Fantasy football is a cruel mistress. One minute you're riding high on a late-round flyer, and the next, your QB1 is sitting on the bench with a "questionable" tag that feels like a death sentence for your matchup. If the 2025 season taught us anything, it’s that the gap between the "elite" and the "streaming" options is wider than it's ever been, yet people keep making the same drafting mistakes.
You’ve probably seen the standard 2025 fantasy football quarterback rankings floating around. Josh Allen is usually at the top. Lamar Jackson is right there. Jalen Hurts is the third pillar.
But looking at a list doesn't win you a ring.
Understanding why Matthew Stafford suddenly became a league-winner at age 37 or why Anthony Richardson basically vanished from the fantasy radar—that’s where the money is. Let’s get into the weeds of what actually happened this year and what it means for your roster.
The Tier 1 "Cheat Codes" Still Rule
It’s almost boring at this point. Josh Allen finished 2025 as the QB1 again. That's a habit now. Despite the Bills leaning more on a "run-first" approach under Joe Brady, Allen remains the team's primary goal-line back. He’s the only player in NFL history to record 25-plus passing touchdowns and 10-plus rushing scores in a single season while keeping interceptions under double digits. Honestly, if you didn't take him in the late second or early third round, you were playing catch-up all year.
Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts are the other two members of this "big three."
Lamar is a force of nature. Even in a season where he had zero carries inside the 5-yard line, his efficiency as a passer reached new heights. He led the league in passer rating (119.8) and set career highs in passing yards. He’s basically a flex-level running back who also happens to throw for 4,000 yards.
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Then there’s Hurts. The "Brotherly Shove" might be controversial to some, but to fantasy managers, it’s beautiful.
The Jayden Daniels Phenomenon
We have to talk about Washington. Jayden Daniels didn't just have a good rookie year; he had the fourth-best fantasy season ever for a rookie QB. By the time the 2025 draft season hit, he was already being pushed into the top five.
He actually surpassed Lamar Jackson in rushing yards (864) and scramble rate. If you caught the hype early, you got a Tier 1 producer at a Tier 3 price tag. That window has officially slammed shut.
Why the "Wait on QB" Strategy Failed in 2025
For years, the smart play was waiting. You’d grab a guy in the 10th round and hope for the best.
That didn't work this year.
The middle tier was a minefield. Guys like Dak Prescott and Jordan Love, who many expected to be stable QB1s, dealt with injuries or "scheme changes" that gutted their ceiling. Dak, specifically, had a rough go after an injury-marred 2024, and while he finished with 30 passing TDs, the lack of rushing upside kept him firmly in the QB12-QB15 range.
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If you weren't holding an elite runner, you were praying for 300 yards and 3 TDs just to keep pace with a "bad" Josh Allen week.
The Matthew Stafford Resurgence
The biggest outlier of the 2025 fantasy football quarterback rankings was Matthew Stafford. Nobody wanted him. He was practically undrafted in standard 10-team leagues.
Then the Rams happened.
Stafford led the NFL in passing yards (4,707) and tossed 46 touchdowns. He was the only "pure" pocket passer to consistently rival the rushing QBs for the weekly QB1 spot. He didn't run. In fact, he lost nine yards rushing on the season. But when you're throwing to that Rams receiving corps, who cares? He posted 26+ fantasy points in 35% of his games.
Sleepers, Busts, and the Richardson Problem
Anthony Richardson is the cautionary tale of the year. Entering the 2025 draft, some people were taking him as the QB3 overall based on "potential."
He ended the season as a backup to Daniel Jones in Indianapolis.
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The accuracy issues weren't just a "rookie thing." They were a "him thing." He finished 2025 as the QB37. If you spent a 4th-round pick on him, your season was likely over by October.
On the flip side, Drake Maye in New England was the quiet killer. He had twelve top-12 weekly finishes—the most of any QB in 2025. He’s basically "Baby Josh Allen." He offers that 450-yard rushing floor with a surprisingly high passing ceiling under Mike Vrabel.
Other Notable 2025 Performances:
- Bo Nix: Super consistent. He had nine games with at least 19 points. He's the guy you want if you miss out on the elites.
- Joe Burrow: When healthy, he's elite. He averaged 21.9 points in his healthy games. The problem is the "when healthy" part.
- Baker Mayfield: He actually led the league in passing TDs for a significant chunk of the season. With Mike Evans and the addition of rookie Emeka Egbuka, the Bucs' offense remained a fantasy goldmine.
- Caleb Williams: Disappointing for most of the year. He finished as QB22 in his rookie campaign. The flashes were there, but the Chicago curse is real.
Actionable Strategy for 2026 and Beyond
Stop chasing the "pocket passer" unless their name is Stafford or Burrow. The math just doesn't add up. To beat a guy like Jayden Daniels or Lamar Jackson, a pocket passer has to be perfect. They need 350 yards and 3 TDs just to match a rushing QB who has 200 yards, 1 passing TD, and 60 yards on the ground.
If you are drafting today, here is the blueprint:
- Prioritize the Rushing Floor: Target QBs with at least 100 projected carries. Justin Fields (even with the Jets) and Drake Maye are the value targets here if you miss the Big Three.
- Ignore the Name, Value the Scheme: Sean Payton (Nix) and Liam Coen (Lawrence) proved that scheme matters more than "pedigree."
- Don't Fear the Sophomores: Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels proved that the "Year 2 Jump" is the most profitable time to buy a quarterback.
- Watch the O-Line: Dak Prescott’s decline was directly tied to protection. Conversely, Brock Purdy stayed efficient because he was rarely hit.
The 2025 season proved that the "safe" pick is often the one that runs. Whether you're looking at dynasty rankings or preparing for a redraft, focus on the legs. The bazooka arm is a bonus, but the 10-yard scramble is what wins championships.
Go look at your league's waiver wire right now. If Drake Maye or Bo Nix are somehow sitting there as the season wraps up, grab them. Their 2026 ADP is going to skyrocket, and you’ll want that value on your side when the next draft cycle begins.