Fantasy Upside
The expected break out in his third year just didn't happen for Marcus Mariota, as he saw his TD production cut in half, going from 26 in 2016 to 13 in 2017. But much of that was because of inconsistencies in his receivers and an offensive philosophy that, quite frankly, didn't always seem to make a lot of sense. He still threw for 3,200 yards and rushed for another 312 with five touchdowns, so there's plenty to like with the young QB now that the offense should change to be built more around his skill set.
Fantasy Downside
Injuries always seem to crop up with Mariota. Last season, it was a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for one game and hampered him in several others, limiting his running ability. He also saw his interceptions rise to a career-high 15 last season. He has yet to play a fully healthy season in three NFL campaigns. And the receiving corps is largely the same as it was last season, minus veteran Eric Decker gone.
2018 Bottom Line
Mariota won't be going nearly as high in drafts this year as he did in 2017, when he was coming off a 26-TD pass season. But he should be closer to that guy than the one who had just 13 TD passes last season. It will be interesting to see how new offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur incorporates Mariota's mobility into the offense. But with second-year targets Corey Davis, Jonnu Smith, and Taywan Taylor now all having a year's experience under their belts, they should be ready to contribute more. Mariota's ADP currently places him in Rounds 11-13, which offers good value as a backup with some upside, especially if he can shake the injury issues that have plagued him.
