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Backup Quarterback Outlooks

Every year there are a few quarterbacks who started the year off the fantasy radar and ended up having a quality season. Kurt Warner did it last year as a backup in Arizona and turned into a decent fantasy option in 2007. Warner is on the list again this year as Matt Leinart looks to cement his role as the team's starting signal caller. Whether the starter is struggling, the quarterback competition is unsettled, or the system lends itself to a backup quarterback who could put up big fantasy numbers, here is a look at a few QBs that are off the radar for now, but could be a steal in a few months.

QB Trent Green, STL (QB - #44) - Deep-league Only

Marc Bulger struggled mightily last year and that leaves room for veteran Trent Green to become a viable fantasy quarterback at some point this season. St. Louis has brought in new offensive coordinator Al Saunders to try and get Bulger back on track, but it remains to be seen if 2007 was an aberration for Bulger or simply a sign of things to come. It was not long ago when Green was throwing for over 4,000 yards a year with Chiefs. The last two seasons have been marred with serious concussion concerns, but Green might have a little magic left if he is given the opportunity.

QB Joey Harrington, ATL (QB - #47) - Deep-league Only

Chris Redman is the starter in Atlanta. In just about every possible scenario, Joey Harrington will not play. If the Falcons do surprisingly decent under Redman, he will keep the job. If the team crumbles and falls apart, Atlanta might as well look towards the future and get Matt Ryan some experience. That leaves Harrington on the bench. The only possibility is if Redman does well and then gets hurt and the Falcons want the more experienced Harrington playing some snaps. Even then, Harrington is not worth a draft pick in any fantasy league. In deep, two quarterback leagues he might eventually be worth a pickup on the waiver wire, but that is quite unlikely.

QB Damon Huard, KC (QB - #45) - Super Sleeper (high risk/potential)

The Kansas City offense was horrendous last year, but a large part of that was due to injuries. Running back Larry Johnson, among others, are now healthy and the Chiefs had a great draft day and have at least one guy in Branden Albert who will give the Kansas City quarterback more time to throw. The team ranked 20^th in passing offense anyway last year, so having a Chiefs quarterback as your backup quarterback would not have been a horrible thing. It will be a better thing this year. Now the question becomes who is the signal caller in KC? The team hopes, and seems to expect, that it will be Brodie Croyle. Croyle struggled last year, although much of that can be blamed on the rest of the offense. Backup veteran Damon Huard was more consistent than Croyle last year and will be the guy who comes in and leads the offense if the oft-injured Croyle cannot cut it.

QB J.P. Losman, BUF - Deep-league Only

J.P. Losman, a first round draft pick in 2004, was given every opportunity to be successful. Maybe his line was never that great and he only had one quality receiver, but others have done more with less. Last year Losman lost his starting job to rookie Trent Edwards and Edwards might not be giving it up. For now Losman is not out of the running to be the starting quarterback when the season starts. Edwards is a leader and a smart player, but Losman has the better arm and could be a better fit with new coordinator Turk Schonert. This is Losman's last year under contract with the Bills, so the team wants Edwards to be their guy. Edwards has still spent his brief NFL career throwing more interceptions than touchdowns and it is way too early to anoint him the future of the Bills.

QB Chad Pennington, MIA (QB - #30) - Super Sleeper (high risk/potential)

Chad Pennington or Kellen Clemens will win the quarterback battle in New York, but the Jets will lose either way. Clemens has a ton of potential and a great arm, but he did little to prove he could be a starting quarterback in NFL when he played last year. Pennington is the model of inconsistency, but at least he has some experience. Whoever ends up as the starter could be a decent fantasy backup, but it is risky to take either of them right now. The Jets might want to move on from Pennington and take their chances on the younger Clemens and that would leave Pennington on the outside after eight years of service.