When you're looking to draft a quarterback this year for your fantasy team, one of the names that probably doesn't pop to the forefront is Vikings QB Donovan McNabb.
And if we're being honest, that's a fair statement. Last year, McNabb had the worst season of his career while he was with the Washington Redskins, but he had a few things going against him last year.
1) He was with the Washington Redskins
2) The Washington Redskins were terrible. They had no running game to speak of, and other than Santana Moss, McNabb had no real legitimate receiving threats.
3) He was with the Washington Redskins.
4) The crazy-eyed Mike Shanahan who's been around Dan Snyder was the coach, not the crazy eyed Mike Shanahan who once upon a time a football genius.
Most current projections have McNabb as a guy that is ranked in the mid 20's, well down the list of quarterbacks to go after, and behind (depending on what list you look at) such luminaries Cam Newton, Jason Campbell, Alex Smith, and Chad Henne.
Alex Smith, Chad Henne, and a rookie on a 2-14 team are ahead of McNabb...really? I could maybe...MAYBE...buy off on Newton, if he hadn't been drafted by the worst team in the league, and has no one to throw to. But ranking Henne and Alex Smith ahead of McNabb is just idiotic, in my opinion. Yes, Brandon Marshall is on the Dolphins, but that's negated by the teal interception machine that is Chad Henne. Smith?
C'mon, man. Alex Smith? That's just ridiculous.
Now, is McNabb a starter? No, not in either a 10 or 12 team league, but McNabb is a solid sleeper pick in later rounds, and is a guy that's going to do a lot better than he's being projected for. With a solid running game and a multitude of receivers to throw to (Percy Harvin, Michael Jenkins, Visanthe Shiancoe) McNabb is worth a late round draft pick to sit on your bench as a backup...early on.
But as the season progresses, I look for McNabb to have a mini-renaissance with the Vikings and put up soild numbers, and will be a solid pickup if a frontline starter gets injured or is on his bye week.
Keep your eye on him, I will be.