pepto (Bust) Rankings - Running Backs
Bring out the Pepto (Bust) Rankings - Wide Receivers
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Position by Position Sleeper Rankings (click to view)
Snooze Alarm (Sleeper) Rankings - Quarterbacks
Snooze Alarm (Sleeper) Rankings - Running Backs
Snooze Alarm (Sleeper) Rankings - Wide Receivers
Snooze Alarm (Sleeper) Rankings - Tight Ends
Snooze Alarm (Sleeper) Rankings - Kickers
Snooze Alarm (Sleeper) Rankings - Team Defenses
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