Despite leading the ACC in passing efficiency as a freshman, and leading the nation in completion percentage as a sophomore, Riley Skinner is probably not the type of quarterback you want on your fantasy team. The reason is of course: touchdowns. Skinner has thrown only 21 in two seasons. He will also be missing his top-2 targets from 2007-Kenny Moore (1,011) and Joe Tereshinski (355). With such a high completion percentage, Skinner should see his interception total drop (13), but big games from Skinner will be few and far between.
The same comments used about the Maryland quarterbacks holds true here as well. Daniel Evans and Harrison Beck have not distinguished themselves as average players in their careers at NC State. The only quarterback to even take a flier on would be Mike Glennon, one of the top quarterback recruits in the nation.
Perhaps the worst draft pick of 2008 would be using it on a Terrapin quarterback. One of 3 men: Chris Turner, Jordan Steffy, or Josh Portis will win the starting job. Unless you are a card-carrying psychic, it would be wise to avoid the triumvirate of Maryland quarterbacks. Heck, even if you know who is going to win the job, there’s a good chance the numbers he posts will be less than stellar. In his 7 seasons in College Park, no quarterback under Friedgen has thrown more than 19 touchdowns in a season. That trend is very likely to continue this season.
It’s breakout time. No, I’m not guaranteeing the ‘Noles will be back in the ACC Championship Game, but quarterback Drew Weatherford should post his best numbers since his freshman year (3,208 yards and 18 touchdowns). With 3 years of sporadic starting experience, another year under offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, the return of his two best receivers (Greg Carr and Preston Parker), and no competition from Xavier Lee, look for Weatherford to be one of the ACC’s best quarterbacks. Aside from Weatherford though, it may best to stay away from Florida State’s other position players.
That Clemson Tiger offense that you enjoyed so much in 2007, well it’s practically all back in 2008. For die-hard Tiger fans dead-set on seeing their team in the ACC Championship game, that’s a good thing. For fantasy footballers, it depends on who you pluck from the Tigers.
Quarterback Cullen Harper led the ACC in passing efficiency in 2007. With such continuity on offense, he should once again have a strong season. However, it should be noted that Harper threw only 6 interceptions in his first season as a starter. Turnovers have a way of bounding up and down throughout a players career, based on arbitrary bounces and random chance. Harper should once again be one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC, yet he may not match last year’s stats.
