Fantasy: Which QB will be this season's waiver-wire hero?
The quarterback position is deeper than ever in fantasy football. Even in leagues where more than half the owners draft a backup passer, it's possible to find value in the very late rounds and even on the waiver wire.
Here are three quarterbacks going undrafted in many fantasy leagues who have a chance to be this year's waiver-wire hero.
Average draft position (ADP) data courtesy of FantasyPros and is based on 12-team leagues with standard scoring.
Carson Wentz, Eagles
ADP: QB19
Wentz finished as fantasy's QB24 as a rookie, but did so with a severe lack of reliable receivers around him. The Eagles rectified that by adding Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith to their pass-catching corps in free agency, plus LeGarrette Blount to the backfield to force defenses to respect the run, which should set Wentz up to take a sophomore leap. He's a high-upside option owners will need to keep on waiver-wire speed dial.
Blake Bortles, Jaguars
ADP: QB20
Remember all the talk about how bad Bortles was last season? It might surprise you to learn that he still finished as a top-10 fantasy quarterback, a year after finishing in the top five. The Jaguars drafted Leonard Fournette and should run the ball more this year, which could hurt Bortles' numbers. But it could just as easily help them by taking some of the pressure off the Jaguars' passing attack. If reports that Bortles has corrected his throwing mechanics issues are true, he's a player who needs to be on every owner's watch list.
Carson Palmer, Cardinals
ADP: QB22
Palmer slumped to a hugely disappointing QB19 finish last year after a top-five finish in 2015. It's hard to pinpoint precisely what went wrong, but it didn't seem to be entirely Palmer's fault. John Brown battled injuries all season, Michael Floyd got arrested and then released, and the Cardinals just didn't score as many touchdowns. Palmer's age - he'll turn 38 before the season concludes - is leading many fantasy owners to stay away. It's also creating an opportunity for savvy owners who see past Palmer's age to his bounce-back potential.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)