The talent pool at quarterback is at an all-time high and appears to be as populated as a New York subway. No longer are you left with such a large drop off from the top two tiers. The apparent big three behind center are Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees, with great options behind them in guys like Andrew Luck, Matthew Stafford, Matt Ryan and Colin Kaepernick. We’ve seen that there is no definitive top tier, with the consensus as undecided as a college freshman.

I’ve seen Stafford as high as four and Rodgers as low as five and we’ll continue to see changes as the season approaches. As for sleepers at the position, you may be looking for a solid value pick late to acquire more talent at the skill positions, or you may be looking to add the best possible insurance policy just in case your starter pulls an Aaron Rodgers of last year and you don’t want to be left with your pants around your ankles.

Whatever the case may be, there’s a sleeper QB on the following list that’s worth the investment.

2014 Fantasy Football Sleeper Quarterbacks

Philip Rivers, SD

There were only two quarterbacks who were among the top six in yards per game, touchdown passes, touchdown percentage (pct. of TDs thrown when attempting to pass) and yards per attempt. Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers being those two players. After being written off as washed up before last season, the 32-year-old Rivers stuck it to the doubters and managed to make due with an above average receiving crew on a pas-heavy offense, throwing for 4,478 yards and 32 touchdowns. Another offseason with Keenan Allen should allow them both to improve on their 2013 totals and tight end Ladarius Green should certainly help. With Rivers going off the board in most drafts around the ninth or tenth round, consider taking him as early as the eighth ahead of guys like Tony Romo, Russell Wilson and even Cam Newton.

Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers QB, throwing a pass in practice
Photo credit: Nathan Rupert

Jay Cutler, Chi

While Rivers may be getting it done with limited options on the receiving end, the same can’t be said for Cutler. With the highest rated receiving tandem of any team in the league consisting of Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, Cutler was on pace to throw for 4,346 yards and 32 touchdowns before he missed five games due to injury. Add in the fact that he compiled five-year highs in passing yards per game (238.3), attempts per game (32.3) and completion percentage (63.1), and he’s certainly worth a starting role in most leagues this season. Marc Trestman’s pass-happy offense is another selling point for the 31-year-old quarterback as it proved to be a productive system in 2013. His injury last year may have hurt his rankings in 2014, but don’t let that fool you. If he’s not going to start on your team, he’ll be the best insurance policy a manager could ask for.

Johnny Manziel, Cle

Friends who know me know that I’m not a fan of Johnny Manziel. I don’t like the hype. I don’t like his demeanor. And I don’t believe “Johnny Football” is a name he should be allowed to stick with coming into year No. 1 into the NFL. However, I am a fan of the softer than a snuggie Cleveland Browns schedule he’s slated to play against. While they start the season off with three playoff contenders in the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints, their schedule eases up following their Week 4 bye week that wields a 19-33 record last year. With the likes of Tennessee, Oakland, Jacksonville, and Tampa Bay being the teams next in line for Cleveland, Manziel is poised to take advantage of a possible rough start by Brian Hoyer or will be forced to learn on the fly if he’s starting Week 1.

The second half of their schedule is more like the intro but at that point Josh Gordon may return as his appeal could cut the season long suspension to as few as eight games. Unlike Drake, my expectations of Manziel are a bit closer to that of the rest of the league, but based on his schedule, he’s certainly worth pocketing in the later rounds.

Geno Smith, NYJ

Try and forget about that 12/21 touchdown to interception ratio Geno Smith garnered last year. He and the Jets are hoping his performance this year will allow you to do the same. Smith finished the season with over 3,000 yards and was able to cut the turnovers from 11 in the first four games to just three in the final five games, albeit with one of the worst offensive units surrounding him. This season, he’s equipped to have a standout sophomore season with Chris Johnson and Eric Decker coming into what was once a hopeless picture. Add in the fact that he’s got Mike Vick to motivate him to hold onto his job and assist him in the learning process. If he can hold onto to the starting job, look for Smith could have an impressive second year.

Deep Sleepers

Blake Bortles, Jac

Bortles may not be starting but I feel he’s going to be the best quarterback to come out of the 2014 NFL Draft. A changing of the guard in Jacksonville is bound to happen unless Chad Henne can do the unthinkable.

Teddy Bridgewater, Min

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer may not start the season with Bridgewater as the No. 1 but it’s clear how much he likes the first year quarterback. With Adrian Peterson, Greg Jennings, Cordarrelle Patterson and Kyle Rudolph surrounding him, Bridgewater is in the best situation of any rookie quarterback. It’s up to him to take advantage of it.

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