The Retread Tour of anointed NFL starters continues for the Indianapolis Colts, as Matt Ryan becomes the 3rd veteran starter (replacing Philip Rivers and Carson Wentz) and the 4th different starter in the 4 years since Andrew Luck abruptly retired.
Below, we look at Matt Ryan‘s 2022 fantasy football average draft position and where you should draft him.
Ryan is one of the most prolific passers of his generation and although the Colts are a run-heavy team because of Jonathan Taylor, it doesn’t mean Ryan’s job is just going to be handing the ball off.
Matt Ryan’s ADP: 122.39
(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com; last updated at time of this publishing – ADPs continually change as more drafts occur)
Because of his ability to post huge yardage and solid touchdown numbers — his 3,968 passing yards last year broke a streak of 10 straight seasons with 4,000 or more – Ryan’s ranking as the No. 20 fantasy quarterback is the lowest it has been in a decade.
Ryan’s ADP at 122.39 is behind 2nd-year quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars) at 116.95 and Justin Fields (Chicago Bears) at 121.28 and ahead of fellow veteran Ryan Tannehill (Tennessee Titans) at 126.79.
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Matt Ryan’s 2021 stats
Games: 17
Passing yards: 3,968
Completions | attempts: 375 | 560
Passing touchdowns: 20
Interceptions: 12
Carries | rushing yards: 40 | 81
Rushing touchdowns: 1
Where should you draft Ryan?
The question here shouldn’t be why? It should be why not?
Every fantasy football QB2 is not expected to start in many games. By the time you drop to No. 20 among fantasy quarterbacks, it gets even more pronounced. You’re looking at the backup for someone who heavily invested early in the draft on someone like Buffalo’s Josh Allen or Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes. Who would you rather have in a worst-case scenario of your heavy QB investment early in the draft getting injured. Lawrence? Fields? Thanks, but I’ll pass and take Ryan.
Neither of the young QBs has showed anything to bring the kind of confidence a Hall of Very Good beige jacket winner like Ryan does. In 14 NFL seasons, he has missed 3 games, so you know he’s going to be there. When you factor in that the all-time single-season yardage years that aren’t Peyton Manning or Luck in the history of the Colts (including Johnny Unitas) are Rivers in 2020 and Wentz in 2021.
The Colts are a playoff-caliber team and, while Taylor is the focal point, a dart-thrower like Ryan will thrive in play action with 8 defenders in the box and post the kind of numbers you look for in any QB2 – much less a guy at the bottom of that list.
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