You hear it every year, and you're going to hear it again this offseason: Quarterbacks are deep. Don't be the guy who drafts a quarterback early. It's awful to be in a draft, perusing desperation WR3s to fill out your starting lineup, while your leaguemates with fully loaded rosters add quality QB1s to theirs. It can be tempting to pay up when you're starstruck by the big names, but there are fantastic options available late this year.
My blanket advice for addressing the quarterback position in drafts this year: Wait. Wait a bit longer. And then wait some more.
Of course, everything is relative. If all of your leaguemates are operating under a similar ideology and Josh Allen is sitting there in Round 5, take him. If your league is full of Patriots haters and Drake Maye slips into Round 7, take the chance. But if your league is operating within the confines of average draft position (which most leagues do), your patience will be rewarded.
For the sake of this article and the Average Draft Positions (ADPs) I reference, assume this is a single-quarterback half-PPR league with two running back slots, two wide receivers, a tight end, and a flex. For rankings more specific to your league, check out our Rankings, which allow league syncing and create customized rankings for every league you're in.
Let's dive in, starting with the best of the best and working our way down the rankings.
Fantasy Football QB Rankings
Elite Rushers and Passers
These guys all have "overall QB1" well within their range of outcomes. Barring injury, 4,000 yards passing and 500 yards rushing should be the floor, with potential for record-breaking seasons. These players won't come cheap in drafts, and I find myself mostly overlooking them. When looking at Allen's ADP compared to skill players and the ADPs of late-round quarterbacks, the allure of waiting starts to become more evident. Would you prefer Josh Allen and Jakobi Meyers or Patrick Mahomes II and Malik Nabers? Because the latter, to me, sounds much more appealing.
- QB1 - Josh Allen - The QB1 seemingly every year; he is ranked that way again this year, but his Round 3 cost and the position's depth make drafting him a risky proposition.
- QB2 - Lamar Jackson - Last year was marred by injuries, but he's in a prime position to bounce back in a new offense under creative OC Declan Doyle.
- QB3 - Drake Maye - Already an elite finisher last year with a sustainable blend of passing and rushing production, the addition of A.J. Brown could push him to even new heights.
Fringe Elites
It's tough to say "draft everyone in this tier" or "fade everyone in this tier" as the ADPs are stretched quite a bit across draft boards. Burrow is the most expensive of the bunch, and I find myself easily passing over him in drafts. Herbert is regularly falling deep into drafts, making him a very easy target. Daniels, Williams, and Lawrence all have ADPs that align well with my rankings, making them fun picks with tremendous upside. But don't stress about reaching for anyone in this tier. If you miss out on these guys, there is still plenty of upside to be found later.
- QB4 - Joe Burrow - Injuries have been the unfortunate theme of Burrow's career, but he's a lock for 4,500 yards and 35 touchdowns if he stays healthy.
- QB5 - Justin Herbert - Herbert was the per-game QB1 last year when Joe Alt was on the field, and he'll return along with Rashawn Slater, hopefully getting him back on track in Mike McDaniel's offense.
- QB6 - Jayden Daniels - Injuries caused people to forget how dominant Daniels was as a rookie, and the addition of Stefon Diggs could help him have an even better Year 3.
- QB7 - Caleb Williams - Williams has just enough moxie as a rusher to pad his floor, and a second year in Ben Johnson's offense could help him with the layups that will elevate his ceiling.
- QB8 - Trevor Lawrence - Lawrence broke out in a major way last year, his first under Liam Coen, and finally seems to be living up to his pre-draft potential as a premier quarterback.
Back-End QB1s
Now we're starting to look at some legitimate targets in drafts. If anyone in this tier finished as a top-three quarterback, would it surprise you? Because it shouldn't. All of these quarterbacks have proven capable of elite production, and they're all buried deep in ADP. You can regularly draft these guys as "back-end QB1s" but potentially get high-end QB1 returns.
- QB9 - Brock Purdy - Purdy has quietly produced QB1 numbers throughout his entire career, a testament to his rushing, development, supporting cast, and Kyle Shanahan's system.
- QB10 - Jalen Hurts - Hurts' per-game production has dipped every year since he took over as the starter, but he still offers enough rushing to make him a solid QB1 target.
- QB11 - Dak Prescott - Prescott is as steady as they come in fantasy, and the Cowboys' subpar defense puts them in positions where they are forced to air it out often.
