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Factoid

Lamar Jackson

Heisman winner has unusual mobility for a quarterback

Can Lamar Jackson cut it as a quarterback? Does he have the accuracy and arm talent? Some believe he’s better suited to succeed as a wide receiver.

For me, Jackson has shown enough potential as a thrower that he deserves a shot behind center. He won the Heisman two years ago, and he’s thrown 57 touchdowns versus only 19 interceptions the last two years (that’s in 26 games). He completed only 56 and 59 percent in those seasons, so I can’t say with any certainty that he’ll develop into a viable NFL starter, but he might.

Like all young quarterbacks, it will help his cause greatly if he gets hooked up with the right coaching staff that can properly develop him.

For the here and now, I am far more interested in what Jackson can do with his legs. He’s got unusual speed and elusiveness. Let’s see what he runs the 40 in, but he reminds me of Michael Vick – just faster and more athletic than the guys trying to tackle him.

That speed should help create some big plays in the passing game, and I expect Jackson will also run for 30-40 plus yards in a lot of his games. He ran for a ton of yards and touchdowns at Louisville.

In each of the last two years, Jackson has run for over 1,500 yards. I have picked through the college numbers of all of the other quarterbacks drafted in the first and second rounds this century. None of them ever ran for 1,500 yards in a college season.

I have no idea where Jackson will be chosen or how much he’ll play anytime soon. But if he gets into the starting lineup in 2018 or 2019, that rushing production might help him post top-20 fantasy numbers (among quarterbacks) when he’s on the field.

COLLEGE QUARTERBACKS / RUSHING STATS
YearPlayerAttYardsAvgTD
2016Lamar Jackson2321,6016.9018
2017Lamar Jackson2601,5716.0421
2010Cam Newton2641,4735.5820
2012Johnny Manziel2011,4107.0121
2010Colin Kaepernick1731,2066.9720
2009Colin Kaepernick1611,1837.3516
2008Colin Kaepernick1611,1307.0217
2015Deshaun Watson2071,1055.3412
2004Vince Young1671,0796.4614
2005Vince Young1551,0506.7712
2003Vince Young1359987.3911
2007Jake Locker1729865.7313
2015Lamar Jackson1639605.8911
2009Tim Tebow2179104.1914
2007Tim Tebow2108954.2623
2008Robert Griffin III1738434.8713
2014Marcus Mariota1357705.7015
2013Johnny Manziel1447595.279
2012Marcus Mariota1067527.095
2013Marcus Mariota967157.459
2011Robert Griffin III1796993.9110
1999Michael Vick1316825.219
2008Tim Tebow1766733.8212
2014Carson Wentz1386424.656
2010Robert Griffin III1496354.268
2004Alex Smith1356314.6710
2016Deshaun Watson1656293.819
2000Michael Vick1046175.938
2007Colin Kaepernick1055935.656
2006Tim Tebow894695.278
2015Patrick Mahomes1314563.4810
2010Andrew Luck554538.243
2003Alex Smith1494523.035
2008Josh Freeman1074043.7814
2002Jay Cutler1233933.209
2009Jake Locker1123883.467
2010Jake Locker1143853.386
2004Jay Cutler1093493.206
2014Paxton Lynch1133212.8413
2012EJ Manuel1033103.014
2016Mitchell Trubisky933083.315
2011Ryan Tannehill583065.284

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index