With the 2023 NFL Combine at our door it’s that time of the year again. Rookie mock drafts run are in full force. Today, I want to address two polarizing rookie QBs that should be avoided in your fantasy football rookie drafts.
Anthony Richardson (QB-FL)
When will we learn? Intangibles never trump a lack of NCAA production. Richardson started for Florida last year in the vaunted SEC, against the best defenses college football has to offer. That would be impressive, had he produced like a QB worthy of being a starter in the NFL.
With only one year as a starter under his belt, we don’t have a lot to evaluate with Richardson. What we do have makes it painfully obvious that he could become a huge bust in the NFL, and for fantasy football teams.
First, let’s look at the numbers. In 2022, Richardson had a completion percentage of 53.8, throwing for 2549 yards with 17 touchdowns to 9 interceptions. He gained another 654 yards on the ground with 9 rushing TDs. Richardson led the Gators to an underwhelming record of 6-7.
For reasons unbeknownst to me, Richardson is being compared in circles to Lamar Jackson. Let’s just say that not only are the playing styles vastly different, but the stats were, too. In his last year at Louisville, Lamar threw for 3660 yards on a 59.1 completion percentage with 27 TDs to 10 interceptions. He also added 1601 yards on the ground and 18 rushing TDs.
Anthony Richardson against Tennessee (lowlights)
20 incompletions
1 turnoverAlthough Richardson did perform better this past weekend he still left a lot on the table.
Richardson still has to learn how to put touch on his throws & become more accurate. pic.twitter.com/6IWIRLzyxf
— CFBLIVE247 (@CFBLive247_) September 27, 2022
Richardson has scattershot accuracy, happy feet and zero pocket presence as you can see from this video. If he had better production, I could see him overcoming those intangible issues with the right NFL coaching. But as I said, the numbers simply aren’t there with this guy.
Does he have some highlight reel level plays? Sure. Guess who else had plenty of those that was also being talked up as a top 15 pick in the NFL draft this time last year? Malik Willis. To me, they’re the same guy; Ultra talented, but too raw to be a star in the NFL without having time to sit and learn.
I don’t care about Richardson’s draft capital at this point. He’s a player I’m avoiding in every fantasy football draft. If an NFL GM wants to risk his job for the next three years by burning an early pick, let them – but you’ll know better.
- NFL Comp: Malik Willis
Lets move onto the next 2023 Rookie QB that’s being irrationally hyped up by NFL and fantasy football GMs alike.
Will Levis (QB-Kentucky)
If you look at Levi’s’ NCAA stats as his time as a starter at Kentucky, you won’t see the kind of numbers you’d expect to see from someone who’s being hailed as a potential starter in the NFL.
- 2021: 66.0% completion , 2826 passing yards, 24 TDs and 13 INTs.
- 2022: 65.4%, 2406 yards, 19 TDs and 10 INTs.
High completion percentages mean Levis was at least accurate as a college QB; but those are not the numbers of a successful starting QB in the NFL.
Yet, like Zach Wilson before him, NFL and fantasy football GMs are talking themselves into this guy. The numbers aren’t there, and the intangibles look pedestrian.
The biggest reason I believe that Will Levis will bust as an NFL QB is the same reason Zach Wilson and Paxton Lynch were monumental busts before them; and I don’t know how anyone that watches this tape can’t see it.
The bad from Will Levis:
My biggest issue with Levis is he short arms his release, which makes it extremely hard to throw the ball with any touch. This causes inaccuracy on simple throws that just require touch. Levis has to learn how to throw more than strikes over the MOF #BBN pic.twitter.com/ool6gKUGvX
— King of Phinland🐬👑 (@KingOfPhinland) September 9, 2022
There are many issues with Levis’ release. In the same breath that Zach Wilson could amaze scouts with poor mechanics, the same can be said about Levis. Either the scouts aren’t worried about poor mechanics, or they believe that the talent is so good that they’re able to overcome it.
How’d that work out for Josh McDaniels and Tim Tebow?
Conclusion
One of the reason I wanted this article out prior to the QB portion of the NFL Combine is that the massive hype surrounding both Richardson and Levis is going to go up. They will look good in shorts, just like everyone else. That will cause NFL and fantasy football GMs to salivate over the potential these players have.
You’ll know better. While Richardson and Levis are talented, they are players you want to avoid in your fantasy football rookie drafts. If you miss out on CJ Stroud or Bryce Young, you’re better off taking a shot on Hendon Hooker – who you’ll also be able to draft much later.
