Fantasy Index

header banner img
OUR FANTASY BASEBALL MAGAZINE IS BACK! PRE-ORDER NOW
Win here.

Factoid

Not ready for prime time

Jackson struggles for third straight game

Watching Lamar Jackson firing footballs over people’s heads and taking sacks, it’s apparent he’s not going to be ready to move into the starting lineup this season. He’s just not ready.

There was talk in June and July about bringing him in for special packages – short-yardage situations or formations with two quarterbacks. But that doesn’t seem particularly likely to me. It looks like Joe Flacco is dialed in to have the best season of his career. I don’t think they’d want to mess with that by turning him into a yo-yo quarterback.

Jackson needs work. Lots of it. Maybe they can get him ready to start in 2019 or 2020, but he’s clearly not ready now.

In three preseason games he’s completed only 18 of 43 passes, with 6 sacks.

In the last 10 years, 32 quarterbacks have been chosen with first-round picks. All of them in the preseason of their rookie year completed a higher percentage of passes in these practice games. Only one was sacked more often.

Completion percentage isn’t necessarily everything. Cam Newton completed only 42 percent in his rookie preseason, then went out and threw for over 400 yards in both of his first two games. EJ Manuel, meanwhile, completed 79 percent of his passes in the preseason of his rookie year, and his career never got off the ground.

These are just numbers. Sam Darnold is sitting at 72 percent, but I don’t think he’s going to be a factor as a rookie either. (I think Darnold will play, but I don’t think he’ll play well.)

But for Jackson, to me he looks unprepared to be a starter. I think he’s headed for a redshirt year.

COMPLETION PERCENTAGE, FIRST-ROUND QUARTERBACKS
YearPlayerAttComYardsPctTDInt
2013EJ Manuel, Buff.332619978.8%20
2018• Sam Darnold, NYJ292115872.4%11
2015Marcus Mariota, Tenn.302132670.0%11
2017Mitchell Trubisky, Chi.533636467.9%30
2014Derek Carr, Oak.453032666.7%41
2011Jake Locker, Tenn.493231665.3%21
2009Mark Sanchez, NYJ372434764.9%31
2012Robert Griffin III, Wash.312019364.5%20
2017Patrick Mahomes, K.C.543439063.0%40
2014Blake Bortles, Jac.513252162.7%20
2012Andrew Luck, Ind.664152262.1%32
2014Teddy Bridgewater, Minn.493028361.2%50
2010Sam Bradford, St.L.553333860.0%30
2016Paxton Lynch, Den.684045858.8%42
2008Matt Ryan, Atl.593429457.6%21
2018• Josh Allen, Buff.321817656.3%20
2018• Josh Rosen, Ariz.291614855.2%10
2011Christian Ponder, Minn.492729055.1%10
2009Matthew Stafford, Det.553038954.5%14
2018• Baker Mayfield, Clev.331828754.5%20
2012Ryan Tannehill, Mia.784141452.6%11
2008Joe Flacco, Balt.673528452.2%10
2017Deshaun Watson, Hou.562939751.8%01
2014Johnny Manziel, Clev.593029650.8%20
2011Blaine Gabbert, Jac.703536550.0%11
2016Carson Wentz, Phil.24128950.0%01
2012Brandon Weeden, Clev.492429749.0%01
2015Jameis Winston, T.B.472331148.9%02
2009Josh Freeman, T.B.492223844.9%13
2016Jared Goff, LAR492223244.9%22
2011Cam Newton, Car.572430042.1%10
2018Lamar Jackson, Balt.431820141.9%21

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index