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Tyrod Taylor

Will running quarterback start for Chargers?

In Peter King's latest column, which is an interesting read primarily for its NFL Draft tidbits, he says he's been told that Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn is legitimately high on Tyrod Taylor as the team's starting quarterback. It's exactly what I'd want people to think if I was hoping to draft or trade up for a top prospect, but let's take him at his word for a moment.

Lynn didn't make the PR nightmare move of benching Philip Rivers for Taylor last year, and Taylor didn't last very long in Cleveland two years ago. But Lynn was an offensive assistant and then coordinator in Buffalo in 2015 and 2016, for two years of Taylor's three-year run as the Bills' starting quarterback. Taylor in three seasons went 8-6, 7-8 and 8-6 as Buffalo's quarterback, getting to them to the playoffs in the last of those seasons (where they lost at Jacksonville, which went on to narrowly lose to New England in the AFC Championship).

So Taylor had some modest success in Buffalo. And he was a viable fantasy quarterback, too.

In 46 starts over the last five seasons, Taylor averaged 20 fantasy points per game (1 point for every 10 rushing yards and 20 passing yards, with 4-point TD passes and 6-point TD runs). Key to his value is his rushing production; he's averaged 36 rushing yards per game. Among quarterbacks to start at least 25 games over that span, the only guy to run for more yards per game is Buffalo's other starting quarterback the last five years: Josh Allen.

QUARTERBACKS PER GAME, 2015-2019 (25-PLUS STARTS)
PlayerStPYdTDPRYdTDRPts
Josh Allen27188.51.1141.3.6322.1
Tyrod Taylor46199.21.1336.1.3020.0
Cam Newton63232.01.5935.5.4024.0
Deshaun Watson37259.81.8932.9.4126.4
Russell Wilson80247.31.9426.5.1123.6
Blake Bortles60245.01.5322.2.1521.7
Marcus Mariota61214.51.2522.1.2019.2
Mitchell Trubisky41208.61.1721.0.1718.5
Alex Smith56235.91.2720.6.1620.0
Dak Prescott64246.51.5219.1.3322.4
Aaron Rodgers71258.71.9418.2.1123.5
Andrew Luck38281.92.2418.0.0525.4
Jacoby Brissett32196.8.9717.5.2817.2
Patrick Mahomes31303.62.4516.1.1327.5
Ryan Fitzpatrick50252.31.5816.0.1621.5
Jameis Winston70277.01.6914.5.1423.2
Carson Wentz56253.41.7314.0.0521.6
Ryan Tannehill50235.61.6412.6.1420.6
Josh McCown27240.61.339.8.2219.9
Baker Mayfield29253.51.699.4.1021.1
Andy Dalton69244.01.528.7.1620.2
Matthew Stafford72268.21.748.3.0421.5
Brock Osweiler30220.41.037.9.0716.5
Sam Darnold26226.51.387.7.1218.6
Jay Cutler34217.21.297.6.0317.0
Matt Ryan79291.41.777.5.0622.9
Trevor Siemian25221.61.127.0.0416.6
Kirk Cousins79266.81.736.4.1922.2
Case Keenum52227.81.195.8.0817.2
Derek Carr78250.31.565.2.0419.7
Jimmy Garoppolo26259.11.624.4.0820.5
Jared Goff54263.31.614.0.1120.8
Ben Roethlisberger58295.01.883.4.0723.6
Joe Flacco59246.41.193.4.1018.3
Sam Bradford34246.61.292.8.0017.8
Tom Brady76280.41.962.8.1122.9
Carson Palmer38286.41.841.9.0322.1
Eli Manning67257.81.601.6.0319.7
Philip Rivers80282.71.811.2.0021.7
Drew Brees73292.92.07.9.1423.9

Personally, I expect the Chargers to draft a quarterback in the first round. If they do, that guy might well start right away, and Taylor will be a wasted pick. That's what happened to him in Cleveland in 2018. He opened as Cleveland's starter, but took a seat for Baker Mayfield just a few games into the season.

But let's see. Maybe the Chargers aren't enamored of any of the top prospects, or those guys will be gone before they pick at No. 6. If that's the case, it will probably be Taylor starting a majority of games for them this year. Could be legit fantasy value, especially considering how late he'll be selected in every league. Potentially 20 fantasy points per game from a late-round quarterback? Sounds pretty good.

--Andy Richardson

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