The quarterback landscape has quickly shifted from fantasy managers preferring late-round targets to scrambling over themselves to draft players at the top of fantasy football rankings.
The influx of mobile QBs has changed the dynamic in recent years, and the players that you can add in the early rounds can truly become difference-makers for your lineup due to their upside. What does it look like though if you can’t secure one of these top options?
Here at Pro Football Network, we do the research so you can walk into your draft confident that you’re going to put together the best possible lineup, regardless of what happens! With that in mind, here are my top 32 QB rankings heading into 2023!
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Which QBs Should You Draft in Fantasy Football?
Be sure to check out Yates’ other positional rankings: WR | RB | TE | K | DST
1) Jalen Hurts | PHI
2) Patrick Mahomes II | KC
3) Josh Allen | BUF
4) Justin Fields | CHI
5) Joe Burrow | CIN
6) Justin Herbert | LAC
7) Lamar Jackson | BAL
8) Trevor Lawrence | JAX
9) Kirk Cousins | MIN
10) Daniel Jones | NYG
11) Deshaun Watson | CLE
12) Dak Prescott | DAL
13) Tua Tagovailoa | MIA
14) Anthony Richardson | IND
15) Aaron Rodgers | NYJ
16) Jared Goff | DET
17) Derek Carr | NO
18) Geno Smith | SEA
19) Russell Wilson | DEN
20) Ryan Tannehill | TEN
21) Kenny Pickett | PIT
22) Brock Purdy | SF
23) Matthew Stafford | LAR
24) Jordan Love | GB
25) Jimmy Garoppolo | LV
26) Mac Jones | NE
27) Sam Howell | WAS
28) Baker Mayfield | TB
29) Desmond Ridder | ATL
30) Bryce Young | CAR
31) C.J. Stroud | HOU
32) Trey Lance | DAL
Top QBs To Draft in 2023
Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears
Justin Fields was absolutely outstanding for fantasy football in 2022. While he didn’t make much of an impact through the passing game — there are plenty of reasons for why that was the case — he was a top-tier option because of his rushing ability.
Fields ran for 1,134 yards in 2022, which was the most for any quarterback last season, while not really being allowed to utilize his rushing ability until a few weeks into the year! If Fields continues to produce in a big way as a mobile QB while taking a step forward as a passer, he’s in the overall QB1 conversation for 2023.
MORE: Could Justin Fields Finish as the QB1 in 2023?
DJ Moore, the additions on the offensive line, and the continuity of the offensive scheme will go a long way to setting the third-year QB out of Ohio State up for success. Fields is someone I don’t want to leave a draft without this year.
Derek Carr, QB, New Orleans Saints
If you choose to wait it out on QB in your draft, Derek Carr will absolutely be sitting there waiting for you in the final round. It didn’t work for the veteran QB last season in Las Vegas, but he’s in a much better situation here in New Orleans going into 2023.
Saints GM sees Drew Brees similarities in Derek Carr. #Saints pic.twitter.com/nilOo6Wkex
— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight)
With playmakers like Chris Olave, Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara (when he comes back), Juwan Johnson, and others, Carr is going to be able to operate comfortably within the scheme and let them do the tough work for him.
He doesn’t have the rushing ability to push him into the top five at the QB position, but consistency goes a long way in fantasy football, and Carr should easily provide that for your lineup this season. If you want to still go the late-round QB strategy — and load up on other key positions in the meantime — Carr’s a solid option in the final round.