Fantasy Sleepers in 2010: QB Matt Leinart

When Matt Leinart was selected with the 10^th overall pick in the 2006 draft, Arizona visualized Leinart as the future of the franchise.  A proven winner at USC with a 37-2 record, Leinart showed the poise and polish that many experts thought would make the transition to the pro level easier than that of a quarterback who wasn’t a frontrunner consistently in college.

Leinart was thrust into the starting role week 5 of his rookie campaign after Kurt Warner struggled early in the season.  Leinart started 16 out of the next 17 games over the next two seasons until he broke his collarbone early in the 2007 season.  Leinart threw for 3,194 yards with 13 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

Leinart has a multitude of weapons at his disposal in 2010 including WR Larry Fitzgerald (97 rec, 1,092 yards, 13 TD), WR Steve Breaston (61 rec, 692 yards, 6 TD), RB Beanie Wells (176 att, 793 yards, 7 TD), and RB Tim Hightower (143 att, 598 yards, 8 TD).

While Leinart already failed as a starting quarterback in the league, he gets another chance to succeed after sitting the last two years.  For quarterbacks in Leinart’s position, recent trends suggest much success for the new Arizona Cardinal starting quarterback.

• Aaron Rodgers (replacing Brett Favre): 1^st season- 4,038 yards; 28 TD, 13 INT
• Alex Smith (replacing Shaun Hill): 1^st season (11 games) – 2,350 yards; 18 TD, 12 INT
• Vince Young (replacing Kerry Collins): 1^st season (12 games) – 1,879 yards; 10 TD, 7 INT
• Chad Henne (replacing Chad Pennington): 1^st season (14 games) – 2,878 yards; 12 TD, 14 INT
• Matt Cassel (replacing Tom Brady): 1^st season- 3,693 yards; 21 TD, 11 INT

According to Fantasy Football Calculator, Leinart’s ADP (average draft position) is 21^st overall on the quarterback list. In a standard 15 round fantasy football mock draft, Leinart was still available in the 10^th round 87 out of 115 times.

In Arizona, the starting quarterback job is Leinart’s to lose.  The Cardinals are now consistent favorites in the NFC west and Leinart should thrive in a system that will be run-first, taking pressure off his shoulders.

Be prepared to target Leinart in your 2010 fantasy draft as a backup with great upside.