Fantasy Index

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Factoid

Kirk Cousins

Cousins avoids picks -- and also top-end production

Working on an overview of the Vikings, I notice that Kirk Cousins pulled off an usual statistical feat last year. He threw 20 more touchdowns than interceptions yet finished only 19th in fantasy scoring at his position. It hardly seems possible.

Yet, there it is. Cousins didn’t pass as much last year, and he wasn’t much of a factor as a runner. Eighteen other quarterbacks finished with better numbers (using standard scoring). If you want to instead look at points per game, Cousins drops down to 24th – a bottom-10 quarterback.

I had to check the numbers to see if this had been done before. I see 82 quartebacks since the merger who’ve thrown 20 more touchdowns than interceptions. Only four ranked lower than 15th in scoring, and in each case, missed games were a factor. (Drew Brees started only 11 games last year, Tom Brady had a four-game suspension in 2016, and only 10 starts for Nick Foles in 2013.)

Cousins also finished with 20 more touchdowns than interceptions in the 2018 season. He ranked 8th among quarterbacks that year.

Only five quarterbacks have put together three-year streaks, and they’re all greats – Brees, Brady, Peyton Manning, Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers.

20 MORE TOUCHDOWNS THAN PICKS
YearPlayerGSTDIntDiffPtsRk
2013Peyton Manning, Den.16551045498.81
2018Patrick Mahomes, K.C.16501238496.11
2011Drew Brees, N.O.16461432478.41
2019Lamar Jackson, Balt.1536630463.01
2007Tom Brady, N.E.1650842462.11
2011Aaron Rodgers, G.B.1545639455.92
2015Cam Newton, Car.16351025455.51
2004Daunte Culpepper, Min.16391128450.51
2011Tom Brady, N.E.16391227446.74
2016Aaron Rodgers, G.B.1640733446.31
1984Dan Marino, Mia.16481731445.51
2014Andrew Luck, Ind.16401624443.41
1998Steve Young, S.F.15361224441.91
2012Drew Brees, N.O.16431924437.41
2013Drew Brees, N.O.16391227437.32
2018Matt Ryan, Atl.1635728428.23
2011Matthew Stafford, Det.16411625427.75
2004Peyton Manning, Ind.16491039427.72
2016Drew Brees, N.O.16371522422.42
2017Russell Wilson, Sea.16341123415.81
2016Matt Ryan, Atl.1638731414.93
1994Steve Young, S.F.16351025413.81
1986Dan Marino, Mia.16442321413.01
2014Aaron Rodgers, G.B.1638533412.02
2012Aaron Rodgers, G.B.1639831411.62
2015Tom Brady, N.E.1636729410.42
2009Aaron Rodgers, G.B.1630723409.31
1995Brett Favre, G.B.16381325408.81
2018Andrew Luck, Ind.16391524405.94
2000Jeff Garcia, S.F.16311021405.32
2012Tom Brady, N.E.1634826404.63
1990Warren Moon, Hou.15331320400.02
1999Kurt Warner, St.L.16411328398.91
2015Russell Wilson, Sea.1634826398.54
2018Jared Goff, LAR16321220397.26
2014Peyton Manning, Den.16391524394.03
1999Steve Beuerlein, Car.16361521390.22
2019Russell Wilson, Sea.1631526383.75
2014Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt.1632923383.75
2012Peyton Manning, Den.16371126383.66
1996Brett Favre, G.B.16391326382.61
2015Carson Palmer, Ariz.16351124382.05
1995Scott Mitchell, Det.16321220381.32
2015Drew Brees, N.O.15321121378.96
2006Peyton Manning, Ind.1631922375.51
2009Drew Brees, N.O.15341123373.32
2015Eli Manning, NYG16351421367.77
2018Aaron Rodgers, G.B.1625223367.07
2001Jeff Garcia, S.F.16321220364.32
2017Tom Brady, N.E.1632824363.73
2015Aaron Rodgers, G.B.1631823363.58
2018Kirk Cousins, Min.16301020360.18
2013Philip Rivers, S.D.16321121358.26
2004Donovan McNabb, Phil.1531823357.83
2018Drew Brees, N.O.1532527356.99
2018Philip Rivers, LAC16321220354.110
2018Russell Wilson, Sea.1635728351.912
2008Philip Rivers, S.D.16341123348.95
2010Tom Brady, N.E.1636432348.06
2017Alex Smith, K.C.1526521347.66
1998Randall Cunningham, Min.14341024347.13
2019Carson Wentz, Phil.1627720344.39
2011Tony Romo, Dall.16311021343.89
2009Brett Favre, Min.1633726343.67
2014Tom Brady, N.E.1633924343.211
2019Patrick Mahomes, K.C.1426521341.410
2017Carson Wentz, Phil.1333726334.78
2019Aaron Rodgers, G.B.1626422334.412
2005Carson Palmer, Cin.16321220331.91
2014Tony Romo, Dall.1534925327.413
2016Derek Carr, Oak.1528622325.912
2013Tony Romo, Dall.15311021321.213
1997Jeff George, Oak.1629920320.33
2007Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt.15321121320.18
2017Jared Goff, LAR1528721313.313
2019Kirk Cousins, Min.1526620298.519
2016Tom Brady, N.E.1228226298.121
2013Nick Foles, Phil.1027225296.717
1998Vinny Testaverde, NYJ1329722295.27
2004Drew Brees, S.D.1527720291.311
2010Matt Cassel, K.C.1527720276.315
2019Drew Brees, N.O.1127423262.625

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index