Taylor Heinicke

Taylor Heinicke

31-Year-Old QuarterbackQB
Los Angeles Chargers
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Heinicke took a pay cut to stay in Atlanta this season and back up new starter Kirk Cousins. But then the Falcons drafted Michael Penix eighth overall, dropping Heinicke to third string. But who knows? Cousins is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury and Penix is no sure thing. Heinicke is next man up. The 2015 undrafted free agent started 28 games the last three years, four in 2023 in place of Desmond Ridder, who was traded this offseason. But while he has starting experience, none of it was all that good. In five games last season, his 65.4 on-target percentage ranked 43rd among 45 QBs with at least 135 attempts, and he had just five TD passes to four interceptions. Heinicke is at least mobile -- 110 rush yards, TD in four starts. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
#1424.24
ADP
$Signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Falcons in March of 2023. Traded to the Chargers in August of 2024.
Comes in for injured Herbert
QBLos Angeles Chargers
September 22, 2024
Heinicke completed his only two passes for 24 yards in Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Steelers after entering the game midway through the third quarter in place of the injured Justin Herbert (ankle).
ANALYSIS
Though he attempted just two passes over a quarter and a half of action, Heinicke took sacks on three of his other dropbacks. Both of the Chargers' starting tackles, Rashawn Slater (pectoral) and Joe Alt (back), suffered injuries Sunday, which didn't help Heinicke's chances of leading the Chargers to a win, even though Herbert departed with the game tied at 10. Given that Herbert was listed as questionable heading into Sunday before aggravating his right high-ankle sprain, the Chargers may be inclined to take a more cautious approach with their franchise signal-caller heading into the Week 4 matchup with the Chiefs. If that's the case, Heinicke could be the preferred choice to step in as a starter rather than Easton Stick, who struggled during the preseason and ultimately wasn't called upon off the bench to replace Herbert in Sunday's contest, despite being active for the contest.
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NFL Stats
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Fantasy/Red Zone Stats
See red zone opportunities inside the 20, 10 and 5-yard lines along with the percentage of time they converted the opportunity into a touchdown.
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Advanced NFL Stats
How do Taylor Heinicke's 2024 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 %
0.0%
 
Avg Target Depth
8.0 Yds
 
Sack Rate
60.0%
 
Avg Receiver YAC
4.0 Yds
 
Receiver Drop %
0.0%
 
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2024
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2022
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2020
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2017
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Los Angeles ChargersChargers 2024 QB Snap Distribution See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
T.Taylor Heinicke
#% of Team Snaps

46597%
25899%
102%
00%
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This Week's Opposing Pass Defense
How does the Browns pass defense compare to other NFL teams this season?
The bars represents the team's percentile rank (based on QB Rating Against). The longer the bar, the better their pass defense is. The team and position group ratings only include players that are currently on the roster and not on injured reserve. The list of players in the table only includes defenders with at least 3 attempts against them.
CLE
@ Browns
Sunday, Nov 3rd at 1:00PM
Overall QB Rating Against
90.3
 
Cornerbacks
101.0
 
Safeties
59.6
 
Linebackers
55.1
 
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2024 Taylor Heinicke Split Stats
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Taylor Heinicke See More
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
An undrafted free agent in 2015, Heinicke finally carved out a playing career the last couple years in Washington. He turned that into a two-year $14 million contract with Atlanta in March, a decent deal for a backup quarterback. He enters training camp No. 2 behind Desmond Ridder, after opening last year as the backup in Washington and ending up a nine-game starter. While he went 12-11-1 as a starter, Heinicke was far from prolific. In 25 games, he completed 64.0 percent of his attempts (23rd) with a 72.0 on-target percentage (22nd). His 7.0 YPA ranked 24th, and his 21 interceptions gave him a 2.8 INT percentage, the seventh-highest rate in the league. Heinicke isn't likely to start putting up big numbers if he ends up playing in Atlanta, where eighth overall pick Bijan Robinson joins Tyler Allgeier in the backfield for an offense that finished second in run rate last season and has virtually no receiving depth behind 22-year-olds Drake London and Kyle Pitts.
Heinicke parlayed his solid showing in a 2020 playoff game into a two-year contract extension, then made 15 starts for Washington in 2021 after Ryan Fitzpatrick injured his hip in the season opener. The 29-year-old QB now slides to a backup role this year after the Commanders traded for Carson Wentz, but Wentz's performance in Indianapolis last season - especially late in the year - suggests Heinicke might get another chance to start before the end of the campaign. The Commanders also have rookie fifth-round pick Sam Howell, who at one point in 2020-21 was viewed as a potential first-rounder.
Heinicke has been bouncing around pro football since 2015, including a stint in the AAF and one start for the Panthers in 2018. He actually was finishing up his engineering degree at Old Dominion last December when he got an offer from Washington to join the practice squad. After an Alex Smith injury and another Dwayne Haskins meltdown, Heinicke ended up starting in the wild-card round of the playoffs, tallying 306 passing yards, 46 rushing yards and two total touchdowns against the eventual Super Bowl champion Buccaneers. Washington saw enough to give Heinicke a two-year, $4.8 million contract, making him the favorite to beat out Kyle Allen this summer for the team's No. 2 QB job. Ryan Fitzpatrick is the Week 1 starter, but Heinicke is just one injury or benching away from seeing the field again.
After playing in just one game through his first three seasons, Heinicke made five abbreviated appearances last year prior to Cam Newton being shut down for the final two games. That opened the door for Heinicke to make his first career start Week 16, when he completed 33 of 53 passes for 274 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. He suffered an elbow injury in that contest, however, and was placed on IR shortly thereafter, truncating his opportunity. The 26-year-old subsequently underwent surgery but returned to the Panthers this offseason in hopes of earning a roster spot again. That being said, following the selection of third-round pick Will Grier, the odds don't seem to favor Heinicke.
Heinicke is in a tight battle for the Panthers' No. 2 quarterback job with Garrett Gilbert after playing one game with the Texans in 2017.
Heinicke will try to win a spot as the No. 3 quarterback behind starter Sam Bradford and backup Case Keenum. His status on the active roster may depend on whether Teddy Bridgewater can return at some point from a serious knee injury.
Heinicke enters the 2016 season on the Active/Non-Football Injury list after severely injuring his lower-left leg in a freak accident while trying to break into his own home. He's projected to be back a couple months into the regular season, but he'll be unable to back-up starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater for at least the first few weeks. Veteran Shaun Hill figures to secure the No. 2 spot on the quarterback depth chart, but Heinicke has the talent to someday take over the offense if Bridgewater gets hurt. The Vikings also have rookie Joel Stave out of Wisconsin, who'll likely make the roster initially due to Heinicke's injury. Heinicke shouldn't be on anyone's fantasy radar at this point, but he could be a serviceable backup option for the Vikings upon his return.
The undrafted free agent is a long shot to win the third quarterback job.
More Fantasy News
Inactive as third QB
QBLos Angeles Chargers
Coach's Decision
September 15, 2024
Heinicke (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Panthers.
ANALYSIS
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Joins Bolts via trade
QBLos Angeles Chargers
August 28, 2024
The Chargers acquired Heinicke from the Falcons on Wednesday in exchange for a conditional sixth-round draft pick, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Struggles in exhibition opener
QBAtlanta Falcons
August 9, 2024
Heinicke completed four of 11 passes for 11 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and netted no gain on two carries in the Falcons' 20-13 preseason loss to the Dolphins on Friday night. He also fumbled once but recovered.
ANALYSIS
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Accepts pay cut
QBAtlanta Falcons
April 2, 2024
Heinicke took a pay cut in March to stay with the Falcons, reducing his $5 million base salary to $1.21 million, ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein reports.
ANALYSIS
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Future in Atlanta murky
QBAtlanta Falcons
March 12, 2024
Heinicke is poised to drop to No. 3 on Atlanta's depth chart with the team slated to sign Kirk Cousins (Achilles), Michael Rothstein of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Could be headed for Week 4 start
QBLos Angeles Chargers
September 22, 2024
Heinicke could be in line to start against the Chiefs in Week 4, as Justin Herbert underwent X-rays on his injured ankle and left in a walking boot after Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Steelers, per Daniel Popper of The Athletic.
ANALYSIS
Heinicke entered in relief after Herbert got hurt in the second half, suggesting that the former Falcons quarterback has leapfrogged Easton Stick on the depth chart as Herbert's top backup. Heinicke has made 29 NFL starts, but he would be fighting an uphill battle against the reigning Super Bowl champs, especially with the Chargers banged up on the offensive line.
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