For a variety of reasons — talent influx, changes in rules and play calling — the quarterback position has never been deeper. Tier 1 represents a clear top five in Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels, Jalen Hurts and Joe Burrow. As you’ll see, there’s no reason to panic or even need to target those stars, because there’s a ton to offer at quarterback after the big names come off fantasy draft boards.
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Baker Mayfield, who averaged 22.5 fantasy points per game last season and now gets Chris Godwin back and a rookie WR taken in the top 20, is the QB6 according to “expert consensus ranks.”
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Patrick Mahomes (QB7) might be the GOAT and will get Rashee Rice back.
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Jared Goff (QB10) was the QB7 in fantasy points per game from Weeks 1-17 last season and remains in a terrific situation.
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Justin Fields (QB12) is one of only three QBs in NFL history to average at least 50 rushing yards per game and has been fantasy’s QB7 in points per game over the last three years.
That’s inarguably a strong group of starters in your standard 12-team, 1 QB league, but check out the incredible depth afterward:
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Note: All QB ranks below are from “expert consensus ranks”
QB13 = Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Purdy leads the NFL in YPA (8.9) by a wide margin over the last three seasons, when he also ranks first in EPA/dropback. Purdy was the QB9 in fantasy points per game (Weeks 1-17) last year despite going from leading the league in TD% each of the previous two seasons to ranking 19th. Purdy will continue to benefit from Kyle Shanahan’s system and gets Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk back. Ricky Pearsall was recovering from a gunshot wound during a still impressive rookie season and is a Year 2 breakout candidate. Moreover, Purdy gets the league’s easiest projected schedule in 2025.
QB14 = Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Williams has real question marks and a worrisome floor, but he also offers rushing upside and now has Ben Johnson on his side. Williams was fantasy’s QB10 Weeks 12-17 as a rookie, and Chicago improved its offensive line during the offseason. The Bears also drafted tight end Colston Loveland in the top 10 and wide receiver Luther Burden III in the early second round to go along with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze. Williams won the offseason and is being set up not to fail.
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QB15 = Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
The Packers’ league-low pass rate last season was heavily influenced by games started by Malik Willis. While Love’s TD% dropped last season, his YPA (8.0) dramatically improved even though he was playing injured (and dealing with a bunch of drops). Green Bay spent a first-round pick on a WR for the first time since 2002 and then added another in Round 3. Love is absolutely loaded with weapons with Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks (if only he could catch!) and Tucker Kraft. Love was fantasy’s QB6 (ppg) in 2023.
QB16 = Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Prescott is one season removed from being a top-five fantasy QB while leading the NFL in passing TDs by a wide margin. He plays in a dome and will likely be in a lot of shootouts. Dallas enters 2025 with a shaky defense and running back group but with George Pickens added alongside CeeDee Lamb. Prescott isn’t even ranked as a top 15 QB given the league’s depth right now.
QB17 = C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
Stroud was a top-10 fantasy QB during one of the best rookie seasons (8.2 YPA) in NFL history in 2023. Stroud dealt with a ton of injuries to his offensive line and wide receivers during his disappointing sophomore campaign, and the Texans addressed both issues during the offseason. Houston traded for Christian Kirk and spent second and third round picks on wideouts. Last season’s 3.5 TD% is sure to regress. Stroud was drafted as the QB5 in Yahoo (and most other) leagues last season, and he should bounce back in a huge way in 2025.
QB18 = Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Maye was thrown into arguably the worst supporting cast in the NFL as a rookie, but he produced the fifth-most fantasy points per dropback over the last three rookie QB classes despite facing the second most pressure in the league. The Patriots upgraded their offensive line and added weapons Stefon Diggs (free agent), TreVeyon Williams (No. 38 overall pick) and Kyle Williams (No. 69). New England also added OC Josh McDaniels, who presumably will use Maye on more designed runs (Jayden Daniels is the only rookie to average more scramble YPG than Maye over the past four seasons, but the Patriots used Maye on fewer designed runs per game than Jared Goff). Maye led all quarterbacks in scramble yards (349) and averaged the fourth-most QB rushing yards during his 10 full games last season, leading the NFL in yards per carry.
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Maye will be better in Year 2, and his situation has also dramatically improved. A QB with his rushing upside shouldn’t be available this late.
QB19 = Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Lawrence might not be the prince we were promised, but he was a top 15 fantasy QB over Weeks 1-9 before suffering a shoulder injury last season. He now gets to throw to a legitimate alpha in Brian Thomas Jr. and another possible one in Travis Hunter. Baker Mayfield just had a monster fantasy season under new Jacksonville head coach Liam Cohen, and Lawrence can run some.
QB20 = Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
Tagovailoa led the league in passing yards in 2023 and hopefully gets a healthier version of Tyreek Hill in 2025.
QB21 = Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Stafford remains capable of putting up big stats when the Rams are healthy, and Los Angeles replaced a fading Cooper Kupp with Davante Adams during the offseason.
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QB22 = J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
Sam Darnold was left for dead by the league, yet he was fantasy’s QB9 (ppg) in this system last season. McCarthy had plenty of time to fully recover from his knee injury and to learn a playbook that called for the third highest dropback over expectation rate last season. The Vikings have finished top six in both passing yards and TDs during all three seasons under Kevin O’Connell. Justin Jefferson and O’Connell are both kingmakers, and McCarthy is taking the throne.
QB23 = Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Young may not have gotten another chance in Carolina if not for an Andy Dalton car accident, but the former No. 1 overall pick resurrected his career after taking over again in Week 8. He ranked No. 1 in Big Time Throw rate from that point forward while his receivers finished last in separation%. Carolina drafted Tetairoa McMillan eighth overall, while Jalen Coker, Xavier Leggette and TE Ja’Tavion Sanders are all capable of breaking out in Year 2.
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Young rushed for five TDs over the final six games, and he posted a 7:0 TD:INT ratio over the last three. He drastically outplayed Stroud over the final 10 games last season and now gets an upgraded roster around him. Young is the QB23!
QB24 = Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
Penix didn’t light it up with fantasy points after replacing Kirk Cousins last season, but he showed a ton of promise. His 87.6 Pro Football Focus passing grade led all six rookie QBs with 100+ dropbacks last season and was the best mark from a rookie since Robert Griffin III in 2021. Penix led the league in Highlight Throw percentage while suffering easily the highest drop rate in the NFL. At minimum, Penix’s high aDOT (second highest in the league last year) and low sack/scramble rates are great news for Drake London’s fantasy value.
QB25 = Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders
Indoor Geno! Smith has averaged 2.0 passing touchdowns over his last 13 starts indoors, where his YPA has jumped a full yard throughout his career. Brock Bowers is already a superstar, while veteran Jakobi Meyers and rookie Jack Bech are underrated. Ashton Jeanty can be a big help, too. Smith is just two seasons removed from leading the NFC in passing touchdowns, and he’s now indoors.
QB26 = Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
Richardson was a bust last season, and his accuracy issues could lead to Daniel Jones taking his job. However, Richardson also ranked fifth in fantasy points per dropback despite a historically bad completion% (with many, many drops to blame) and facing one of the league’s toughest schedules for opposing quarterbacks. Richardson has a scary injury history and no floor, but he’ll also be free in most fantasy drafts now. Richardson is just three days older than Cam Ward and worked on VR training during the offseason. Top-five fantasy QB upside remains, yet Richardson isn’t even ranked as a top 25 QB.
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Other interesting QBs
Any of Sam Darnold, Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe, Daniel Jones or another wild card could also easily surprise this season.
Lesson to remember
Superflex leagues continue to make more and more sense with the depth of the current quarterback landscape. Otherwise, wait! It’s also a position in which we can play matchups, so load up (when possible) with a few options after being the last to address QB. The dirty secret about fantasy football is one player can influence winning league championships far more than in other sports. Those players are almost always running backs or wide receivers, so taking more early chances on those positions while patiently waiting on QB gives the best odds to win leagues in 2025.
This news was originally published on this post .
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