The 2023 NFL season is upon us! Training camps kick off in a matter of moments, and as players on all 32 teams worked out in preparation, we honed projections and fine-tuned our rankings. We are QBList, so we naturally begin with our Quarterbacks List.
The first tier of quarterbacks is clear: Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes, who faced off in Super Bowl LVII, with Josh Allen sandwiched in between. Below them is a consensus foursome of Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, and Justin Fields, with Trevor Lawrence nipping at their heels.
After that, it gets interesting: the duo of Deshaun Watson and Tua Tagovailoa is the next grouping, two players who could find themselves moving up a level if they revert to form and stay healthy, respectively. Next comes a tier that includes several solid-but-unspectacular options, including Kirk Cousins, Dak Prescott, and Jared Goff. Geno Smith is among a few in this group who would surprise no one with a Top 12 finish.
Below are Drew DeLuca’s quarterback rankings as of August 1, 2023, complete with a few notes on each player. His rankings are available now on FantasyPros.com, and our updated QB List Staff Rankings will likewise be available on FantasyPros shortly. Both sets of rankings appear in the Top 25 of FantasyPros’ Multi-Year Accuracy Rankings (2020-present), so be sure to bookmark them to find the latest updates as we go forward and update our rankings in lockstep with training camp injuries and depth chart changes.
2023 Quarterback Draft Rankings
| Rank | Name | Team | Tier | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jalen Hurts | PHI | 1 | Last summer, we all wondered if Jalen Hurts was capable of taking a step. He surpassed all expectations, and we haven’t yet seen a passing ceiling from a guy who also notched 700 yards rushing and double-digit rushing touchdowns in both of his first two seasons as an NFL starter. |
| 2 | Josh Allen | BUF | 1 | After sustaining a mid-season shoulder injury, the Bills upgraded their interior offensive line and brought in Damien Harris, two clear signals that Allen’s short-yardage rushing attempts could nose-dive in 2022. He’s still one of the league’s most electric playmakers and offers a solid rushing floor. |
| 3 | Patrick Mahomes | KC | 1 | Mahomes cemented his status as a future Hall of Famer by winning his second Super Bowl ring in February. He doesn’t offer the same rushing upside as the two quarterbacks ahead of him on this list, and he lost his most productive wide receiver (JuJu Smith-Schuster) in free agency. Fellow future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce turns 34 years old this season, but betting against Mahomes is a fool’s errand. |
| 4 | Joe Burrow | CIN | 2 | Burrow boasts a career completion rate of 68.2 percent as one of the NFL’s most accurate passers. He should top 600 passing attempts for the second consecutive season with an unmatched cache of weapons, volume that gives him a high floor to go along with his “Overall QB1” upside. |
| 5 | Justin Fields | CHI | 2 | Fields finished as the QB5 in FPPG (Fantasy Points Per Game) last season, trailing only the four names ahead of him on this list. Add D.J. Moore and a healthy Darnell Mooney into the mix, and we might be too low on Fields: despite missing two games, he posted the second-highest single-season rushing total by a quarterback in NFL history. |
| 6 | Justin Herbert | LAC | 2 | Herbert was still a Top 12 quarterback in a “down” year (QB11) and gets an upgrade at both wide receiver (Quentin Johnson) and offensive coordinator (Kellen Moore). Expect Herbert to flirt with a Top 5 QB season in 2023. |
| 7 | Lamar Jackson | BAL | 2 | Some will scoff at the former NFL MVP’s ranking given the addition of Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham, Jr. to the Ravens’ wide receiver corps. They, along with a healthy Rashod Bateman, could thrive in a new, more pass-friendly Todd Monken offense. However, all three wide receivers carry question marks, and with J.K. Dobbins closer to healthy, Jackson’s rushing floor may be a bit lower this year. |
| 8 | Trevor Lawrence | JAC | 2 | The final quarterback in the second tier took a major step forward last year, his first in Doug Pederson’s offense. The addition of Calvin Ridley should help the former Clemson standout soar to new heights in 2023. |
| 9 | Tua Tagovailoa | MIA | 3 | According to Fantasy Points Data, Tagovailoa led the NFL in Catchable Throw Rate on Deep Targets. It just so happens that the Dolphins have Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to take advantage of Tua’s pinpoint accuracy, so Tua has the potential to outperform this ranking. |
| 10 | Deshaun Watson | CLE | 3 | Can he return to his previous Pro Bowl form? Possibly, but Watson was abysmal last year despite the gift of nearly 3.3 seconds per dropback, more time to throw than any other qualified QB in the NFL (per Shane Haff). This year, he won’t have to come in cold in the middle of the season, and the rapport he has since built with his teammates should help. |
| 11 | Daniel Jones | NYG | 4 | Jones compiled 708 rushing yards and 7 scores on the ground in 2022. Only three other QBs met or exceeded those marks: Justin Fields, Jalen Hurts, and Josh Allen. Unfortunately, Marcus Mariota threw as many touchdown passes in three fewer games. Nevertheless, Jones is a high-floor option with upside: if the passing game takes a step, Jones will be as solid of a starting fantasy QB as they come. |
| 12 | Kirk Cousins | MIN | 4 | Cousins finished as the QB11 last year in fantasy points per game, and the Vikings added USC standout Jordan Addison in Round 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft. There are reasons for optimism, even with Dalvin Cook no longer in town. He is a safe option for those who choose to wait on quarterback and pound other positions heavily in the draft. |
| 13 | Geno Smith | SEA | 4 | Only four quarterbacks scored more fantasy points than Geno Smith last year: Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, and Joe Burrow. The Seahawks then added the consensus top WR in the 2023 NFL Draft class, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. With a nod to recency bias, I just might be too low on Geno: even with a slight regression, Smith should be a serviceable fantasy contributor and a terrific value in most leagues. |
| 14 | Russell Wilson | DEN | 4 | Can Sean Payton revive Wilson’s career after the former Super Bowl Champion failed to outperform Marcus Mariota in FPPG in 2022? Perhaps. Ceiling possibilities exist, and he’ll be asked to do more with Javonte Williams coming back from a catastrophic knee injury. The loss of dependable third WR Tim Patrick won’t help “Mr. Unliiiimited” as he attempts to rebound from a disappointing season. |
| 15 | Dak Prescott | DAL | 4 | Speaking of 2022 disappointments, Prescott led the NFL in interceptions and no longer is a threat to rack up yards on the ground. It’s tempting to keep believing in his upside as the engineer of a high-powered offense, but with Mike McCarthy now calling plays, is Dak now essentially “Discount Kirk Cousins.” as some claim? We’ll see. |
| 16 | Aaron Rodgers | NYJ | 4 | Rodgers left the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field for the greener pastures of MetLife stadium this offseason. Breece Hall’s recovery is reportedly going well, but the 40-year-old Rodgers will huddle up with a set of receivers full of question marks outside of Garrett Wilson, a true star-in-the-making. Rodgers may not be what he was a few years ago, but he still offers a solid (although less stable) floor. |
| 17 | Jared Goff | DET | 4 | Drafting Goff is kind of like ordering the chicken at a steakhouse: sure, it’ll be decent, but it’s not what you *really* wanted. He was QB14 last year and gets a new toy in the form of Jahmyr Gibbs. A fully healthy version of 2022 Round 1 pick Jameson Williams will also jump into the mix starting in Week 7. There are far worse options than Goff, who offers tremendous value to those who wait on the position in drafts. |
| 18 | Jordan Love | GB | 5 | Unlike the Commanders and Falcons, the Packers brought in absolutely no one to serve as competition (or even a safety net) for their young quarterback aside from a rookie (Sean Clifford) that was on virtually no one’s radar. That tells everything we need to know about the organization’s level of confidence in Love. He doesn’t offer an elite rushing floor, so treating him as a potential Week 2 priority waiver wire addition is the move in 1QB leagues. |
| 19 | Anthony Richardson | IND | 5 | Richardson *does* offer an elite rushing floor, but tempering expectations is *still* the right call in redraft leagues given his inconsistent accuracy, lack of experience (only 13 college starts), and the fact that he may not even break camp as the Colts’ starter. He’s a great dynasty investment, but a draft capital gamble in traditional single QB redraft leagues. |
| 20 | Derek Carr | NO | 5 | Carr moved from Vegas to the Big Easy in the offseason, leaving behind Davante Adams for Chris Olave and Michael Thomas (we think). He’s a decent QB2 in superflex, but given that he offers zero rushing floor, Carr is a streamer at best in redraft. |
| 21 | Bryce Young | CAR | 5 | Young didn’t run much in college, but his 40-yard dash is in the 4.5 range. His elite athleticism and ability to move and create could give him a higher floor as a rookie than most realize. Unfortunately, aside from RB Miles Sanders, question marks abound in the wide receiver room: the veterans might be dust, and the youngsters could be busts. |
| 22 | Kenny Pickett | PIT | 5 | Many are predicting a major step from Pickett in his second NFL season, and he has abundant weaponry in the form of Diontae Johnson, Carl Pickens, and Pat Freiermuth. He’ll get a long leash as a 2022 Round 1 Draft pick, so be prepared to snatch him off of waivers if he makes a leap in his sophomore season. |
| 23 | Brock Purdy | SF | 5 | Purdy carries some risk after sustaining a significant elbow injury during the NFC Championship Game, but he flourished in the offense last year and benefits from having Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey at his disposal. As a viable streamer in 1QB leagues, he’ll be on my “waiver wire watch” list from the jump. |
| 24 | Sam Howell | WAS | 6 | Howell was a prolific rusher at UNC despite a plodding 40 time in the neighborhood of 5.0. However, the bazooka-armed QB hit 59 mph at the 2022 Combine, which would’ve ranked among the elites in the 2023 rookie class. Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson are an outstanding WR duo who should boost Howell’s performance in a make-or-break season. |
| 25 | Baker Mayfield | TB | 6 | Consensus rankings have Mayfield farther down the list, but he has reportedly won the locker room, and his new OC, Dave Canales, played a key role in the renaissance of Geno Smith. Mayfield similarly has great weapons to work with in the form of Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. He’s a sneaky late target in superflex leagues. |
| 26 | C.J. Stroud | HOU | 6 | Stroud boasts tremendous accuracy and throws a beautiful deep ball, but he’s surrounded by mediocre skill position players, few of whom offer much upside. Without a rushing floor, the rookie can be safely faded in traditional redraft leagues. |
| 27 | Ryan Tannehill | TEN | 6 | Tannehill was a player I was avoiding outright, but his stock gets a bump from the addition of DeAndre Hopkins, a clear signal that the Titans are all-in to win a relatively weak AFC South division. This should keep 2023 Round 2 selection Will Levis on the sidelines. Tannehill is no longer a threat to scramble, and his days of rushing touchdown dependency are over, so he’s only worth a roster spot in superflex and 2QB leagues. |
| 28 | Matthew Stafford | LAR | 6 | If Stafford and Cooper Kupp prove to be fully healthy without limitations in camp, move the former Super Bowl champion up a few spots. However, given that Stafford has missed half of his team’s games in two of the last four seasons, cause for concern remains, namely the spinal cord contusion that shut down his 2022 season is cause for ongoing concern, per Dr. David Chao. He’s a great fit in Sean McVay’s offense, but being one hit away from retirement is concerning for a player behind one of the league’s worst offensive lines. |
| 29 | Desmond Ridder | ATL | 6 | Ridder offers a sneaky rushing floor, but the Round 1 selection of Bijan Robinson tells us to limit our expectations for Ridder in passing game. As long as playcaller Arthur Smith keeps the training wheels on via a heavy run/pass ratio, we have no choice but to fade Ridder, who at least offers upside in the event Smith wakes up and realizes that talented pass-catching tight end Kyle Pitts is on his team. |
| 30 | Jimmy Garoppolo | LV | 6 | I lack confidence in Garoppolo’s ability to survive a full season as the Raiders’ quarterback, but to date, the Raiders have shown tremendous faith: the uninspiring Brian Hoyer holds the clipboard, and Aidan O’Connell, a Day Three 2023 Draft selection out of Purdue, shouldn’t be in the mix anytime soon. Nevertheless, the presence of Davante Adams and the addition of competent possession receiver Jakobi Meyers makes this a situation we can’t completely ignore. |
| 31 | Mac Jones | NE | 6 | Jones gets an Offensive Coordinator upgrade (we think), but tight end Mike Gesicki is the only significant addition to an underwhelming supporting cast of position players. With no rushing contributions whatsoever, Jones is a low-ceiling, low-floor player I’m avoiding in just about all formats. |
| 32 | Kyler Murray | ARI | 6 | Sticking with the “injury optimism is deadly” theme, Kyler Murray has been significantly overdrafted in redraft leagues so far. Murray’s season was ended by an ACL tear in mid-December, yet he relies on his mobility to create in the passing game, and his fantasy value is heavily tied to his rushing ability. These abilities are in serious question, at least in 2023, thanks to a short rehabilitation timeframe. The former Heisman Trophy winner also lost DeAndre Hopkins, his best receiver, this offseason. With the aging Zach Ertz far from a guarantee to return to form after tearing his own ACL, the 2023 outlook for both Murray and his team appears to be bleak at best. |
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Feature image by Michael Packard (@CollectingPack on Twitter) / Photography by Ken Murray, Robin Alam, and Andy Lewis/ Icon Sportswire