Fantasy Football 2017: 5 Quarterbacks busts to beware

3. Marcus Mariota

The Tennessee Titans could be a fluke after surprisingly winning nine games in 2016. Marcus Mariota caught fire a year ago but his kind of playing style hasn’t proved to be viable. Remember Colin Kaepernick and Robert Griffin III? Once the league figured those guys out, their run was over. I suspect a similar phenomenon with Mariota.

With NFL defensive coordinators given a full offseason to scheme, I don’t expect Mariota to have nearly the same level of success. Mariota threw for 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2016 but also fumbled nine times. The former Heisman Trophy winner may be on the run a lot less if he continues to fumble at that rate. Less rushing attempts will obviously limit his fantasy potential. Having 18 turnovers in 15 games also isn’t acceptable.

Once teams learn to slow down Mariota’s rushing ability, Mariota will have to adapt more into a pocket passer. I’m not sure he has that ability to do so.

Opppnents have already started limited his rushing as his yards per carry were down 7.4 to 5.8 from his rookie year. Mariota isn’t completing an overwhelmingly-high percentage either at 61.2 percent. Let’s also not forget he isn’t healthy. It’s unclear how he is going to respond from fracturing his leg late last season. Tennessee will limit his attempts outside of the pocket reducing his fantasy value to keep Mariota upright and healthy.

I expect the Titans to regress from 9-7 a year ago. Head coach Mike Mularkey has a career record of 27-46. Are we really expecting DeMarco Murray to rush for 1,287 yards again to carry the Titans into red zone opportunities?