Fantasy football is a game that combines skill and luck, and one of the best skills you can develop is identifying true value.
For fantasy sports, we’re always looking for “sleepers,” also known as players who outperform have a lower average draft position.
Below are three quarterbacks who have an average draft position of QB12 or later, per FantasyPros ADP, but could finish far better.
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3 Quarterback Sleepers for Fantasy Football (2023)
Anthony Richardson (QB – IND)
Richardson presents Cam Newton-like value thanks to his elite athleticism. Yet, the rookie is being drafted as the QB16.
Per MockDraftable, Richardson had these finishes at the NFL Scouting Combine:
- Broad Jump: 99th percentile
- Vertical Jump: 99th percentile
- 40-yard dash: 98th percentile
- 10 Yard Split: 96th percentile
- Hand Size: 95th percentile
- Weight: 96th percentile
Looking back on Newton’s rookie season in 2011, he threw for 4,051 yards but only completed 60% of his passes. He had 21 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, too.
Where his value became prominent, though, was his rushing ability. Newton rushed 126 times for 706 yards and 14 touchdowns.
That’s the key for Richardson-rushing upside.
Richardson is slated to start the team’s first preseason game, which traditionally isn’t a spot where first-team players play. However, this could be because he’s a rookie, and they want him to get live snaps.
His competition to start is Gardner Minshew, who he has a legitimate chance of beating out with an impressive summer.
Thanks to his rushing upside, Richardson could be a top-10 or higher quarterback if he starts all 17 games. And Newton’s completion percentage shows Richardson’s accuracy issues may not hurt him quite as much from a fantasy perspective.
Sam Howell (QB – WSH)
The 2022 fifth-round pick is slated to start the season for the Commanders. Before returning to school for the 2021-22 season, Howell was considered a potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft, but he ultimately fell down draft boards following a disappointing year.
Howell did land one start last year in Week 18 against the Dallas Cowboys. He completed 57.9% of his passes for 168 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, adding 35 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
In college, Howell ran often, including his final season. He had 183 rushing attempts for 828 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Howell might not be the most prolific passer. Still, the Commanders have a great group of receivers and a capable offensive coordinator in Eric Bieniemy.
Add in his rushing ability, and he should outpace his QB31 ADP.
Kenny Pickett (QB – PIT)
Entering his second season in the NFL, Pickett is going as the QB22 right now.
Pickett started most of the Steelers game between Weeks 4 and 18. From Week 4 on, Pickett was the QB20. His stats were odd, passing for 2,404 yards while completing 63% of his passes and throwing seven touchdowns, nine interceptions. He also added 235 yards and three scores on the ground.
The Steelers added to a tremendous wide receiver group by adding Allen Robinson to join Diontae Johnson and George Pickens.
With these weapons heading into his second season, Pickett should improve in the passing game and accrue well over 300 rushing yards, which only adds to his value.
More Players to Target & Avoid
- Pat Fitzmaurice: (Targets | Avoids) (Premium)
- Andrew Erickson: (Targets | Avoids) (Premium)
- Derek Brown: (Targets | Avoids) (Premium)
- Fantasy Football Sleepers for Every Team (Premium)
- How to Identify Fantasy Football Busts (Premium)
- Erickson’s Guide to Drafting Players on Good Offenses
- Fantasy Football Draft Values for Every Round
- Predicting First-Round Bust Candidates
- DBro’s Wide Receiver Lottery Tickets
- Erickson’s Running Back Lottery Tickets
- Hoppen’s 4 Players Who Could Become First-Round Picks Next Year
- Players to Target in Each Round (v2 | v3)
- Players to Avoid in Each Round
- Late-Round Draft Targets
- Late-Round QB Targets in Superflex Leagues | More QB Sleepers
- Late-Round RB Targets | More RB Sleepers | July RB Targets
- Late-Round WR Targets
- Late-Round TE Targets
- Deep Dart Throw Draft Targets
- WRs to Target in the RB Dead Zone (v2)| RBs to Avoid in the RB Dead Zone | RBs to Target in RB Dead Zone
- Identifying the Next WR1s | Identifying the Next RB1s
- 2022 Duds That Will Become 2023 Studs
- 4 Kickers To Target at the End of Drafts
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