Sam Howell

Sam Howell

22-Year-Old QuarterbackQB
Washington Commanders
2023 Fantasy Outlook
A 2022 fifth-round pick, Howell started one game last season for Washington -- Week 18 -- but is expected to be the Week 1 starter this year. Only free-agent acquisition Jacoby Brissett is around to challenge him for the job after the team parted ways with Taylor Heinicke and Carson Wentz. A three-year starter at North Carolina, Howell showed a quick release and above-average arm strength, with good accuracy on deep throws. At 6-1, 220, Howell is strong for a QB and capable as a runner, but he’s not especially fast and isn't likely to get many designed runs (27 of his 35 rushing yards in his lone start last year came on scrambles). Washington has a good group of wideouts for Howell to target in Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel, and former Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy promises to get them the ball in space with a quick-passing game as the new OC. Howell should at least be useful in two-QB leagues if he can hold the job. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#189.63
ADP
$Signed a four-year, $4.02 million contract with the Commanders in May of 2022.
Operating as top QB
QBWashington Commanders
June 6, 2023
Howell has taken all the first-team reps this offseason, Matthew Paras of The Washington Times reports.
ANALYSIS
While Howell has the early lead to begin 2023 as a starter, coach Ron Rivera is still publicly calling it an open competition between the second-year quarterback and veteran Jacoby Brissett. Howell had a strong preseason as a rookie but posted mixed results in his lone regular-season start against the Cowboys in Week 18. He completed 58 percent of his passes for 169 yards, a touchdown and an interception while rushing five times for 35 yards and an additional score. If he can hold onto the starting job, Howell's mobility combined with Washington's talented wideout corps could make the 2022 fifth-round pick an intriguing option late in fantasy drafts.
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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Sam Howell's 2022 advanced stats compare to other quarterbacks?
This section compares his advanced stats with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average. The longer the bar, the better it is for the player.
  • Bad Pass %
    The percentage of passes that were considered to be poorly thrown.
  • Avg Target Depth
    The average number of yards thrown per pass by the quarterback – including incomplete passes.
  • Sack Rate
    The percentage of dropbacks where the quartback was sacked. The longer the bar below, the more often they are sacked relative to other QBs.
  • Avg Receiver YAC
    The average number of yards after the catch that receivers gained on passes thrown by this quarterback.
  • Receiver Drop %
    The percentage of passes dropped by receivers on passes thrown by this quarterback. The longer the bar, the more sure-handed his receivers have been.
Bad Pass %
21.1%
 
Avg Target Depth
9.5 Yds
 
Sack Rate
13.6%
 
Avg Receiver YAC
7.4 Yds
 
Receiver Drop %
10.5%
 
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2022
2022 NFL Game Log
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Scoring
Standard
PPR
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Washington CommandersCommanders 2022 QB Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
#% of Team Snaps

59352%
48442%
636%
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2022 Sam Howell Split Stats
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Measurables Review View College Player Page
How do Sam Howell's measurables compare to other quarterbacks?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 1"
 
Weight
220 lbs
 
Hand Length
9.13 in
 
Arm Length
30.75 in
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Sam Howell See More
Best Ball Strategy: Underdog 18-Round Contests
9 days ago
Backup QBs are going later in Underdog's 18-round tournaments than the 20-round Board tournaments, but the high-upside QB1s are going earlier than ever.
ADP Analysis: Rookie Reactions, Chiefs Moving Up, QBs Falling on Underdog
23 days ago
Rashee Rice isn't the only Chiefs wide receiver moving up draft boards this May. Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are slipping with WRs becoming more popular in the early rounds.
ADP Analysis: Comparing Post-Draft ADPs from Underdog, DraftKings, Drafters and FFPC
26 days ago
Jerry Donabedian compares May ADP results from four different best ball sites and finds that young WRs tend to be cheapest on DraftKings.
Way Too Early 2024 NFL Mock Draft
33 days ago
Is it too early to look ahead to the 2024 NFL Draft? Maybe, but that won't stop me from putting together a 2024 first round mock draft.
ADP Analysis: NFC East Players to Watch in 2023
56 days ago
Jim Coventry looks the ADP value of players in the NFC East, including Cowboys running back Tony Pollard.
2022 Fantasy Outlook
Howell had first-round buzz after putting up 38 touchdown passes as a freshman and 10.3 yards per attempt as a sophomore, but he dropped all the way to the fifth round after a disappointing junior year at UNC. He'll begin his career as the third quarterback in Washington behind new No. 1 Carson Wentz and 2021 starter Taylor Heinicke. Howell did run for 828 yards and 11 TDs last year, suggesting he might offer more mobility than the veterans ahead of him, if nothing else.
More Fantasy News
May have to compete with Brissett
QBWashington Commanders
March 16, 2023
Howell is expected to enter the offseason program as Washington's top quarterback but could face competition from free-agent signing Jacoby Brissett, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official website reports.
ANALYSIS
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In lead to be starter in 2023
QBWashington Commanders
February 8, 2023
Washington head coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday that Howell will be the "quarterback to beat" during the offseason program, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Collects win in first career start
QBWashington Commanders
January 8, 2023
Howell completed 11 of 19 passes for 169 yards and a touchdown with an interception in Sunday's 26-6 win over the Cowboys. He added 35 rushing yards and a TD on five carries.
ANALYSIS
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Named as Week 18 starter
QBWashington Commanders
January 4, 2023
Commanders head coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday that Howell will start Sunday's game against the Cowboys, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
ANALYSIS
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Likely to debut Week 18
QBWashington Commanders
January 4, 2023
Howell is slated to dress as the Commanders' backup quarterback behind Taylor Heinicke in Sunday's game against the Cowboys and is expected to get the chance to play his first NFL snaps, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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