The best quarterbacks in fantasy football for Week 1 are set to deliver major fantasy points, with stars like Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Jayden Daniels leading the charge in high-stakes matchups. Knowing which QBs offer the greatest upside and safest floor is essential for fantasy success. Start your season off on the right foot with our early Week 1 fantasy QB rankings!
Who Are the Best QBs in Fantasy Football in Week 1?
1) Lamar Jackson | Baltimore Ravens (at BUF)
2) Josh Allen | Buffalo Bills (vs. BAL)
3) Jayden Daniels | Washington Commanders (vs. NYG)
4) Jalen Hurts | Philadelphia Eagles (vs. DAL)
5) Joe Burrow | Cincinnati Bengals (at CLE)
6) Baker Mayfield | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at ATL)
7) Patrick Mahomes | Kansas City Chiefs (at LAC)
8) Kyler Murray | Arizona Cardinals (at NO)
9) Bo Nix | Denver Broncos (vs. TEN)
10) Brock Purdy | San Francisco 49ers (at SEA)
11) Drake Maye | New England Patriots (vs. LV)
12) Justin Fields | New York Jets (vs. PIT)
13) Dak Prescott | Dallas Cowboys (at PHI)
14) Trevor Lawrence | Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. CAR)
15) Jared Goff | Detroit Lions (at GB)
16) C.J. Stroud | Houston Texans (at LAR)
17) Justin Herbert | Los Angeles Chargers (vs. KC)
18) Jordan Love | Green Bay Packers (vs. DET)
19) Matthew Stafford | Los Angeles Rams (vs. HOU)
20) Caleb Williams | Chicago Bears (vs. MIN)
21) J.J. McCarthy | Minnesota Vikings (at CHI)
22) Tua Tagovailoa | Miami Dolphins (at IND)
23) Michael Penix Jr. | Atlanta Falcons (vs. TB)
24) Bryce Young | Carolina Panthers (at JAX)
25) Geno Smith | Las Vegas Raiders (at NE)
26) Sam Darnold | Seattle Seahawks (vs. SF)
27) Joe Flacco | Cleveland Browns (vs. CIN)
28) Cam Ward | Tennessee Titans (at DEN)
29) Russell Wilson | New York Giants (at WAS)
30) Daniel Jones | Indianapolis Colts (vs. MIA)
31) Aaron Rodgers | Pittsburgh Steelers (at NYJ)
32) Spencer Rattler | New Orleans Saints (vs. ARI)
Baker Mayfield (at Falcons)
It’s blind resume time!
- QB1: 4,428 pass yards, 40 pass TD, 369 rush yards, 4 rush TD, 86.8 QB+
- QB2: 4,500 pass yards, 41 pass TD, 378 rush yards, 3 rush TD, 85.7 QB+
Baker Mayfield has led the NFL with 22 multi-touchdown pass games since the beginning of 2023, a total that includes his six touchdown passes against the Falcons across two games last October. Taking it a step further, you’ll notice those games were just the tip of the iceberg: the Falcons’ defense was on the receiving end of two of the top-10 fantasy quarterback performances in 2024.
MORE: Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I understand the concerns. Liam Coen is gone, and outside of Mike Evans, the production from the receiving corps is likely to be spotty. Dock him a spot or two if you must, but in this situation, that doesn’t knock him out of the tier of players you’ll seriously regret benching if you decide to get cute.
That blind résumé above? QB1 is Aaron Rodgers in the middle of his great career (2016), and QB2 is Baker Mayfield in 2024.
Bo Nix (vs. Titans)
Bo Nix’s rookie campaign was far better than expected, which has fueled curiosity about how much he can develop in Year 2.
This is as good a spot as any to get the party started.
Playing behind an elite offensive line, Nix faces a Titans defense that couldn’t make opponents uncomfortable in 2024. Last season, Tennessee ranked 29th in raw pressure rate and were even worse when they tried to plug that deficiency with a blitzer, checking in at 30th in pressure percentage when bringing the heat (33.3%, league average: 40.6%).
Fantasy managers come to Nix for the versatility and stay for the passing. The rushing appears to be a reliable asset (23+ rushing yards in the last five games he’s played), and this matchup amplifies what he does well as a passer.
As a rookie, Nix ranked ninth in touchdown rate when not pressured as opposed to 27th when under duress. With all the time in the world to prepare for a defense that gives opponents all the time in the world to throw, there’s no reason to expect we see anything but a strong performance from Nix in Week 1, landing him as a top-10 signal-caller in all formats.
