It’s never easy defining sleepers. Is a sleeper a player who is ranked after No. 25 or is it someone who isn’t ranked? An owner playing college fantasy football for the first time may consider someone like Oregon’s Jeremiah Masoli a sleeper. However, a veteran of many college fantasy leagues and probably wouldn’t consider Masoli much of a sleeper. Texas Tech’s Taylor Potts hasn’t started a game, yet is among the top-10 fantasy quarterbacks. Is it fair to call him a sleeper? Probably not, but you get the picture. Defining sleepers isn't easy.

With that in mind, this list takes into account each fantasy owner has a different knowledge set when it comes to college football. Don’t take a sleeper as your first quarterback in 120 leagues, but consider taking these passers as a QB3 or QB4, in hopes they can be a starting option this year.

2009 Sleepers: Quarterback candidates

ACC

Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech – Taylor isn’t going to post overwhelming passing statistics, but another season of over 700 rushing yards is reasonable. The junior should post his highest career totals across the aboard, with potential to be a QB2 in select matchups.

Jacory Harris, Miami – With Robert Marve out of the picture and veteran Mark Whipple calling the shots on offense, expect Harris to flourish in his sophomore season. A solid pick in keeper leagues.

T.J. Yates, North Carolina – Despite missing six games, Yates still managed to toss 11 touchdowns. If he manages to avoid the injury bug, expect 20 touchdown tosses.

Big East

Jarrett Brown, West Virginia – Although the Mountaineers have a tough task in replacing Pat White, the cupboard isn’t bare. Brown is 2-0 as a starter and the expectations are high. With the Mountaineers wanting to throw a little more this year, Brown should be the perfect fit for coordinator Jeff Mullen. However, Brown hasn’t played a full season and is still largely an unknown commodity.

Big Ten

Tate Forcier, Michigan - Remember Rich Rodriguez’s offenses at West Virginia? Forcier could surprise this year, especially with plenty of talented skill players returning.

Mike Kafka, Northwestern – Kafka proved he can run last year, torching Minnesota for 217 yards. The main question mark surrounding Kafka is improvement in the passing game, which won’t be easy with a new cast of weapons at receiver. If he can boost his production in the passing department, Kafka should easily out perform his ranking.

Keith Nichol, Michigan State – There’s no question Nichol has the talent, but can he hold off Kirk Cousins for the job?

Big 12

Austen Arnaud, Iowa State – Arnaud should be one of 2009’s most popular sleeper picks at quarterback. All signs point to a breakout season from the junior, after throwing for 2,792 yards and 15 touchdowns last year and a change in offensive schemes. New coach Paul Rhoads hired Tom Herman, the mastermind of a Rice offense that averaged over 40 points per game last year and should spark the Cyclones in 2009. Although it may take a little time to get the kinks worked out, expect Arnaud to top 3,000 passing yards and 25 touchdowns this year.

Jerrod Johnson, Texas A&M – The key to Johnson taking a significant leap among fantasy passers is consistency. During a midseason five-game stretch, Johnson tossed 11 touchdowns and averaged 325 passing yards, but followed it up with six interceptions in the final three games of the year. The junior should build plenty of confidence in the first three games of the year, but his success in matchups against Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Baylor will determine how high he will go.

Blaine Gabbert, Missouri – With the losses of coordinator Dave Christensen, quarterback Chase Daniel, receiver Jeremy Maclin and tight end Chase Coffman, the Tigers will take a step back on offense this year. However, there is reason for hope. The Tigers will keep the same offensive scheme, and Gabbert was rated as the No. 32 overall prospect in the 2008 Athlon Consensus 100. Gabbert and his receivers will need a little time to develop, but the sophomore has plenty of upside for 2009 and beyond.

Conference USA

Arkelon Hall, Memphis – Hall showed flashes of potential last year, torching Rice for 373 yards and three scores, along with 350 passing yards and two touchdowns against Louisville. The Tigers have plenty of weapons returning, including receivers Duke Calhoun and Carlos Singleton. The senior has the talent, but needs to avoid the injury bug in order to crack the top 40 of fantasy quarterbacks. Even if Hall doesn’t take a huge jump, he’s a solid QB3 or QB4.

Nick Fanuzzi, Rice – Don’t expect a repeat fantasy performance from the Owls this year. However, Fanuzzi has plenty of talent – an Alabama transfer – and should be involved in plenty of shootouts. Until he is able to wrestle the starting job completely away from John Thomas Shepherd, Fanuzzi won’t be selected in most fantasy drafts.

Independents

Ricky Dobbs, Navy – There’s a lot to like about Dobbs this year. The junior is not only a strong rusher, evidenced by his 224 yards and four scores against SMU last year, but is also a solid passer. Although the Midshipmen won’t become Texas Tech, Dobbs will at least be more of a threat. Don’t expect Dobbs to post many 200-yard rushing performances this year, but rushing for 900 yards and 10 scores is very realistic.

MAC

Boo Jackson, Ohio – If is the key word when discussing Jackson. If he can hold off Theo Scott, he should post fantasy numbers among the top 40 quarterbacks. However, if he shares time, don’t expect him to be worth a roster spot.

Chandler Harnish, Northern Illinois – Harnish teased fantasy owners with 326 passing yards and two scores in the season opener against Minnesota. However, a foot injury would sideline him for a couple of weeks and was a bit rusty when he returned against Tennessee. Harnish rushed for 539 yards last year and if he can start all 12 games, look for 700 yards on the ground, while tossing over 2,000 and 15 scores.

Giorgio Morgan, Kent State – Fantasy owners may remember Morgan from 2007, when he completed 23 of 36 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns in limited work. The sophomore has to hold off Anthony Magazu to win the job, but is worth a look for a late-round pick in 120 leagues.

Mountain West

Ryan Lindley, San Diego State – Lindley started off last year on a tear, throwing for over 270 yards in three of his four games. However, a shoulder injury limited his effectiveness in the middle of the year and finished with 16 touchdown tosses. If Lindley manages to stay healthy, 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns is well within reach.

Pac-10

Andrew Luck, Stanford – If you are willing to roll the dice on a redshirt freshman, Luck is one to keep in mind for a late-round pick. He ranked No. 43 in the 2008 Athlon Consensus 100 and threw for over 300 yards in the 2009 spring game. Although there will be a few bumps, Luck should develop into Stanford’s best passer since Trent Edwards.

Matt Scott, Arizona – Despite Willie Tuitama expiring his eligibility, the Wildcats have to feel pretty good about the quarterback position. Scott showed promise in limited action last year and will be especially dangerous with his dual-threat ability. Draft Scott as a late-round option and keep him in mind for spot starts against Central Michigan and Northern Arizona.  

SEC

Kodi Burns, Auburn – The Tigers will once again try to implement a spread attack, this time under the direction of Gus Malzahn. Over the last two years at Tulsa, Malzahn’s offenses have averaged 44.2 points per game. Don’t expect that type of production from the Tigers, but Malzahn should find a way to get an overall boost from the Tigers in 2009.

Greg McElroy, Alabama - Don't expect many shootouts from the Crimson Tide, but McElroy will be throwing to one of the most talented receivers in the country in Julio Jones and has plenty of favorable matchups. With defenses keying on stopping the Crimson Tide running attack, McElroy will have plenty of opportunities to test defenses downfield. The junior won't post monster numbers, but keep him in mind as a QB4 or QB5.

Larry Smith, Vanderbilt – The Commodores have switched to a no-huddle attack, hoping to generate more production from the offense this season. Smith showed promise in the Music City Bowl, completing 10 of 17 passes for 121 yards. With a new offensive philosophy and the addition of receiver Terence Jeffers, Smith is looking like a player with a lot of promise.

Sun Belt

Dwight Dasher, MTSU – Dasher showed promise in his freshman season, throwing for 1,148 yards and nine touchdowns, along with 530 yards on the ground. However, he lost his starting spot last year to Joe Craddock, completing less than 40 percent of his passes and rushing for only 192 yards. With Craddock out of eligibility, Dasher should have the job and is under the direction of proven coordinator Tony Franklin. Despite Franklin’s troubles at Auburn last year, he should have no issues getting his offense off the ground at MTSU. With Clemson, Memphis and Maryland on the schedule in the first three weeks, the Blue Raiders may have a few growing pains. However, fantasy owners will be rewarded when conference play hits.

Riley Dodge, North Texas – Dodge played in the first three games of 2008, but was forced to redshirt due to a concussion. With the nation’s worst defense returning, the Mean Green will have plenty of shootouts on their hands this year. Considering Dodge played in the same offensive system in high school, he should have no trouble stepping into the full-time role this year.

WAC

Diondre Borel, Utah State – Under the direction of first-year coach Gary Andersen, the Aggies could be one of this year’s surprises in the WAC. A key factor to making a move up the standings will be improved offensive play, and Borel got better as the 2008 season progressed. Expect Borel to rush for over 600 yards, but should show solid improvement as a passer, likely topping 2,000 yards and 15 scores.

Deep sleepers

These passers aren’t ranked in our top 80, but keep an eye on them in fall practice.

Derek Carr, Fresno State – David Carr’s little brother has to beat Ebahn Feathers and Ryan Colburn for the starting job, but there’s plenty of upside with this pick. Even if he doesn’t win the job this year, keep Carr in mind for a keeper league selection.

Zach Frazer, Connecticut – New offense promises to speed up the tempo, but will he consistently top 250 passing yards?

Vic Hall, Virginia – If Hall beats Jameel Sewell and Marc Verica for the starting job, he could post 800 rushing yards this year.

G.J. Kinne/Shavodrick Beaver, Tulsa - Although Jacob Bower gets the early nod in our quarterback rankings, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Kinne or Beaver take the first snap of the season.

Kelly Page, Ball State – Can the Cardinals find the same offensive magic that led them to the MAC West title last year? Page hasn’t played a snap in college, but was a highly-regarded passer out of high school.

Tom Savage, Rutgers – Replacing Mike Teel won’t be easy, but Savage is one of this year’s top 10 freshmen quarterbacks.

2009 draft kit

Top 200
Quarterback rankings
Running back rankings
Wide receiver rankings
Tight end rankings
Kicker rankings
Team defense rankings
2009 Very early mock draft

Quarterback Profiles

ACC
Big East
Big Ten
Big 12
Pac-10
SEC
Non-BCS Part 1
Non-BCS Part 2

Follow us at Twitter: AthlonFantasy

Check out u-sports.athlonsports.com for more information on college fantasy leagues for the 2009 season.

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