Athlon continues its 2010 college fantasy draft kit with a look at the Big East and Independent quarterbacks.

Big East Fantasy Quarterback Rankings and Profiles

Fantasy points based upon standard scoring system – passing touchdowns = 4 pts, rushing touchdowns = 6 pts, 25 passing yards = 1 point, 10 rush/receiving yards = 1 point, receptions = 0.5 points, 2 point conversions = 2 points

1. Zach Collaros, Cincinnati (JR) – Bye Weeks – 5, 10
In only four starts filling in for starter Tony Pike, Collaros averaged 27.9 fantasy points per game. Throw in a 27.08-point second half against South Florida and its obvious why a Cincinnati quarterback won’t slip too far down draft boards in 2010. The gunslinger is talented enough to already have a 132-yard (2 TD) rushing performance as well as a 480-yard passing game.

Athlon’s Take: Collaros might have been a top-10 QB option nationally with Brian Kelly still in place. His talent and productivity are apparent the glaring question is how does the Cincy offense look without its star receiver Mardy Gilyard and master architect?

2009 Stats – 153.76 fantasy points
Passing: 1,434 yds, 10 TDs, 2 INT
Rushing: 344 rush yds, 4 TDs

2. B.J. Daniels, South Florida (SO) – Bye Weeks – 3, 9
This elite athlete was thrust into action when senior Matt Grothe was injured early last season. He proceeded to post back-to-back 100-yard rushing efforts, finishing the year with almost 800 yards and 9 TDs on the ground. His passing, however, was erratic and inconsistent at best — he completed only 53-percent of his passes. He is only a sophomore so his raw athletic ability will be very intriguing to fantasy owners this season.

Athlon’s Take: Few players in the nation have the raw explosiveness that Daniels possesses. But there are a lot of questions concerning consistency, the new staff and his supporting cast. Daniels could be the primary spokesman for Rolaids this fall.

2009 Stats: 210.24 fantasy points
Passing: 1,983 yds, 14 TDs, 9 INTs
Rushing: 772 rush yds, 9 TDs

3. Tom Savage, Rutgers (SO) – Bye Weeks – 3, 9
As a true freshman, Savage started all but two games a season ago. He was a highly touted prospect coming out of high school and proved his size and arm strength were no fluke by posting a solid freshman campaign. Savage threw only seven interceptions in nearly 300 attempts as a freshman. The emergence of do-everything talent Mohamed Sanu affords him a weapon most teams do not have, so a major step forward in production should be expected this fall.

Athlon’s Take: Savage has NFL ability and should only get better with more time under center. The offense will always be run-first but with uber-talent Sanu catching his passes, the burly passer has plenty of room to improve his stats.

2009 Stats: 126.76 fantasy points
Passing: 2,211 yds, 14 TDs, 7 INTs
Rushing: (-105) rush yds, 1 TD

4. Geno Smith, West Virginia (SO) – Bye Weeks – 5, 10
Smith is another talented dual-threat sophomore passer in a league full of them. Smith got the least experience of all, however, and will spend more time early in the year adjusting. He has all the tools to be a special player and proved in limited duty (32 for 49) that he could be an efficient passer as well as a talented runner.

Athlon’s Take: Smith has tremendous athletic ability, which fits the system perfectly. With a great offense around him, he has loads of upside and could be a steal on draft day — IF he can hold off highly touted incoming freshman Barry Brunetti.

2009 Stats: 13.38 fantasy points
Passing: 309 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT
Rushing: 7 rush yds

5. Tino Sunseri, Pittsburgh (SO) – Bye Week – 3, 10
Much like Nassib, Sunseri was good enough last season to earn the starting job but lack of experience pushed Bill Stull into action. He was efficient in his back-up role last season and can make every throw in the playbook. He has loads of talented weapons around him, so outperforming his draft status should be a relatively easy task.

Athlon's Take: Sunseri has some weapons around him, but Pittsburgh's run-first offense limits his fantasy value. Sunseri would be a good spot starter in select leagues, but shouldn't be an option in 120, two-quarterback formats.

2009 Stats: 12.56 fantasy points
Passing: 114 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT
Rushing: (-2) rush yds

6. Ryan Nassib, Syracuse (SO) – Bye Week - 5
Nassib is a strong armed, athletic player who actually earned the starting job in Syracuse last spring before Mr. Paulus showed up on campus. He saw action in each of the final five games throwing only one interception in 68 pass attempts for the year.

Athlon’s Take: Nassib was good enough to be the starter last season, so there is some value here. But other than Delone Carter, the team around him is mediocre, so his upside is limited.

2009 Stats: 33.68 fantasy points
Passing: 422 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: 26 rush yds.

7. Zach Frazer, Connecticut (SR) – Bye Weeks – 7, 10
The Connecticut quarterbacks will never be asked to air it out but Frazer is a veteran, dependable presence on a conference contender. Frazer struggled early and then missed five games to a knee injury but returned to reel off four straight wins to end the year. He has a fantastic offensive line, great running game and a decent collection of pass-catchers.

Athlon’s Take: There is some intriguing value here but the offense does not lend itself to big numbers. Also, keep in mind back-up Cody Endres is more than capable, so if Frazer struggles at all, he could lose his job.

2009 Stats: 64.36 fantasy points
Passing: 1,461 yds, 10 TDs, 9 INTs
Rushing: -28 rush yds
 
8. Adam Froman, Louisville (SR) – Bye Week – 4
This senior has a slight edge in Louisville’s three-way quarterback battle. Froman has the size headman Charlie Strong wants but does he have the leadership qualities needed to succeed? He showed signs late in the year with 486 yards (40 of 70) and two scores against South Florida and Rutgers to end the year.

Athlon’s Take: Justin Burke, Will Stein and potentially freshman Dominique Brown will push Froman for time in fall camp. It may not matter who wins the job, however, as the offense has a long way to go before earning fantasy relevancy — UL averaged 209 yards passing last season.

2009 Stats: 84.66 fantasy points
Passing: 1,354 yds, 6 TD, 5 INT
Rushing: 78 rush yds

9. Barry Brunetti, West Virginia (FR)
10. Justin Burke, Louisville (SR)
11. Charley Loeb, Syracuse (SO)
12. Cody Endres, Connecticut (JR)
13. Chazz Anderson, Cincy (JR)
14. Will Stein, Louisville (SO)
15. Pat Bostick, Pitt (JR)
16. Dominique Brown, Louisville (FR)
17. Jamius Gunsby, South Florida (FR)
18. Coley White, West Virginia (SO)
19. Steve Shimko, Rutgers (SO)
20. Jeremy Johnson, West Virginia (FR)

Independents

1. Ricky Dobbs, Navy (SR) – Bye Weeks – 4, 13
Prior to last fall, this triple-option threat was heralded by the Navy staff as the best passing quarterback Navy has had in recent history. Dobbs then proceeded to break the NCAA single-season rushing touchdown mark by a quarterback with 27 scores. A loaded backfield returns to help out and the Midshipmen will face only three BCS opponents — Wake Forest, Maryland and Duke — in what could turn out to be a very manageable schedule.

Athlon’s Take: Speed, power, accuracy, experience, leadership and the triple option attack make Dobbs an elite fantasy option this fall. While repeating 27 rushing touchdowns is unlikely, Dobbs is still easily a top-ten fantasy quarterback.

2009 Stats: 276.9 fantasy points
Passing: 1,031 yds, 6 TDs, 3 INTs
Rushing: 1,192 rush yds, 27 TDs

2. Dayne Crist, Notre Dame (SO) – Bye Week – 10
In Brian Kelly we believe. In six seasons as an FBS head coach, Kelly’s offenses have averaged 262 yards passing, over 400 yards of total offense and 30 points per game. Crist was an elite recruit who has all the tools to excel in the Kelly system — if he makes the full recovery from ACL surgery as expected.

Athlon’s Take: This Irish roster will be the best Kelly has had in his coaching career and Crist is likely the most talented quarterback he has ever had. With an outstanding collection of pass-catchers, Crist could post huge numbers in South Bend this fall.

2009 Stats: 9.8 fantasy points
Passing: 130 yds, TD, INT
Rushing: 16 rush yds

3. Trent Steelman, Army (SO) – Bye Weeks – 8, 13
Ricky Dobbs-lite posted solid rushing stats as a freshman and with an experienced and deep offensive line returning, Steelman has a chance to push the 1000-yard, 10-TD mark on the ground. However, this offense finished dead last in passing (72 ypg) and nearly dead last in scoring (15 ppg) nationally a season ago. In final three games of the season, Steelman did show some improvement as both of his 100-yard rushing games sandwiched a 174-yard passing performance.

Athlon’s Take: Steelman has some value in leagues where rushing stats are valued over the passing numbers but until the offense as a whole can prove it can produce even just average numbers, his upside is limited.

2009 Stats: 133.0 fantasy points
Passing: 637 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: 706 rush yds, 5 TD

4. Andrew Hendrix, Notre Dame (FR)
5. Kriss Proctor, Navy (JR)
6. Chip Bowden, Army (SR)
7. Luke Massa, Notre Dame (FR)
8. Nate Montana, Notre Dame (JR)

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