Should I Draft Lamar Jackson? Fantasy Outlook for the Ravens QB in 2025

After two underwhelming years by his standards, Lamar Jackson returned to the ranks of the elite last year, finishing as the top quarterback in fantasy football. Should fantasy managers be willing to spend a premium pick to draft the Baltimore Ravens quarterback?

Lamar Jackson Fantasy Outlook

What needs to be said about Jackson? He’s the greatest rushing quarterback of all time and has also evolved into an elite passer, too.

Lamar held the pose 🥶🎯 pic.twitter.com/1hLvqCW5JW

— NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2025

Jackson is coming off a season in which he threw 41 passing touchdowns, easily a career-high. Contrary to conventional wisdom, Jackson doesn’t rush for many touchdowns. Head coach John Harbaugh does not use Jackson around the goal line because he wants to avoid exposing him to unnecessary hits. Plus, it helps to have one of the greatest short-yardage backs in football history in Derrick Henry.

Since taking over as the Ravens’ starting quarterback in 2019, Jackson has never averaged fewer than 20 fantasy points per game. His floor is that of a mid-QB1. Twice, he has finished as the overall QB1, with the second instance coming last season when he posted 25.6 points per game.

At 28 years old, Jackson is still far from the age at which mobile QBs start declining. The Ravens are returning their key offensive weapons in Henry, Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Mark Andrews, and Isaiah Likely. There’s no reason to expect this offense to look any different than it did last year.

Jackson comes with slightly more injury risk than Josh Allen, which is what keeps him out of the top spot. However, fantasy managers should not shy away from Jackson at his QB2 ADP.

Allen and Jackson are almost always selected next to each other in fantasy drafts. What I wrote about the theory behind drafting Allen also applies to Jackson.

There are some outstanding running backs and wide receivers available at this spot. A few years ago, I would scoff at the notion that you should take a QB this early. Now, it comes down to how high you are on the running backs and wide receivers.

If there are RBs and WRs you really like that you believe to have top-five upside, it’s hard to push the button on Jackson. At the same time, I have completely come around on the value of an elite quarterback.

Ultimately, fantasy football is a weekly game, and big-time performances are what swing matchups. Jackson is going to win you multiple matchups throughout the season on his own.

MORE: Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator

There are still several late-round QBs I believe have a chance to return Jayden Daniels-like value this season. As great as Jackson was last year, drafting a running back or wide receiver at this ADP and then selecting Daniels later proved to be the optimal strategy.

If you miss out on Jackson or opt to go with a wide receiver or running back, that’s perfectly fine. I want you to know that if you decide to take Jackson in a spot that seems early for a QB, you should do it and feel good about it.

Mason LeBeau’s Lamar Jackson Fantasy Projection

In a fantasy world of uncertainty, Lamar Jackson is one of the easier bets to make. That’s precisely why he and Josh Allen dominate QB ADPs year after year, when even Patrick Mahomes has fluctuated quite a bit. 2025 looks to be no different as Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens look locked in on an AFC title shot while bringing you closer to a fantasy championship, as well. 

There were some valid questions about Jackson over the last couple of seasons — he was coming off a pair of seasons that saw him exit early due to injury, leaving managers flustered during the playoffs and ending the Ravens’ hopes as well. Then the offensive line looked to be in a tough spot between aging, injuries, and free agents leaving. The result, however, was another Lamar Jackson masterclass and his second QB1 finish. 

What makes Jackson so dangerous is that, somehow, plenty still doubt his passing ability. He responded with an incredible output through the air: 41 touchdowns to just four interceptions, with 4,100 yards to boot. His passing alone would’ve made him a top-five quarterback last season, but of course, he added 915 yards on the ground. 

To this point, his career low in rushing has been 695 yards in his rookie year (in just seven starts). When playing a full season, though, he is averaging 1,000 yards on the ground. At worst, he’s a fireball like we’ve never seen. At best, he’s a league winner. 

The Ravens did not get worse around him this season. TE Mark Andrews improved as the season went on after battling injuries, and TE Isaiah Likely remains the best TE2 in the league. Zay Flowers continues to improve going into his third season. 

Most importantly, the Ravens kept their offensive coordinator and play caller, Todd Monken, one of the league’s premier talents who’ll be looking at a head coaching job soon. Still in his prime at age 28, Lamar Jackson is one of the easy elite picks to make in drafts.