Fantasy football owners who invested a draft pick into Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo were forced to quickly scramble for a replacement when Romo went down with a broken collarbone in Week 2. But following his eight game absence on short-term IR, Romo is set to return this week against the Miami Dolphins.
Now a healthy Romo playing behind arguably the NFL's best offensive line last season was a solid fantasy asset, finishing 11th in standard scoring at the position. Overall, he threw for 3,705 yards with 34 touchdowns against just nine interceptions.
So, should owners expect that Romo to show up or a rusty Romo surrounded by a team that is in last place in the lackluster NFC East? ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates believes if you're hurting at QB then Romo is worth a roster spot.
"He's back. That's good news for the team, as the Cowboys have slipped to 2-7 and generated next to nothing offensively with backup QBs at the helm," Yates wrote. "Romo played in one full game this season and had 22 points, but that's not the evidence needed to justify him as an add; he's proved to be one of the best quarterbacks in fantasy football in seasons past. If you have any question marks at quarterback (and right now there are only a handful of sure things at the position), take a look at Romo."
At the very least, Romo could bounce back quickly against a susceptible Dolphins pass defense this week. Miami's defense ranks 20th in passing yards allowed per game (255), 22nd in passing touchdowns (17), 26th in yards per pass attempt (7.9) and 23rd in completion percentage (96.3). They are surrendering an average of 16.9 points per game to opposing QBs this year.
Yes, it may take some time for Romo to get his sea legs under him after such a long absence. But given his impressive offensive line and the improved health of wide receiver Dez Bryant, Romo is a quality option for anyone in a pinch at QB. If nothing else, he's worth a roster spot.
