Keeper League Targets: Quarterbacks

Welcome back to the second edition of the Offensive Keeper League targets where quarterbacks will be showcased. Entering the 2007 post-season, there are fewer quarterbacks than say running backs in which one should target. In the last couple of seasons, quarterbacks have been ravaged with injuries, so the uncertainty surrounding these prominent signal callers is tremendous. Obviously, there is no need to mention the likes of Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer, or Tom Brady. Instead, I will focus on the often overlooked quarterbacks that will be of keeper value in 2007, especially at a low-cost.

The 49ers offense is a sleeping giant and Alex Smith is at the helm. Granted, I thought Smith had "Tim Couch" written all over him but I have reversed my stance on this young quarterback after watching him progress in 2 seasons of play. In 2006, his passer rating improved to 74.8 from 40.6 the year before. His completion percentage improved by 8% as well. He posted nearly 2,900 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in his first full season of play in 2006. Smith should get improved protection through the draft or free agency, so his tendency to lose control of the ball should decrease in 2007 as he had 9 fumbles in 2006, only 2 were recovered though. He was also sacked 35 times. Alex Smith might not be on any roster but if he is, I recommend holding on to the kid if you have enough talent to do so. He will come real cheap and should get a viable #1 receiving option through the draft. Vernon Davis should be completely healed from his injury last year as well. His fantasy upside will continue to grow and he will be a more than adequate backup quarterback next season. In Smith's division, he will face 3 teams twice a year that struggle containing the pass. With injuries (think Donovan McNabb), poor play (think Chris Simms), uncertainty (think Michael Vick), and bad team play (think Jon Kitna), Smith isn't a bad option really, especially when you consider the realistic circumstances the 49ers will face in 2007. Keep an eye on this kid and hold on to him if you can, he looks like he will be something special.

Another young quarterback that you must consider holding onto as a keeper is Jay Cutler. If Mike Shanahan takes the leash off of Cutler in the upcoming season, we may witness something special. In 5 starts, Cutler had a remarkable 88.5 passer rating to go along with his 59.1% completion percentage. I really love this kid in a football kind of way. He averaged 200 yards a game and nearly threw 2 touchdowns each in all 5 starts. He did throw 5 interceptions but those can be expunged due to his inexperience. Cutler was probably not drafted in your league but I am sure someone hit the waiver wire hard to grab his services. You should be able to keep him for nothing at all in any keeper format. I think Cutler has the potential to be a top 7 fantasy quarterback in his second season. Also, if you have read my columns in the past, you know that I am never too keen on depending on youth at the quarterback position but Cutler is a special talent. Hold on to him. Just when you thought you wasted 5 bucks on a lottery ticket, you scratch it off and realize you hit the jackpot. You will feelthe same way with Cutler on your roster in 2007.

When all things are considered, Tony Romo might have been overrated in 2006, but his fantasy numbers didn't reflect his decision making on the field. If Terrell Owens held on to the ball more, Romo's numbers might have been even better than they were. He did finish with over 2,900 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, a passer rating of 95.1 and a completion percentage of 65%. Romo is a bona fide top 10 selection next year among quarterbacks. With that said, I guarantee if you play in a standard league, he went undrafted, but was no longer a free agent by the end of November. Once again, here is another signal caller that you should be able to keep at virtually no cost to you. With all of the offensive pieces expected back next year, and hopefully an upgrade on the offensive line, Romo could be in for a big year. This hype I am building for him reminds me of the hype last off-season surrounding Eli Manning. Keep Romo if you need a good quarterback because he will buzz-saw the competition in 2007.

Another NFC East quarterback emerged in 2006. Jason Campbell from the Washington Redskins progressed throughout the season after he took over for Mark Brunell week 11. Keeping Campbell is a reach but if the Redskins can add a receiver worth complimenting Santana Moss, his value could skyrocket. Keep an eye on Campbell as he could be worth holding on to due to the fact that you might not have to give anything up for him in return.

With no more excuses to use, Ben Roethlisberger showed that he has a cannon for an arm but needs to make better decisions. Better decisions will come if the Steelers improve their offensive line and blocking scheme. In 2006, he threw the ball 112 more times than he did in 2005. Big Ben also finished with nearly more than 1,200 yards than the year before. He did throw more interceptions than touchdowns though, but that should be corrected in 2007. Roethlisberger will provide someone with a sleeper #1 quarterback in 2007 if he is kept. While fantasy rankings continue to shuffle year in and year out for the 2^nd tier of quarterbacks, expect Roethlisberger to emerge onto this level in 2007.

While he has some strong critics, J.P. Losman quietly put up a good year. 2006 was his first full year as the starter in Buffalo, and it was his first season under Dick Jauron and his new playbook. When the dust cleared, Losman showed great ability to pick up the new system, looked overwhelmingly impressive, and made strides in Buffalo. He only had one viable passing option in Lee Evans, and even Evans was double covered most of the time. Impressively, Losman finished with over 3,000 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, a 62.5 completion percentage and a passer rating of 84.9. If you ask me, Losman was the most improved quarterback of 2006. He was a solid option at backup on fantasy rosters and will improve on that in 2007. The Bills are expected to beef up the offensive line some more, and add some playmakers through the draft and free agency. Already, there is talk of Drew Bennett to Buffalo once March knocks the door down. Aside from Alex Smith, Losman is the second best keeper option based on his round value in this column. I strongly encourage anyone in deep leagues, if they need a quarterback, to try to hold on to him. Also, if you are in a dynasty league and are looking to move some dead weight, try to acquire J.P. Losman. I hope I just didn't leave the cat out of the bag on this one.