Using tiers in fantasy football offers several strategic benefits beyond simple rankings. Rankings are linear, but tiers group players of similar value together. This helps you recognize when there's a big drop-off in talent, so you don't overreact to slight differences in rank. Example: If multiple wide receivers are left in a tier but only one player in the current running-back tier, you're more likely to take the running back before that tier is eliminated.

We'll cover every positional tier as the offseason moves on; today, we look at quarterbacks.

Elite QB1s

• Lamar Jackson, BAL
• Josh Allen, BUF
• Jalen Hurts, PHI

The players in this group have established themselves as annual top 5 fantasy plays, which makes them worth paying up for early in your draft. 

Jackson emerged as the clear QB1 last year, facing defenses that had to also worry about Derrick Henry. There's no reason to think he won't do it again or be even better with a maturing offensive line and the addition of DeAndre Hopkins.

Allen got off to a slow start last year because of a couple of blowouts and a spirited performance from the Texans defense, but was Jackson's equal from Week 6 on. You'll probably have to break the seal on quarterbacks if you want him.

Hurts has a small worry with the league seemingly on the warpath to ban the tush push. He underperformed a bit when A.J. Brown missed three weeks, but was back at his 2023 scoring level (which was good enough for QB2 behind Allen) after Brown returned until Hurts had to leave Week 16 early with a concussion.

Elite QB1s at a Discount

• Jayden Daniels, WAS
• Joe Burrow, CIN
• Baker Mayfield, TB **VALUE PICK**

This group's scoring range is just a little below the elite tier, and any of them could finish ahead of any or all of the elite quarterbacks. If you want to spend early on quarterback, it's probably best to wait a little bit and dip into this group instead of the elite tier.

Daniels was a revelation in both fantasy and NFL circles last year, but there's a heightened injury risk - which was responsible for his mid-season slump. C.J. Stroud's down second season looms over the decision about taking Daniels, who is going off the board closer to his ceiling than his floor. Daniels finished the season on a heater that would put him in contention to be QB1 overall if he can carry it over to this season, so don't let me talk you out of taking him at ADP.

All Burrow did was finish as QB3 last year, scoring at the same level as Allen and Hurts in 2023, which was good enough for them to be QB1 and QB2 that year. It's also the same level Burrow scored at in 2022. His ADP has crept up close to the elite tier, so the fantasy community has caught on.

Mayfield was an elite QB1 for fantasy last year when he wasn't missing both starting wide receivers. His team spent their first-round pick on another wide receiver, so it's hard to see why he is going multiple rounds after the top five. Mayfield is easily the best value on the board at quarterback, unless you think he will come back to earth without Liam Coen. In that case, you should be all in on Trevor Lawrence instead.

Boom/Bust QB1s

• Patrick Mahomes II, KC
• Kyler Murray, ARI **VALUE PICK**
• Justin Fields, NYJ **VALUE PICK**
• Dak Prescott, DAL

All of these quarterbacks have elite QB1 upside from both a season-long and weekly point of view. There's reason for optimism that all three are in improved situations. There's also risk, as all are coming off of disappointing seasons. This group allows you to take a QB1 with a top 5 ceiling outside of your top 5-6 picks and will fit well in most draft plans.

If Mahomes could only keep Marquise Brown, Rashee Rice, and Xavier Worthy on the field at the same time, he could get back to the fantasy penthouse where he once resided. We've been trying to talk ourselves into a bounceback year for two offseasons in a row now, so Mahomes is as each as he's been since his breakout 2018 campaign.

Murray didn't click in Drew Petzing's offense, he didn't return to pre-ACL running production levels, and Marvin Harrison Jr.. wasn't the impact rookie that we projected him to be. Any or even all three of those conditions could change this year. Murray has said his knee was still bothering him last year and he's ready to run more if they want him to, which gives him the potential to be the biggest hit on the quarterback board, given his inexpensive price.

Fields was once again a high-ceiling QB1 option even in Arthur Smith's offense before he ceded the job to Russell Wilson. He's less likely to lose his job this year in New York. Fields is also playing behind a talented offensive line with a new offensive coordinator coming from the successful Detroit staff (Tanner Engstrand). As the cherry on the sundae, he'll be reunited with college teammate Garrett Wilson. Fields is a value pick going well later in redraft than when he was in a lesser Bears offense.

Prescott gets a big boost from the acquisition of George Pickens. The Cowboys also neglected their backfield in the draft and free agency and should have to rely on the passing game to move the ball. Of course, Prescott was set up with a similar scenario last year and mostly disappointed, so that's why he's much cheaper this year.

Growth QB1s

• Bo Nix, DEN
• Caleb Williams, CHI
• Drake Maye, NE **VALUE PICK**
• Trevor Lawrence, JAX **VALUE PICK**
• Bryce Young, CAR **VALUE PICK**

This group is still young and on the upslope side of their career arcs. If you're looking for the breakout quarterback of 2025, he's probably in this group. If your pick from this tier doesn't take a step forward, you'll be at a disadvantage, so it might be a good idea to double-dip if you wait to take your QB1 from this group. Even if you take a QB1 early, it's not a bad idea to take one of these quarterbacks if you have conviction that they will improve significantly in 2025.

Nix started to get his feet under him and never looked overwhelmed in Sean Payton's offense. It's still difficult to picture this unit moving into the top 10-12 in offensive production and efficiency, but Nix is more likely to improve in year two. He's usually the most expensive of his tier.

Williams is returning to a very different offense than the one he slogged through in 2024. Ben Johnson is bringing his wizardry from Detroit and started by rebuilding the interior offensive line. The first two picks of Johnson's first draft were the best two-way tight end in the draft and the most dangerous wide receiver after the catch in the draft.

Despite being surrounded by one of the most underwhelming supporting casts in the NFL, Maye was surprisingly viable for fantasy in his rookie year. Josh McDaniels is back in Foxboro, and the Patriots spent their first four picks on offense. Morgan Moses and Stefon Diggs could be solid veteran additions if they stay healthy. Things are getting better; the only question is how much.

You have to be encouraged by the first draft of the Coen/Gladstone regime in Jacksonville. They aggressively moved up the board for Travis Hunter and immediately announced their intentions for him to focus on wide receiver. That was his secondary position at Colorado, so don't be surprised if he has a similar impact to Brian Thomas Jr. last year. This offense and Lawrence's fantasy value could be the most improved in the league, but it appears the fantasy hive mind isn't completely on board with the case for Lawrence's upside yet.

Young was a new quarterback after the bye, and we should consider him back on track to be the quarterback we thought he could become when the Panthers traded up to #1 for him in 2023. He should be better in year two under Dave Canales, and Tetairoa McMillan could be an instant impact upgrade to the passing game. Young was a low QB1 from Week 12 last year; he could be even better this year.

Matchup-Dependent QB1s

• Brock Purdy, SF
• Jared Goff, DET
• Justin Herbert, LAC
• C.J. Stroud, HOU

You can get by with a QB1 from this group. You might even be pleasantly surprised and get a relatively safe weekly high-floor play. Ideally, you are only playing one of these quarterbacks when the matchup is right or when they are on a hot streak.

Purdy was a game competitor through a struggle-filled season in San Francisco. If Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, and Trent Williams can stay healthy, Purdy should resume his solid QB1-level scoring from 2024 with room to grow. 

Indoor Goff was as good as advertised last year. A favorable schedule with only three outdoor games fueled Goff to a QB7 finish in a typical scoring system. Goff only has 10 indoor games this year, but that's still over half of a QB1 that is available outside of the top 10 quarterbacks off the board.

Herbert passed more than expected and had a couple of solid QB1 stretches in his first year under Jim Harbaugh, who is smitten with him. The offensive personnel arguably didn't improve significantly, but there could still be improvement solely by everyone being experienced in the Harbaugh/Roman offense now.

Stroud was a fantasy bust in his sophomore slump year. Wide receiver injuries and offensive line woes were more to blame than Stroud himself, but he didn't help matters. The Texans' moves to fix the offensive personnel and coaching this offseason were significant, but look more like the first stage in a multi-year plan than a quick fix.

Upside Bench QBs

• Cam Ward, TEN
• Michael Penix Jr., ATL
• Jordan Love, GB
• J.J. McCarthy, MIN

You don't want to count on this group in Week 1, but they all have the potential to become matchup plays, or even every-week QB1s if things break right. This tier makes drafting in Superflex leagues easier this year.

Ward will create some fantasy production with his legs. He's on the Kyler Murray axis, but there's bust potential each week with almost all rookie quarterbacks. The Titans offense is also a work in progress.

Penix looked ready for prime time last year, but it didn't show up in the fantasy numbers. That should happen less often this year, but he could still be unreliable week to week. There's also a scenario where he really clicks in year two, so he's a fun QB2 in Superflex leagues.

Last year, Love was considered a low QB1 after a hot finish to 2023, but injuries to him and the wide receiver group sabotaged his second year as the starter. The Packers invested in the wide receiver group in the draft, but this will still be a conservative offense by design, limiting Love's season-long ceiling.

McCarthy will be the Week 1 starter, but much like his national championship season at Michigan, expect the Vikings to ease him in. The acquisition of Jordan Mason and the rebuilding of the interior offensive line should allow for a lot more balance in the offense, which will make McCarthy unreliable. Peak weeks are possible, and McCarthy could be precocious. Still, it's harder to picture that after he was on the shelf for most of 2024.

High-Floor Bye/Injury/Emergency QB2s

• Geno Smith, LV **VALUE PICK**
• Matthew Stafford, LAR
• Tua Tagovailoa, MIA
• Sam Darnold, SEA

This group isn't suitable QB1 material, but they can serve your lineup in a pinch. In Superflex leagues, they can give you baseline production cheap to buttress advantages you bank elsewhere while skimping on your QB2.

Smith will see a big improvement in offensive teammates and game planning in Las Vegas. Don't be surprised if he gets back to the low QB1 level he once produced.

Stafford is better in real NFL than fantasy terms in his golden years, but he could have some spike weeks with Davante Adams improving the WR2 spot significantly.

Tagovailoa's arrow is pointing down as the Dolphins appear to be entering a rebuilding phase. The offense's explosiveness went flat in 2024, and there's no reason to think it will turn back the clock to 2023 in 2025.

Darnold had his moments in 2024, but he was in a much better offensive environment. Expect some bumps in the road and rough floor-week outings while he gets used to driving the Seattle offense.

QB Competitions

• Anthony Richardson, IND
• Daniel Jones, IND
• Joe Flacco, CLE
• Jameis Winston, NYG
• Russell Wilson, NYG
• Tyler Shough, NO
• Mason Rudolph, PIT
• Dillon Gabriel, CLE
• Spencer Rattler, NO
• Kenny Pickett, CLE

None of this group is guaranteed to start in Week 1, but there will be four or five that do when the dust settles. They are listed in order of potential fantasy value *if* they start, but only Richardson and Jones are worth drafting in 1QB leagues.

Bottom-of-the-Barrel Starters

• Aaron Rodgers, FA
• Derek Carr, NO
• Kirk Cousins, ATL

There's some value here in Superflex leagues, but that's about it. Rodgers will be in a limiting Arthur Smith offense - if he plays. Carr will be playing hurt - if he plays. And Cousins will be in that limiting Arthur Smith offense - if he starts.

Backups

• Marcus Mariota, WAS
• Malik Willis, GB
• Andy Dalton, CAR
• Sam Howell, MIN
• Jake Browning, CIN
• Tyrod Taylor, NYJ
• Joshua Dobbs, NE
• Hendon Hooker, DET
• Mac Jones, SF
• Zach Wilson, MIA
• Joe Milton III, DAL
• Jimmy Garoppolo, LAR
• Cooper Rush, BAL
• Jacoby Brissett, ARI
• Aidan O'Connell, LV
• Drew Lock, SEA
• Will Levis, TEN
• Skylar Thompson, PIT

This group won't see the field without an injury to the starter. They are listed roughly in order of fantasy value if starter + likelihood of starter injury.

Rookies Who Could Start at the End of a Lost Season

• Jalen Milroe, SEA
• Shedeur Sanders, CLE
• Jaxson Dart, NYG
• Will Howard, PIT

The title speaks for itself. If any of these rookies start in December, it's a bad sign for how 2025 went for their teams.