Every season there are a number of players who far exceed their average draft position in fantasy football. Typically, those players are littered on the teams that make the playoffs or win leagues. They don't necessarily need to be those gems hidden under five other players on the depth chart until they get their chance though. They could be hiding right under your nose, and you don't even know it.
Today's category will be quarterbacks. Here are five quarterbacks being drafted outside the Top 12 at the position that could nudge their way in and impact your team in a big way.
Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (ADP: 93)
Wilson is an underrated fantasy commodity. Each year he finishes near the bottom of the Top 10, but he's not a sexy pick. He doesn't throw a bunch, his offense is centered around running back Marshawn Lynch, and he rarely has exciting weapons.
Well, the weapons part is different this year. Percy Harvin is healthy and ready to go-and he's by far the best weapon Wilson's ever had at his disposal. It's also Year 3 for Wilson, which means any restrictions or shackles that have been in place to help him along should be removed.
Finally, Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick's stock is always high because of the rushing potential, but Wilson ran more than both of them last year. This year Cam has been the sixth QB off the board, and Kaepernick 10th. Wilson? Going 13th. He's being drafted as a backup even though he runs more than either, and has much better receiving options than Newton. Feel free to stock up on more RBs and WRs and grab Wilson late.
Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears (ADP: 102)
Cutler's getting no respect, and I get why. He's a health risk after missing significant time in 2011 and 2013. He's got arguably the best group of skill players in the NFL at his disposal this year though, with a head coach in Marc Trestman nicknamed "The Quarterback Whisperer" guiding his path. This guy got Josh McCown a contract in the offseason.
His rapport with Brandon Marshall is well-known, and Alshon Jeffery was amazing last season. It's unclear whether he can chop his interceptions, but is the upside he offers really much less than say, Nick Foles, the seventh quarterback off the board?
Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals (ADP: 174)
Man oh man is Palmer getting disrespected or what? He's being taken as the 23rd quarterback this year, five spots behind Johnny Manziel whom Browns coaches are insisting won't even open the year as the starter. The Cardinals may not have much of an offensive line, but Michael Floyd topped 1,000 yards receiving an Larry Fitzgerald isn't dead yet. Also, with Andre Ellington inheriting the backfield this year plenty more yards will be coming from new places.
Palmer chucked it 572 times last year and made it over 4,200 yards. If you find yourself with an injury risk QB like RGIII or Ben Roethlisberger, Palmer could save your season.
Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams (ADP: 188)
Bradford is currently the 27th quarterback taken-a.k.a. nobody's taking him. Any fantasy owner looking for a backup with upside can't do much better than Bradford though. He's too brittle to rely upon as a starter, but he did put up 14 touchdowns to just four interceptions in seven games last year with a less-than-stellar receiving corps. Feel free to spend a pick on him in the last three or four rounds; you never know, he may explode and allow you to trade your starter for a need down the road
Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings (ADP: 125)
I'll never get why everyone got so cold on Bridgewater during the draft process and through the fantasy prep season. He was a machine at Louisville, winging nothing but spirals and accurate passes while handling pressure better than any other college QB.
Does 31 touchdowns and just four interceptions mean nothing? Everyone's favorite breakout receiver this year is Cordarrelle Patterson, and Bridgewater's going to be the one throwing him open. So what if he wears gloves? He's allowed to! If Cleveland had picked him over Manziel, they'd have no controversy over who will take snaps Week 1.
Rankings, ADP courtesy of FantasyPros.com
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