The quarterback position, as always, is mega-deep in 2021, with so much talent late that you could wait a while before taking a QB or two and be just fine.
But this year, there’s a caveat of sorts — if your quarterback isn’t running, downgrade him a lot. Of the top QB scorers in fantasy in 2020 — per ESPN — just two of them finished with under 200 yards rushing.
That would be MVP Aaron Rodgers … and some guy named Tom Brady (just six rushing yards all year! SIX!).
So let’s run through some sleepers at the position, many of whom can run in addition to throw.
1
Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
He’s everybody’s favorite to break into the QB1 range, but there’s good reason for that: He threw a lot of passes in his starts late in the 2020 season and ran for a bunch of yards.
He might throw a lot of picks, and completing 52 percent of his passes wasn’t great. But you’re getting him for a low price with a lot of upside. And that’s a sleeper, isn’t it?
2
Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
By now, it feels like no one’s sleeping on him (except maybe the Bears’ coaching staff???).
But for now, there’s a lot of intrigue after what we’ve seen so far, even if QB1 belongs to Andy Dalton for now. So: draft another QB first. But if you end up with Fields on your bench and are patient, he could pay serious dividends.
First #NFLPreseason game.@justnfields did not disappoint. 💪 pic.twitter.com/IlDcoQhA81
— NFL (@NFL) August 14, 2021
3
Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers
It’s basically the same writeup as above. Lance, like Fields, was a first-round pick in the real NFL draft. And like Fields, Lance could be stuck behind a vet (Jimmy G!) to start the season.
But if Lance continues to show serious upside, he’s another draft-and-stash candidate.
4
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
I’m calling this one the Philip Rivers pick.
Rivers, as you may recall, was one of those quarterbacks who would finish in the top 10 QBs in fantasy a lot … and then the year after, he’d be ranked outside the top 10 in draft rankings.
I know what I said about rushing QBs, and while Stafford doesn’t fit that bill, I think he’s got a great shot at creeping into the top 10 at the position this year anyway. He’s got weapons galore in Los Angeles and a QB-friendly coach in Sean McVay. That’s a good recipe for a QB2-type.
🚨 Dime Alert 🚨
Stafford ➡️ @CooperKupp pic.twitter.com/zUz9vEEXxF
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 18, 2021
5
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Year 2 in that offense, improved wide receiver corps, three rushing TDs last year … yep, I’m buying at his low price (QB22, per Fantasy Pros).
6
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, Washington Football Team
FITZMAGIC!
So here’s the thing with him: He was having a pretty great season last year before the Dolphins benched him to see what they had in Tua, and he actually gives you a surprising amount of rushing yards.
Plus, he’s got plenty of talented targets with Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel and running backs Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic. There’s upside here!
