Rookie quarterbacks might be thrust into the starting role for their new NFL team. However, that doesn't translate to the fantasy football world. Outside of Cam Newton being inserted in by most owners that held his rights after about two weeks last season, we just don't see this far too often.
Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III were the top two selections in the 2012 NFL draft. They are both going to be starting for struggling franchises out of the gate. Both have something different they bring to the table and both are surrounded by some decent talent on the offensive side of the ball.
This article is going to focus on which one of these two rookie signal-callers will have the most impact as backup quarterbacks heading into the 12' fantasy football season.
Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
The former Stanford quarterback was the consensus No. 1 pick heading into the draft in April. In fact, it could be stated that he was the best quarterback prospect to enter the league since Peyton Manning in 1998. That is pretty mighty praise if you ask me.
Luck is going to be a Pro Bowl quarterback in the not so distant future. He possesses everything you look for in an elite franchise quarterback. You are looking at someone with tremendous field vision, great pocket awareness, elite accuracy and a surprisingly strong arm. Oh, and Luck is pretty damn mobile in the offensive backfield.
There are, however, some major issues in regards to his ability to be a good quarterback as a rookie. The Colts have concerns in regards to pass-protection along the offensive line, which is going to force play-calling to change quite a bit. They're going to go with a tremendous amount of short slants and screens. This limits Luck's ability to look down the field and acquire the big play.
Outside of an aging Reggie Wayne, the Colts receiving core is both inexperienced and relatively thin. It is hard to imagine T.Y. Hilton or Austin Collie being impact performers on the outside early in the 12' season.
Indianapolis does have a couple solid options at running back in the form of Delone Carter and Donald Brown. Newly signed Mewelde Moore should help a great deal as a receiving threat on third down.
The key to Luck's success is going to be former Stanford teammate Coby Fleener, who Indianapolis exhausted a second-round pick on. The talented young tight end was Luck's favorite target in Palo Alto and that is likely going to go unchanged in 2012 with the Colts. In an attempt to form a New England Patriots' type of tight end tandem, Indianapolis also went out there and drafted Dwayne Allen from Clemson. He is a legitimate down-field target between the hashes and should help out the offense a great deal.
In total, Indianapolis did a solid job surrounding Luck with some nice young talent on offense. Will it lead to continued success in 2012? Time will tell!
Projected Statistics: 3,600 yards, 22 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins
To the common college football fan Robert Griffin III jumped out of nowhere with Baylor in 2011, winning the Heisman Trophy. However, for those of us who understood the talent that the quarterback possesses, it wasn't a huge surprise.
He is a duel-threat quarterback, but already has above-average pocket presence. In fact, it could be stated that RGIII is in a better position to succeed as a pocket passer than either Cam Newton or Andy Dalton were last season.
Helping out the young quarterback a great deal was the signings of both Josh Morgan and Pierre Garcon in free agency. While Washington might have overpaid for the receivers, they're going to help RGIII out a great deal. Morgan fits in perfectly at his natural slot position, something that made him a standout at Virginia Tech in college.
One of the primary reasons why RGIII might succeed as a rookie is the Skins' talent at the tight end position. Fred Davis was on pace for a 1,000 yard season prior to being suspended for the final four games of the year. That is utterly amazing considering who was throwing him the ball in 2011....Rex Grossman and John Beck. Davis teams up with Chris Cooley to form a solid 1-2 punch at tight end. They're going to be nice safety valve options for RGIII.
Adding more fuel to the fire is the fact that Washington already possesses an above-average offensive line in terms of pass-protection. If Trent Williams is able to stay healthy, he is a true franchise book end.
Washington also has a nice thing going in the backfield. Roy Helu Jr combined for over 1,000 yards a s rookie and is a solid receiving threat (49 receptions as a rookie). Tim Hightower, despite missing all but five games last season, is also another solid threat out of the backfield. These two players will help RGIII out a great deal.
Projected Statistics: 3,700 passing yards, 400 rushing yards, 28 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
Prediction: Robert Griffin III