Cary Edmonson-USA TODAY Sports
Colin Kaepernick is extremely talented, but is still overrated in fantasy. Kaepernick took over last year for Alex Smith as quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, and took the league by storm. His legs and arm helped the 49ers get to the Super Bowl. He must be a fantasy stud, right? Well, not exactly.
First things first, being a great quarterback that leads a team to the Super Bowl is worth zero fantasy points. It is why Joe Flacco is not being drafted in most leagues; yet, Kaepernick seems exempt from this. Many argue that Kaepernick has great value from his running, and while this is true, it also makes him a huge injury risk. He has not been hurt yet, so the fantasy gurus have not labeled him as injury prone. However, running quarterbacks are always a threat to get hurt, just ask RGIII or Michael Vick owners from the last few years.
Furthermore, Kaepernick was good last season in terms of fantasy, but not great. If you take the games he started last year and prorate him for the whole season, he was the ninth best quarterback. So, for seven games he was the ninth best quarterback. That’s it. Seven regular season games is not much to go off when Tony Romo and Matt Ryan have produced at a similar level for the last two full seasons. He also lost arguably his best target, Michael Crabtree. Finally, Kaepernick’s effectiveness running the ball will almost certainly diminish this season. Defensive coordinators always adjust and figure out ways to stop new schemes; to think Kaepernick will just continue to get better is foolish.
The counterargument is that Kaepernick is young and improving, but at age 25, he is not as young as many think. Matthew Stafford is younger, will go later, and has proven more, so maybe he is a better option. Kaepernick is a great quarterback for the 49ers, but probably should not be drafted in the top ten for fantasy.
Jay Cullen is a New York Giants writer for www.RantSports.com. Like him on Facebook at Jay Cullen-Rant Sports, or add him on Google.
