Fantasy football is basically a giant game of "what have you done for me lately," and honestly, the 2024 season was a chaotic mess for anyone holding a clipboard. If you spent a first-round pick on Patrick Mahomes last year, you probably spent December staring at the waiver wire for help. The landscape has shifted. We aren't just looking at the same old names anymore because a wave of younger, faster, and—frankly—scarier athletes just crashed the party.
When we talk about the top qbs fantasy 2025, it’s not just about who throws the prettiest spiral. It’s about the "cheat code" legs. It's about who has the offensive coordinator willing to let them go nuclear in the red zone. If you’re still drafting like it’s 2020, you’re going to lose your league. Plain and simple.
The Unquestionable King of the Hill
Josh Allen. That’s the list.
Okay, maybe not the entire list, but he’s the closest thing to a sure bet we have. He just won the NFL MVP for a reason. Even after losing a superstar like Stefon Diggs before the 2024 season, Allen didn't blink. He finished 2024 with over 3,700 passing yards and 28 touchdowns, but it’s the 12 rushing scores that make him a fantasy god. He is a 240-pound bulldozer who plays quarterback.
The Bills' offense under Joe Brady has basically become the "Josh Allen Do Everything" show. In 2025, expect more of the same. Buffalo didn't go out and sign a massive Tier 1 receiver this offseason; they’re betting on Allen's ability to elevate guys like Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid. If he’s on the board in the late second round, you take him. You don't overthink it.
Jayden Daniels and the Sophomore Surge
Most people are still catching their breath after what Jayden Daniels did as a rookie. He wasn't just good; he was historic. We’re talking about 3,500+ passing yards and nearly 900 rushing yards in his debut season. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year for a reason.
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Washington isn't sitting still, either. They went out and grabbed Deebo Samuel Sr. to give Daniels a "YAC" (yards after catch) monster, and they finally fixed that offensive line by trading for Laremy Tunsil. Last year, Daniels took 47 sacks. If that number drops by even 15%, his passing efficiency is going to skyrocket.
Is there a "sophomore slump" risk? Sure. But with his rushing floor—averaging over 50 yards on the ground per game—his "bad" weeks are still better than most guys' good weeks. He’s currently being drafted as the QB2 or QB3 in most high-stakes leagues, and honestly, he might actually have a higher ceiling than Josh Allen if the passing touchdowns take a leap.
Why the Lamar Jackson Doubt is Real
Look, Lamar Jackson is a two-time MVP. He’s incredible. But for the top qbs fantasy 2025, there’s a massive elephant in the room. His 2025 season (the one we just finished) was... weird.
He struggled with a back contusion that cost him games down the stretch. More concerningly, his rushing production hit a career low. He only had 349 rushing yards across 13 starts. That’s not the Lamar we know. If he isn’t running for 700+ yards, he has to be an elite pocket passer to stay in the top five.
He did throw for 41 touchdowns in 2024, which was a ridiculous outlier. History says that number will regress. If the rushing doesn't bounce back and the passing touchdowns drop to 25-30, he’s a mid-range QB1, not a world-beater.
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The Joe Burrow Health Tax
You've gotta be brave to draft Joe Burrow.
The talent? Top three in the world.
The health? It’s a coin flip.
He missed a huge chunk of 2025 with a turf-toe injury that required surgery. When he was on the field, he was lights out—300 yards and three touchdowns like it was nothing. But he’s missed significant time in two of the last three seasons. If you draft him, you basically have to draft a high-end backup like Jordan Love or Caleb Williams just to sleep at night.
The Sleepers Nobody is Taking Seriously (Yet)
Bo Nix is the name that makes people roll their eyes, but look at the stats. He was incredibly consistent as a rookie in Sean Payton’s system. He had nine games with at least 19 fantasy points. That’s better than what Patrick Mahomes did for large stretches of last year.
Payton has a history of making quarterbacks fantasy-relevant through pure volume and short, high-percentage throws. Nix isn't going to win you a league on his own, but as a late-round flyer? He’s gold.
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Then there's C.J. Stroud.
He had a bit of a "sophomore slump" in 2024 with 20 touchdowns and 12 picks. It wasn't the elite leap people expected. But the Texans just added Christian Kirk and Nick Chubb. They are loaded. Stroud is currently being drafted as a "low-end QB1," which feels like a massive mistake by the public. He’s a bounce-back candidate waiting to happen.
Putting Together Your 2025 Strategy
Drafting a quarterback is all about timing this year. The gap between the "Big Three" (Allen, Daniels, Hurts) and the rest of the pack is wider than it's been in a decade.
If you miss out on the elite rushing QBs, don't panic and reach for a mid-tier guy. If you can't get Jalen Hurts in the third, you might as well wait until the eighth or ninth round and grab someone like Jordan Love or even Caleb Williams. Williams, by the way, looks much more comfortable in Ben Johnson’s offense now that he’s not trying to play "hero ball" on every snap.
Actionable Draft Day Steps:
- Prioritize the "Rush-First" Tier: If Josh Allen, Jayden Daniels, or Jalen Hurts are available at their ADP (Average Draft Position), take them. The rushing yardage is essentially a 50-70 point head start over pure pocket passers.
- Watch the Bengals' Training Camp: If Joe Burrow is moving without a limp and the offensive line looks cohesive, he’s the best "value" pick in the fifth round.
- Avoid the Mahomes Name Value Trap: Patrick Mahomes is the best player in the NFL. He is not necessarily a top-five fantasy player anymore. The Chiefs win by playing elite defense and running the ball. Don't pay for 2018 stats in 2026.
- The "Wait and See" Backup: If you draft a high-risk player like Lamar Jackson or Burrow, pair them with a high-upside sophomore like Bo Nix or Drake Maye.
The 2025 season belongs to the athletes. The days of the stationary "statue" quarterback winning fantasy titles are mostly over. Focus on the guys who can score with their feet when the play breaks down. That’s where the championships are won.