Fantasy Football: Top 15 QB draft rankings for 2021
Quarterbacks in Fantasy Football have become an anomaly in recent years, making their draft spot an interesting one.
The quarterback position is the most important in all of football. Yet when it comes to Fantasy Football, there is a serious strategy for many to not consider them nearly as important despite them being amongst the most consistently high point-getters on teams. The idea is that many quarterbacks are the same with the difference from the top to the 10th best not being that huge.
Though in recent years, the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson have begun to change that idea by putting up record numbers that have won many players their championships. The likes of Josh Allen and Kyler Murray joined that last year which is why, maybe more than ever, the quarterback position is so important in fantasy. After the top 10 this year, it is not nearly as loaded as some have become accustomed to.
Now, there are plenty of sleepers who could rise (especially rookies) if they are put in a position of success. Here we take a look at the top 15 quarterbacks heading into this year’s Fantasy Football drafts, highlighting those who may fit your drafting style the best and who could be counted on to be steals towards the end of them as well.
Fantasy Football Top 15 QB Draft Rankings
1. Patrick Mahomes, KC
The often agreed-upon best quarterback in football takes the top spot once again this season heading into Fantasy Football drafts. Patrick Mahomes will be the first QB going off the board for the foreseeable future after people were hurt by Lamar Jackson last year. Mahomes is the bar in terms of picking a quarterback early as the only people that can pass him have to have an MVP-like season.
Mahomes finished as the QB4 last season, only being passed by Josh Allen, NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers, and Kyler Murray. While their year’s last season will likely lead to them be taken higher than expected, Mahomes is the standard and no other QB should be taken until he goes.
2. Josh Allen, BUF
Could someone reach Mahomes levels in Fantasy Football and stay there? We think it’s possible this season. Josh Allen came storming onto the scene last season as an overall QB, leading to the best fantasy numbers of his career. Alle finished as the QB1 with 395.06 points, combining his incredible arm talent with his legs to put on an elite fantasy season.
The addition of Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills changed everything for Allen, who now has a chance to be the first quarterback to finish as the QB1 in Fantasy Football back-to-back seasons since Daunte Culpepper in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Yeah, it’s been a long time.
Allen will see John Brown replaced on his offense by Emmanuel Sanders, who has been a standout thus far. If all goes to plan, Allen will have another special season and is worth the price of admission for drafters.
3. Kyler Murray, ARI
Kyler Murray exploded last season, as many imagined, combining his legs with his arm to make one of the deadliest combos at the QB spot. Murray used his new weapon, DeAndre Hopkins, to perfection while putting together rushing performances that, at one time, looked to be nearing the likes of Lamar Jackson the season before.
He never fully reached that point but still had a season good enough to finish as the QB3 on the season. The only thing that will stop him from having another top-five season is his threat to run less. This, much like Jackson’s last year, could seriously hurt his value as his passing abilities are not enough to garner top five value. That being said, we expect Murray to have a great season once again.
4. Dak Prescott, DAL
Dak Prescott played in five games last season before going down with a compound fracture. In those five games, he was on pace to break fantasy and NFL records. The Dallas Cowboys’ defense was so bad that Prescott had to throw and throw… and throw until he could not any longer. He was averaging 26.9 points per game prior to getting hurt.
It’s unfair to expect that same output as Prescott works his way back. However, his offense is only better than last year. A second season in the NFL for CeeDee Lamb presumably means a better season for him. Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup finish out the receiving corps to make one of the best scores in the NFL.
When you add the running back tandem of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard into the equation, it becomes clear that this could be Prescott’s season as long as his health holds up.
5. Lamar Jackson, BAL
To say Lamar Jackson had a disappointing season last year would be an understatement. Being selected as the number one quarterback off the board in most drafts gave him lofty goals to reach. Instead, Jackson finished as the QB10, finishing behind the likes of Ryan Tannehill and Justin Herbert — both of which went mostly undrafted.
This is redemption season for Jackson, who must use his legs once again to get the Baltimore Ravens and himself back to elite status. We expect Jackson to bounce back with the revamped offense around him.