Rush to draft your quarterback if you must, but the depth implies there’s plenty to go around at the position in 2023.
Teams holding late picks in fantasy drafts should still be in position to land a volume scorer.
For the sake of argument, the chances Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert meets or exceeds Joe Burrow’s passing totals this season are quite high, even before Burrow limped his way out of training camp with a calf injury.
Here’s a peek at the fantasy football QB rankings for 2023:
1. Josh Allen, Bills
Until the Bills establish a formidable running game, we continue to punt the theory that Allen won’t run the ball in the red zone. He tied for 15th in the NFL last season with seven rushing TDs and tied for second with 35 TD passes.
2. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
No more doubting Mahomes. Travis Kelce serves as an enormous security blanket and even without a proven No. 1 wide receiver outside, Mahomes was his MVP self last season. He averaged more than 300 yards and had at least one TD toss in every game.
3. Jalen Hurts, Eagles
Next-level Michael Vick is where Hurts took the bar last season, his second consecutive with at least 10 rushing touchdowns, a claim no other QB can make. Hurts accounted for at least one touchdown (passing or rushing) in 14 of his 15 starts in 2022.
4. Joe Burrow, Bengals
Burrow passed for at least 300 yards in 11 regular-season games over two seasons even while being sacked an NFL-high 92 times.
5. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
He’s etching plays in the playbook and not sweating his next payday. The return of MVP Lamar? He topped 750 rushing yards for the fourth consecutive season and the Ravens might finally have the right mix at wide receiver.
6. Justin Fields, Bears
Three games with 130-plus rushing yards in 2022 helped fantasy owners, but it’s no path to longevity in the NFL. Significant additions on the offensive line and at receiver — hello, D.J. Moore — elevate Fields’ potential to chase 30 (passing TDs) and 10 (rushing TDs).
7. Justin Herbert, Chargers
Looking for a QB to reach for in the draft? This might be the guy. Kellen Moore plans a lot of nine routes — fly patterns, go routes and verts, if you will — as offensive coordinator and Herbert won’t be shy about letting it rip.
8. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
Calvin Ridley brings a relevant receiver to the equation and ups the chess options for Lawrence.
9. Deshaun Watson, Browns
Teams knocked rust off Watson last season and he’s driving the Cleveland offense with a co-pilot in top-rated running back Nick Chubb.
10. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
A more complete WR corps gives us confidence Prescott’s numbers are ready to jump and those INT totals drop.
11. Aaron Rodgers, Jets
12. Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins
13. Derek Carr, Saints
14. Kirk Cousins, Vikings
15. Jared Goff, Lions
16. Daniel Jones, Giants
17. Geno Smith, Seahawks
18. Russell Wilson, Broncos
19. Matthew Stafford, Rams
20. Kenny Pickett, Steelers
2023 Sleeper: Jordan Love, Packers
Green Bay is well-stocked at running back but if the Packers get rapid growth from their wide receiver and tight end projects, Love could quickly jump into spot-start consideration as a No. 2 fantasy QB.
Pass on this QB: Jimmy Garoppolo, Raiders
With one 300-yard game in San Francisco last season, Jimmy G is not a notorious high producer and history says at age 31 he’s more likely to land on IR than post his first 30-TD season.
–Field Level Media