Summer Sleeper: Josh Portis

At DLF, we realize you’re probably looking for sleepers around this time of year. You’ll be combing sites all over the place looking for that special gem to unearth.

It’s mostly a waste of time.

Most sleeper lists this year consist of names like Mike Thomas, Mark Ingram and Josh Freeman. Really?  Like you don’t know who they are already. Our goal is to focus on some deeper sleepers who could very well fizzle out, but may also emerge into viable options in dynasty leagues.

Are we going to be wrong this year?  Yep.  Are we going to be right this year, too?  Yep.  We have no problem sticking our reputations out there on these types of articles because we’ve been right more often than not.

The journey of  Seattle Seahawks quarterback Josh Portis to the NFL is about the most unconventional you’ll see, outside of grocery store clerk Kurt Warner. We’ll get into his long, strange trip from the past in a moment, but as of now, he’s clearly on the radar as a ‘Summer Sleeper” in dynasty leagues. Let’s take a closer look at Clinton’s little cousin.

After attending three different High Schools, Portis received multiple offers from several Division I schools. He settled on Florida and played there sparingly in 2005. Seeing himself buried on the depth chart, he decided to leave school.

Portis transferred to Maryland where he was forced to sit out a season due to NCAA transfer rules. During that year, he was caught cheating on an exam and suspended for the entire 2007 season as well. After two years on the shelf, he finally found himself playing again, but again sparingly and decided to transfer yet again.

In 2009, Portis transferred to California University of Pennsylvania. In 2009, he passed for a school-record 3,421 yards and 36 touchdowns after completing 224-of-407 attempts.  He also rushed for 449 yards and one touchdown on 97 attempts. In 2010, Portis was just as efficient, finishing with 2,651 passing yards and 33 touchdowns while completing 205-of-335 attempts. Unfortunately, he was also charged with theft, receiving stolen property, and fraud for using a stolen credit card at a nearby mall.

After going undrafted, Portis signed on with the Seattle Seahawks in late July. Since that time, he’s shown a lot of ability on the practice field and many wondered if it would translate on the field as well.

It did.

In the Seahawks first preseason game, Portis went 5-for6 for 69 yards and the game tying touchdown. He also carried the ball four times for seven yards and led the go-ahead touchdown drive to seal the game.

The Seahawk depth chart is pretty thin at the moment and the coaches are beginning to make us think Portis has a legitimate chance to make this team. With only Tarvaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst ahead of him at the moment, that alone qualifies him as a sleeper.

Sure, he has some character issues. He also has a lot of athleticism and natural ability. If you have an open roster spot for a deep sleeper, Portis should get some consideration.