J.P. Losman

Losman has gone from “Quarterback of the Future” to “Quarterback of the Future’s Backup” in less than two years. The Bills have decided to toss their eggs into Trent Edwards’ basket, leaving Losman to sit and wait for Edwards to get injured or removed due to ineffectiveness. Should either happen, Losman would become a useful No. 2 fantasy quarterback, but as it stands now he shouldn’t be drafted in most leagues. He’s still a talented player who threw for over 3,000 yards and 19 touchdowns in his only full year as a starter, so look for Losman to enter free agency after this season with an eye towards battling for a starting job somewhere in 2009.

We don’t want to go out of our way looking for shreds of evidence of development in young QBs. But this jumps out at you. Losman really came on in the second half of 2006, throwing 12 TD passes with about a 90 QB rating, which is worthy of a starting spot in deep leagues. We’re highlighting what is often an arbitrary slice of time (second-half stats) because Losman is just 24 starts into his career. It’s reasonable to expect continued improvement, and there’s a decent chance for a quantum leap. While Lee Evans is a dynamite, play-making receiver, the other weapons in the passing game are limited except for maybe Roscoe Parrish, who can make plays in the slot as a third or fourth receiver. Rookie RB Marshawn Lynch should help move the chains as a runner and receiver. But the Bills are likely to have merely a workmanlike offense. And 200 passing yards with one score or maybe two on a good week doesn’t thrill. Yes, Losman can run a little, but not consistently enough to produce needed points. Last year, the Bills were about average in run/pass splits in the first half of games, and their offseason moves suggest the plan is to tip the scales more heavily toward the run. There are some signs in the spring/summer, however, that the Bills plan to open up the playbook this season, because almost everyone is back on offense and most are younger players with upside who are starting to "get it." The Bills will never be the Colts or the Patriots on this side of the ball, but add everything above up and we feel Losman makes for a very strong backup fantasy QB this season.

At least there’s one thing to like about the potential battle between Losman, Kelly Holcomb and Craig Nall: Steve Fairchild is the offensive coordinator. When he took over the play calling from Mike Martz in St. Louis last year he was so pass happy that he got into a fight with running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery, who wanted to use Steven Jackson more. Now the worries: Losman threw poor passes at a rate almost twice as high as Holcomb last season, with 18.4 percent. Losman made a couple of nice throws on mid-range bombs to Lee Evans, but that was it. Only 3-of-32 red-zone attempts became TDs, which is less than half the NFL average. We know next to nothing about Losman’s ability to respond to late-game pressure. Regardless of who wins the Bills' starting job, you'll need to cross your fingers if you choose to make them your fantasy QB, especially with a questionable receivers group once you get past Lee Evans. At least the kid can get you some running points if he wins the job, and the Bills say he's a lot more mature and has a better handle of his duties following last season's mess. Update: Losman had a strong preseason and won the starting him job, giving him some value as a No. 2 QB in mid-sized or deeper leagues.

With Drew Bledsoe now in Dallas, Losman, who missed his entire rookie season with a broken left leg, takes over the reins in Buffalo. Losman is agile and athletic, with quick feet and good speed, and he’s got a cannon for an arm. But with no NFL game experience and playing for a team in a cold, windy city with a run-first offense and a stout defense, Losman isn’t likely to be a great fantasy play in his first full season. On the bright side, Losman says his leg is fully healed, he developed a good understanding of the offense during the offseason and he has two good targets in Eric Moulds and Lee Evans.

Losman is a confident kid with a very strong arm and good mobility. People compared him closest to Brett Favre coming out of Tulane, though we're talking more skill set than anything resembling guaranteed stardom. Like Favre, Losman will force some throws when he first starts seeing game action, but the Bills spent a great deal to get him in the draft and he'll be brought along as Drew Bledsoe's future successor. Losman will miss significant time in 2004 after suffering a fractured fibula in practice.

Losman is a confident kid with a very strong arm and good mobility. People compared him closest to Brett Favre coming out of Tulane, though we're talking more skill set than anything resembling guaranteed stardom. Like Favre, Losman will force some throws when he first starts seeing game action, but the Bills spent a great deal to get him in the draft and he'll be brought along as Drew Bledsoe's future successor.