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New York Times
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Top 33 dynasty quarterback rankings, from Lamar Jackson to Kirk Cousins
This week marks the start of a series where I break down my positional rankings, beginning with the quarterbacks. I'm a big fan of using tiers in my rankings and drafts, so I'll be adding those as well. Following each tier, I'll give a few 'awards' and provide commentary. For reference, you can find all my rankings on FantasyPros. Advertisement When ranking quarterbacks, I always take a SuperFlex format mindset, considering those who are must-draft candidates within the first round. Many analysts like to fade the position due to a perceived overvalued status, but that's a mistake in my mind. Ask any manager who doesn't have a top quarterback, regardless of format, and you'll understand why I always seek to have a top name on my team, and in SuperFlex, at least three starters and a developmental player. Many have a much thinner first tier – not me! I'd be very satisfied trotting any of these top names out on Sundays. Highest risk: Jalen Hurts, PHI Most impact: Lamar Jackson, BAL Most upside: Jayden Daniels, WAS Jayden Daniels took the NFL by storm as a rookie in 2024. A combination of performance as a passer and mobility finds him atop many new SuperFlex start-up drafts, and with good reason. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson should be solid for years to come, while Patrick Mahomes is slipping due to a lack of targets and an aging Travis Kelce. Jalen Hurts remains a top-tier player due to offensive scheme, weapons and at least one more year of the tush push, but his value is slipping in 2025. Joe Burrow won't be losing his receivers now and, thus, maintains his place in my top tier. Because of the names in the top tier, combined with the youth in my third tier, my second tier consists of only two names. I fully expect this will be resolved by this time next year, with multiple names moving up from Tier 3. Most to prove: C.J. Stroud, HOU To be honest, both quarterbacks have a lot to prove in 2025. C.J. Stroud regressed badly in 2024 (QB18), while Justin Herbert produced as the QB13 last season. There are reasons to believe both will materially improve upon their 2024 production, but until they do, it's wait-and-see, and I won't be surprised if they are leapfrogged by more than one 2024 rookie. Both names continue to fall in SuperFlex drafts, usually appearing in or after the third round. Daniels stole the show among the rookie quarterbacks last season, while fellow rookies Caleb Williams and Bo Nix showed flashes. Both need to take developmental steps in 2025, and if they do, it's not out of the question that they could attain Tier 1 status. Highest ceiling: Caleb Williams, CHI Lowest floor: Trevor Lawrence, JAX There is no sugarcoating what we saw in 2024. Caleb Williams struggled, holding the ball too long and taking a league-leading 68 sacks. At the same time, the Bears continue to add playmakers on offense, providing few excuses should Williams struggle again. As for Trevor Lawrence, he gets one more season to remain healthy and put together a career campaign. He's failed to live up to his 'generational' label thus far, but a young receiver corps and new offensive system provide reasons to be optimistic. Normally, I'd try to break this tier up into two different tiers, but I can't, so I'm rolling with what I've got. There's plenty of upside at the top of the tier, and enough intrigue in the middle. But, even at the bottom of the tier, some stories may have legs deep into 2025. There's something for everyone here, and the size of the tier could be a factor in SuperFlex. As drafts unfold, managers could elect to punt on a QB2 in hopes of stacking other positions before looping back to address the need. With nearly half of the NFL starters residing in Tier 4, there is considerable positional flexibility. Most upside: Justin Fields, NYJ Most underrated: Jared Goff, DET Highest risk: Cam Ward, TEN Most faded: Anthony Richardson, IND Most intriguing: J.J. McCarthy, MIN Biggest sleeper: Sam Darnold, SEA Biggest underdog: Bryce Young, CAR I look up and down this list and see so many interesting stories. Justin Fields in the Jets' green and white feels like a fit that will finally unlock his upside, reunited with fellow Ohio State receiver Garrett Wilson. Jared Goff has been overlooked year after year. Consider his past two seasons, and you will find QB8 (2023) and QB6 (2024) rankings. What more can you ask for? He's only 30 years old. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Drake Maye is trending up in a big way! Advertisement Baker Mayfield, like Goff, continues to be faded in drafts. I'm very interested in J.J. McCarthy taking over for Sam Darnold. He now has a year of watching from the sidelines and inherits an offense that helped Darnold put up 14 victories. I won't draft McCarthy as a top-two option in SuperFlex, but sign me up for a selection as my QB3. The same goes for Cam Ward — a lot of risk, a lot of upside. I'm staying away from Dak Prescott, even with the nice addition of George Pickens, which should pay immediate dividends. Prescott can't move any longer, and without that element, I don't see enough to be excited about. Lastly, we have the plights of Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson. Young showed promise in the second half of 2024, while Richardson showed little improvement or signs of turning the corner. Richardson is in a fight with Daniel Jones for the starting role. Young will be under center for the Panthers, looking to pick up where he left off last season. This tier is all about taking on risk. If in SuperFlex, you can't allow yourself to be in a situation where you need a starter from this group, though you could do worse than Geno Smith for a season. In SuperFlex, I'm always on the lookout for a developmental QB4, and I love taking late stabs. Remember, quarterbacks are the coin of the realm in the format, and a timely selection could net a high draft pick via trade next year. Most upside: Jaxson Dart, NYG Highest ceiling: Jalen Milroe, SEA Biggest sleeper: Daniel Jones, IND Jaxson Dart is going to get his chance, and I'll be surprised if it isn't before Week 10. It's a tall order for the rookie in New York, and I don't feel the team has done enough to help a quarterback be successful. For ceiling, Jalen Milroe is impossible to ignore. Playing behind Sam Darnold, anything is possible, but don't expect to see Milroe in 2025 outside of special packages utilizing his athleticism. As a passer, Milroe suffered notably with accuracy in college. So did Josh Allen. Advertisement Daniel Jones is in a better situation than most give him credit for. The Colts aren't a bad team and aren't without offensive upside. Adding rookie TE Tyler Warren should provide a new dimension to the offense not seen since Dallas Clark. If Jones bests Richardson for the starting gig, he could be a late-round steal. Not listed here is Aaron Rodgers, who continues to hold the Steelers (and fans) hostage while he decides his playing future. I expect the mercurial vet to be under-center come Week 1, but I'll be avoiding him at all costs unless in dire circumstances. I hope you enjoyed this look at my dynasty quarterback rankings for 2025. Thank you for your continued engagement and support. Reads, ratings and comments make all the difference, and therefore, more dynasty content is on the way. If you have questions or comments, you know what to do. I look forward to interacting with my readers. Please follow me on Twitter and Threads: @DLF_Jeff. (Top photo of Lamar Jackson: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
New York Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Giants OTAs kick off: How did Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, Jaxson Dart fare?
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Since before the 2024 season even ended, the focus in New York has been on what the new Giants quarterback room would look like and how snaps would be divided. With the room reassembled this offseason, we finally got a glimpse during Wednesday's first organized team activity (OTAs) open to the media. And just as coach Brian Daboll said, all four quarterbacks — Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, Tommy DeVito and Jaxson Dart — got reps as the Giants completed 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills around the red zone. Advertisement 'We have a detailed plan of how we're going to handle the quarterbacks,' Daboll said Wednesday. Wilson emerged as the early starting favorite in Wednesday's first look, earning the most first-team reps — no surprise given Daboll said as much earlier this spring. Giants QBs in action: Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, Tommy DeVito and Jaxson Dart — Charlotte Carroll (@charlottecrrll) May 28, 2025 Wilson has earned praise from teammates and Daboll alike for his 14-year career that includes a Super Bowl XLVIII victory. The Giants signed the veteran to a one-year deal worth $10.5 million guaranteed this offseason after Wilson's one-year stint with the Steelers. 'There's a reason why he has had the career that he's had,' Daboll said. 'When you look at his work ethic, his commitment to being the best version of himself that he can be, how he's out here at practice, his leadership traits within the players, his communication, not just with the receivers, tight ends, running backs, but with the offensive line. He's been a good addition for us.' While Wilson got the majority of the first-team reps Wednesday, Winston and Dart each had some sprinkled in. Winston signed a two-year, $8 million deal this offseason. But attention has turned to Dart, the No. 25 pick in this year's draft, for whom the Giants traded up. Dart impressed early at rookie minicamp. While the goal will be for Dart to develop behind Wilson and Winston, that won't stop fans from pressing to see the potential new face of the franchise on the field. Dart took a few first-team reps on Wednesday, including a touchdown throw to receiver Jalin Hyatt on his first red zone rep with the starters. DeVito, the hometown hero who suited up most notably in 2023, took only a handful of reps throughout the day. 'There's a lot of personalities in that room,' right guard Greg Van Roten said. 'They're all different. Not that one's better than the other. Russ is definitely very detailed. Jameis is a great locker room guy, Tommy is Tommy, and then we're learning about Jaxson, seeing what he's all about. They all bring something kind of unique and special to the room.' Advertisement Daboll said everybody was at the facility on Wednesday, even if not everyone on the roster participated in practice, given some players are rehabbing or dealing with illnesses. The coach added that the Giants have had 'great attendance' throughout the offseason program. There were some notable non-participants, including last year's rookie receiving sensation Malik Nabers. 'We're being mindful of his toe that he's had,' Daboll said of Nabers' nagging toe injury that has plagued the receiver since his LSU days. 'Nothing serious, but we're being smart with him in terms of the rehab part of it. So that's where we're at.' Nabers was spotted on the field, but left tackle Andrew Thomas and running back Tyrone Tracy were not. Veteran Devin Singletary assumed the RB1 role Wednesday and 2023 fifth-rounder Eric Gray was heavily involved in Tracy's place. Thomas suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury and told The Athletic earlier this offseason that his biggest focus is taking his time as he comes back. One of the important pieces of the Giants' offensive line puzzle has been Evan Neal's future. A 2022 first-rounder, Neal's career has gotten off to a disappointing start because of injuries and poor play. Drafted to take over at right tackle, he's appeared in just 29 games in three seasons. Jermaine Eluemunor took over the starting job last year and the Giants decided to move Neal inside, hoping to maximize his talents. 'He's a big man,' Daboll said. 'He's got length, he's obviously a little bit taller than I'd say traditional guards, but he's played it. He's played a number of positions since he's been at the University of Alabama. He's been working hard this last month and a half and (we) look forward to getting him out there.' Neal spent Wednesday working at left guard, but not with the starters. Again, given the injuries, that line was a little different. Here's what it looked like during an install period: left tackle James Hudson III, left guard Jon Runyon Jr., center John Michael Schmitz, right guard Van Roten and right tackle Eluemunor. There was plenty of rotation beyond that starting quintet. Advertisement Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka was in control of the walkie-talkie, calling plays to Dart at rookie minicamp a few weeks back. That appeared to continue as OTAs kicked off publicly. Kafka once again manned the walkie-talkie in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 situations. The playcaller moniker is worth monitoring as Kafka initially called plays when the current regime arrived in 2022. But Daboll took over the role after a dismal 2023. Despite the change on the headset, the Giants still finished with the 31st-worst scoring offense. But don't expect an immediate answer — Daboll said there wouldn't be a resolution until the team heads into the preseason. So we'll keep watching the radios as OTAs continue and camp kicks off. (Photo of Russell Wilson: Anne-Marie Caruso / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Joel Klatt includes Carson Beck in top 10 quarterback rankings
Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt released his top 10 quarterbacks rankings on YouTube. Since it's a little over two months before the college football season kicks off, he ranked the top 10 quarterbacks entering the season. Former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck made the top 10 rankings with the Miami Hurricanes. Klatt believes that he's giving Beck the benefit of the doubt, not blaming Beck for all the problems with the 2024 UGA passing offense. Georgia had 35 dropped passes last season, which was tough for the Georgia offense to deal with. However, Klatt believes that Beck turned the ball over too much. Advertisement Klatt believes the UCL injury Beck suffered in the SEC championship could still affect Beck in 2025. He hasn't thrown all offseason until recently, and he hasn't had a ton of time with his receivers to develop chemistry in spring ball. Klatt also believes that Beck has had some off the field distractions. However, despite all of that, Klatt believes that Beck is a really good player, which is why he believes Beck will be among the best quarterbacks in the country. Last season, Beck threw 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions on 448 attempts. There are a lot of varying opinions on Beck, but he has a lot to prove in 2025. Joel Klatt's top 10 quarterback rankings Former Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck celebrates after a victory over the Clemson Tigers. No. 10: Carson Beck, Miami No. 9: Luke Altmyer, Illinois No. 8: LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina No. 7: DJ Lagway, Florida No. 6: Garrett Nussmeier, LSU No. 5: Drew Allar, Penn State No. 4: Sam Leavitt, Arizona State No. 3: John Mateer, Oklahoma No. 2: Arch Manning, Texas No. 1: Cade Klubnik, Clemson This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Joel Klatt puts former UGA QB Carson Beck in his top 10 QB rankings
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Could Patriots QB Drake Maye be primed to take a big step forward in his 2nd NFL season?
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.) The 2024 NFL Draft quarterback class was hyped entering the league, then gave fans plenty of reason to justify it in Year 1. Jayden Daniels won Rookie of the Year, Bo Nix led the Denver Broncos to the playoffs, and Caleb Williams flashed moments of promise despite a poor ecosystem. But Drake Maye might be the one to watch as a sophomore, something Nate Tice, Charles McDonald and Matt Harmon discussed on the latest episode of the "Football 301" podcast. Nobody's saying Daniels shouldn't have won Rookie of the Year last season, but in terms of how their performances bode for the future, Charles McDonald is excited about Maye given how well he played amid the circumstances. "It just felt like the structure of the team was not there," McDonald said. "Obviously there was no offensive line at all. The weapons they had didn't really work out." New England finished with a 4-13 record. The Patriots used the fourth overall pick this spring on LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell, plus they drafted Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson in Round 2 and Washington State wide receiver Kyle Williams in Round 3. The strengthening around him should help Maye. McDonald was impressed with how Maye generated offense by himself, even throwing players open from the pocket and staring down pressure. "When you look at most quarterbacks and guys who kind of need a supporting cast around them, they probably would have drowned in that situation last year," McDonald said. "So the fact that he could even just stay up and just be his own generator of plays when things are falling apart, it gives you such a high floor for what this offense can be." The Patriots' second-round pick of a year ago, wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk, was one of the most disappointing rookies last season. But there might be good reason for that, according to Matt Harmon. "He's the perfect type of player that I think was set up to fail coming into the year, because the 9 route was his most commonly run route. And he basically took all of his snaps from X receiver, which there was quite literally nothing on his on his college film as a prospect that indicated like he should be doing that," Harmon said. Polk might have also been the worst blocking receiver in the league last year, according to Harmon, and he was good at it in college. "Educated guess: Not a lot of good coaching going on in New England last year," Harmon said. Unsurprisingly, the Patriots fired head coach Jerod Mayo and brought in former New England linebacker and Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel to run the show. Vrabel brought back Josh McDaniels, who was offensive coordinator for 13 total seasons under Bill Belichick and also served as Tom Brady's quarterbacks coach those years. Nate Tice is optimistic for Drake Maye in part because of McDaniels' hire. "He always has structured offenses," Tice said. "They had really good run game. They tied stuff together with what the quarterback likes, whether it was Tom Brady or Mac Jones or Cam Newton. Like, no matter what the offense really feels fits the quarterback." Moreover, Maye had a dropback success rate of 46.5% as a rookie, which was good for 16th in the NFL already and puts him in some rare air. It's the seventh-best dropback success rate among rookie QBs since 2012, behind Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson, Andrew Luck, Jayden Daniels, Mac Jones and Robert Griffin III, and ahead of the likes of C.J. Stroud and Justin Herbert. "That's great that his efficiency is already at that high level in this bad circumstances," Tice said. "And the fact that I thought even early on he'd be a little boom-busty as a quarterback until he figured it out. He shows so much more already."
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sophomore QB Expectations: Caleb Williams, J.J. McCarthy & More!
What are the expectations for the second-year quarterbacks in the NFL? Nate Tice, Matt Harmon and Charles McDonald set their optimism scales for year two of the 2024 first-round quarterback draft class. Where do Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix stand, and what should we expect to see this season? Plus, the news is out that the NFL is allowing players to compete in flag football in the LA28 Olympic Games, but who would make the best team? The guys pick their Top 5 players to be on the Dream Team of flag football. Don't miss out on today's Football 301! (3:35) Caleb Williams (19:52) Jayden Daniels (30:16) Drake Maye (45:24) Michael Penix Jr. (1:00:01) J.J. McCarthy (1:05:57) Bo Nix (1:19:05) Building our Olympic flag football dream teams 🖥️
