RELATED: See all of our 2025 Player Spotlights here.
Comfortably Contrarian: Prescott Can Be a Top-3 Quarterback
One of my favorite things about being a Footballguy is the freedom to disagree with my peers, and this is one of those times. Most of the staff at Footballguys have Dak Prescott ranked outside the Top 10 at quarterback, but I see things differently. Prescott heads into 2025 with the Cowboys backing him after last September's contract extension, and his QB14 positional ADP makes him a clear mid-round value for managers willing to wait at quarterback. Where our site's baseline projection calls for a run-leaning offense and modest passing totals, I expect heavier passing volume. I don't believe the defense or the rushing attack are fixed, which means they'll have no choice but to let Prescott sling it around to an impressive trio of pass catchers.
That expectation is what makes Prescott's case as a potential Top 3 fantasy quarterback, even if it's more optimistic than the consensus view.
Waiting on Your Quarterback Can Always Be a Winning Strategy
Drafting quarterbacks later has consistently been a winning strategy, as recent seasons have demonstrated with late-round or undervalued options, such as Bo Nix in 2024, Brock Purdy in 2023, Geno Smith in 2022, and Kirk Cousins in 2021, each delivering strong returns for patient drafters. Prescott fits that profile in 2025. With a QB14 positional ADP, he can be drafted after the elite tier, enabling fantasy managers to prioritize top-tier running backs and wide receivers before selecting a quarterback.
Enticing Pass Volume
Prescott's health remains the key variable, but his volume as a passer illustrates his fantasy potential. Over the last six seasons, Prescott has averaged 36.3 passing attempts per game, which ranks seventh among all NFL quarterbacks from 2019 through 2024. This consistent usage, paired with Dallas' top-end receiving corps, forms the core of his upside argument for 2025.
Table: Quarterback Attempts per Game (2019-2024)
| Rank | Player | Years | Gms | Atts | Att/Gm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Brady | 2019-2022 | 66 | 2,675 | 40.5 |
| 2 | Ben Roethlisberger | 2019-2021 | 33 | 1,275 | 38.6 |
| 3 | Matt Ryan | 2019-2022 | 60 | 2,263 | 37.7 |
| 4 | Patrick Mahomes II | 2019-2024 | 95 | 3,556 | 37.4 |
| 5 | Justin Herbert | 2020-2024 | 79 | 2,926 | 37.0 |
| 6 | Joe Burrow | 2020-2024 | 70 | 2,551 | 36.4 |
| 7 | Dak Prescott | 2019-2024 | 74 | 2,684 | 36.3 |
| 8 | Philip Rivers | 2019-2020 | 32 | 1,135 | 35.5 |
| 9 | Jared Goff | 2019-2024 | 96 | 3,403 | 35.4 |
| 10 | Matthew Stafford | 2019-2024 | 81 | 2,761 | 34.1 |
| 11 | Kirk Cousins | 2019-2024 | 86 | 2,928 | 34.0 |
| 12 | Kyler Murray | 2019-2024 | 82 | 2,780 | 33.9 |
| 13 | Trevor Lawrence | 2021-2024 | 60 | 2,034 | 33.9 |
| 14 | Aaron Rodgers | 2019-2024 | 83 | 2,753 | 33.2 |
| 15 | Josh Allen | 2019-2024 | 100 | 3,314 | 33.1 |
| 16 | Carson Wentz | 2019-2024 | 57 | 1,879 | 33.0 |
| 17 | Derek Carr | 2019-2024 | 91 | 2,985 | 32.8 |
| 18 | Joe Flacco | 2019-2024 | 33 | 1,081 | 32.8 |
| 19 | C.J. Stroud | 2023-2024 | 32 | 1,031 | 32.2 |
| 20 | Daniel Jones | 2019-2024 | 70 | 2,241 | 32.0 |
The Terrific Trio: CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, and Jake Ferguson
For Prescott to defy consensus and finish as a top-3 quarterback, he's going to need to stay healthy, throw a lot, and most importantly, have a cadre of difference-makers running routes. Most of the truly elite fantasy quarterbacks have multiple fantasy-caliber receivers, and I'd posit Prescott has a trio up to the task for the first time in ages.
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