Cons of the Early QB Strategy
One of the main drawbacks of drafting a quarterback early is the opportunity cost involved. Selecting a quarterback in the second, third, or even fourth round usually means passing up on elite running backs and wide receivers—players who serve as the backbone of most fantasy teams. These positions tend to be picked quickly, and missing out on a top-tier RB or WR can leave your roster lacking depth at spots that typically require multiple starters each week. In 1QB leagues, where only one quarterback starts but several backs and receivers are needed weekly, an early QB investment can result in an unbalanced lineup and force you to settle for weaker options later on.
Another issue is that the positional advantage at quarterback may not be as significant as it appears. While top quarterbacks can outscore mid-tier options, the difference between the elite and reliable later-round quarterbacks is often smaller than the gap that exists between early-round running backs or wide receivers and those picked later. With plenty of serviceable quarterbacks available in the middle to late rounds—or even on the waiver wire—using a high draft pick on the position might not be the most efficient use of resources. In many leagues, this approach can lead to paying too much for consistency at quarterback at the expense of upside where it matters most for weekly matchups.
For example, last season Jackson topped the quarterback rankings with 25.7 fantasy points per game, nearly three points ahead of Allen’s 22.7 average. That gap was nearly equal to the span separating quarterbacks 3 through 14, who all finished between 18.1 and 22.5 points per game. Meanwhile, an early-round wide receiver like Amon-Ra St. Brown finished at 18.6 points per game, compared to late-round starters such as Michael Pittman Jr. (10.4) and George Pickens (11.7).
Top Early QB Targets in 2025
Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Last season’s top fantasy quarterback and Sean Koerner’s number two ranked signal-caller for this year, Lamar Jackson might be the most gifted athlete ever to play the position. While his rushing skills have always stood out, he continues to set new personal bests as a passer as well. In 2024, Jackson set career highs with 41 passing touchdowns, 4,172 passing yards, and an 8.8 yards-per-attempt average.
He is exactly the kind of game-changing player that the early quarterback strategy is designed to capture. Over 17 games last season, Jackson finished outside the top 12 fantasy quarterbacks just once. This level of week-to-week reliability justifies the premium price to secure him. Fantasy managers may need to reach as high as the late second round if they want Jackson anchoring their roster this season.
Check out Koerner’s and Chris Raybon’s 2025 fantasy football rankings to see how the rest of their quarterback rankings stack up.
Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
Virtually tied with Lamar Jackson as the top quarterback choice in drafts, Josh Allen may be the most reliable elite option available at the position. He has delivered five consecutive seasons with top-2 fantasy finishes among quarterbacks, though last year represented a small dip in his usual output.
Allen is especially effective as a runner near the goal line, often serving as the team’s primary short-yardage threat. Over the past two seasons, he’s rushed for 27 touchdowns and tallied at least 100 carries each year since 2019. In 2024, his passing yardage dipped below 4,000 for the first time in five seasons, likely due in part to the loss of Stefon Diggs as his top receiving target. While Josh Palmer might not be a headline-grabbing addition, pairing him with the more seasoned Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir should provide Allen with a stronger receiving corps than he had last year.
The ideal spot to draft Allen—or Jackson—in an early quarterback approach is in the late second or early third round. With little differentiation in their projections, savvy fantasy managers might wait for one to be taken and then simply select the other, depending on where they’re picking in the draft.
Best Ball rankings from some of the top industry experts are also available on FantasyLabs.
