Tony Romo's Injury Makes Brandon Weeden Potential Deep-League Fantasy Sleeper

You're probably here for one of two reasons: 1) You saw the headline and, much like a train wreck, had to at least peak at the wreckage, or 2) you're desperate for a fantasy quarterback.

Either way, you're here. And now you get to witness my attempt to sell you on Grandpa Brandon Weeden. Hang on.

First, this obviously depends on whether Tony Romo suits up Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio cited a league source who believes Romo will miss time with his newest back injury, while Jerry Jones, via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Clarence Hill, suggested it will depend on how the incumbent is feeling Sunday:

If that's truly the case, it's hard to imagine Romo not playing. Remember, this is the guy who played through a broken rib and punctured lung. He is easily among the toughest players in the NFL.

Still, the Cowboys are 6-2. While this week's matchup against the Cardinals is key for inside track on the No. 1 seed in the NFC, they play Jacksonville next week before a bye. It would certainly make sense to hold Romo out, ensuring he's healthy for the much more important stretch run.

You're likely going to have to wait until Saturday or possibly Sunday morning (early start, so you'll know in time) before Dallas makes a decision, but owners in either ultra-deep or two-quarterback leagues should have Weeden on their radar.

The most important factor here is the offense around him. Weeden pretty much got laughed off the face of the planet during two miserable seasons with the Cleveland Browns, but he's not playing for the Cleveland Browns anymore.

As far as wide receivers go, Dez Bryant and Josh Gordon are pretty comparable (although he only had three starts with Gordon last year), but instead of Greg Little or Davone Bess, Weeden's got burgeoning star Terrance Williams. In the run game, instead of Willis McGahee, Chris Ogbonnaya or Edwin Baker, he has DeMarco Murray—the best in the game right now—to lean on.

And now he's playing behind arguably the best offensive line in football, as SmartFootball.com's Chris B. Brown and former NFL tight end Anthony Becht noted:

Although it was in limited action last Monday, Weeden played well in Romo's absence. He completed four of six passes for 69 yards and a touchdown and would have had two scores if not for a drop by Bryant.

NFL.com's Jeff Darlington put it simply:

"Brandon did a good job coming in,” Jason Witten said, via ESPNDalls.com's Todd Archer. “When you’re in those situations, you can’t blink. Obviously it’s not ideal, but you just trust the system and trust those guys that are coming in.”

Against a Cardinals defense that is 21st in the NFL in yards per pass allowed (7.6) and was just torched by Nick Foles for 411 yards and two touchdowns, Weeden has the system and surrounding weapons to produce a decent day.

He doesn't necessarily have to be good in real life to have fantasy success. Let monsters Bryant and Williams rack up yards after the catch. Dump some throws off to Murray and let him do the work. Hit one or two deep balls on play action against what is likely to be a stacked box.

Weeden is still Weeden, but there's potential here. And if you're missing Matt Ryan, Jay Cutler, Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford or Kyle Orton (or Romo), and options are limited, he's worth a serious look.