Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson has been leading fantasy managers to championships since he first stepped onto the field at Louisville. I have been lucky enough to win both College Fantasy Football (CFF) and NFL fantasy championships with Jackson on the roster. For nearly a decade now, the former Louisville Cardinal has commanded headlines in college and as a professional. In the summer of 2016, Jackson was not a superstar on the gridiron, or in CFF, and available in the mid-rounds of fantasy drafts…those were the days.

After a true freshman crusade in 2015, Jackson took the nation by storm with an unworldly season as a sophomore. In late September, he donned the cover of Sports Illustrated with the headline “What Just Happened?” Finally, sports fans across the nation were awakened to Jackson's greatness in 2016. The Cardinals’ dual-threat signal caller captured the Heisman trophy after passing for 3,543 yards, rushing for 1,571 yards and totaling 51 touchdowns (30 passing and 21 rushing). 

At 19-years old, Jackson was the youngest player to win the Heisman and his rushing yards were the most ever by a Heisman-winning quarterback. Some of the single-game performances are unforgettable: against Charlotte, he produced eight touchdowns, versus Syracuse, he accumulated 610 yards of total offense (411 passing, 199 rushing) and against Florida State, he produced five total touchdowns. In 13 games, he passed for over 300 yards four times and surpassed 400 yards twice. On the ground, Jackson exceeded the century mark in eight contests, including a season-high 199 versus the Orange. 

In 2017, Jackson produced another unforgettable season despite losing the Heisman to Baker Mayfield and finishing third in the voting. As a runner, he eclipsed 1,500 yards rushing again with 18 scores, and as a passer, he produced a career-best 3,660 yards and 27 touchdowns. By any standard, Jackson’s last season on campus also ranks among the best in college football history. Jackson adds another accolade to his college football resume and is a welcome addition to the inaugural CFF Hall of Fame Class of 2025.

by John Laub