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Factoid

Quarterback rushing

Murray and Newton prolific, Tyrod deeper target

Following up on the Kyler Murray story I posted a couple of days ago. Murray suggested he'd run less this season, in order to protect himself from injury. That could happen, but most likely he'll still be one of the league's better running quarterbacks. Two years into his career, he's been one of the very best in this regard from the past decade, even if he's no Cam Newton (pictured).

As a rookie, Murray averaged 34 rushing yards per game. Last year, he was up over 50. Those two totals rank 26th and 7th among all quarterbacks to start at least half the time in a season over the last ten years. Granted, he has a long way to go to challenge Newton, who shows up on this list of the top 50 rushers eight times.

QB RUSHING, 2011-2020
PlayerYearGSAttYdsTDY/G
Lamar Jackson2019151761206780.4
Lamar Jackson2020151591005767.0
Robert Griffin III201215120815754.3
Russell Wilson201416118849653.1
Josh Allen20181189631852.6
Terrelle Pryor2013983576252.4
Kyler Murray2020161338191151.2
Cam Newton201716139754647.1
Tim Tebow201111122660647.1
Cam Newton201216127741846.3
Michael Vick20111376589145.3
Cam Newton2011161267061444.1
Tyrod Taylor201514104568440.6
Colin Kaepernick201416104639139.9
Cam Newton2015161326361039.8
Cam Newton2020151375921239.5
Colin Kaepernick20161169468239.0
Tyrod Taylor20161595580638.7
Cam Newton201414103539538.5
Robert Griffin III20131386489037.6
Russell Wilson20171695586336.6
Cam Newton201316111585636.6
Cam Newton201814101488434.9
Russell Wilson201516103553134.6
Deshaun Watson20181699551534.4
Kyler Murray20191693544434.0
Russell Wilson20131696539133.7
Michael Vick20121062332133.2
Colin Kaepernick20131692524432.8
Russell Wilson20201683513232.1
Josh Allen201916109510931.9
Alex Smith20151684498231.1
Russell Wilson20121694489430.6
Daniel Jones20201465423130.2
Mitchell Trubisky20181468421330.1
Blake Bortles20141356419029.9
Alex Smith20131576431128.7
Taysom Hill2020887457828.6
Tyrod Taylor20171484427428.5
Colin Kaepernick2015845256128.4
Blake Bortles20181258365128.1
DeShone Kizer20171577419527.9
Deshaun Watson20201690444327.8
Deshaun Watson20191582413727.5
Jake Locker20121141291126.5
Josh Allen202016102421826.3
Marcus Mariota20181364357225.5
Jameis Winston2018949281125.5

Most of the other standouts on this list aren't surprising; Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Russell Wilson.

But one intriguing one, to me at least, is Tyrod Taylor. When he was starting regularly (pre-Josh Allen in Buffalo) he averaged 30-40 rushing yards per game in three straight seasons. Taylor is in Houston now, and I think there's a really good chance he starts half the season or more. Makes some sense as a later-round pick in best-ball leagues drafting now, or perhaps a spot starter. For as long as he keeps the job/Deshaun Watson is suspended/traded/otherwise, Taylor will have some fantasy value for what he can do with his legs.

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index