We went to war about the most-talked-about running back and wide receiver 2023 fantasy football draft-day dilemmas. Now, we discuss the top quarterbacks who could put up 20 fantasy points in their sleep.
Deciding between these five studs could be the difference between a title or an early playoff exit. Luckily, we tried to make the decision easier for you.
Elite QB1s are becoming new edges for Fantasy Football players, and Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Jalen Hurts are going as early as the Late 2nd / Early 3rd Round. Who do you like the most of these three and why? Who do you like the least and why?
The Wolf
Before tearing the UCL in his throwing elbow in Week 9, Josh Allen averaged over 30 FPPG! Let me repeat: OVER 30 FPPG. This would’ve been the most of all time, by a decent margin. That plummeted to a (still-respectable) 23.2 FPPG (QB4), showing just how elite Allen’s ceiling and floor are, as even without his deadly deep bomb, he sustained fantasy goodness. Somehow, after QB1, QB1, and QB2 finishes, Allen often goes the cheapest of this bunch, which blows my mind. You can’t go wrong, but you can be more right, and Allen is the best bet to blow up fantasy.
I outlined my love for Allen above. Jalen Hurts, the QB1 in FPPG last year, also has a quality blow-up case: Hurts averaged 16.8 FPs in the 1st Half of games (QB1) but just 8.9 in second halves (QB17), including 4.2 in the fourth quarter (QB27). What if Philly isn’t quite as dominant, and/or the improving division forces more shootouts?
To me, Patrick Mahomes is the safest – but also the lowest ceiling. If I take the plunge on an early QB, I need a guy who can break fantasy. What if something happens to a 33-year-old Kelce? Prior to last year’s QB1 finish, Mahomes had been the QB3, QB4, and QB7 — impressive numbers, but not the guaranteed Top-3 Gods like the other two.
Jackson Barrett
My real answer is that I like whoever has the cheapest cost because all three of these guys are pretty much interchangeable. All scored about 25 PPG last year and have similar situations this year. But if I had to pick one, I would probably choose Patrick Mahomes. He is clearly the best passer of the three and hasn’t missed a start in the past two seasons. Since this debate is so close, I’ll go with the guy I’m most confident will play 17 games.
Chase MG
Jalen Hurts is my favorite of the bunch. Because Patrick Mahomes continued elite-level play after Tyreek left and doesn’t get hit as much, he’d be the safer bet, I think. The Philly offense could even be more potent in ’23, boosting Jalen’s numbers to the highest ceiling here.
Josh Allen is my least favorite, but all three are close. I think there’s a better chance we’ve seen the Bills’ offense peak with this group of players.
JimboSlice
I like Patrick Mahomes the most. He’s the best QB in the league, he has rushing upside despite not being a true runner, and he will be asked to throw due to his inconsistent running game. I guess I’ll say Jalen Hurts is my least favorite. He and Josh Allen are amazing, and I’d take either or not lose a second of sleep. Honestly, I don’t see a noticeable difference between the two. I feel dirty even picking one here.
Owen
Josh Allen is the best option of the three. Despite the hype of Jalen Hurts, despite the accolades of Patrick Mahomes, it has been Allen who finished as QB1 in 2020 and 2021 and QB2 in 2022. He was still the second-best QB last season despite injury and turnover problems, something I expect to be cleaned up a bit. His elite passing skills and electrifying rushing ability make him a top option.
I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the three, but Jalen Hurts is the least proven of the bunch. Like last year, Hurts must show he can score on the ground yearly. And, if his rushing declines, he must show he can rely on his arm for more than the 22 TDs he put up last season.
In Late Round 3 through Round 4, Justin Fields vs. Lamar Jackson is a common debate. Who do you go and why?
The Wolf
Yes, I am as excited as everyone else for the Lamar Jackson and Todd Monken marriage here, and even more so for the Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr. additions to give them the firepower to truly sling.
Yet, I’ll go against the grain here and pick Justin Fields, who out-scored every QB besides Hurts from Week 8 on (25.7 FPPG). This was with Dante Pettis as his WR1 for long stretches. With DJ Moore here, Darnell Mooney healthy, and Chase Claypool impressing in camp, Fields now has a WAY better weapons cabinet.
Look no further than Preseason Week 1, where Fields went 3-for-3 for 129 yards and 2 TDs, despite not throwing past the line of scrimmage. He now has weapons to do the work for him rather than being the lone piece. Mix in the fact that he has the highest Konami upside of any QB, maybe ever (178 and 147 rushing yard games and he was on pace to break Mike Vick’s rushing record), and Fields is my QB4.
Jackson Barrett
While the first question was very close, Lamar Jackson is the clear choice here. Both players averaged 19.7 PPG last season, but Fields played over 90% of the snaps in each game, while Lamar left his final game after playing only 14% of the snaps. If you remove that game, Lamar’s average increases to 21.4 PPG. Lamar is clearly the better passer, posting a 72.3 PFF passing grade to Fields’ 54.4.
I also expect the gap in rushing production to decrease this year. Fields put up an incredible 1,143 yards on the ground last season, a mark only topped by Jackson’s 2019 season. That number is such an outlier that it almost has nowhere to go but down, similar to Lamar’s rushing production after 2019. I don’t expect either player to top Lamar’s 2019 or Fields’ 2022 season on the ground this year, but playing in more three-WR formations should increase Lamar’s rushing efficiency.
Chase MG
Simply, if Todd Monken and Lamar Jackson gel……ZANG!!!
JimboSlice
Oh, Lamar EASILY. I like Fields, I don’t know if I fully trust him and the Bears offense yet. Lamar has already established himself as an MVP-level player. His receiving core got a notable upgrade, and the addition of Todd Monken should do wonders for everyone offensively.
Owen
If you want the safer option, you go Lamar Jackson. He has established himself as both a great runner and passer. With Mark Andrews, Odell Beckham Jr., and Zay Flowers, I see him taking a big jump and finishing in the top five. If you take risky players early in your draft, take Lamar for some security over Fields.
On the other hand, Justin Fields provides significant upside. If his passing takes a jump, combined with his rushing ability, he could easily be the QB1 in fantasy. His rushing ability alone is so impressive it could carry him to QB10 or better even with abysmal passing. Take Fields if you trust this passing offense and want an explosive side to your fantasy lineup.
DLo
I go Lamar Jackson here pretty easily. He’s already shown he’s an MVP-level player and has a new offense in Baltimore that, by all accounts, should air it out more. If his passing takes the next step to go with his other-worldly rushing skills, he could finish as QB1.
