In a recent episode of the Heat Seekers live stream the question was raised

Is Joe Burrow a top 12 quarterback in his rookie season?

As recently as the summer of 2019, Joe Burrow’s NFL draft value was an after thought. After his forgettable junior season in which he finished with 219 completions on 379 attempts for 2,894 yards and 16 touchdowns, Burrow was projected as a 5th round selection. After his senior season at LSU, in which he threw for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns, he shot up the projection ranks from the mid 160’s all the way to number 1. All indications lead to Joe Burrow being the first overall selection in the 2020 NFL Entry Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.

When that pick kicks off the virtual NFL draft on April 23, 2020, Burrow will become the 36th quarterback selected first overall since the draft began in 1936. From 1936-2019, the quarterback position has been the first overall selection 41.67% of the time, and 14 times since 2001.  

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Burrow seems like a “can’t miss” prospect. The reality is that the other 14 quarterbacks that had their names called to kick off a draft since 2001 were deemed “can’t miss” as well. Only three of those 14 had a top 12 rookie season. So is Joe Burrow a top 12 quarterback in his rookie season?

Is Joe Burrow a top 12 quarterback in his rookie season
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 14: Quarterback Joe Burrow of the LSU Tigers winner of the 85th annual Heisman Memorial Trophy poses for photos on December 14, 2019 at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) Is Joe Burrow a top 12 quarterback in his rookie season?

In addition to winning a national title in 2019, Joe Burrow also won the Heisman Trophy. In the history of the draft, 10 first overall selected quarterbacks were also Heisman Trophy winners, and since 2001, six Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks had their names called first.  Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, Jameis Winston, Cam Newton, Sam Bradford, and Carson Palmer.

The average rookie season finish for the 14 first overall selections since 2001 is QB25. The best was Cam Newton’s QB4 finish in 2011, and the worst was the QB57 2007 rookie season from JaMarcus Russell. All 14 quarterbacks saw the field in their rookie season with the exception of Carson Palmer who spent the 2003 season watching Cincinnati Bengals’ Jon Kitna take every snap that year. In his first starting season in 2004, Carson Palmer finished as the QB20.

The six Heisman Trophy winners averaged a rookie season as the QB13, led once again by Newton’s QB4 finish. Kyler Murray was the next best, finishing 2019 as the QB7. The only other quarterback selected first overall since 2001 that had a top 12 rookie season was the Stanford Cardinal, Andrew Luck.

Of all the challenges facing a rookie quarterback in their first season, playing on a bad football team is likely. After all, the team that selected these quarterbacks had the first overall selection for a reason. In Joe Burrow’s case, Cincinnati won’t be any different. The Bengals finished 2019 as 30th in offensive points scored with 17.4/game and a 2-14 record.

Being the starting quarterback on a bad football team can be a good thing for fantasy purposes. The team will be losing more often than not, and that makes the opportunity for “garbage time” that much greater.

Is Joe Burrow a Top 12 Quarterback in his rookie season?
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 13: Joe Burrow #9 of the LSU Tigers throws a pass against Clemson Tigers during the third quarter in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) Is Joe Burrow a top 12 quarterback in his rookie season?

The three previous 1st overall selections to reach top 12 status in their rookie season, (Kyler Murray, Andrew Luck, and Cam Newton), combined to average a line of 341/554 with 3,948 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. They averaged 14 interceptions and added 92 rushing attempts for 485 yards with 5 touchdowns.

In all my reviews of Joe Burrow, the player comparison that I keep coming back to, as crazy as it may sound, is Andrew Luck.

In 2012, Andrew Luck’s draft profile read as follows:
“6’4″, 234 pounds. Luck has good, but not great, arm strength. It should be no limitation on his game, as he has shown that he can make all of the throws at the collegiate level. Luck is a highly intelligent player both on and off the field, and he’s a natural leader in all facets of the game.” 

Joe Burrow’s draft profile:
“6’4, 216 pounds. His arm strength is slightly above average. Elite football intelligence. Master of pre-snap reads and how his routes mesh with the coverage. Astute understanding of coverage rotations, leverage and spacing.”

The big difference between Andrew Luck and Joe Burrow in their rookie season is the team in which they play. The Colts were a good football team that in 2010 went 10-6. In 2011, with Peyton Manning lost for the season they fell to 2-14. Luck’s rookie season they bounced back to 11-5. Burrow (likely) joins a Bengals team that in the past three seasons has won 15 games and lost 33. They are not a bad football team because of injury to their franchise quarterback, they are a bad football team because they have holes up and down the lineup.

Is Joe Burrow a top 12 quarterback in his rookie season? The answer is no he is not. Will he be a top 12 quarterback in his career? Absolutely.

In his rookie season, I project Burrow to have a line in and around 336/560 for 3,360 yards, 22 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. In addition, he will add 290 yards and 3 rushing touchdowns. Add it all up and it equates to 257.4 fantasy points.

Since 2010, to be a top 12 quarterback it requires a season of at least 272.89 fantasy points in 4 point per passing touchdown leagues. Over the course of a 16 game schedule, this requires an average of 17.06 points per game. The lowest point total since 2010 to record a top 12 season was Andy Dalton’s 2012, 242.24 season.

Joe Burrow is absolutely a quarterback to own on on your dynasty team. You will just have to wait a year for the first of his many top 12 quarterback seasons.

Thank you for reading is Joe Burrow a top 12 quarterback in his rookie season. For more of my fantasy football content follow me on Twitter @RotoHeatSully, and subscribe to the Sully’s 2 Cents Dynasty Fantasy Podcast.

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