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Jacoby Brissett

Backup probably not as popular as some think

The most popular player on a lot of teams is the No. 2 quarterback. Sometimes it happens even when the starter is a star, ala Tom Brady and former backup Jimmy Garoppolo, or Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater. And there's some of that going on with Jacoby Brissett.

Colts GM Chris Ballard was asked about Brissett in an interview recently, and he said he hadn't received any compelling trade offers. It's only surprising if you think Indianapolis is sitting on some future franchise quarterback, rather than a nice career backup.

When Andrew Luck missed the entire 2017 season, Brissett filled in and did a credible job. You know, sort of. He had 17 total touchdowns and just 7 interceptions, striking some as a savvy pickup in the preseason. But let's not get too crazy about it.

Brissett showed enough skills that he belongs in the league as a viable No. 2 quarterback. But he averaged only 203 passing yards, plus the Colts went 4-12. Among all quarterbacks who started most of the season that year, only four put up fewer fantasy points than Brissett. That's in a scoring system with 4-point TD passes, 6-point runs, and 1 point for every 20 passing and 10 rushing yards.

QB FANTASY PRODUCTION, 2017
PlayerPassTDPRunTDRFF
Russell Wilson, Sea.3983345863416
Cam Newton, Car.3302227546367
Tom Brady, N.E.457732280364
Kirk Cousins, Was.4093271794355
Matthew Stafford, Det.444629980352
Alex Smith, K.C.4042263551348
Philip Rivers, LAC451528-20338
Carson Wentz, Phil.3296332990335
Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt.425128470333
Dak Prescott, Dall.3324223576326
Drew Brees, N.O.433423122322
Blake Bortles, Jac.3687213222319
Jared Goff, LAR380428511313
Matt Ryan, Atl.4095201430299
Case Keenum, Min.3547221601289
Andy Dalton, Cin.332025990276
Marcus Mariota, Tenn.3232133125275
Derek Carr, Oak.349622660273
Jameis Winston, T.B.3504191351273
Tyrod Taylor, Buff.2799144274263
Josh McCown, NYJ2926181245261
DeShone Kizer, Clev.2894114195261
Eli Manning, NYG346819261258
Jacoby Brissett, Ind.3098132604257
Joe Flacco, Balt.314118541242
Jay Cutler, Mia.266619320213
Trevor Siemian, Den.2285121271181
Mitchell Trubisky, Chi.219372482176

Considering he was a virtual rookie thrust into a new offense on the eve of the season, Brissett did fine. But he did nothing to suggest any of the NFL's other teams should view him as a future franchise quarterback. He looks like a nice No. 2, and the Colts need that as much as any of the league's other franchises. Most likely, he'll be Luck's backup this year, and sign somewhere next year -- maybe with Indianapolis -- as a backup again.

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index