Fantasy Football: Why You Should Wait on Quarterbacks in Drafts

The live blog advises fantasy managers to avoid selecting a quarterback early, citing several mid-round options with similar upside to elite passers. Players like Justin Herbert, Dak Prescott, Trevor Lawrence, and Matthew Stafford offer strong value at a fraction of the cost. The takeaway is that paying up for top QBs is unnecessary given the depth at the position.
The article's central argument rests on statistical parity between early-round quarterbacks and those available later. Prescott and Herbert are specifically cited as offering passing upside comparable to Burrow, yet both come at significantly lower draft capital. Herbert's availability roughly half a round after Prescott adds further depth to the mid-round tier.
Lawrence's fourth-place fantasy finish last season, combined with Stafford's second-place scoring output in 2025, reinforces the notion that elite production is not exclusive to the first few rounds. Goff and Nix also ranked among the top seven at the position, illustrating that multiple viable starters exist well beyond the quarterback run that often occurs early in drafts.
This advice could reshape how fantasy managers allocate draft resources, potentially shifting value toward running backs and wide receivers in early rounds. Casual players who follow this guidance may build more balanced rosters, while those who overpay for top quarterbacks could find themselves at a competitive disadvantage. The broader effect may be a gradual recalibration of positional value across fantasy leagues, making quarterback scarcity less of a concern than previously assumed.