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Andy Richardson

Waiting for Winston

Interception-prone passer can't find work

I'm surprised that no one has signed Jameis Winston. I get that he throws a lot of interceptions, so NFL decision-makers have a different perspective on the guy than me, a fantasy football writer. But if you can set aside the turnovers (and clearly Bruce Arians couldn't), he's been pretty impressive.

Winston has been in the league since 2015. In his five-year career, he's averaged 292 total yards and nearly 2 TDs per game. That works out to over 23 fantasy points (1 point for 20 passing and 10 rushing yards, 4-point TD passes). Among quarterbacks with at least 20 starts in those five seasons, that's 10th. The only guys better than him have been among the very best and decorated quarterbacks in the NFL over that span.

QUARTERBACKS PER START, 2015-2019
PlayerStPYdRYdTDINTPts
Lamar Jackson22193.280.12.36.4128.1
Patrick Mahomes31303.616.12.58.5827.5
Deshaun Watson37259.832.92.30.7626.4
Andrew Luck38281.918.02.291.0525.4
Cam Newton63232.035.51.98.8624.0
Drew Brees73292.9.92.21.5923.9
Ben Roethlisberger58295.03.41.951.0223.6
Russell Wilson80247.326.52.05.5323.6
Aaron Rodgers71258.718.22.06.3823.5
Jameis Winston70277.014.51.831.2123.2
Matt Ryan79291.47.51.84.7122.9
Tom Brady76280.42.82.07.4722.9
Dak Prescott64246.519.11.84.5622.4
Kirk Cousins79266.86.41.92.6622.2
Carson Palmer38286.41.91.87.8422.1
Josh Allen27188.541.31.74.7822.1
Blake Bortles60245.022.21.68.9721.7
Philip Rivers80282.71.21.81.9521.7
Carson Wentz56253.414.01.79.6321.6
Ryan Fitzpatrick50252.316.01.741.1021.5
Matthew Stafford72268.28.31.78.6821.5
Baker Mayfield29253.59.41.791.2121.1
Jared Goff54263.34.01.72.7820.8
Ryan Tannehill50235.612.61.78.7620.6
Jimmy Garoppolo26259.14.41.69.8120.5
Andy Dalton69244.08.71.68.7520.2
Tyrod Taylor46199.236.11.43.3920.0
Alex Smith56235.920.61.43.4520.0

Of course, you can't dismiss all the interceptions. In those same five seasons, Winston averaged 1.2 interceptions per game. That's the worst rate in the league.

INTERCEPTIONS PER START, 2015-2019
PlayerStPYdRYdTDINTPts
Jameis Winston70277.014.51.831.2123.2
Baker Mayfield29253.59.41.791.2121.1
Ryan Fitzpatrick50252.316.01.741.1021.5
Sam Darnold26226.57.71.501.0818.6
Andrew Luck38281.918.02.291.0525.4
Ben Roethlisberger58295.03.41.951.0223.6
Brock Osweiler30220.47.91.101.0016.5
Blaine Gabbert21204.621.01.241.0017.7
Blake Bortles60245.022.21.68.9721.7
Trevor Siemian25221.67.01.16.9616.6
Philip Rivers80282.71.21.81.9521.7
Jay Cutler34217.27.61.32.8817.0
Eli Manning67257.81.61.63.8819.7
Joe Flacco59246.43.41.29.8618.3
Cam Newton63232.035.51.98.8624.0
Carson Palmer38286.41.91.87.8422.1
Jimmy Garoppolo26259.14.41.69.8120.5
Jared Goff54263.34.01.72.7820.8
Josh Allen27188.541.31.74.7822.1
Josh McCown27240.69.81.56.7819.9
Ryan Tannehill50235.612.61.78.7620.6
Deshaun Watson37259.832.92.30.7626.4
Andy Dalton69244.08.71.68.7520.2
Case Keenum52227.85.81.27.7517.2
Nick Foles24201.12.51.00.7514.6
Marcus Mariota61214.522.11.44.7219.2
Matt Ryan79291.47.51.84.7122.9
Mitchell Trubisky41208.621.01.34.7118.5
Matthew Stafford72268.28.31.78.6821.5
Sam Bradford34246.62.81.29.6817.8
Kirk Cousins79266.86.41.92.6622.2
Derek Carr78250.35.21.60.6419.7
Brian Hoyer22234.52.21.32.6417.3
Carson Wentz56253.414.01.79.6321.6
Drew Brees73292.9.92.21.5923.9
Patrick Mahomes31303.616.12.58.5827.5
Dak Prescott64246.519.11.84.5622.4
Teddy Bridgewater22207.010.71.23.5516.7
Russell Wilson80247.326.52.05.5323.6
Tom Brady76280.42.82.07.4722.9
Alex Smith56235.920.61.43.4520.0
Lamar Jackson22193.280.12.36.4128.1
Jacoby Brissett32196.817.51.25.4117.2
Tyrod Taylor46199.236.11.43.3920.0
Aaron Rodgers71258.718.22.06.3823.5

But is it really impossible that these things can be coached out of Winston? Can't he be developed past it by a patient coaching staff? Look at the quarterbacks that are up in his range, including generally favorably regarded youngsters Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. Should their teams also be planning to move on from them?

Winston is 26 years old. He's a prolific passer. Yes, he's been a prolific interception-thrower.

I just find it hard to fully marry the fact that when the season starts we're going to potentially see Mitchell Trubisky/Nick Foles, Tyrod Taylor, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brian Hoyer/Jarrett Stidham, and Teddy Bridgewater leading offenses into battle, but not Winston. It's surprising that no one is inclined to give him a shot right now.

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