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We went live with 2025 projections the day after the Super Bowl, putting us in a rare position of being among the first in the industry to have public numbers for you to reference, assess, question, and comment. It should go without saying that many of these projections and rankings will change significantly as rosters take shape and we get a clearer picture of each team’s talent and skill profiles.
That said, we thought it would be helpful to compare my rankings (which are driven by my projections) against early industry consensus. I’m going to highlight some of the larger initial disparities, both to spark discussion and to help frame things as you all begin working on your rankings for the season.
Quarterback Rankings: Players I'm High On
There are four quarterbacks I have rated significantly higher than the industry consensus.
Drake Maye, New England
- My Ranking: QB8
- Industry Ranking: QB19
There’s a good chance I will drop him from my top 10, but I believe the industry is far too low and will adjust upward. Coordinator Josh McDaniels is a proven offensive mind, so his system won’t hinder Maye’s development. Maye played increasingly well as the season progressed despite a roster lacking difference-makers around him. He’s mobile, and I expect him to be a legitimate rushing threat (it’s hard to finish as QB19 if you run and start the entire season). Most importantly, the Patriots have $110 million to spend and will almost certainly prioritize building the offense around him. I expect New England to be aggressive in free agency—adding someone like Cooper Kupp or even Darius Slayton—along with additional draft assets.
Bo Nix, Denver
- My Ranking: QB6
- Industry Ranking: QB13
This one is a puzzle. Nix was better than QB13 last year as a rookie, and very few quarterbacks peak in their first season. While I know C.J. Stroud regressed in Year Two, Nix’s rushing upside makes him a more stable asset. I also expect the Broncos to upgrade their receiving options at TE/WR after what was essentially a Courtland Sutton & Friends situation in 2024.
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota
- My Ranking: QB24
- Industry Ranking: QB31
This disparity comes down to how I’m projecting versus rankers who aren’t using projections. I don’t assign free agents to specific teams until they land somewhere (e.g., Sam Darnold is QB23 in my projections but remains in the free-agent tab). McCarthy isn’t going to finish as QB31 if it’s clear he’s the QB1 in Minnesota once free agency shakes out. However, if Darnold stays, McCarthy’s range of outcomes widens considerably.
Caleb Williams, Chicago
- My Ranking: QB9
- Industry Ranking: QB15
Of my higher-upside rankings, this is the one I’m least confident in. I’m factoring in significant improvement in nearly every aspect of Williams’ game, thanks to Ben Johnson and the assumption that Chicago will invest in the offensive line via free agency and the draft. That said, I could see him settling in as a high-upside QB2 in a 12-team league as things take shape.
Quarterback Rankings: Players I'm Low On
There are four quarterbacks I have rated significantly lower than the industry consensus.
Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis
- My Ranking: QB28
- Industry Ranking: QB14
This might be one of the hills I die on this year, but I’m not going to recommend that you bet on Richardson again in 2025. We’ve seen enough. I don’t think you can confidently project him to start the entire season, let alone improve enough (and stay healthy) to be a reliable fantasy starter. It would take a significant amount of new information—major personnel upgrades, overwhelmingly positive camp reports from trusted beat writers—for me to view Richardson as a draftable asset.
Matthew Stafford, LA Rams
- My Ranking: QB30
- Industry Ranking: QB22
This is the industry believing Stafford is something he no longer is. He finished as QB32 on a per-game basis last year, and even if you remove backups with high per-game averages, he was still only QB27. With Cooper Kupp likely on the way out and a lack of offensive talent beyond Puka Nacua (remember, Demarcus Robinson is also a free agent), I can’t view Stafford as a viable fantasy asset right now. That said, the Rams could make moves—most likely through the draft—that would push him up to a low-end QB2 for me. But no higher because he’s one of the few quarterbacks who contributes nothing as a runner, and that’s an undeniable fantasy liability.
Jared Goff, Detroit
- My Ranking: QB15
- Industry Ranking: QB8
The industry is assuming Goff will repeat last year’s heroics, but I’m skeptical. He finished as QB9 on a per-game basis in 2024, but let’s be realistic—he was playing at his ceiling. In the two previous seasons under Ben Johnson, he finished as QB16 (2023) and QB15 (2022). Before Johnson became OC, he was QB27 in his first year with Detroit. Could Goff sustain last year’s level of play? Sure. But I’m not betting on new offensive coordinator John Morton matching Johnson’s efficiency. Since Goff contributes little as a runner, he needs to be an elite passer to crack the Top 10 again. That’s risky.
Jordan Love, Green Bay
- My Ranking: QB14
- Industry Ranking: QB9
My views on the Packers’ offense are still evolving, but I don’t see them throwing enough for Love to consistently deliver top-10 fantasy value over a full season. This ranking also depends on how the industry factors in turnovers (or doesn’t). Since Love isn’t much of a runner, and Green Bay is unlikely to rank high in pass attempts, I just don’t trust him as a fantasy QB1. However, if they make a clear move to upgrade the receiving corps—adding a legitimate alpha—I’d happily reconsider.
Quarterback Rankings: It Is Early in the Process
Please remember this is an incredibly early look at the 2025 fantasy landscape. We haven't had free agency or the pre-draft evaluation process yet, much less the draft, training camp, and the preseason. Suffice it to say that our opinions about these players and many others will evolve in the coming months.
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