The Quarterback position is the most important in Football and extremely important in Fantasy Football. I do not love drafting Quarterbacks early and I often target Quarterbacks ranked 3-6 as my starter and grab a backup later on. This season there will likely be a big gap between the first to QBs taken and everyone else so draft carefully. If you plan to draft Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson, you must be very confident in them and must feel strongly that they are a better option than choosing a high tier Running Back.
1. Patrick Mahomes
Last year, Patrick Mahomes placed 5th among Quarterbacks in Fantasy Points with 287 and missed 2 1/2 games with a knee injury. He eventually went on to win the Super Bowl and was named Super Bowl MVP. While Mahomes is likely the most talented QB in the NFL at
the moment, chosing between Mahomes and Jackson as the first Quarterback is a personal preference. Mahomes is a more consistent passer but Jackson can get points in the run game. Mahomes is the top ranked Quarterback for 2020 because of the weapons around him and his past performance. Mahomes has consistently produced for the last 2 seasons and he has been among the most valuable players in Fantasy Football.
2. Lamar Jackson
Lamar Jackson is the consensus top ranked Quarterback for Fantasy 2020 and he lead the league in Fantasy scoring last season. I put him below Mahomes for a couple reasons. Last year, Jackson was the clear MVP and he did things we have never seen before. He broke the QB Rushing record with 1,206 yards and lead the league in passing touchdowns with 36. I think Jackson is poised for another great season and could easily finish as the top QB but I am slightly concerned about his consistency. He had one of the greatest single seasons in Fantasy history but I am not sure how teams will respond and if he will be able to repeat it. If you are ok with a little more risk, Jackson is still a great option because of his production in the run and pass game.
3. Russell Wilson
Russell Wilson was sacked 48 times last season which ties the leagues highest. Last year, Wilson had a fantastic season and if it were not for Lamar Jackson, he would certainly have been in the MVP conversation. One thing I love about Wilson for fantasy is his increase in targets, mostly Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. Both receivers bring completely different things to the table but they benefit Wilson Greatly. Wilson has been among the top QB scorers for multiple seasons in a row and I do not see that changing next season.
4. Kyler Murray
After he was selected #1 overall by the Cardinals last season, Kyler Murray had a decent rookie season. He was sacked 48 times which ties Russell Wilson for the leagues highest and he was just getting acclimated to the league. Murray had good targets around him in Larry Fitzgerald and Kenyan Drake but this season, he has one of the best Receivers in the league, DeAndre Hopkins. Murray has a similar playstyle to Russell Wilson and now has a big target in Hopkins. Murray can create opportunities with his legs as well as throw the ball far down field. Hopkins is a good fit in Arizona and trading away David Johnson does not make a huge impact as he was not a huge factor last season. While Murray may be a bit of a risky pick as the 4th ranked QB, he has an extremely high ceiling.
5. Deshaun Watson
Watson could easily crack the top 3 because he always defies the odds after poor coaching decisions by Bill O'Brien. While Watson lost DeAndre Hopkins, he has a very strong Receiving core with Will Fuller V, Randall Cobb, Brandin Cooks, and Kenny Stills. He has been consistent for years and always seems to make things happen. Watson balances running with passing and is one of the best young Quarterbacks in the NFL.
6. Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott is one of the most criticized Quarterbacks in the NFL and wrongfully so. Prescott was 2nd in fantasy scoring among Quarterbacks last season and had a strong season. The thing I am most excited about is the long list of playmakers around him. The Cowboys drafted receiver CeeDee Lamb, who was arguably the best receiver in the draft, which adds to an already stacked list of receivers. The Cowboys also have Pro Bowler, Amari Cooper, and Michael Gallup, who had a great rookie season last year. In addition to the receivers, the Cowboys have RB Ezekiel Elliott who has been extremely consistent since being drafted in 2016. Elliott forces teams to play the run which benefits Prescott greatly. I think Prescott will follow up last year with a similar or better season and I think he will have a better season than rival, Carson Wentz.
This is strictly my own list and it greatly strays away from the consensus. I left out a few big names like Aaron Rodgers but I believe the top 6 is very clear cut. Rodgers, Matt Ryan, Josh Allen, Carson Wentz, and Kirk Cousins would be my next tier of QB's and all would be good starters. Be careful when drafting Quarterbacks and always draft a backup.
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