Summer is here. That means it's time to think about football. The NFL Season is just around the corner. Already, teams have had their rookie mini camps. Come later this month and into July, squads will start their training camps.
That means we had better start thinking about our season long NFL Fantasy Drafts. The emphasis this season, like it is every season, will be on grabbing the best wide receivers and running backs that we can. We probably won't even look for a QB until Round 5. If you, like I'm considering doing, wait until Round 7 to draft your QB, you might want to pay special attention to this blog.
I've listed the Top 10 under the radar QBs for this season. Check it out!
NFL Fantasy: Top 10 Under the Radar QBs Heading into Summer
1. Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars
The 6′ 5″, 236 lbs, Bortles came into his own last season. His QB rating was a less than stellar 84.7. No problem. He managed 3,687 passing yards. He also threw 21 TDs. The 13 interceptions look bad. However, Bortles had a 12 and 5 TD to INT ratio in the last 8 games of the season. That includes throwing 3 TD passes to 0 interceptions in the postseason.
If Bortles can build upon last season, he could be a sneaky great option at QB. There's been some discussion that Bortles' wide receiving corps took a hit. I don't believe so. Led by the underrated Donte Moncrief, the receiving corps could be better this season than it was last season. Marqise Lee is a player while both Keelan Cole and Dede Westbrook should have improved.
2. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs didn't trade up to pick 10 in the 2017 NFL Draft for nothing. Mahomes was such a hot commodity in 2017 that the New Orleans Saints were rumored to have tried to trade up for him. Coach Andy Reid knows how to get the best out of his quarterbacks. Donovan McNabb wouldn't have been Donovan McNabb without Reid.
The thing about Mahomes is that at 6′ 3″ and 230 lbs., he can rumble through defenses if he must. He can also sit in the pocket and throw the football 70 yards. Or, he can get the edge. Or, he can run the option. Or, he can throw the 5-yard out. Or, he can hit the seam. See what I'm getting at here?
3. Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans
Mariota shows up at #3 on my list of underrated quarterbacks. Jameis Winston, whom the Bucs drafted before Mariota, doesn't show up on any of my lists. Winston can light it up. I don't believe he plays on a team that will allow him to light it up.
Tennessee made the playoffs last season. That means Marcus got a taste of playoff football. Although the Patriots beat the Titans, I believe he liked the taste. With a playoff win under his belt, Marcus Mariota should improve across the board this season. He took a huge step in the playoffs. His TD to INT ratio was 4 to 1.
The Titans brought in a new head coach, defensive minded Mike Vrabel. Usually, that might be a sign that Tennessee doesn't want to do too much on offense. That's doubtful because Vrabel hired Mike LaFleur to coach the offense. Lafleur spent last season as the L.A. Rams' offensive coordinator. There's a good chance that LaFleur opens up the offense. This is especially true because the Titans signed RB Dion Lewis away from the New England Patriots.
4. Alex Smith, Washington Redskins
I've always been an Alex Smith fan. He's 33-years-old now. That doesn't bother me. Smith has had success at both San Francisco and Kansas City. Why wouldn't he have success in Washington? The thing about Alex is that he completes close to 70% of his passes and he doesn't throw interceptions.
I believe he will have a ton of success in Jay Gruden's offense. Washington signed Paul Richardson away from Seattle. Richardson is a straight burner. WR Josh Doctson is a nice possession receiver who should finally come into his own this season. Washington believes their window to make the playoffs, and possibly the Super Bowl, is open. That's why they made the move for the veteran QB.
Smith should deliver. He did last season with 26 TD passes to only 5 picks and over 4,000 passing yards.
5. Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders
I was hesitant to put Carr on this list. Why? There were high hopes for the Oakland Raiders. The entire team, including Carr, bombed. What changed this season? Carr got one of the very best quarterback coaches on the planet, John Gruden, to run the show in Oakland.
Gruden will get Carr to play his best. WR Amari Cooper pretty much catches anything thrown his way while Gruden replaced Michael Crabtree with Jordy Nelson. With Gruden in charge, the Raiders have become much older. That might not be a bad thing if Gruden believes he can win a Super Bowl with this group.
6. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
WR Allen Hurns isn't flashy like Dez Bryant. He should help Dak Prescott sleep better at night, though. Hurns might not catch the ball after a 5 and out and take it to the house. He's also not going to win every jump ball. However, he'll serve as a great possession receiver for Prescott.
The Boys will lean on Ezekiel Elliott this season. No worries. Prescott can rush the football about as well, if not better, than any quarterback in the NFL. Just 1 rushing TD and 1 passing TD per game makes Dak a steal in Round 7 or later.
7. Eli Manning, New York Giants
Eli's been derided for years as a terrible fantasy football option. For the most part, that's been true. This season could be different for Eli, though. What's the best way to get a quarterback to play well? Hand him a rushing attack. The Giants did that by drafting RB Saquon Barkley. Then, in Round 2 they drafted OG Willie Hernandez.
When Eli has time, he's still great at finding the open receiver. Odell Bekcham Jr. is healthy this season. Sterling Sharpe had some great games in 2017. Don't sleep on Eli getting it done big time in 2018.
8. Case Keenum, Denver Broncos
The Broncos have a great shot of bouncing back into the playoffs in 2018. Case Keenum was great with the Minnesota Vikings last season. He might be better with the Broncos this season. Denver's got a solid offensive line. They finally have a decent rushing attack after drafting rookie Royce Freeman to split carries with Devontae Booker. The wide receiver corps is solid. Demaryious Thomas and Emanuel Sanders welcome rookie Courtland Sutton. The SMU product was one of the higher rated wide receivers in this year's draft.
9. Josh Rosen, Arizona Cardinals
If you've loaded up on running backs and wide receivers, plus you've got your starting QB for the first month of the season, you could do worse then to pick Josh Rosen. Rosen, by all accounts, has been everything the Cardinals thought he was when they drafted him 10th overall. Josh gets to play on a team with a hall of fame wide receiver and one of the better pass catching running backs in the NFL. Can you think of a better setup for a rookie QB than WR Larry Fitzgerald and RB David Johnson?
Sam Bradford is likely to be the starter. No worries. How long is Sam going to last before an injury derails his season? Not only that, but if Sam doesn't produce the Cards will put Rosen in right away. Also, the Cardinals have already stated that Rosen has a chance to compete for the starting job.
10. Mitch Trubisky, Chicago Bears
Trubisky plays for a talented up and coming football team. The Bears have no choice but to open up the offense. RB Tarik Cohen and Jordan Howard could be Chicago's answer to the Saints' Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram. That's a good thing for Trubisky who has talent to throw too in wide receivers Allen Robinson, Kevin White, and Taylor Gabriel.
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