BALLER MOVE: Target in Later Rounds / Two-QB Leagues as 2nd QB
CURRENT ADP: 163 STD, 162 PPR
ANALYSIS: If you want to sell yourself on Winston, all you have to do is look at his 2013 game against Pittsburgh. In his first collegiate start, Winston shredded the Panthers in a 41-13 romp. He was 25-of-27 for 356 yards and four TDs with no interceptions. For the less math-inclined, that's a 92.6% completion percentage, and although it was against a less-than-elite Pitt team, that's still impressive for a freshman in his first start.
Winston proceeded to go 29-1 in his college career; he knows how to win. While Winston can run when needed, he wasn't a Mariota-style zone read quarterback in college, and will be more of a traditional pocket passer in the NFL. He certainly has the body size and the strength to stand in the pocket and make his throw. And all of these assets, combined with his receiving weapons, give him the upside to be a relevant fantasy contributor in 2015.
He's not a once-in-a-generation player like Andrew Luck, so don't expect prodigal output from him. However, he could turn out to be a serviceable fantasy asset with upside, much like how Teddy Bridgewater finished the 2014 season on a high note. If you believe in the potential Winston showed as a freshman, you can take him in the later rounds of your drafts and see what happens. The potential for a great rookie season is there, but Winston will first need to adjust to the NFL game so expectations should be tempered.
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