Drafted with the 2nd overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft, Robert Griffin III was an instant fantasy football star. The Washington Redskins’ QB won the 2012 Rookie of the Year award passing for 3,200 yards and 20 touchdowns to only 5 interceptions.
While he was great through the air, Griffin’s extreme fantasy value came from his ability to rack up points on the ground. In his rookie campaign, Griffin rushed for 815 yards and 7 touchdowns. According to ESPN.com standard scoring, Griffin’s 304 fantasy points landed him in a tie as the 5th highest scoring player in the game.
Unfortunately, Griffin tore his LCL and ACL in his knee during the playoffs that season. It was a very serious injury that required major offseason surgery. Griffin worked incredibly hard to get back, healed quickly, and was ready for the start of the 2013 season. But he simply was not the same.
While he passed for 3,203 yards in only 13 games in 2013, Griffin only threw 16 touchdowns, and gave up 12 interceptions. Even more troubling was his inability to pick up extra points on the ground. Griffin only ran the ball 86 times (compared to 120 in 2012) for 489 yards, and did not reach the end zone once.
Griffin’s play clearly suffered through most of the season due to his knee injury. He did not show the same burst and athleticism from his rookie season. He put up solid numbers at times, but it is safe to say that his 2013 season was a huge bust.
Entering this season, Griffin’s value is at an all-time low. His struggles in 2013 is fresh on the mind of fantasy owners, making them opt for other options at the quarterback position. He is still a very intriguing fantasy options, and has big-time potential value.
While I would not blame anybody for being concerned about his performance from last season, you cannot forget how talented Griffin is. As a rookie, Griffin was on top of the NFL world, and appeared to be a longtime fantasy star in the making. I believe that his knee injury is largely to blame for his down year. He never seemed to be fully healthy, and wearing a big, bulky knee brace certainly did not help matters either.
Early reports from Redskins’ OTAs have been glowing for Griffin. Many are saying that he appears to be back in 2012 form, showing off great throwing ability and elite level athleticism. On top of that, the bulky knee brace will be gone in this year.
While improved health will obviously be key for Griffin’s bounce-back opportunity this season, additions to the Redskins are another reason to be excited about his fantasy potential. Pierre Garcon was incredible last season, and TE Jordan Reed emerged as a legitimate pass catching option. That said, the Redskins have trotted out under-whelming options opposite of Garcon for both of Griffin’s seasons under center.
Early this offseason, the Redskins added WR Andre Roberts, who is an immediate upgrade over guys like Leonard Hankerson and Santana Moss. Roberts has good speed and physicality that makes him a nice option out of the slot. He was stuck behind Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd with the Arizona Cardinals, but Roberts should get a chance to be productive with the Redskins.
As great of an addition to the receiving core as Roberts is, it pales in comparison to the inclusion of DeSean Jackson. The Redskins signed Jackson after he was released by the Philadelphia Eagles. While his off-the-field antics are not ideal, nobody can deny his ability on the football field. Jackson is one of the best deep-ball receivers in the league, and will instantly help open the field for Griffin. With Garcon, Jackson, Reed, and Roberts in the fold; Griffin now has an elite level receiving core to work with.
The most exciting addition that the Redskins made for Griffin this season was the hiring of new head coach Jay Gruden, who comes to the Redskins after three seasons as the offensive coordinator with the Cincinnati Bengals. Gruden is an aggressive offensively minded coach, who loves to throw the ball.
Last season, under the guidance of Gruden, Bengals’ QB Andy Dalton threw the ball almost 600 times, and finished as a top five fantasy QB. Griffin has been stuck in a run-first offense, attempting only 456 passes last season, and 393 in 2012. Dalton was great at times last season, but there is no comparison in talent between the two players.
Assuming 100% health, Griffin could almost double his passing attempts from 2012 under Gruden. More opportunity means more fantasy value, and Griffin appears to have plenty of opportunity to score in his immediate future.
In a pass happy offense, with a great receiving core, and a healthy knee; the sky is the limit for Griffin in fantasy football this season.