Sleeper Watch

Jake Plummer agreed to a seven-year contract with Denver on Wednesday, giving the Broncos an experienced young quarterback to replace Brian Griese. Plummer, who already has 82 NFL starts under his belt, could be entering his prime at age 28. Always considered talented, a change of scenery might be just what the doctor ordered to jump-start Plummer’s career. In 1998, he engineered several late-game comebacks to guide Arizona into the postseason for the first time since 1982, and led the Cardinals to their first playoff victory since 1947; most of his career, however, has remained below expectations.

Can we expect a better, more consistent Plummer now that he’s in Denver? Definitely. He’ll now have a top-notch running game to share the pressure, and a solid offensive line, allowing him more to to select his targets. Denver’s receivers won’t hurt Plummer’s numbers, either.

Last year, Plummer was either taken very late or left undrafted in most leagues; in 2003, he should be worth a mid-round pickup. Jake the Snake should make the most of this new opportunity, and turn into a decent fantasy option. Considering his age, he might be an inexpensive but valuable pickup in keeper leagues, too.