The 7 Fantasy Football Sleepers No One is Talking About
Tyrod Taylor, QB, Buffalo Bills
Okay, perhaps no one is talking about Tyrod Taylor because he was just named the starting quarterback of the Buffalo Bills this past week. But fantasy owners should assuredly pay attention now, especially after his efficient and at times, dynamic, preseason.
In limited action during the exhibition season, Taylor has completed 77 percent of his passes in addition to accumulating 108 yards and a touchdown on the ground in just under four quarters of play. For those counting, that would equate to 16.8 fantasy points in standard leagues if we just looked at his rushing numbers alone.
And while Taylor has never started an NFL regular season game, he did get extensive action in 2012 against a playoff bound Cincinnati Bengals team. Against that top five defense in Adjusted Defensive NEP per play, Taylor threw for 149 yards and rushed for 65 and a touchdown in a conservatively scripted game. That's as Tim Tebow-esque as it gets, except for the 60 percent completion rate and the absence of a miracle finish. And remember, Tebow was very fantasy relevant during his unbelievable 2011 playoff run.
On the field Taylor resembles Michael Vick, who many will remember finished consistently as a top 10 fantasy quarterback even in seasons where he failed to throw for more than 2,500 yards. In years where he exceeded 2,800 yards passing, Vick finished ranked 4th, 5th and 12th in scoring.
Russell Wilson is perhaps the most modern example of what Taylor could be for the Buffalo Bills, with average passing numbers being bolstered by fantastic rushing totals. Wilson's ability on the ground has propelled him into the top six at the quarterback position, despite never throwing for more than 3,500 yards and only totaling 20 passing touchdowns in 2014.
While I wouldn't suggest that Taylor will be as effective as Wilson, it's still hard to imagine a scenario where Taylor doesn't rush for over 600 yards if he plays 16 games based on his previous success on the ground, which provides him with an immediate 60 point advantage on pocket passers. If he can prove to be even a mediocre passer, Taylor could easily push for a top 12 season thanks in large part due to his rushing ability.
With an arsenal that includes Sammy Watkins, Percy Harvin, Charles Clay and LeSean McCoy, Taylor will have a reasonable chance to lead an effective NFL offense.
With his ability to produce yards on the ground in chunks, he is a player worth monitoring for those who love streaming quarterbacks. He could be far more productive than many assume with his speed and scrambling prowess.
