Word to the Winners: Fantasy Football Advice

2007 NFL Free Agents: Quarterbacks -- By Russ Bliss

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To say the 2007 NFL free agent QB class lacks star power is an understatement. I thought the 2006 QB class was unspectacular, but this one is worse. That opinion said, there are some decent names this year and they could surprise in your fantasy football league. There have been 4 signings already in the short time the 2007 NFL free agent period has been around, and it’s entirely possible by the time this article hits the site that a couple more will be snatched up. When looking for help in your fantasy football draft at the QB position, it’s usually a better idea to go with a veteran who has some solid starting experience over a guy getting his first starting gig. There are examples of success on both sides (Drew Brees going from the San Diego Chargers to the New Orleans Saints last year is an example of the former, while Jake Delhomme a few years ago going from the Saints to the Carolina Panthers is an example of the latter). There are also plenty of examples of flops (Aaron Brooks last year comes to mind immediately). Suffice to say tough that the best QB’s are usually those who never hit the free agent market. Their teams recognize their skills and wrap them up so they never see NFL free agency.

Let’s look at the QB’s who have been signed already.

Jeff Garcia: signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Garcia stormed upon the 2006 season when Eagles starter Donovan McNabb went down with a season ending injury. After flopping in his previous two stops in Cleveland and Detroit, Garcia was considered to be at the end of his career and never to be more than a backup. After his impressive showing in 2006 for Philadelphia, Garcia was rewarded with a chance to compete for the starting job in Tampa Bay. Garcia will face off against Chris Simms in training camp. Simms was Tampa Bay’s starter going into last season but suffered a ruptured spleen and whether he returns to starting form is questionable. It’s not like Simms was hugely successful before getting injured. The Bucs are coached by Jon Gruden, and Garcia brings a quality similar to that of Rich Gannon (whom Gruden had success with back when both were with the Oakland Raiders) in that he is an older experienced QB who is smart and knows how to work within a system. Not blessed with a big, strong arm, Garcia is one of those guys who will have weapons to work with in Tampa, and could be a decent sleeper in your 2007 fantasy football draft if he beats out Simms for the job.

Kerry Collins: re-signs with the Tennessee Titans: Collins has apparently surrendered himself to the idea that his days as a starting QB in the NFL are over. Collins didn’t last long last year as the Titans starter before the team turned to rookie Vince Young, and Young has firmly established himself as the man in Tennessee. Collins will backup Young and should only be drafted by those who take Young, want the insurance of his backup, and have plenty of bench space.

Brad Johnson: signed by the Dallas Cowboys: Johnson continues his tour of the NFC by signing with his 4th team in his NFL career. Johnson’s had 2 tours with the Minnesota Vikings, along with time in both Washington and Tampa Bay. Last year, he went into the season as the starter for Minnesota, but lost the job due to ineffective play late in the season. Johnson will be 39 years old in September and the Cowboys signed him to be a veteran backup to Tony Romo. His chances of making any type of fantasy football news depend entirely on how Romo performs.

Patrick Ramsey: I have a hard time giving up on Ramsey as he should have been a solid starting QB in both the NFL and fantasy football by now. Unfortunately, he has been the victim of fate. First it was the ridiculous offense of Steve Spurrier in Washington that nearly got him killed. Then it was Joe Gibbs coming in and crushing his confidence. And finally, it was last year’s season on the bench watching Chad Pennington actually stay healthy for an entire season. Now signed by the Denver as a veteran backup to 2nd year signal caller Jay Cutler, Ramsey actually is in a pretty good situation. Mike Shanahan knows how to coach QB’s and even though Cutler is the starter, he’s still unproven. If Cutler struggles it’s not inconceivable that Ramsey gets a chance to play at least a couple of games. Ramsey is actually a decent insurance pick in fantasy football drafts for those who take Cutler expecting him to excel.

John Navarre: Navarre was signed by the Indianapolis Colts. Navarre has had some limited starting experience but did little to impress with his opportunities in Arizona the past few seasons. Navarre is no challenger to Peyton Manning for the starting job, but will either be the primary backup, or compete for the backup spot depending on whether the Colts re-sign restricted free agent Jim Sorgi. There’s also a chance the Colts may draft a QB to groom as well.

Who’s left at QB? There are some intriguing names.

Drew Bledsoe: Bledsoe began 2006 as the Cowboys starting QB but was displaced after 5 and a half games by Tony Romo due to his inability to avoid the rush behind a weak Dallas offensive line. Bledsoe is 35 years old and has a ton of starting experience, but he wasn’t considered a mobile QB early in his career and is now a statue in the pocket. His strong arm and experience could get him a shot to compete for a starting job with another team, but if that team doesn’t have a solid offensive line that can provide him with protection, it’s doubtful he can be successful. At this point in his career, Bledsoe is probably best off as a good veteran backup. It’s also possible he will retire rather than play out his days in such a capacity.

Matt Schaub: Many think that Schaub is the better QB in Atlanta and should have been given a chance to be the Falcons starter. Unfortunately for Schaub, the Falcons have the electrifying Michael Vick. I don’t want to debate here whether Vick’s status over Schaub is warranted or not. What can be said is that the Falcons think so highly of Schaub that they tendered him a qualifying offer that would require another team to cough up a 1st and 3rd round draft pick if they sign Schaub. Even though many teams would like to ink Schaub and give him a legitimate chance to compete for a starting job, it’s just not likely they’ll want to part with so much to get him. Probably Schaub stays with Atlanta for 2007 and the controversy that has sprung up the last couple of seasons as to whether Schaub should have a chance to take the starting job away from Vick will resume. It’s too bad as Schaub could be a great fantasy football sleeper as an unproven QB with another team.

Aaron Brooks: Cut after only one season in Oakland, Brooks was abysmal with the Raiders in 2006. While the blame can’t all be placed on him as the team had possibly the worst offensive line in the entire NFL, he certainly showed more of the bad qualities that got him run out of New Orleans than any of the good qualities that used to place Brooks high on fantasy football rankings. Brooks is a mobile QB who is very streaky. Sometimes he can look really good and other times really bad. Given that he has several years worth of starting experience, and will only be 31 by training camp, there’s a chance he lands on a team with a suspect starter. With a little bit of luck, Brooks could end up as a guy who makes it onto some fantasy football cheat sheets by August.

Quinn Gray: The Jacksonville Jaguars have tendered Gray an offer that would require another team to give them a 2nd round pick if they were to sign him. This says something about the Jaguars belief in Gray’s ability to be Byron Leftwich’s backup in 2007, but Gray believes he can be a starter and has stated he won’t sign the tender offer. With very limited game experience, Gray is unknown commodity and it’s doubtful another team will give up the draft pick to get him. In the deepest of fantasy football dynasty leagues with the largest of rosters, Gray is worth stashing in case he gets a chance in the next couple of years. But in more traditional fantasy football leagues, there’s just little reason to believe he does anything in 2007.

Joe Harrington: Harrington’s career has definitely turned to being a backup QB in the NFL. After failing to live up to expectations in Detroit, Harrington spent last season in Miami. Harrington started 11 games and looked exactly like he did in Detroit: mediocre. Harrington isn’t going to get handed a starting job, but will likely be signed as a backup. The Carolina Panthers are looking for a decent veteran backup and Harrington might fit the bill.

Cleo Lemon: Lemon is a restricted free agent and is an intriguing guy. He’s young and unproven, but got a chance to start one game in 2006 for the Dolphins and has been tendered a high qualifying offer by the team which would require another team to cough up a second round pick if they sign him. New coach Cam Cameron likes Lemon and appears ready to go with him if Daunte Culpepper’s knee isn’t recovered enough by training camp. Another team may swoop in and try to take Lemon, but it just seems unlikely at the cost of a 2nd round pick.

Tim Rattay: Once upon a time, people thought highly of Rattay and his chances of being a decent starting QB in both the NFL and in fantasy football. Those times are gone. Rattay’s not a bad QB, but he lacks the size preferred by most NFL teams and won’t compete for a starting job wherever he ends up.

Anthony Wright: Wright is a serviceable backup QB who has prior starting experience. While he’s had some great games, he’s also had some bad ones and the mark of inconsistency prevents him from being considered for a starting job.

Todd Boumann: Boumann is a lot like Tim Rattay and Anthony Wright in that he’s been in the league for a while and has proven himself a capable backup QB who can fill in when called upon. But he has never shown the ability to be a starting QB and now in his 10th season, it appears he likely never will.

Jim Sorgi: As Peyton Manning’s backup in Indianapolis Sorgi has thrown 90 passes in the last 3 seasons. Don’t ask me when those came as it seems like Manning never comes out of football games. Sorgi is a restricted free agent and another team would need to surrender a 6th round pick if they signed him away from the Colts. I just don’t see anyone taking him away from Indy.

Koy Detmer: Going into his 10th season, Detmer hasn’t thrown a TD pass since 2002. Clearly the Eagles have decided to go in another direction with Donovan McNabb’s backup and Detmer is out in Philadelphia (where he’s spent his entire NFL career). While he possibly signs somewhere as a backup, his upside is next to nil and it’s more likely Detmer’s career is over.

Marques Tuiasosopo: Tuiasosopo has spent his career in Oakland and has never shown the ability to be an effective starting QB. In 6 seasons he’s thrown only 2 TD passes and 7 interceptions. While young enough to still be considered a cheap backup, I just don’t see Tuiasosopo ever competing for more than a primary backup spot.

Shane Matthews: At one time in his career, Matthews looked like he might be a capable starting QB. But considering he hasn’t thrown a pass the last 2 seasons, and only 3 passes in the last 4, and it’s apparent that Matthews doesn’t figure into anyone’s plans. Experience as a backup is all he offers.

Chris Weinke: The Panthers finally cut bait with Weinke, releasing him outright. There’s been nothing special about Weinke at any time in his NFL career and the Panthers figured they could find a better backup in free agency. If the Panthers think that, it’s doubtful another team is going to give Weinke anything more than a shot to make the team in training camp.

Russ Bliss is Fantasy Football Starters.com's exclusive fantasy football expert, a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, and for 11 years has been the radio host of "The Red Zone, Talking Fantasy Football and the NFL," in Phoenix, Arizona.

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