Which Quarterbacks Threw Deep Most Often in 2016?
2. Ryan Fitzpatrick, New York Jets
Deep Rate: 21.78% | Passing NEP per Attempt: 0.32 | Success Rate: 40.91%
The guy right behind Winston in Passing NEP per attempt was the one right in front of him in deep rate, Ryan Fitzpatrick. Injuries and ineffectiveness didn't stop him from testing the waters down the field.
Fitzpatrick deployed a similar strategy last year, so it's not a huge surprise that he was inclined to go deep. What's surprising is that his efficiency this year on these passes was actually higher than it was in 2015, the season where he had the New York Jets within one game of the playoffs.
| On Deep Passes | Attempts | Passing NEP per Attempt | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 123 | 0.27 | 35.77% |
| 2016 | 88 | 0.32 | 40.91% |
Maybe Fitzpatrick's struggles on deep balls last year should have been a sign that his house of cards was bound to collapse. Either way, things came tumbling down in a big way elsewhere, leading to a parting of ways last week.
There is one bright spot in here. While both Brandon Marshall and Robby Anderson struggled to haul in balls deep down the field, Quincy Enunwa did not. Here are their numbers head to head. As a note, this includes any deep attempts from Bryce Petty and Geno Smith, as well.
| On Deep Passes | Targets | Passing NEP per Attempt | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Marshall | 42 | 0.04 | 33.33% |
| Robby Anderson | 31 | 0.01 | 29.03% |
| Quincy Enunwa | 19 | 1.22 | 63.16% |
On 23 fewer targets than Marshall, Enunwa had just two fewer catches, 21 more yards, and 21.52 more NEP. Maybe they should give this dude more opportunities to stretch the field.
There's a lot of work for the Jets to do in the offseason, including re-tooling the quarterback position. But with Enunwa, they seem to have a piece they can utilize in the passing game going forward. Add in a healthy Eric Decker, and the cupboard will at least not be totally bare for whoever takes the reins at quarterback next.
