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Geno Smith

Quarterback says he'll be running more

Among unexciting veteran quarterbacks, there's Geno Smith. He's a starter, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of upside, at least based on 2023. But he might be underrated.

Smith is a clear starter -- Sam Howell isn't going to push for playing time -- working with a nice trio of wide receivers. And more importantly in fantasy terms, Smith himself says he's going to run more this season.

"Last year, really midway through the season, I felt I could have used my legs a little bit more,” Smith says in a story at ESPN. “That’s something I want to continue to do. I’m still very athletic. I play within the pocket, that’s the base of my game, but I think I can add an extra element to what defenses have to account for if I get a couple extra first downs or a couple extra touchdowns.”

He's right, which his 2022 numbers for Seattle make clear. That season, he rushed for 366 yards. That helped him shockingly finish as the 5th-best quarterback in fantasy leagues. Contrast that with last year, when he ran for only 155 yards. He also did less as a passer, but that minimal rushing production factored heavily into him finishing as just the 17th-best fantasy quarterback.

Table shows all quarterbacks who started 12-plus games either of the last two seasons, sorted by fantasy performance. Running Geno has a lot more upside than non-running Geno.

QUARTERBACKS, 2022-2023 (MINIMUM 12 STARTS EACH SEASON)
YearPlayerGSPassTDRunTDRk
2023Josh Allen, Buff.17430629524151
2022Patrick Mahomes, K.C.1752504135841
2022Josh Allen, Buff.1642833576272
2023Jalen Hurts, Phil.17385823605152
2022Jalen Hurts, Phil.15370122760133
2023Dak Prescott, Dall.1745163624223
2023Lamar Jackson, Balt.1636782482154
2022Joe Burrow, Cin.1644753525754
2022Geno Smith, Sea.1742823036615
2023Jordan Love, G.B.1741593224745
2022Kirk Cousins, Min.174547299726
2023Jared Goff, Det.174575302126
2022Trevor Lawrence, Jac.1741132529157
2023Brock Purdy, S.F.1642803114427
2023Patrick Mahomes, K.C.1641832738908
2022Justin Herbert, LAC1747392514708
2023Tua Tagovailoa, Mia.174624297409
2022Jared Goff, Det.174438297309
2023Trevor Lawrence, Jac.16401621339410
2022Tom Brady, T.B.17469425-1110
2022Justin Fields, Chi.152242171143811
2023Sam Howell, Was.17394621263511
2022Daniel Jones, NYG16320515708712
2023Baker Mayfield, T.B.17404428163112
2023C.J. Stroud, Hou.15410823167313
2022Aaron Rodgers, G.B.1736952694113
2023Russell Wilson, Den.15307026341314
2022Russell Wilson, Den.15352416277314
2022Tua Tagovailoa, Mia.1335482570015
2023Matthew Stafford, LAR1539652465015
2022Derek Carr, L.V.15352224102016
2023Derek Carr, N.O.1738782540016
2022Lamar Jackson, Balt.12224217764317
2023Geno Smith, Sea.15362420155117
2023Justin Fields, Chi.13256216657418
2022Dak Prescott, Dall.12286023182118
2023Justin Herbert, LAC13313420228319
2022Davis Mills, Hou.15311817108219
2022Marcus Mariota, Atl.13221915438420
2023Joshua Dobbs, 2TM12246413421620
2023Gardner Minshew, Ind.13330515100321
2023Desmond Ridder, Atl.13283612193522
2022Mac Jones, N.E.14299714102122
2023Bryce Young, Car.16287711253023
2022Andy Dalton, N.O.1428711854023
2022Matt Ryan, Ind.1230571470124
2022Ryan Tannehill, Ten.1225361398226
2022Kenny Pickett, Pitt.1224047237328
2023Kenny Pickett, Pitt.122070654131

To be clear, I don't think anyone should be drafting Smith as a starter. His ceiling is probably perhaps sneaking into the top 15, top 12 at the very best. Running more doesn't mean he'll run enough to be a weekly option.

But he seems to fit the profile as No. 2 fantasy quarterback pretty well. There will be some good games along the way, and if he's running more, some solid weeks. Currently being drafted outside the top 20 (at the highest), a solid enough backup in typical leagues.

--Andy Richardson

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