The NFL handed out its awards last night, with Lamar Jackson winning MVP and Michael Thomas the Offensive Player of the Year, among others. One of the more surprising ones was Kyler Murray winning Offensive Rookie of the Year.
This is not to suggest Murray wasn't deserving, just an acknowledgment that more commonly the award goes to a running back (Saquon Barkley last year). Four of the last six winners have been runners, with one quarterback (Dak Prescott in 2016) and one wide receiver (Odell Beckham in 2014). And there were a couple of impressive candidates, like 1,000-yard runner Josh Jacobs and 1,000-yard receiver A.J. Brown.
But Murray had an excellent season, passing for 3,722 yards and running for 544 more. Great fantasy season, too. This century, only three rookie quarterbacks have finished with more fantasy points (1 point for every 10 rushing or 20 passing yards, with 4-point TD passes and 6-point TD runs).
ROOKIE QUARTERBACKS, FF POINTS (2000-PRESENT) | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Yds | TDP | 2 Pt | Yds | TD | Pts |
2011 | Cam Newton, Car. | 4051 | 21 | 2 | 706 | 14 | 445 |
2012 | Andrew Luck, Ind. | 4374 | 23 | 0 | 255 | 5 | 366 |
2012 | Robert Griffin III, Was. | 3200 | 20 | 0 | 815 | 7 | 364 |
2019 | Kyler Murray, Ariz. | 3722 | 20 | 3 | 544 | 4 | 351 |
2015 | Jameis Winston, T.B. | 4042 | 22 | 1 | 210 | 6 | 349 |
2016 | Dak Prescott, Dall. | 3667 | 23 | 0 | 282 | 6 | 340 |
2012 | Russell Wilson, Sea. | 3118 | 26 | 0 | 489 | 4 | 333 |
2018 | Baker Mayfield, Clev. | 3725 | 27 | 2 | 131 | 0 | 311 |
2019 | Daniel Jones, NYG | 3027 | 24 | 2 | 279 | 2 | 291 |
2019 | Gardner Minshew, Jac. | 3271 | 21 | 3 | 344 | 0 | 288 |
2016 | Carson Wentz, Phil. | 3782 | 16 | 2 | 150 | 2 | 284 |
2013 | Geno Smith, NYJ | 3046 | 12 | 0 | 366 | 6 | 273 |
2011 | Andy Dalton, Cin. | 3398 | 20 | 0 | 152 | 1 | 271 |
2015 | Marcus Mariota, Tenn. | 2818 | 19 | 3 | 252 | 3 | 270 |
2017 | DeShone Kizer, Clev. | 2894 | 11 | 0 | 419 | 5 | 261 |
2010 | Sam Bradford, St.L. | 3512 | 18 | 0 | 63 | 1 | 260 |
2012 | Christian Ponder, Min. | 2935 | 18 | 1 | 253 | 2 | 258 |
2006 | Vince Young, Ten. | 2199 | 12 | 1 | 552 | 7 | 257 |
2018 | Josh Allen, Buff. | 2074 | 10 | 1 | 631 | 8 | 257 |
2014 | Derek Carr, Oak. | 3270 | 21 | 0 | 92 | 0 | 257 |
2008 | Matt Ryan, Atl. | 3440 | 16 | 1 | 104 | 1 | 254 |
2012 | Ryan Tannehill, Mia. | 3294 | 12 | 2 | 211 | 2 | 250 |
2001 | Chris Weinke, Car. | 2931 | 11 | 0 | 128 | 6 | 239 |
2008 | Joe Flacco, Balt. | 2971 | 14 | 1 | 180 | 2 | 237 |
2012 | Brandon Weeden, Clev. | 3385 | 14 | 0 | 111 | 0 | 236 |
2014 | Blake Bortles, Jac. | 2908 | 11 | 1 | 419 | 0 | 233 |
2014 | Teddy Bridgewater, Min. | 2919 | 14 | 2 | 209 | 1 | 233 |
2004 | Carson Palmer, Cin. | 2897 | 18 | 2 | 47 | 1 | 232 |
2018 | Sam Darnold, NYJ | 2865 | 17 | 0 | 138 | 1 | 231 |
2003 | Byron Leftwich, Jac. | 2819 | 14 | 0 | 108 | 2 | 220 |
2004 | Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt. | 2621 | 17 | 0 | 144 | 1 | 219 |
2013 | Mike Glennon, T.B. | 2608 | 19 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 210 |
2017 | Deshaun Watson, Hou. | 1699 | 19 | 2 | 269 | 2 | 204 |
2009 | Mark Sanchez, NYJ | 2444 | 12 | 2 | 106 | 3 | 203 |
A good year for rookie quarterbacks. Daniel Jones and Gardner Minshew weren't Week 1 starters, but both also finished with impressive campaigns. Between their passing and rushing production, both also finished as top-10 rookie quarterbacks over the last 20 years.
A quick glance at the list shows that it's too soon to say any of three will go on to be superstars, NFL or fantasy. The presence of Robert Griffin, Marcus Mariota, DeShone Kizer and Geno Smith in the top 20 makes that clear.
But I think it's pretty likely that Murray, at least, keeps things going and builds on this in years to come. Jones probably; Minshew, we'll see.
--Andy Richardson