In the NFL draft, the #1 pick is a quarterback historically. 10 out of the past 14 drafts had a quarterback drafted first (lineups.com), meaning teams are still looking to them becoming the face of the franchise. Except for 2022, the Jaguars picked Trevor Lawrence in 2021, the Bengals selected Joe Burrow in 2020, and the Cardinals drafted Kyler Murray in 2019. Burrow and Murray were Heisman trophy winners, and Lawrence is emerging as a trustworthy asset in Jacksonville.
When it comes to fantasy football all three are on fantasy teams, but they might be not the starting quarterback. Whether that’s due to a lack of targets or a weak offensive line, these quarterbacks were likely taken after the fourth round. Instead, one quarterback is living up to expectations in fantasy football.
Josh Allen cashing in with the Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen was the #1 QB in fantasy for 2022, and he is lighting the football fields ablaze. Allen does have plenty of targets to throw to in Stefon Diggs, Gabriel Davis, and Dawson Knox. He’s able to scramble out of the pocket for big gains or find someone opens downfield. Looking at his stat line, he has 14 passing and two rushing touchdowns, and over 1600 passing yards. The leader in the MVP conversation continues to give defensive coordinators meltdowns, and fantasy owners winners.
Josh Allen’s been stellar in Buffalo, but another quarterback has been surprising everyone.
Jalen is Hurting every opponent the Eagles face
Hurts was not a big name when fantasy owners looked to draft a quarterback. Despite his ability to run and throw similar to Lamar Jackson, Hurts was taken mid-round. Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Kyler Murray found their homes before Hurts did. Well, jokes on fantasy owners as Hurts is #3 in fantasy football and the Eagles are 5-0. With six rushing touchdowns and four passing touchdowns, Hurts is making defenses dizzy as they figure out what his next move is. He also runs at least eight times and throws over 200 a game. Will Jalen continue hurting the league with his dynamite, or be tamed before the season is out?
Jalen Hurts was a surprise this year at the quarterback position, but there is an emerging buzz surrounding Russell Wilson’s former team.
Geno Smith is taking over the sea in Seattle
I wouldn’t guarantee, but I’d bet no fantasy owner had Geno Smith on their team until week three. While Denver can’t draw up an equation for Russell Wilson, Seattle is settling in with their quarterback. Smith has thrown at least two touchdowns in the past three games and thrown over 250 as well. His targets are Tyler Lockett (8th), DK Metcalf (19th), and tight end (9th), all ranked in the top 20 of their position. Time will tell if Smith keeps up his performance in Seattle and his spot as QB as well.
These three quarterbacks are making headlines across the league, so who’s been underwhelming? I will exclude Dak Prescott, as he’s dealing with an injury and was a popular pick among owners.
Justin taking a Field day in Chicago
One quarterback’s promise became another team’s price to pay. The Chicago Bears are 2-3, and Justin Field’s has yet to settle into the starting role. He has three picks and one fumble through five weeks. Field’s eclipsed 200 passing yards against Minnesota for the first time last week. The week prior, he eclipsed 50 yards against NYG but struggled to find any explosiveness. In one of my leagues, he’s a free agent with no destination for fantasy football. Perhaps he will find it soon enough, as the Bears need it to bounce back as they sit third in the NFC North. They are in rebuild mode, but patience could wear thin for Justin Fields.
The Rams are Super Bowl Champions, but Matthew Stafford isn’t in a champion fantasy football
The Rams are looking to repeat as Super Bowl champions, and Stafford’s been a menace under Sean McVay. However, Stafford’s not very fantasy friendly as he is ranked 26. He does have the #1 wide receiver in Cooper Kupp and is throwing big numbers on the field. When translating it to fantasy, those numbers get crunched and are very small. He’s never reached twenty fantasy points, getting close in week two when he threw for three scores. Stafford is a reliable QB for the Los Angeles Rams, but not for fantasy owners.
I am the Captain in Minnesota now, you better believe it
The most polarizing quarterback in the NFL is Kirk Cousins. The sixth-highest-paid quarterback (BoardroomTV) in the NFL has his fair share of critics. When Cousins throws three interceptions against the Eagles on Monday Night, Vikings fans question the state of their franchise. Cousins and primetime are like mixing oil and water, they never complement each other. However, in the realm of fantasy football Cousins is ranked 12th. Every game this year he’s thrown over 200 yards and a score. Justin Jefferson is his favorite target, but Adam Thielen and Irv Smith Jr. have gotten the ball as well. He’s locked with Minnesota and has silenced critics with his play. Whether or not he’s beloved by NFL fans or even Vikings ones, Cousins proves to be valuable to both his team and his fantasy owners.
Conclusion
Fantasy owners are secure this year at quarterback as they likely have a top-10 QB, either by expectation or surprise. The ones mentioned have time to prove their worth or raise their value. What is certain is there are more than ten games to play, and plenty more swerves to come. Dak or Tua could return to claim their spot, while Geno continues to play well for Seattle. What happens if another quarterback goes down then who steps up? With one game under the belt for week six, fantasy owners will be glad to have Josh Allen, gamble on starting Russell Wilson, and ask why Taysom Hill is now a TE (just me?). Stay tuned for another exciting week of football and another frenzy in the fantasy world.
