Will Sam Howell Be The Commanders' Starting Quarterback in 2023? Fantasy Football Outlook

Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell started just one game in his rookie season but played relatively well. The Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke experiments have seemingly come to an end, meaning Howell has the chance to be the Commanders' starter in 2023.

Howell had early success in his college career at North Carolina and was once projected to be an early first-round pick. However, his production declined from his freshman year to his junior year and he ultimately fell to a fifth-round choice in the 2022 NFL Draft. Since he was drafted that late, he won't get the benefit of the doubt, so we can't automatically assume he'll be the starter.

How did Howell play in his lone start last season and will he be the team's QB1 in 2023? Let's dive in.

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Sam Howell 2022 Season Review

In Week 17, Howell completed 11 of his 19 passing attempts for 169 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He added five rushing attempts for 35 yards and a rushing score in the 26-6 drumming of the Dallas Cowboys.

Ultimately, it's tough to draw a ton of conclusions from one game, but the Washington offense looked as good as it had all season with Howell under center and it was an impressive start for a fifth-round rookie against a formidable defense.

Will Sam Howell Be The Commanders' Starting Quarterback in 2023?

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera has stated that the team will go into OTAs, minicamps, and training camp with Howell "more than likely" operating as the QB1. Rivera expressed confidence in the 22-year-old, saying that he could be the starting quarterback come Week 1 of next season should he show the things the organization believes he is capable of.

Washington just hired former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to run their offense, so it could be an interesting paring if Howell is indeed the starter for next season. For now, we should view Howell as a low-end QB2 in preseason drafts. That said, his ceiling could be higher thanks to his rushing upside.

This situation should be handled with caution though, as NFL coaches haven't told the complete truth in the past and will continue to do so. If one of the quarterbacks Washington likes is there for the taking in the 2023 NFL Draft, will they really pass on him? Time will tell.

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