Getty Images
If you were thinking about picking up Ryan Tannehill in the upcoming fantasy football season, the Miami Dolphins did everything possible to make him a top-10 quarterback in your league.
In 2013, the Dolphins ranked 20th in passing yards and 26th in rushing yards, so you probably didn’t own any players on Miami other than Mike Wallace and Lamar Miller. Tannehill has always been an intriguing option at quarterback, as he spent most of his time as a wide receiver at Texas A&M. His turnovers and lack of weapons, however, have prevented him from even finding a roster spot on most fantasy football teams the past two seasons, but that should drastically change now thanks to the 2014 NFL Draft.
The reason behind most of Tannehill’s 17 interceptions and five fumbles revolve around the fact that he was sacked a league-high 58 times in 2013. The Dolphins addressed that with a first-round pick on offensive tackle Ja’Wuan James. At 6-foot-6, 311-pounds, James should be able to prevent the starting quarterback from being slammed to the ground so much and help to create more running room. The Dolphins then went on to add even more protection for Tannehill by drafting highly praised tackle Billy Turner. The sacks and pressure should rapidly decline this season, which means the 25-year-old quarterback should have a decrease in turnovers in 2014.
Tannehill’s value will also increase with the addition of wide receiver Jarvis Landry and tight end Arthur Lynch. Landry doesn’t have breakaway speed like new teammate Mike Wallace, but he has great hands and was called one of the toughest wide receivers in the draft. At 6-foot-5, 258-pounds, tight end Lynch will give his quarterback a huge red zone target which should help increase Tannehill’s touchdown totals. Lynch is known more for his blocking than pass catching, but that will just give Tannehill even more time to make the right reads and find his targets. He also has dual-threat back Knowshon Moreno now, so between Wallace, Landry, Brian Hartline, Charles Clay, Lynch, Miller and Moreno, Tannehill will not have a lack of weapons this season.
I wouldn’t hand him the keys to the starting quarterback spot on your fantasy football team just yet, but he is a backup option that could quickly sneak his way into your lineup.
Jack Delaney is a fantasy football writer for www.Rantsports.com. You can follow him on Twitter @jackbmore13, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google
