Outside of a few elite quarterbacks who are no-brainers to produce QB1 numbers nearly every single week during fantasy football season, the pool thins a bit after Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees are selected.
If you’re not one of those people who reaches for one of the elite quarterbacks in the first few rounds, then choosing a quarterback who will at least produce reputable fantasy numbers most of the season is obviously your goal. Even better is choosing a quarterback who you plan as just your backup, and he surprisingly ends up start-worthy more often than not.
Here are five fantasy football quarterbacks who have the foundation to break out in 2014, and could be valuable assets to your fantasy roster.
5. Josh McCown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
McCown ranked 28th among quarterbacks in fantasy points in 2013. While that isn’t earth-shattering news, keep in mind he only played in seven full games last season while covering for the injured Jay Cutler, and he averaged 19.33 fantasy points per game. During that seven-game stretch, McCown had 13 touchdowns, and only threw one interception, which out of 224 attempts is pretty awesome.
McCown has since signed with the Buccaneers, and is slated to be the teams’ starter, under coach Lovie Smith. Obviously, McCown won’t be throwing to stud wide receivers, Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, but he has some tall options full of potential on his new team.
McCown is 6’-4” himself, and has as receiving options, veteran wideout, Vincent Jackson, at 6’-5”, and new rookies, in wide receiver Mike Evans, also 6’-5” and tight end, Austin Seferian-Jenkins at a stately 6’-6”. Good luck to opposing defenses trying to keep this squad contained.
There is definitely room for McCown, who likely will be overlooked as a starting fantasy quarterback in 2014, to break through, deeming him a worthy late-round draft choice.
4. E.J. Manuel, Buffalo Bills
Unfortunately for Manuel, 2013 didn’t bring a golden opportunity for him to shine as he battled multiple knee injuries throughout the year. While you wouldn’t draft him as your starter, Manuel has the weapons and capability to break through this year and become a reliable backup if suddenly your primary quarterback succumbs to injury.
To help Manuel’s case immensely, the Bills recently drafted with their fourth-round pick, an amazing new rookie wide receiver, Sammy Watkins, who held true to the projection that he was a slam-dunk to be the first wide receiver chosen in the draft. The Bills also added during the free agency period, wide receiver, Mike Williams. Setting aside his offseason issues, Williams was a great playmaker when he was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bills additionally possess one of the top running back duos with Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller, which will reduce pressure on Manuel in the passing game. The key factor to Manuel’s improvement is if he can remain healthy and if he does, his fantasy numbers will no doubt be subject to improve in 2014.
3. Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears
Should Cutler stay upright all season, he could be primed for a break out performance in 2014. Now that he has had a complete season to work under the Bears' new offensive coordinator, Marc Trestman, Cutler could easily see his pass yardage cross the 4,000 yard mark as he did with his last year in Denver.
Additionally, Cutler now possesses one of the top, if not the most elite NFL receiving tandem in Marshall and Jeffery, as mentioned above. Combined, they had over 2,700 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns in 2013. As long as the ball is being thrown at them, Marshall and Jeffery should produce monster numbers once again, which ultimately will up Cutler’s fantasy numbers in 2014.
Also on a positive note, in the 11 games Cutler participated in last season, his passing completion rate was 63.1%, which is his second highest since his 2007 season. Cutler and the Bears have a favorable schedule as well in 2014 facing in 10 of their 16 games, teams with the bottom half-ranked defenses.
Let’s just say all the cards are stacked in Cutler’s favor, and a break out performance is nearly inevitable in 2014.
2. Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins
RGIII, entering into his third NFL season, has many factors looking up for him in 2014, which could significantly increase his fantasy value this year. Already performing better in his team’s OTA’s and without his brace, which would indicate RGIII is healed in full from his early 2013 ACL and LCL surgery, all points to good signs going forth.
The hiring of Jay Gruden as the new head coach, will also do wonders for RGIII and the offense, which includes newly signed wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who should only enrich RGIII's numbers. Under Gruden, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback, Andy Dalton had 586 pass attempts, so RGIII could experience some break out fantasy numbers as well easily ranking him within the top 10 quarterbacks in 2014. With this said, RGIII should reward those who draft him, QB1 numbers nearly each week.
1. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers
Kaepernick, coming off of his first full NFL season as a starter, has over $100 million little reasons to stay motivated in 2014, as he just signed a monster six-year contract extension. At just 26 years of age, Kaepernick, who ranked ninth in fantasy points last season is on track for even a bigger break out season in 2014.
Kaepernick’s passing skills are improving, and combined with his mobility, which is proven by rushing for nearly 1,000 yards during 2012 and 2013 should have him continuing to thrive in 2014. Kaepernick has a solid crew of receivers with veteran wideout Anquan Boldin, Michael Crabtree, and the newly acquired Steve Johnson formerly of the Buffalo Bills. The second-highest ranking tight end, Vernon Davis completes the list like a cherry on top.
Something to take note of, is towards the end of 2013, in Weeks 12-17 is where we really saw a boost in improvement as Kaepernick averaged 19.73 fantasy points per game, and only had one interception during those last six weeks.. Obviously, the return of Crabtree later in the season helped Kaepernick’s numbers, so if all remains status quo in 2014, Kaepernick could easily evolve into a top-five quarterback at some point during the season, rewarding those who wait until later draft rounds to select him.