2016 Fantasy Football: Andrew Luck Is A Worthy First-Round Pick
The 2016 NFL season is approaching very fast, which means that fantasy football owners are gearing up for their respective drafts. Fantasy football has been becoming a bigger thing over the past few seasons, but it is at an all-time high heading into this year.
Every single serious fantasy owner dives into deep statistics to decide what players they should consider taking in the first round of their draft. Andrew Luck is one of the players in question this season. After seeing him struggle last year, even before the injuries that plagued him, there are a lot of concerns about whether he can be an elite quarterback in 2016.
We are here to tell you that Luck is worthy of being a first-round pick in each and every league format.
Last season with the Indianapolis Colt,s according to ESPN statistics, Luck ended up completing just 55.3 percent of his pass attempts for 1,881 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Those numbers certainly were not what the Colts and their fanbase were expecting. In fact, the Colts were widely viewed as Super Bowl favorites in the AFC.
At 26-years-old, Luck still has a lot of improvements that need to be made. He has to figure out how to cut down on his turnover problems. Luck has thrown 55 interceptions throughout his first 55 games in the NFL.
Obviously, there are a lot of negatives being mentioned about Luck that won’t give fantasy owners much confidence in drafting him. Now it’s time to take a look at why he is worth a first-round pick.
First of all, the Colts have put together an impressive and dynamic offense around Luck. Everything will start with T.Y. Hilton, who is one of the most underrated wide receivers in the NFL. He has a great chemistry with Luck and will put up yet another big season alongside the star quarterback in 2016.
Next, the Colts have two young wide receivers ready to step up as major playmakers. Both Donte Moncrief and Phillip Dorsett are going to have the opportunity to put up massive production in the Colts’ offense. Add in the fact that Frank Gore is one of the more consistent running backs in the NFL, and the offense appears to be ready for big things.
If Luck can stay vertical and not feel pressure on the majority of his dropbacks, he will be able to cut down his turnover numbers dramatically.
Most of the turnover problems stem from Luck’s desire to make plays. Even when he is being sacked or chased out of the pocket, Luck is willing to flip a pass down-the-field in coverage. That has come back to bite him more times than not.
Indianapolis obviously took notice and did what they could to get him more protection. If the interception totals drop, Luck’s fantasy numbers will skyrocket.
All of that being said, Aaron Rodgers is the only other quarterback that should be taken ahead of Luck. The Colts are going to get themselves back on track this season and Luck will be the biggest reason for their success. He is ready to prove that he is still a superstar caliber quarterback and you won’t want to miss the production that he will put up for your fantasy team.
Make sure to target Andrew Luck in the first couple of rounds and don’t shy away from making him your first-round pick if your gut is telling you to do so.
Do you think Andrew Luck will turn his career around in 2016? Will he lead the Indianapolis Colts back to the playoffs? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!
[Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini]
