RPO Prevalence in 2023 and Fantasy Impact

In August 2018, 6-time Pro Bowler and 2-time all-pro safety Eric Weddle planted his flag, stating that the RPO or Run-Pass Option was a fad. “I think in five years, it’s going to be out,” Weddle said to ESPN, before proceeding to compare it to the Wildcat offense and brushing it off with a “yada yada yada.”

At the time, RPO - the sort of cousin to play-action, where the QB reads a particular defender in order to decide whether to hand the ball off or pass - had already swept through the college game after a rule change enabling linemen to block further downfield. Many credit Chip Kelly with popularizing it in the NFL, and his successor Doug Pederson used it to strong effect in the Eagles’ Super Bowl winning run just half a year prior to Weddle’s comments.

Now, well over the 5 year mark, let’s see how his prediction has played out.

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