Fantasy Index

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

Factoid

Mr. Jones

Jones sizzles in first start

So far, so good for Daniel Jones. The numbers he put up at Tampa Bay compare favorably to what other rookie quarterbacks have done in their first starts.

In the last 10 years, 31 other quarterbacks have been selected with first round picks. (That’s 2009 to 2019, so I’m actually tossing in a bonus 11th year.) Only one of those players passed for more yards in his first start: Cam Newton.

Including his 2 rushing touchdowns, Jones finished with 4 TDs. Only one of the other quarterbacks in this group did that: Marcus Mariota (who won his initial start in a showdown game with fellow rookie Jameis Winston.) Two others managed 3 TDs: Newton and Josh Freeman.

On the downside, Jones joins Baker Mayfield as the only ones to lose 2 fumbles. And both of this year’s first-round starters took 5 sacks in their first start.

But Jones is off to a rocking start. His preseason numbers were better than any of these guys, and now he’s also done it on the field (at least once).

FIRST-ROUND QUARTERBACKS, FIRST START
YearPlayerOppResultYardsTDIntTDR
2009Matthew Stafford, Det.N.O.L 27-45205031
2009Josh Freeman, T.B.G.B.W 38-28205310
2009Mark Sanchez, NYJat Hou.W 24-7272110
2010Tim Tebow, Den.at Oak.L 23-39138101
2010Sam Bradford, St.L.Ariz.L 13-17253130
2011Christian Ponder, Minn.G.B.L 27-33219220
2011Cam Newton, Car.at Ariz.L 21-28422211
2011Jake Locker, Tenn.N.E.L 14-34229110
2011Blaine Gabbert, Jac.at Car.L 10-16139110
2012Robert Griffin III, Wash.at N.O.W 40-32320200
2012Andrew Luck, Ind.at Chi.L 21-41309130
2012Brandon Weeden, Clev.Phil.L 16-17118040
2012Ryan Tannehill, Mia.at Hou.L 10-30219030
2013EJ Manuel, Buff.N.E.L 21-23150200
2014Teddy Bridgewater, Minn.Atl.W 41-28317001
2014Blake Bortles, Jac.at S.D.L 14-33254120
2014Johnny Manziel, Clev.Cin.L 0-3080020
2015Marcus Mariota, Tenn.at T.B.W 42-14209400
2015Jameis Winston, T.B.Tenn.L 14-42210220
2016Carson Wentz, Phil.Clev.W 29-10278200
2016Paxton Lynch, Den.Atl.L 16-23223110
2016Jared Goff, LARMia.L 10-14134000
2017Patrick Mahomes, K.C.at Den.W 27-24284010
2017Deshaun Watson, Hou.at Cin.W 13-9125001
2017Mitchell Trubisky, Chi.Min.L 17-20128110
2018Sam Darnold, NYJat Det.W 48-17198210
2018Baker Mayfield, Clev.at Oak.L 42-45295220
2018Josh Allen, Buff.LACL 20-31245120
2018Josh Rosen, Ariz.Sea.L 17-20180100
2018Lamar Jackson, Balt.Cin.W 24-21150010
2019Kyler Murray, Ariz.Det.T 27-27308210
2019Daniel Jones, NYGat T.B.W 32-31336202

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index