Early QB Draft Strategy Explained: Top Fantasy Football Targets for 2025

Pros of the Early QB Strategy

Fantasy football managers often rely on positional tiers when evaluating draft value. According to Sean Koerner, the top tier at quarterback consists of only two players: Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. Both led the position in fantasy points per game last season, each accounting for impressive totals—45 touchdowns for Jackson and 40 for Allen—while showcasing their dual-threat abilities.

Securing consistent, high-level production is always valuable in fantasy football. Allen and Jackson have each demonstrated both durability and the ability to anchor high-powered offenses, ensuring that a significant portion of their team’s fantasy output runs through them, both through the air and on the ground. In most 1QB formats, drafting one of these elite quarterbacks means there’s no pressing need to grab a second QB; instead, you can simply pick up a fill-in for the bye week if needed.

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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 t he 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.

Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders

Perhaps the most thrilling—and anxiety-inducing—of the early-round quarterback choices, Jayden Daniels heads into his second year following a remarkable rookie season. Daniels surpassed even the loftiest expectations with 31 total touchdowns and 3,568 passing yards. His college rushing prowess was well established, but Dan Quinn and Kliff Kingsbury managed to fully unlock his mobility at the NFL level, resulting in 891 rushing yards and an impressive 6.0 yards per carry.

Daniels posted four top-5 fantasy performances in his five most recent full regular season games, including an explosive five-touchdown showing against the Eagles in Week 16. The sky-high ceiling is obvious for this young star, but spending a third- or fourth-round pick on him means passing on players like Kyren Williams and Mike Evans. Daniels will need to further distinguish himself from other top-12 quarterbacks to justify being drafted at such a premium in fantasy leagues.