Chad Henne Is Worth More Than You (or Anyone Else) Thinks

Is Miami making a mistake letting Chad Henne go?

That's the question everyone outside South Beach is asking. According to Alex Marvez of Fox Sports, Henne is expected to command QB1A money in free agency, which amounts to about $4.5 million. A "1A" quarterback is one who can push the incumbent starter or a rookie for the starting role; not quite starter money, not backup money.

Marvez also goes on to write,

The only two upper-end NFL starters set to become unrestricted free agents are Drew Brees and Alex Smith.

Alex Smith? Did he really become an upper-end NFL starter after one decent NFL season, supported by the league's best defense? Smith has never thrown more than 18 touchdowns in an NFL season, and his 2011 performance parallels that of many game-managing quarterbacks who came before him.

But I digress.

Can Henne push for a starting role in 2012? He helped inspire the "Suck for Luck" campaign, played just four games last season and has yet completed more touchdowns than interceptions in any season of his career.

Maybe it would be better to classify him as "1B."

But let's assume Henne earns the opportunity to start for another NFL team in 2012. History indicates the wideouts on those teams might get a fantasy boost. Since 2010, in 19 games, Henne has completed approximately 70 percent of his passing yards to wide receivers, vs. just 15 percent to tight ends and running backs.

Of course, history also indicates he should be selected as a QB2 on your fantasy team if he turns that "1A" into a "1."