There was a time when the St. Louis Rams were known for their aerial assault. Kurt Warner and Trent Green put Issac Bruce and Torry Holt both over a thousand yards for five different seasons. But that all ended in 2007, and the Rams haven’t had a thousand yard season from a receiver since.
That should all change this year.
In 2012 the Rams drafted Brian Quick with the first pick in the second round. He was selected before current stars T.Y. Hilton and Alshon Jeffery, but some of Quick’s metrics paint a picture of why he was taken 33rd overall.
Brian Quick Advanced Metrics Profile
Brian Quick‘s dominator rating is off the charts. Alright, it’s on the charts, but it’s ridiculously high. This is expected from a top notch talent at the FCS subdivision level, but it means that he did what he was supposed to do: DOMINATE. His best comparable counterpart is Allen Robinson, whose blend of strength and athleticism caught the attention of many this off season. Quick has a huge frame and exceptionally long arms to pair with a HaSS score in the 82nd percentile. His catch radius is the same as Cowboys superstar Dez Bryant’s. This is a big-bodied and fast receiver with a nearly-unmatched history of college dominance.
Coming out of college Quick was labeled as raw, and the Rams knew he needed time to develop. This upcoming season will be his fourth year in the NFL. It will be his contract year, and all indications suggest that this will be his breakout year.
Speed Kills. Quick Just Catches Everything.
Brian Quick was on the verge of an excellent season in 2014. After six games, he had produced a 24/365/3 stat line and it looked like he had finally blossomed into the receiver the Rams needed. Unfortunately, a dislocated shoulder and torn rotator cuff in week eight against the Chiefs derailed his coming out party. He’s worked hard to get back into playing form and successfully avoided the active/PUP list coming into camp this year.
Yet, he garners no respect from the general fantasy community as he is currently being selected in the 12th round.
The good news is that the Rams respect Quick quite a bit. Here is a look at how St. Louis used their top receivers through the first six games last year:
A player’s snap share percentage shows how often he is on the field. Brian Quick was in the game a full twenty percent more often than the next leading wide receiver, and it should come as no surprise that he led the team in yards and touchdowns during that time. Although tight end Jared Cook led the team in targets during this span, Quick was the most efficient receiver, capitalizing on 62% of his looks. It was clear that the Rams wanted Quick on the field, and that they wanted to get him the ball, even if Austin Davis didn’t always get it there.
The Quick and the Dead Cheap
Even with a new quarterback (Nick Foles) and a run-oriented offense, Brian Quick’s current ADP of approximately 150 is absurdly low. Last year, he was on pace for a 64/973/8 stat line. Quick’s extrapolated season would have been good enough for a PPR WR23 finish, ahead of Keenan Allen, Jordan Matthews, and Sammy Watkins.
For comparison, here is a chart of players who are being selected before Quick:
Michael Floyd, Brandon Lafell and Torrey Smith are being selected at least a full five rounds before Quick this year. Even Doug Baldwin, who resides on the least-passing team in football, is being drafted before BQ. This severe under-drafting provides a wonderful opportunity for fantasy team owners. With little-to-no risk, Quick is a late-round receiver who could reasonably deliver a WR2 season.
When healthy, Brian Quick is a desirable asset for many reasons: He offers a promising metric profile, a respectable number of targets, a solid catch percentage, and he’s on the field more often than any other Rams receiver. Fantasy football is all about maximizing value, and getting a top 25 WR in the 12th round is the definition of value. St. Louis won’t have to wait long for their next thousand yard receiver; it should happen Quick-ly.
