Titans' Will Levis named fantasy football's top "sleeper" QB

Another day, another article that gives Tennessee Titans fans hope about the development of Will Levis this season.

Levis was a polarizing prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft, and several analysts have refused to change their opinions on him, regardless of the bright flashes we witnessed throughout his rookie season.

As the summer moves forward, people have branched out and actually looked at the numbers. Those who have watched Levis' games are suddenly starting to believe in his stock rising.

One of the first converts was Warren Sharp. Whether he knows it or not, his data this offseason has continued to point to Levis being a productive QB, one whose supporting cast let him down.

This offseason he has posted stats that show that Levis was top 10 in:
-Efficiency against two safety looks
-Early down EPA/attempt from a clean pocket
-Percent of third-down incompletions that were the receiver's fault
-Red zone accuracy
-Incompletions that were on the receiver and not an accuracy issue
-Pressure rate

Whether you want to look at the advanced stats or compare the raw stats for quarterbacks, Levis doesn't get enough credit for how good he was. People use vague statements to be derogatory about Levis like saying, "But he has to be more careful because he won't be as lucky with turnovers this year." and things of that nature.

That isn't the standard other quarterbacks are held to. For instance, Trevor Lawrence has turned the ball over more than any other quarterback in the league over the previous three seasons, Anthony Richardson has a one-to-one touchdown pass-to-interception ratio, and Josh Allen averages 16 interceptions per year over the last three seasons, including 18 last year. No one is trying to put qualifiers on their upcoming seasons that aren't rooted in fact.

The advanced stats prove that Levis was an asset more often than not, not a problem in the Titans offense. The Titans' entire offseason was based around the idea of building around Levis because they think he can be much better with improved coaching and more talent on the offensive line and at wide receiver.

Those stats and that outlook bring us to why PFF recently called Will Levis the top sleeper in fantasy football this year.

In that article, PFF breaks down everything that Titans fans have been talking about since Mike Vrabel was fired in January. For the first time in the history of the franchise, there is an offensive coach and a GM who are in lockstep in their philosophy about building an offense to support the quarterback and the passing game.

The emphasis on the offensive line and specifically the addition of Lloyd Cushenberry, who specializes in pass protection, shows a commitment to rethinking the job of the offensive line in Tennessee.

The same goes for adding Calvin Ridley, a receiver who is known for his speed and route running instead of his blocking ability. You can throw Tyler Boyd in the mix as well because teams don't need veteran slot-only receivers unless they are planning on using 11 personnel, which has been Brian Callahan's preferred pass-heavy formation.

While consistency and efficiency are going to be important for Levis this season, he is still a gunslinger at heart. Don't forget, this is the guy who led the entire NFL in average depth of target (ADOT, per PFF) last season at 11.1 yards, and he should continue believing in his explosive play ability with a real deep threat like Ridley on the roster.

The great thing about that ADOT is that it means that opposing defenses are going to have to drop guys further back in coverage, even if Levis' ADOT regresses this year, which it should. Combine that with more 11 personnel, and Titans fans are going to see boxes that look wide open instead of the eight or nine men that previous Titans offenses have routinely faced.

More space in the box means more chances for Levis to tuck it and run (safely), which makes him even more valuable as a fantasy commodity.

For the first time since the Titans moved to Nashville, the volume, coaching, and talent is present for this to finally become an offense that passes the ball like the rest of the good offenses in the NFL. Keep that in mind and don't panic in a few weeks when you watch quarterbacks come off the board right before your pick. Stay calm, stick to your strategy, and remember that Will Levis is a great option in the late rounds of your fantasy draft.