Training camp has mostly come and gone, and we have a lot of new data about every team. What does the quarterback landscape look like as we head into prime fantasy draft season?
ELITE QB1
- Josh Allen, BUF **CONSIDER AT ADP**
The Big Question: Is Allen compelling enough to take early and forgo the value at quarterback later in your draft?
It turns out that Allen played through a broken bone in his foot that required surgery after the season for most of 2025. His team traded a second-round pick to DJ Moore, who will be his designated scramble-drill big-play threat, and promoted his beloved offensive coordinator (who also coached Moore at a previous stop in Carolina) to head coach, which should give the team an "offensive" mentality. He could separate from the field at quarterback, but that field is deep with candidates who have top 3-5 upside.
My Answer: Maybe. It depends on your lineups (fewer starting spots, more quarterback value) and scoring system (non-PPR or 0.5 PPR helps all quarterbacks), and how you feel about the players you are passing on in the third round. I won't talk you out of it, but take your favorite quarterback in the 10-20 range (Malik Willis!) even if you take Allen.
RISKY ELITE QB1
- Lamar Jackson, BAL **AVOID AT ADP**
The Big Question: How is Jackson going to do without John Harbaugh and Todd Monken?
The Ravens' offense had become stagnant under Greg Roman and really came to life when Harbaugh hired Todd Monken. Now both are gone, and Ben Johnson/Sean Payton disciple Declan Doyle is calling the shots on offense. The early word is that there will be more under center snaps. The team also lost Tyler Lindenbaum, maybe the best center in the league, to Las Vegas in free agency. Jackson was a disaster for fantasy once he got hurt, so he feels riskier coming off a lost campaign. It's possible the new regime has him run less to preserve his health. You'll get him a round or two after Allen, but the floor is a lot lower, while the ceiling isn't quite as high.
My Answer: Probably not good enough to regret passing on Jackson at ADP.
THE NEXT BIG THING?
- Drake Maye, NE **CONSIDER AT ADP**
- Justin Herbert, LAC **VALUE PICK**
- Trevor Lawrence, JAX **VALUE PICK**
- Caleb Williams, CHI **CONSIDER AT ADP**
The Big Question: Can any of this quartet join Allen and Jackson in the elite QB1 tier cheaper at a multi-round discount?
This group is going a round or two after Jackson, but there's an argument that they are better picks. Maye outproduced Jackson last year and has added A.J. Brown. Herbert got paired up with Mike McDaniel in the offseason and was a strong QB1 when he had even one healthy tackle last year. Lawrence was the hottest quarterback in fantasy football at the end of the season. Williams is in year two under Ben Johnson, who wants to set the record for points in a season.
My Answer: A good plan at quarterback is to wait for one of Herbert or Lawrence to go off the board and hope your next pick is close enough that you can take the other.
