Fantasy Football Rankings 2012: Tim Tebow, Sleeper Quarterback

We are officially into Week 1 of the 2012 NFL season, which means drafts are just about wrapped up, and it is now time to start figuring out your starting lineup. However, whether you are completing a last-minute draft or you are scouring the waiver wire for any potential sleepers, SB Nation fantasy has a name that might surprise you.

Tim Tebow.

There is a reason Tim Tebow is not appearing in the average draft position calculator for 12-team leagues. Tebow seems like more likely to play fullback than quarterback when the season opens. He is likely going to get some option- and wildcat-type plays, but not enough to justify inserting him into a starting lineup. Mark Sanchez isn’t exactly a great fantasy option either, but he is more likely to earn significant fantasy points in these opening weeks.

Instead, Tebow’s value lies as somebody you can stash on your bench early in the season. If Tebow can ever work his way into the starting lineup, his scrambling skills more than make up for his inability to hit the broadside of a barn with some of his passes. If you look at Tebow’s 2011 game log, you’ll see strong rushing totals with timely rushing touchdowns. His passing numbers were all over the board, but if you are in a league that gives quarterbacks four points per passing touchdown, those six-point rushing touchdowns are all the more valuable.

There are two positives to stashing Tebow on your bench now. On the one hand, he could emerge as the Jets’ starter and actually provide real value either to your team or as a trade chip. On the other hand, if after a month Sanchez appears locked in as the starter, Tebow provides easy waiver fodder when bye weeks get going in Week 4.

When it comes to finding sleepers, fantasy owners often have to zig when the other owners are preparing to zag. Stashing a guy like Tim Tebow on your bench could be that much needed zig.

In the meantime, here are our quarterback rankings to get you set for Week 1.

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