Quarterback Sleepers, Values & Breakouts

Aug 11, 2023

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The quarterback position seems to be more top-heavy than in years past, but that doesn’t mean a “late-round quarterback” approach can’t work. In fact, given the uncertainty of the position after the top-eight passers are off the board, there are some market inefficiencies when it comes to various player ADP versus our quarterback projections.

Below is a list of Values (typically being drafted in the 9th-11th range, depending on the site), Breakout Candidates, and Sleepers managers should consider targeting as part of a late-round quarterback build.

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Values

The two players who really jump out as great values in a late-round quarterback build are Geno Smith and Daniel Jones.

Geno Smith, Seahawks

Geno Smith finished as the fantasy QB6 last year and was arguably the biggest surprise at the position. He didn’t fare too well as a starter in his first two seasons, and was relegated to backup duty from 2015 to 2021, but showed flashes in 2021 in spot duty for the Seahawks. After the departure of Russell Wilson, the Seahawks gave him the job and he responded with a career-high 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns, while leading the league in completion percentage (69.8%). He also runs the ball some (366 yards, TD), which raises his weekly floor.

Now the team has added the consensus top rookie receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, to a receiving corps that already features Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, yet Smith is going off the board as the QB16 at the end of the ninth round. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense; Smith looks like the biggest draft value at his position.

Continue Reading for More Quarterback Targets from John Paulsen!