Editor's note: This is a series of 10 predictions of things that will happen in 2008 Fantasy Football leagues according to Senior Fantasy Writer Jamey Eisenberg
If you're one of those Fantasy owners who has to get an elite quarterback but isn't comfortable taking Tony Romo or Drew Brees at the end of the first round, don't panic. There are still plenty of options to help your team.
With Brett Favre's comeback and trade to the Jets, that's another starting quarterback Fantasy owners can count on. He pushed some other quarterbacks down the rankings, but someone you're not thinking about could help your Fantasy team toward the end of the season.
Last year, Derek Anderson, Kurt Warner and David Garrard were not drafted in the majority of Fantasy leagues on CBSSports.com, but they all finished in the top 13 in standard scoring leagues. Some other quarterbacks can sneak up this year as well.
Some guys to target are Matt Moore, Sage Rosenfels, Chris Redman, Jim Sorgi, Billy Volek and whoever starts for the 49ers. As of now, none of these quarterbacks are being drafted in the majority of leagues on CBSSports.com.
There are also veterans like Warner and Chad Pennington and second-year passers like JaMarcus Russell and Trent Edwards, but you know about those guys and they are being drafted. Let's focus on the unknown quarterbacks.
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Matt Moore proved he could play filling in for Jake Delhomme last season.
(US Presswire)
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In Carolina, Jake Delhomme is coming off Tommy John surgery. If he's unable to finish the year, which happened in 2007, the Panthers will turn to Moore.
Moore has talented receivers in Steve Smith (when he's not punching teammates), D.J. Hackett and Muhsin Muhammad, and Moore could make an impact in 2008 if given a chance to play. Last year, Moore appeared in nine games with Delhomme out and passed for 730 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions.
He'll have to do better this year if he plays, but the talent around him has improved as well.
The Texans made sure to keep Rosenfels this offseason after he passed for 1,684 yards, 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions filling in for an injured Matt Schaub in 2007. With Schaub not able to make it through his first season in Houston, Rosenfels is a great insurance policy.
Schaub missed time last year with a concussion and a left shoulder injury. If he gets hurt again, Rosenfels will step in and help Fantasy owners by throwing to Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels.
Rosenfels was a hot free agent in Fantasy leagues last year and could be again in 2008.
Redman was another quality addition for Fantasy owners at the end of last season when he passed for 1,070 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions in the final five games. This year, he's expected to be the No. 2 quarterback for the Falcons behind rookie Matt Ryan.
Ryan is talented, but he might not last the whole season as the starter. That could open the door for Redman, who would be a decent Fantasy option if he can play like he did last year.
With Roddy White he has a standout receiver, and Redman showed he has skills to help Fantasy owners down the stretch.
It's doubtful Sorgi will see the field during any significant action this year, but since Peyton Manning is hurt, Sorgi is worth keeping an eye on. Manning has only missed one play in his career due to an injury, but his knee has kept him out of training camp.
If Manning suffers a setback, and remember the bursa sac is what limited Marvin Harrison to five games last year, Sorgi would start his first NFL game. And you would want the quarterback who throws to Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzalez, Joseph Addai and Dallas Clark.
Let's hope Manning is fine for a full season, but make sure you grab Sorgi if Manning has to miss any time.
With Philip Rivers coming off a torn ACL, Volek could get on the field if Rivers suffers a setback. So far, Rivers is OK through training camp.
Volek hasn't started much in his career, but he does have talent. And he would be part of a tremendous offense with LaDainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson.
Since Rivers isn't 100 percent, Volek is worth keeping an eye on.
Alex Smith is being drafted at No. 180 overall in leagues on CBSSports.com, and he could be the eventual starter in San Francisco. Shaun Hill played well for an injured Smith last year, and he also could factor in the mix.
But right now O'Sullivan has started the first two preseason games, and he is the most familiar quarterback with offensive coordinator Mike Martz' system. With Martz' influence, O'Sullivan could be a good Fantasy option later in the season.
The 49ers offense will be pass-happy, and O'Sullivan has decent talent around him in Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson. If O'Sullivan wins the job, or even if it's Smith or Hill, take a flier on San Francisco's starter because it could pay off down the road.
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