Rookie Spin on Jimmy Clausen

In one of our new weekly features, we will be joining forces with Fantasy Football Spin to highlight the top rookie from each team in the NFL.

Jimmy Clausen was widely regarded as a top-10 overall selection prior to the NFL Draft.  His draft day fall was the talk of the weekend, and he was ultimately chosen in the second round (48^th overall) by the Carolina Panthers.

Clausen was our top-ranked quarterback in March, and two months later he has fallen behind Rams rookie QB Sam Bradford.  It was unfathomable that several teams in need of a franchise quarterback passed on Clausen at least once over the first two days.

Each team in the NFL confirmed our concerns about Clausen: lack of maturity and leadership, lack of ideal size, and a lack of zip on deep throws.  In college, Clausen often had to really wind up to get the ball deep down the seams of the field.

It is hard to argue against Clausen’s college production at Notre Dame that included a junior campaign with 3,722 passing yards, 68% completion percentage, 28 touchdown passes and only 4 interceptions.

Clausen begins his career in Carolina behind veterans Matt Moore and Hunter Cantwell on the depth chart.  Clausen is expected to beat out Cantwell for the backup quarterback position in 2010.  Head Coach John Fox is loyal to a fault with veterans (Jake Delhomme), and Moore will have to struggle mightily to lose the starting job.

Carolina has shifted to a run-heavy team in recent years behind tailbacks DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, which has limited the fantasy value of their passing attack.  Delhomme last finished in the top-10 at QB in 2004 and 2005, and it is hard to imagine either Moore or Clausen could change that trend.

Clausen is a solid stash in dynasty leagues, and can be drafted in the second round of your rookie drafts.  Clausen will have a tough time breaking into the top-15 at the quarterback position; although, he will be a solid NFL quarterback that won’t make many mistakes with the football.

Clausen is not a redraft option in 2010; even if he wins the starting job by mid-season.