Final Rookie Report Card: Quarterbacks
Throughout the season, the Rookie Report Card has covered some of the biggest rookies and not only looked at their performance to date – but also their long term upside. Now that the regular season has wrapped up and fantasy owners are looking towards the future, we have an opportunity to take one last look at the 2016 season and assess the rookies – A final report card if you will.
We covered 33 rookies throughout the season, including five quarterbacks. Let’s put a bow on the season by taking one more look at those signal callers’ first shot under center on Sundays. As well as a quick glimpse into their futures.
Dak Prescott, QB DAL
Season Stats: 311/459 passing (67.8%), 3667 yards, 23 touchdowns, four interceptions, 57 carries, 282 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns
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When I wrote about Prescott in the week six edition of the Rookie Report Card, I concluded by calling him an excellent developmental quarterback with the potential to be a regular in fantasy lineups at some point. After accounting for nearly 4,000 yards and 29 touchdowns however, many will argue that he should already be a weekly top-12 quarterback but I’m not quite ready to say that.
Prescott was brilliant in his rookie season. His athleticism and arm strength were eye popping and the accuracy he displayed had to surprise even his biggest fans.
Although I obviously agree with all of that and am encouraged by his improving pocket presence and impressive ball security, nobody can argue that Prescott benefited massively from playing behind an elite offensive line and with top-end playmakers at running back, wide receiver and tight end.
Prescott should without a doubt be seen as a top-12 dynasty quarterback but putting him any higher than eight is a mistake in my opinion and there are still easily a dozen quarterbacks I’d rather have starting for my fantasy team in 2017 in most weeks – especially if the team is a contender.
Carson Wentz, QB PHI
Season Stats: 379/607 passing (62.4%), 3,782 yards, 16 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, 46 carries, 150 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns
Wentz was my favorite signal caller in the 2016 NFL draft and although he threw only two more touchdowns than interceptions and struggled at times, he continues to be the quarterback from the class that I believe has the biggest upside.
Despite his inconsistency, Wentz showed flashes of brilliance at times during his rookie year. His composure in the pocket and quick release are impressive and his accuracy on the run makes his athleticism lethal.
Although he can’t be depended on as anything more than a QB2 entering 2017, I firmly believe that Wentz is a franchise quarterback with the upside to be an elite fantasy asset for years to come. And if the Eagles are able to put an impactful pass catcher in the huddle with him for next season, his rise could start as early as this September.
Jared Goff, QB LA
Season Stats: 112/205 passing (54.6%), 1,089 yards, five touchdown, seven interceptions, eight carries, 16 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown
Despite being a bigger fan of Wentz during the draft process, I still felt like Goff had the arm strength, accuracy and quick release to be a useful dynasty quarterback. After seeing him struggle through his condensed rookie season (outside a good half of football against the Saints back in week 12) and seeing the Rams change the coaching staff and most likely the offense that he plays in going into year two however, I’m concerned he may never reach that upside.
Goff has many of the tools necessary for a quarterback to be successful but is missing many of the components around him including consistency with the offense he plays in, quality pass protection and playmakers on the perimeter. I’m not counting him out to someday become a useful fantasy quarterback but if I got an offer I liked for him I wouldn’t hesitate to move on from the former Golden Bear.
Paxton Lynch, QB DEN
Season Stats: 49/83 passing (59.0%), 497 yards, two touchdown, one interception
Although he didn’t look terrible in his three games of action as a rookie, Lynch wasn’t all that impressive either – particularly in his week 13 start against the Jaguars.
I was never a big fan of Lynch due to his inaccuracy and inability to consistently get in a rhythm and throw with quickness and anticipation in college. Unfortunately, those weaknesses followed him to his rookie year in Denver as he regularly missed passing windows on slants and crosses to Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders in his limited time on the field and was erratic when he did get the ball out of his hands.
I called him a back-end NFL starter when he was drafted and Lynch didn’t give me any reason this year to think he outperform those expectations. If I owned him in a 2QB league, I’d be looking to unload him this off-season.
Cody Kessler, QB CLE
Season Stats: 128/195 (65.6%), 1,380 yards, six touchdowns, two interceptions
Kessler protected the ball well and was relatively accurate on short to intermediate throws as a rookie but didn’t show anything to suggest he can be an every week NFL starter – let alone a weekly fantasy contributor. His smarts and accuracy will keep him in the NFL as a backup but his insistence to check the ball down rather than push the ball down the field will keep him from making an impact for dynasty owners.
Jacoby Brissett, QB NE
Season Stats: 34/55 passing (61.8%), 400 yards, 16 carries, 83 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown
Brissett wasn’t half bad filling in for the suspended Tom Brady and injured Jimmy Garoppolo back in September. Although he didn’t fill the box score, he was accurate, stood strong in the pocket, made plays with his legs and displayed a rifle arm.
Garoppolo is signed through next season but he could be traded in the coming months which would open the door for Brissett to be the primary backup to Brady. His Ben Roethlisberger-esque size and ability to take a hit in the pocket only to stay on his feet and deliver a throw make him worth keeping on the radar for those in 2QB and super-flex leagues.
Connor Cook, QB OAK
Season Stats: 14/21 (66.7%), 150 yards, one touchdown, one interception
Many saw Cook as the fourth or fifth best quarterback in this past year’s draft but I wasn’t nearly as high on the former Spartan and he showed why in his Wild Card start against the Texans on Saturday. Horribly inaccurate, he misses far too many rhythm throws on slants and quick outs to be a consistent NFL starter. Although he releases the ball on time, he’s way too erratic to help your dynasty team.
Cook belongs on the waiver wire in all formats.
Christian Hackenberg, QB NYJ
Season Stats: None
I was relatively high on Hackenberg back in April. With ideal size (6’-4”, 223 pounds), a good arm and the ability to avoid the rush in the pocket and deliver the ball, I felt that he had the upside to overcome the troubles with accuracy that he showed while at Penn State. Unfortunately we never got to see him on the field as a rookie though.
Many might read into the Jets keeping Hackenburg inactive despite their horrible woes at quarterback as a sign that he’s a bust but I feel they likely had a plan to redshirt him in 2016 come hell or high water. A top prospect coming out of high school that played extremely well in a pro system with Bill O’Brien back in his freshman year, I’m willing to keep him on my bench in 2QB and super-flex leagues.
Cardale Jones, QB BUF
Season Stats: 6/11 passing (54.5%), 96 yards, zero touchdowns, one interception
Another young quarterback with inconsistent accuracy, Jones has good size (6’-5”, 253 pounds) and arm strength but struggles to hit receivers in stride and isn’t very good moving through progressions or anticipating throws.
Many dynasty owners are holding out hope that with the news of Tyrod Taylor potentially moving out of Buffalo, Jones could step into the starting role. I won’t be holding my breath. Instead, I’d be waiting for Taylor to become a free agent in March and hope a fellow owner wants to invest in the former Buckeye signal caller.
Check back next week as I’ll give final grades to most of the rookie running backs with the wide receivers and tight ends coming later in the NFL playoffs.
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