Finding the right quarterback in fantasy football isn’t as straightforward as it used to be. The 2025 season brings a deeper, more unpredictable QB pool than ever. With young players on the rise, veterans declining, and a clear gap between high-ceiling plays and safe-floor options, your approach to the quarterback position can make or break your draft.
This guide to fantasy football quarterback tiers isn’t just another rankings list. It’s a strategic breakdown built for real roster construction in every league format. Whether you’re playing in 1QB, superflex or a weird league your buddy dreamed up in a Red Bull haze, this breakdown gives you the lay of the land. We’re diving deep into the stats to help you make smarter decisions for your 2025 fantasy football drafts.
Want more on the players? Hit up our fantasy football rankings and fantasy football projections for everything you need. We also have a full lineup of fantasy football cheat sheets with 16 formats to choose from, plus my Game Plan Fantasy Football Draft Guide to get you ready. And if you’re into the numbers, don’t miss Aaron Schatz’s FTN Football Almanac and our StatsHub advanced stats research tool for next-level insights.
Let’s break down the tiers and find your edge.
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Tier 1: Elite QBs
Josh Allen
Lamar Jackson
Jayden Daniels
Jalen Hurts
Joe Burrow
These guys are just good. They have the potential to wreck fantasy leagues. Of course, they also come with a hefty price tag. Allen was his usual monster self in 2024. He finished fourth in total fantasy points and averaged 22.4 per game. He rushed for 531 yards and punched in 12 touchdowns on the ground. Jackson finished as the QB1 overall with 449.2 fantasy points, averaging 26.4 per game. His blend of explosive runs and improved pocket presence made him nearly untouchable.
Daniels hit the ground running in his rookie season and proved to be an instant elite-level fantasy producer. He racked up 891 rushing yards and 6 rushing touchdowns, and he’s just getting started. Hurts is one of the most productive running quarterbacks in the league with double-digit rushing scores in each of his last four seasons. Burrow led the league in both passing touchdowns and completions. He averaged 24.1 fantasy points per game, proving he’s more than just a gunslinger. He also chipped in as a sneaky runner with 5 rushing scores. This was the best version of Burrow yet.
Tier 2: Borderline Elite QBs
Patrick Mahomes
Baker Mayfield
Bo Nix
These guys are not quite at the top but are still every-week fantasy starters. Mahomes didn’t have his usual top-three finish, but he still posted a rock-solid fantasy season. He hovered in the QB7-QB10 range most of the year. He also enters 2025 with arguably the most depth at wide receiver he’s had in his career. Mayfield has completely revived his career and is coming off a massive 40-plus touchdown season. Meanwhile, Nix is a top-10 option after finishing as QB12 with 18.9 fantasy points per game.
Tier 3A: High-Ceiling QB1s
Kyler Murray
Justin Fields
Caleb Williams
These guys can swing weeks with huge performances, even if the consistency isn’t all there. Murray finished as QB11 overall, but it was far from a smooth ride. But when Murray was right, he was winning you weeks. As for Fields, he has an opportunity to revive his career with the Jets. Whether he does remains to be seen, but his running ability alone gives him a high fantasy ceiling. Williams was a classic rookie rollercoaster. Williams finished as QB16, averaging 15.6 fantasy points per game. There were glimpses of brilliance, but the lows were painful. Still, he logged multiple top-10 weekly finishes and has real breakout potential in Year 2.
Tier 3B: High-Floor QB1s
Purdy is a fairly safe bet. He may not blow the roof off, but he’ll rarely sink your team. He came back to earth slightly last season, but still managed a fringe-QB1 finish and flashed surprising upside as a runner.
Tier 4A: Late-Round Upside
Justin Herbert
Drake Maye
Trevor Lawrence
J.J. McCarthy
C.J. Stroud
These are your high-reward stashes or QB2s in deeper formats. They’re also very interesting second QB targets in superflex leagues. Herbert doesn’t quite offer the ceiling he had earlier in his career, but he showed he can still be a QB1 in Jim Harbaugh’s run-heavy offense. He also has some additional weapons in the passing game with rookie Tre Harris and three-down RB Omarion Hampton in the mix. Maye doesn’t quite have the same depth in his WR room, but the second-year man flashed an appealing skillset in his rookie season.
As for Lawrence, we seem to be stuck in “this is his year” territory, but he’s still worth one more look. Liam Coen taking over at head coach along with the addition of Travis Hunter give Lawrence upside appeal. McCarthy is now the unquestioned starter in Minnesota where he’s loaded with pass catchers. If he can replicate Sam Darnold’s 2024 success, McCarthy will be a major draft day value. Stroud took a step back in 2024, but the Texans add a pair of rookie pass catchers in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel along with changing offensive coordinators. He’s a post-hype sleeper.
Tier 4B: Late-Round High Floor
Dak Prescott
Jared Goff
Jordan Love
Matthew Stafford
Tua Tagovailoa
This group of veterans offer a stable floor and can keep your fantasy teams afloat. However, they often lack the pop to help lead you to a fantasy championship. Prescott only played eight games but averaged 17.4 points. His limited sample was solid, and his floor remained reliable when healthy. Goff finished as QB8 with 326.8 total fantasy points. He’s at the helm of a high-powered offense but offers almost nothing on the ground.
Love failed to meet his 2024 fantasy draft value, and he quietly finished with 15.9 points per game. But he did end the season with strong momentum and has a new weapon with the speedy Matthew Golden in the mix. Stafford also has a new receiver at his disposal with veteran Davante Adams now in LA. Stafford is nearing the end of his career, but he still has 4000-yard, 30-TD potential. As for Tagovailoa, can he stay healthy? If so, he’ll outplay his ADP, but that’s a big “if.”
Tier 5A: Superflex QB3 Targets
Bryce Young
Michael Penix Jr.
Sam Darnold
Cameron Ward
Jaxson Dart
Here are your ideal depth pieces in multi-QB formats like 2QB and superflex. Young was briefly benched last season, but ended up taking a definite step forward from his rookie year. He showed improved decision-making and occasional red zone efficiency. Penix took over in Week 16 and closed strong. Averaged 19.1 points per game across his three starts.
Darnold is now in Seattle following his surprising resurgence in 2024. He has Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp at his disposal, but he’s far from a guarantee to match last year’s production. As for Ward, the rookie is dripping with upside but is also in an offense with lackluster personnel. Meanwhile, Dart likely won’t enter the season as the starter, but it shouldn’t be long before the Ole Miss product takes over as the Giants QB1. With Malik Nabers at his disposal, Dart offers upside on the cheap for superflex formats.
Tier 5B: Superflex Avoids
Geno Smith
Aaron Rodgers
Anthony Richardson Sr.
Russell Wilson
Tyler Shough
Daniel Jones
Don’t let the name value tempt you. These guys are trap picks. Some are aging out, some aren’t guaranteed to start, and some just didn’t deliver. The one exception we could make in the future is the Colts QB situation. As of this writing, Indy doesn’t have a clear starter. However, either one of their potential starters would be an upside QB2. We just have to wait and see if there’s a clear starter by the time we’re in the heart of fantasy draft season.
Final Thoughts
Quarterback is deep, but the tiers matter. Knowing when to strike and when to wait can unlock the rest of your draft. If you want safety, there are options in the middle rounds. If you want upside, rookies and runners are everywhere. The key is not locking yourself into a player. It’s about knowing the board and attacking value.
And if someone takes your guy, don’t panic. Use the tiers and pivot. That’s how you stay ahead.
