The Best Players to Stash in Fantasy Football From the NFC East
Mark Sanchez, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
The Player
I avoided the temptation to go with Tim Tebow here. You’re welcome.
While his decision-making has always been deficient, last year proved that the Eagles’ offense could make a productive player out of just about anyone, with Mark Sanchez producing a 27-touchdown pace. As long as that player remains healthy, that is, which Sanchez has been able to do much more effectively than his main competitor at the position, Sam Bradford.
Very few would argue that Sanchez is the more talented player, but his health and experience in the system, to go along with the ability that made him the fifth overall pick in the 2009 Draft, make him a likely candidate to win the battle for the starting job for the Eagles. Whoever wins that job is a candidate to be a very productive fantasy quarterback.
The Opportunity
Pundits have been quick to anoint the former first-overall pick, Bradford, as the starter in Philadelphia, yet nothing we have seen to this point would indicate that we should trust either his health or his ability. While Bradford has hobbled around during OTAs and mini camp, his re-draft average draft position has settled around 17th at the quarterback position. The fact is that the former Rams quarterback has struggled to stay on the field for most of his career, including suffering his second major knee injury in 2014.
Sanchez, on the other hand, is in his second year in the system and has been the sharpest quarterback on the field according to beat writers for the team. He possesses the quick release and accuracy desired in the Chip Kelly system, and last year posted a respectable Passing NEP per drop back of 0.15, ranking 12th among 37 quarterbacks to attempt at least 200 drop backs last season and making him about as efficient as Joe Flacco (0.16). That is nothing to write home about, but it is by far the best of his much maligned career. Bradford has secured a Passing NEP drop back better than zero just once (0.02 in 2012).
While Sanchez is far from being an unknown commodity like many others on this list, he isn’t being selected in most re-draft leagues. We all know the starters for this team at running back, receiver and tight end, and I doubt anyone will emerge from obscurity to play a large role for this team. Sanchez, on the other hand, could do just that.
