Fantasy 2016: Russell Wilson vs. Philip Rivers

NC State has earned the reputation QBU over the years because of it’s recent success at sending signal callers to the NFL. Currently the Wolfpack are one of three schools to have 4 quarterbacks on NFL 3-deeps, and one of only two schools (along with USC) to have two quarterbacks starting. This morning we take a look at the two starters, Philip Rivers and Russell Wilson, and see which one of them is projected to have the better fantasy football season. Rivers is entering his 13th season in the NFL (all with the Chargers) and Wilson is entering his 5th (all with the Seahawks).

In my fantasy football league on ESPN, Wilson finished the 2015 season ranked as the 3rd overall quarterback, and Rivers finished ranked 12th. ESPN projects Wilson to be the 3rd ranked quarterback again, and projects Rivers to finish 11th. Here is what ESPN says about each of them.

Wilson

The 2015 season was an odd experience for both Wilson and the Seattle offense. Through Week 10, Wilson had 10 TDs and seven interceptions and ranked just 17th among QBs in fantasy points. His best weekly finish was ninth. But over his final seven games, Wilson rang up 25 total TDs, threw one interception and trailed only Cam Newton in fantasy points. His worst weekly finish was seventh. Wilson’s accuracy couldn’t have been more impressive; he missed his intended target only 12.6 percent of the time, which was the league’s best mark. He also adds value on the ground, ranking among the top three QBs in rushing yards in each of his four seasons. After ranking third in fantasy points among QBs two years in a row, Wilson is as safe as it gets. (ESPN)

2015 Statistics: 329/483, 4,024 yards, 34 touchdowns, 8 interceptions 103 rushes, 553 yards, 1 touchdown, 322 fantasy points

2016 Projection: 299.4/476.3, 3,732 yards, 29.7 touchdowns, 10.2 interceptions, 95.6 rushes, 494.7 yards, 2.6 touchdowns, 306.8 fantasy points

Rivers

Rivers is coming off his seventh top-12 fantasy season in the past eight years, a feat that’s all the more impressive when you consider how injuries decimated the Chargers on both sides of the ball. In fact, during the season’s first nine weeks, Rivers posted five top-seven fantasy performances, and only Tom Brady had more points among QBs. Eventually, injuries to the likes of Keenan Allen, Melvin Gordon and Ladarius Green took too much of a toll, but Rivers still led the NFL in attempts and completions and trailed only Drew Brees in passing yards (4,792). Rivers’ accuracy remains as sharp as ever, and it shouldn’t take much luck for his supporting cast to be healthier in 2016. Combined, those factors make him a terrific–and underrated–target in the later rounds. (ESPN)

2015 Statistics: 438/662, 4,793 yards, 29 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 17 rushes, 28 yards, 0 touchdowns, 277 fantasy points

2016 Projections: 404.3/616.3, 4,481 yards, 28.3 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 23 rushes, 61.3 yards, 0.5 touchdowns, 267.8 fantasy points