Posted by Eric Karabell
That sure didn't look like the
Vince Young of old leading the
Tennessee Titans down the field for a 99-yard touchdown drive in the closing minutes against the
Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The Young we remember from his 2006 rookie season derived much of his fantasy football value as a runner. The Young who delivered 12 or 13 fantasy points in each of his first four starts this season did so by being a smart game-manager and avoiding mistakes. On Sunday, though, Young was able to play the role of pocket passer, showing poise and maturity -- not to mention an accurate arm -- in directing an impressive game-winning drive.
Young was the 22nd-most-active quarterback in ESPN standard leagues this week, officially active in 6.6 percent of leagues. That's not too many, but I can't say I blame fantasy football owners for looking elsewhere. Even while Young was leading the Titans to four straight wins heading into Week 12, he wasn't really doing much for fantasy owners. Accruing 12 and 13 fantasy points per week is nice, and certainly doesn't hurt, but it also doesn't play a large role in victories. Young was headed to another fantasy performance like this, but then he added eight fantasy points on the final drive, a total of 19 in all. Now it seems fair to wonder if Young is turning into someone we need to take a long look at it in fantasy football.
For most fantasy owners, it's going to take quite a bit more than a final-minute drive to persuade us that Young has turned the corner and become a safe fantasy asset. However, when the matchup is right -- and it will be in Weeks 14 and 15 -- I likely will rank Young on a tier with other flawed and unpredictable backup fantasy quarterbacks, players who have been unreliable. I mean, there are at least 10-12 quarterbacks you have to call safe at this point of the season: Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Brett Favre, Matt Schaub, Tony Romo, Carson Palmer, Donovan McNabb and, when healthy, Ben Roethlisberger and Kurt Warner. That's actually 12 quarterbacks in any given week. But after that, things get messy, and while Young's ascension into this group might not seem like a big deal, I think it is. Who really is No. 13? Eli Manning has a foot problem. Jay Cutler has an interception problem. David Garrard has a road-performance problem. Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco each have a sophomore problem. Whom else can you trust? When Young meets the brutal St. Louis Rams in two weeks, it's quite possible he might be a top-15 quarterback! Who would have guessed that a month ago?
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Eric Karabell
