Time to take a look at the big hitters for fantasy football

By Martin Richardson

With all the skill positions covered in my previous Fantasy ranking articles, it’s time to get down the business with the big hitters at the quarterback position. These guys can make or break a season for some people, with big points from slinging the ball over 350 yards a game, to rushing the ball in for 2 touchdowns a game. Either way, you need a great QB to help supplement those skill positions that you’ve taken in those premium rounds. So, grab a note pad and pen or open a notes page on your phone and take note of who you should be looking at when it comes to taking a QB in your Fantasy football draft.

*I’ve ranked 24 players as there are normally 12 teams in a league and you will no doubt need that BYE week streamer or a sneaky stash just in case*

24. BRYCE YOUNG

We start these rankings down in Caroline. After a turbulent 2024, that included a prolonged break watching Andy Dalton under centre, the Panthers seem to have finally settled on the fact that Young is the way to go down in Carolina. They drafted a top WR in Tet McMillan (now the second-best McMillan in the NFC South) and have made steady improvements to allow Young to improve as well. For Fantasy points, he has the ability to run the ball and get touchdowns when the team will need them. With a poor defense in 2024, it limited how much the Panthers could run their offense, but with free agency addressing that, even if that porous defense becomes average, it should allow Young to make improvements and get you some valuable Fantasy points as a QB2.

23. Sam Darnold

Another new team for Darnold but this time it is a little different. He has more credit in the bank than ever before. A more than solid season with the Vikings lead to a move to the Seattle Seahawks, along with veteran WR Cooper Kupp. Now, there are some interesting little nuggets that are worth considering when it comes to Darnold and what he has come to in Seattle: Mike McDonald and previous OC Ryan Grubb didn’t want to throw the ball deep and to the outside (think about just how good Jaxon Smith-Njigba was) but that’s what Darnold did well with those WR in Minnesota; but, new OC Klint Kubiak loves throwing the ball wide and deep (I’m sure some of us felt the sting of those Rashid Shaheed big touchdowns), so maybe there is a chance that this changes in Seattle. You do have to wonder though if Kupp and JSN are those types of players, or should we be playing more attention to Jake Bobo or Marques Valdes Scantling? He may well be worth a stash and see how he starts before you commit starting someone like Darnold.

22. Tua Tagovailoa

Tua is such a tough one to place on a ranking like this; if he is fit and healthy, then he could be a top QB in any league. But it’s a big if really. He is one bad decision from one bad hit from time spent on the sidelines. I suspect he runs a lot less in 2025. It’s a risk you might want to take if you think that’s all behind him and he can make the progress the Dolphins fans are desperate for. Spinning the usual positives about the Dolphins offense, they have some great options with Tyreek Hill (providing he wants to be the leader he says he needs to be), Jaylen Waddle (one of the best WR2 in the league) and both running backs in De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright provide some excellent catching options which would allow for Tua to amass lots of Fantasy points. They have a rebuilt pair of guards, but tackles remain an issue. He has an upside, but there are also some concerns if things don’t start well.

21. JJ McCarthy

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Yes, he was injured last season and as a rookie there is an element of the unknown with him. But O’Connell knows who to scheme up players and get the best out of his players. With an offense that throws the ball a lot, and why would you not do that when you have Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison (suspension pending) TJ Hockenson and Aaron Jones has options in a very good Kevin O’Connell offense. Casting our minds back to this time last season, he was having a great off season, so maybe with more time to learn the play book and know about his teammates, he may well slide right into the offense for the Vikings. They have a great O line  He certainly has more upside than downside, so if you stash him, there is a chance for him to be a solid Fantasy QB if you need him.

20. Dak Prescott

I don’t get the Cowboys at all. I’m sorry Cowboys fans, I really don’t. Maybe it’s Jerry Jones and his weird soundbites or maybe it’s the fact they didn’t go all out for who was considered a top head coaching candidate (who knows, Brian Schottenheimer may be a top coach). And that is where I think the Cowboys are at: they are going to need some top coaching in order for them to reach the heights that the fans expect every season. With no real investment with the RBs, its Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams providing options there, a TE with zero touchdowns last season and a WR room that lacks depth, Prescott and faces an uphill battle to be leading the Cowboys beyond the regular season. However, he does have CeeDee Lamb as one of those WR options. Having an elite WR will always help those Fantasy points tallies down the stretch. I will say I think that Dak is a bye week streamer, or a stash and see option at this point. Who knows, maybe the Cowboys prove people wrong.

19. Matthew Stafford

At first, the loss of Cooper Kupp would have been a travesty for the Rams’ offensive plans. However, getting in Davante Adams is such a good move by the front office as this compliments Puka Nacua and Stafford so well. They also added Terrance Ferguson at the TE position and that will help Stafford have options to throw to and get those all-important Fantasy points for you. Hopefully the Rams have a healthy O line that will make for a better offensive production going into 2025. You know that Stafford isn’t going to the run the ball so it makes sense to pick up Stafford is you want to ensure that you get those points for yardage, as he would more than likely throw for 350 yards in a game with a few touchdowns in the mix too.

18. Drake Maye

A beefed-up O line helps Maye now that he enters his second season at the Patriots. He showed the promise that you wanted from a rookie from a QB and with the addition of Stefon Diggs and a new OC, Maye could well be a sneaky good pick up if you have spent those premium picks early. Let’s not forget, he was 6th in yards per game last season so he has the ability to be part of the run game for the Patriots if he scrambles around the way he know he can. His ability to get the ball over the line of scrimmage in those situations makes him an interesting pick up. Maye will more than likely be available in the 10th round and below and is certainly worth a stash if he starts well.

17. CJ Stroud

Things in 2024 ended badly for CJ Stroud and the Texans: losing WR after WR made it tough for Stroud to kick on and be the top player everyone thought he was going to be. They traded away Tunsil on the O line and that may not be a bad thing because he picked up so many penalties. They got better in their WR group and picked up some good talent to compliment Nico Collins. The addition of Nick Caley interests me to see how well Stroud does in 2025. They were 28th in Red Zone touchdown rate and for Fantasy players that’s not ideal if you need Stroud to make those big plays for your Fantasy team.

16. Jared Goff

No Ben Johnson in Detroit. Did you know that? Has anyone mentioned that? This should be the last time I mention it too. But the Lions still have a great O line and Goff still have all his playmakers to help showcase what he is about. His environment is perfect and they work with what he is good at and he excels in knowing what works for him and the team.

The defense was an issue in 2024 and put the team in tough spots, which maybe forced the hand of Johnson and Goff et al when they were in trouble, but that shouldn’t be as much of an issues going into 2025.

15. Justin Herbert

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Did we really think that good Harbaugh was going to not let Justin Herbert sling that ball around with his cannon of an arm in 2024? Did we all really fall into that trap? Well, we won’t now. Herbert and Chargers threw the ball more than Bills and the Eagles last season. That Herbert to McConkey connection is outrageous. Enjoy that if you draft either of them.

Are things perfect for Herbert? No. they needed to address some of the O line issues (a bad interior is an issue), which they didn’t, so work still to be done for Herbert going into the Fantasy season.

Tre Harris could well be a name to watch as a late round pick up for Fantasy players now that Mike Williams has retired. Reports from Sports Illustrated are already saying that Harris is featuring a lot more than first thought and this just gives Herbert another option to use that cannon of an arm to help the Chargers push on in 2025.

14. Trevor Lawrence

I need to try and make this a balanced argument now that his new HC is Liam Coen. I can already hear the narratives being formed: ‘Look what he did with Baker and that offense, of course he can do it in Jacksonville.’ There is a basis to it, but I genuinely think a number of things helped Coen out more, the main one being talent on offense. I think Baker is better when a team has their back against the wall than Lawrence. I think the talent in the WR room is better than Jacksonville (even with Bruan Thomas in year 2); the RBs are better than Etienne and Bigsby and the Bucs O line is superior as well. Coen will have to make sure he knows how to utilize every tool at his disposal if he wants success. Yes, both he and Lawrence have the utility man in Travis Hunter, but he needs to get a tune out of the aforementioned running backs and unlock the talent that is Brenton Strange at TE.

All Bucs fans are watching on to see if Coen fails, but I think he’s brought this on himself with his duplicitous and acrimonious exit. Time to step up and show the league what you’re about, and Lawrence is a part of that narrative too.

13. kyler murray

I finish part 1 with someone who has promised so much, and if I am honest, needs to do a little more. We are now into year five of Murray in Arizona and I am not sure that he is the guy to take the Cardinals forward. However, as a Fantasy QB, he finished 4th in rushing but 8th in carries and there could well be a narrative that says he does not want to be a rushing QB. He wants to throw it more. Maybe this explains the reason Harrison Jr inconsistencies. Does he know, and so the Cardinals offense, what type of player he needs to be. Murray doesn’t have the depth around him to be a major team, but Harrison Jr and McBride offer some nice options for him for Fantasy games.

MARTIN RICHARDSON

NFL/FANTASY FOOTBALL ANALYST

A Yorkshireman living in Lancashire, Martin is a massive NFL fan but his heart belongs to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Also a huge Fantasy Football enthusiast and spends far too long crunching the numbers! Follow him at @MRBucsFan31

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