Fantasy Football Rookies: Ranking the Young Quarterbacks

They are the future in both reality and fantasy football, but we can dwell on reality later.

Fresh out of the college game, most of these rookie quarterbacks won't blow up fantasy football this year, barring horrific shake-ups on the depth charts.

Do any have the skills and potential worthy of a steal in this year's fantasy draft? Probably not.

But should the situation arise where a quarterback is in dire need, from best option to lesser option, look at some rookies who will be keen at the chance to see the field.

Sam Bradford

Bradford enters the league with the Rams as the No. 1 overall draft selection in 2010, and expectations are very high for the ex-Sooner.

He's got prototype size for the position at 6'4", 228 lbs. and has a cannon of an arm that coaches dream about.

The biggest question surrounding Bradford is his durability. He's shown to be brittle in the past after some injuries at Oklahoma, but there are very few skeptics surrounding his abilities at quarterback.

With one of the strongest arms in the class, great vision and mobility, Bradford is expected to pick up the starting spot in St. Louis.

Make no mistake, apart from Stephen Jackson, his offensive weapons are not great. Deep-threat Donnie Avery could be Bradford's go-to guy, but until he solidifies his position in the league—and the Rams pick up some better skill players—Bradford's fantasy potential is dormant.

Jimmy Clausen

Clausen can do the things an NFL quarterback is asked to do. He's got a big arm, accuracy and throws a tight spiral, making the catch easier on his receivers.

He doesn't have Golden Tate anymore to make the circus catches that had most Irish fans spoiled for two years.

Beneath Matt Moore and Hunter Cantwell in the Panthers depth chart at quarterback, Clausen will be waiting his turn should things unravel for the two above him.

Though he's buried for playing time, his time under Charlie Weis's pro-style offense will benefit him greatly heading into the next few years of his career.

For those keeper leagues, Clausen's development will be something to keep an eye on, especially if you see yourself needing a good QB option down the road.

Tony Pike

Pike sits firmly behind Clausen at quarterback in Carolina.

Will we see him this year? No.

But his skill set translates well to the NFL.

Pike has huge size at 6'6", 223 lbs. His vision down the field is spectacular as expected, but his arm strength is a big plus.

Buying his time to find the right system tailored to his abilities will be critical before Pike jumps onto the scene.

Colt McCoy

McCoy's abilities in the short passing game should not be overlooked at the professional level. His accuracy in the short and middle yardage areas is sublime and was his bread and butter at Texas.

But he's got no Jordan Shipley in Cleveland, so he might have to find another roommate (Shipley's father roomed with McCoy's father) and start building chemistry right away.

McCoy's deep ball has always been a question mark, and landing in Cleveland where quarterbacks have mostly come to burn out probably isn't the best start for the former Longhorn.

Nevertheless, accuracy is paramount for a quarterback at this level. If McCoy can develop a deep ball and the arm strength to build consistency, he has all the makings of a great fantasy option.

McCoy's keeper league status is on hold right now. His progress in Cleveland will be something to watch, and if he comes on in the same way he made splashes at Texas, he could be a hidden gem in a few years.

Tim Tebow

Tebow will ultimately be judged on his progression to the professional level.

Everyone knows about his leadership and his grit on the field, but he can't go Barry Sanders on NFL linebackers and expect to have a lengthy career.

Will his new throwing mechanics hold up at the top level and can he fit the ball into smaller windows than he's probably ever seen?

In a couple of years, there will definitely be better options at quarterback from a fantasy standpoint.

Draft him to give the rest of your league a chuckle or two.

But if you're skeptical of the quarterback situation in Denver, and you're in a keeper league, Tebow may not be such a bad selection in a couple of years. Keep eyes on him when he starts to get real playing time.

The Best of the Rest

Dan LeFevour and Zac Robinson headline the best of the rest from this year's quarterback draft class.

LeFevour was a dual-threat option at Central Michigan, but will have to adjust to the speed and strength of the NFL. This isn't the MAC anymore, and he's never seen an A.J. Hawk before.

But should he progress like some expect, he may only be destined for a backup role behind Jay Cutler in Chicago.

Unless things go very sour for the Bears in the coming years, which is not entirely out of the question given the recent history of quarterbacks in the organization, LeFevour may be hard pressed to have a fantasy impact. Stay tuned.

Zac Robinson comes out of a good system at Oklahoma State where he showcased his abilities very well in Stillwater. While he isn't a wow quarterback, he can make the throws, but may lack the intangibles and leadership that are so imperative at the professional level.

But the Patriots have had success drafting quarterbacks late in the draft, with Tom Brady going in the sixth round in 2000 and Robinson in the seventh round in 2010.

Robinson will have to buy his time while Brady's career begins to wind down. Who knows, maybe in a couple of years Robinson will emerge as a legitimate piece.