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Anthony Richardson typically goes as the QB5 or QB6 in drafts, but he’s my top-ranked fantasy quarterback entering 2024.
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Fantasy points per dropback is one of the best future indicators, and Richardson just recorded the most FP/DB since Lamar Jackson’s historic 2019 season. Richardson averaged 29.2 fantasy points per four quarters (the most ever) as a rookie and matched C.J. Stroud in weekly top-five finishes despite missing most of the season. Richardson continued to show a strong ability to avoid sacks like in college, and he got 8.1 YPA over his final two games.
The Fantasy QB Paradox
Of course, Richardson’s incredible rushing ability is his fantasy cheat code — last year’s full-season pace would’ve led all quarterbacks in rush yards (925), rush TDs (26!), attempts (170) and designed runs (111). He had three carries inside the five-yard line (and ranked top-20 in red-zone rush attempts among QBs on the season) during 10 quarters of action. AR averaged an NFL-high 7.0 YPC during designed runs and doesn’t plan on changing his playing style in year two.
Richardson is in the fantasy sweet spot of his career, as there’s no way he runs this frequently once he eventually develops into a better passer/processor down the road. In other words, while Richardson is sure to become a better QB for the Colts in the future, this is what a fantasy apex might look like (48% of his fantasy production came from running as a rookie!).
Injury Risk
If Richardson’s shoulder soreness lingers into August I’ll re-evaluate my QB1 ranking, but he’s expected to be fully recovered for 2024. He’s 6’4” and now up to 255 pounds after adding serious muscle during the offseason — that’s 30 pounds heavier than the average NFL quarterback while running a 4.34 forty. Richardson is 22 years old and quite literally an athlete the QB position has never seen before.
All running quarterbacks carry extra health risk (to go…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/the-case-for-anthony-richardson-as-fantasy-football-qb1-143114335.html
Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2024-06-10 14:31:14
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