Could Malik Willis be a viable fantasy QB next season?
Yahoo Fantasy's Matt Harmon and Chris Allen react to Packers QB Malik Willis' Week 17 performance against the Ravens. Hear the full conversation on the "Yahoo Fantasy Forecast" podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify or wherever you listen.
Video Transcript
I mean, Malik, uh, Malik Willis here, listen.
Oh.
You've got to take your hat off to the guy.
He played an awesome game here.
He, well, he had to leave at one point and go to the locker room, likely for an injection.
On his shoulder.
That's right, yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
I mean, it was... yeah.
I mean, it wasit was wild here.
Uh, Malik Willis, He, on downfield throws in this game, 20 plus air yards.
Completed six of seven for 197 yards and a touchdown, third-most deep passing yards by a quarterback in a game this season according to Next Gen Stats.
He also, again, had 22 yards and a touchdown on two designed runs.
39 yards and another touchdown on five scramble attempts.
I started Malik Willis in a Superflex championship, uh... Game this weekend, and then I felt...
I, I walked into Sunday feeling like, "Hey, boys, just don't screw it up."
Okay?
"Don't screw it up."
And Malik Willis has taken Us to a title here.
Oh, yeah.
And honestly, this was also in a game where they weren't going to get much out of the... Running game.
I know some folks wound up starting Josh Jacobs.
Because he was active.
Oh, yeah.
But kind of reading the tea leaves with how much he had been talking about the knee.
Swelling in previous weeks, how banged up he was coming into this game.
I wasn't expecting a ton out of the Packers running game.
So this really was going to be a lot on Malik Willis from a throwing standpoint.
And whether it was Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, I mean, I was really hoping to see a bit more out of Luke Musgrave.
But still, he had that whole Packers offense, like, from a, Like, from almost start to finish, put on his back and, For trying to keep them, keep them in this game.
And whether it was him rushing or him throwing, I mean, Yeah.
I know you and I talked last week about Malik.
Willis as the potential quarterback or free agent quarterback that a lot of folks, or a lot Of teams should be looking at.
And after watching him play this game, Yeah, they wound up losing because Derrick Henry put up over 200 scrimmage yards.
But overall, I would think that, without having Jordan Love in this game, Seeing how well that whole offense was still able to operate without their, A rushing component to it, I mean, I think Malik Willis, He probably played himself into a pretty solid contract in 2026.
Oh, I think he should at least be somebody who gets a shot to compete in camp.
And, you know, we were talking about it on Fantasy Football Live this morning.
Joel brought this up, that there's just not a lot of appealing quarterbacks in free agency.
Market or in the NFL draft.
Like, there are going to be a few teams here.
That need to get creative to find a QB1 next year.
And Malik Willis has shown as well as anybody to be one of those guys.
And you know, it seems like he's coming out of nowhere.
But he was a third-round draft pick by the Tennessee Titans.
And I know he was not good in Tennessee.
But he Mm-hmm.
... Was a guy who was playing at freaking Liberty.
Okay?
Like, down the street from where I went to.
College in Lynchburg, Virginia at freaking Liberty, okay?
Like, he wasn't coming from some power school where it's like, "Oh, he's ready to play in the NFL."
He was definitely not ready for the speed of the NFL.
And you could see that immediately.
But the last, These last two games and several other times that he's gotten into the field for the Green.
Green Bay Packers, you've seen a guy that the game has kind of slowed down for him.
So, I think that this is going to be a really fun offensivelike, Off-season discussion.
Obviously, LaFleur is helping a lot here.
He's doing a lot to get Malik Willis up to speed, too.
To play at the NFL level, for sure.
But there are other coaches around the NFL.
Like, I, I keep coming back to the Dolphins, man.
I know they've got, uh, the big Tua albatross contract.
They'll have to maybe get creative there.
But at the same time, That would look pretty fun, like Malik Willis.
With that Dolphins team, but there are several others that I think will consider.
Him as well.
