Quarterback is one of fantasy football's most interesting position. There's no doubt having an elite QB - i.e. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning - can be a big time plus for an owner, but the reality of it is over half of your fantasy league is going to end up with a second- or third-tier guy as their starter.  That means that having a good backup quarterback is going to be important for 50% to 60% of the teams you play against.  Getting a guy with upside as your QB as a late-round bargain or early-season waiver wire pickup has proven to be a successful formula for owners in the past, if they get the right guy.

One of my top candidate's to be that guy this year is the Vikings' Tarvaris Jackson.  Before you start going to uncontrollable laughter let me tell you why:

SURROUNDIGS - Minnesota has the best offenisve line in the league, perhaps the best running game (Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor), one of the league's premier defenses and quietly a much-improved receiving corps (added Bernard Barrian this off-season and Sidney Rice is on the rise).

SCHEDULE - The Vikings have a favorable schedule. In fact, it's real favorable to quarterbacks (9th best schedule for a QB - based off of fantasy points allowed to QB last season).

STRONG FINISH - Jackson threw for seven TD's and ran for two more over his last six games in '07 as he became more acquainted with the offense as the season progressed and averaged 190 PaYd per game, including 220 or more yards passing in 2 of his last 3 games.

JOB SECURITY -  Gus Frerotte is currently the Vikings' next best option.

I am not saying Jackson is going to be a Pro-Bowler by any strecth of the imagination. Still, I a firm believer this guy could finish as a top 12-15 quarterback as soon as this season. He looked really good in Minnesota's first preseason game vs. the Vikings on Friday night, going 8 for 11 for 118 yards and a TD in about a quarter of work. We currently have him as the No. 25 quarterback on the GSI Cheat Sheet, but a game or two more like this and he will move up quickly. 

Fantasy Football vikings, tarvaris jackson, adrian peterson, chester taylor, bernard berrian, sidney rice