The Raiders are apparently considering an upgrade at quarterback. One report indicates that either Derek Carr or Marcus Mariota is available, though Las Vegas would prefer to trade Mariota. It makes sense, with him being the backup all season, and Carr having a credible year in the starting lineup until the team faded late. Should Mariota be traded, those in fantasy leagues shouldn't dismiss the possibility of him being fantasy relevant.
Mariota played extensively in just one game last season, a loss to the Chargers, but in that contest he carried the ball 9 times for 88 yards and a touchdown. That's Lamar Jackson territory, and Mariota won't be that busy a runner if he starts somewhere. But he should be one of the league's more productive quarterbacks in that area.
Mariota was drafted back in 2015, going on to start for the next four years in Tennessee (until the team made the switch to Ryan Tannehill midway through the 2019 season). In each of his four seasons starting at least half the time, he averaged over 20 rushing yards per game. Since he entered the league, there have been 51 seasons of a quarterback averaging 20-plus rushing yards. Three guys have authored at least four of them: Cam Newton, Russell Wilson and Mariota.
QUARTERBACKS AVERAGING 20-PLUS RUSHING YARDS, 2015-PRESENT | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | St | Pass | PaTD | Run | RuTD | Run/G |
2019 | Lamar Jackson, Balt. | 15 | 3127 | 36 | 1206 | 7 | 80.4 |
2020 | Lamar Jackson, Balt. | 15 | 2757 | 26 | 1005 | 7 | 67.0 |
2018 | Josh Allen, Buff. | 11 | 2074 | 10 | 631 | 8 | 52.6 |
2020 | Kyler Murray, Ariz. | 16 | 3971 | 26 | 819 | 11 | 51.2 |
2017 | Cam Newton, Car. | 16 | 3302 | 22 | 754 | 6 | 47.1 |
2015 | Tyrod Taylor, Buff. | 14 | 3035 | 20 | 568 | 4 | 40.6 |
2015 | Cam Newton, Car. | 16 | 3837 | 35 | 636 | 10 | 39.8 |
2020 | Cam Newton, N.E. | 15 | 2657 | 8 | 592 | 12 | 39.5 |
2016 | Colin Kaepernick, S.F. | 11 | 2241 | 16 | 468 | 2 | 39.0 |
2016 | Tyrod Taylor, Buff. | 15 | 3023 | 17 | 580 | 6 | 38.7 |
2017 | Russell Wilson, Sea. | 16 | 3983 | 34 | 586 | 3 | 36.6 |
2018 | Cam Newton, Car. | 14 | 3395 | 24 | 488 | 4 | 34.9 |
2015 | Russell Wilson, Sea. | 16 | 4024 | 34 | 553 | 1 | 34.6 |
2018 | Deshaun Watson, Hou. | 16 | 4165 | 26 | 551 | 5 | 34.4 |
2019 | Kyler Murray, Ariz. | 16 | 3722 | 20 | 544 | 4 | 34.0 |
2020 | Russell Wilson, Sea. | 16 | 4212 | 40 | 513 | 2 | 32.1 |
2019 | Josh Allen, Buff. | 16 | 3089 | 20 | 510 | 9 | 31.9 |
2015 | Alex Smith, K.C. | 16 | 3486 | 20 | 498 | 2 | 31.1 |
2020 | Daniel Jones, NYG | 14 | 2943 | 11 | 423 | 1 | 30.2 |
2018 | Mitchell Trubisky, Chi. | 14 | 3223 | 24 | 421 | 3 | 30.1 |
2020 | Taysom Hill, N.O. | 8 | 928 | 4 | 457 | 8 | 28.6 |
2017 | Tyrod Taylor, Buff. | 14 | 2799 | 14 | 427 | 4 | 28.5 |
2015 | Colin Kaepernick, S.F. | 8 | 1615 | 6 | 256 | 1 | 28.4 |
2018 | Blake Bortles, Jac. | 12 | 2718 | 13 | 365 | 1 | 28.1 |
2017 | DeShone Kizer, Cle. | 15 | 2894 | 11 | 419 | 5 | 27.9 |
2020 | Deshaun Watson, Hou. | 16 | 4823 | 33 | 444 | 3 | 27.8 |
2019 | Deshaun Watson, Hou. | 15 | 3852 | 26 | 413 | 7 | 27.5 |
2020 | Josh Allen, Buff. | 16 | 4544 | 37 | 421 | 8 | 26.3 |
2018 | Jameis Winston, T.B. | 9 | 2992 | 19 | 281 | 1 | 25.5 |
2018 | Marcus Mariota, Ten. | 13 | 2528 | 11 | 357 | 2 | 25.5 |
2019 | Gardner Minshew, Jac. | 12 | 3271 | 21 | 344 | 0 | 24.6 |
2017 | Brett Hundley, G.B. | 9 | 1836 | 9 | 270 | 2 | 24.5 |
2016 | Cam Newton, Car. | 14 | 3509 | 19 | 359 | 5 | 23.9 |
2017 | Alex Smith, K.C. | 15 | 4042 | 26 | 355 | 1 | 23.7 |
2018 | Russell Wilson, Sea. | 16 | 3448 | 35 | 376 | 0 | 23.5 |
2016 | Marcus Mariota, Ten. | 15 | 3426 | 26 | 349 | 2 | 23.3 |
2015 | Blaine Gabbert, S.F. | 8 | 2031 | 10 | 185 | 1 | 23.1 |
2016 | Aaron Rodgers, G.B. | 16 | 4428 | 40 | 369 | 4 | 23.1 |
2017 | Carson Wentz, Phil. | 13 | 3296 | 33 | 299 | 0 | 23.0 |
2020 | Carson Wentz, Phil. | 12 | 2620 | 16 | 276 | 5 | 23.0 |
2016 | Andrew Luck, Ind. | 15 | 4240 | 31 | 341 | 2 | 22.7 |
2016 | Blake Bortles, Jac. | 16 | 3905 | 23 | 359 | 3 | 22.4 |
2017 | Dak Prescott, Dall. | 16 | 3324 | 22 | 357 | 6 | 22.3 |
2015 | Aaron Rodgers, G.B. | 16 | 3821 | 31 | 344 | 1 | 21.5 |
2019 | Daniel Jones, NYG | 12 | 3027 | 24 | 279 | 2 | 21.5 |
2019 | Russell Wilson, Sea. | 16 | 4110 | 31 | 342 | 3 | 21.4 |
2015 | Marcus Mariota, Ten. | 12 | 2818 | 19 | 252 | 2 | 21.0 |
2017 | Marcus Mariota, Ten. | 15 | 3232 | 13 | 312 | 5 | 20.8 |
2017 | Mitchell Trubisky, Chi. | 12 | 2193 | 7 | 248 | 2 | 20.7 |
2020 | Patrick Mahomes, K.C. | 15 | 4740 | 38 | 308 | 2 | 20.5 |
2017 | Blake Bortles, Jac. | 16 | 3687 | 21 | 322 | 2 | 20.1 |
It's easy to make light of Mariota; I did as much in a post yesterday. If and when the Raiders trade him, it will probably be a situation where he's competing to start -- not handed the starting job necessarily.
But if goes somewhere and takes over the starting job, that rushing potential could make him a viable fantasy quarterback, and somebody who should be on rosters in fantasy leagues. Dynasty leagues with open waiver wires can consider finding room for him, just in case.
--Andy Richardson