Drafting “my guys” is predicated upon believing that the player will outperform his draft value, whether it is a high-value selection or a double-digit round pick. There is always a list or group of players that you can’t leave your draft without.
The must-have options at quarterbacks result from either those that can finish at the top of the fantasy rankings or provide immense value. These quarterbacks can elevate your fantasy team to playoff contention and be league winners.
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Must-Have Quarterbacks (2023 Fantasy Football)
Let’s look at the must-have quarterbacks for the 2023 Fantasy Football season.
Lamar Jackson (QB – BAL)
Lamar Jackson had three of the five best performances in terms of fantasy points last season
— Legit Football (@_legitfootball) June 27, 2023
After securing a long-term deal with the Ravens, Jackson can now turn his focus on learning the new Ravens offense. Adding a new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, will allow Jackson to throw the ball downfield more frequently. His ability to understand the reshaping of the offense and become quickly comfortable with his new weapons will determine the Ravens’ playoff hopes this season.
The Ravens couldn’t have done much more to assist Jackson in bringing in Monken, a pass-oriented coordinator who will work with Jackson and the new weapons like Odell Beckham Jr., first-round pick Zay Flowers, and Nelson Agholor. Combine those weapons with tight end Mark Andrews and the returning wideouts Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay, and immediately the Ravens have surrounded Jackson with the best collection of weapons since he entered the league in 2018.
Fantasy managers are well aware of what Jackson brings to the running game. Two 1,000-yard rushing seasons in his career highlight his dominance from the ground and the main factor in making Jackson one of the top fantasy quarterbacks in the league. However, his passing numbers pale compared to a current high of 3,127 passing yards in his dominant 2019 MVP season.
The direct impact of the new offensive philosophy and more weapons should elevate the passing game to the next level. Jackson is often criticized as a passer, but that is a false narrative. His 100.7 true passing rating across his 12 games last season display that Jackson is a competent passer. The offensive talent surrounding Jackson should allow him to thrive and return to MVP form.
Jackson will want to prove his doubters wrong and show that he is a quarterback who can lead a passing offense to the playoffs. The former Louisville Cardinal signal caller is a league-winner option and should be on every fantasy manager’s high-priority target list.
Trevor Lawrence (QB – JAC)
Trevor Lawrence escaped Urban Meyer and EXCELLED under Doug Pederson last szn:
Rookie season: 216 FPTS (12 FPPG) QB22
⬇️⬇️⬇️
Sophomore SZN: 303.6 FPTS (16.9 FPPG) QB8The Prince Who Was Promised is primed to take ANOTHER step forward in Year 3 ? pic.twitter.com/awndZxOgO4
— Jacob W. Dunne (@AintDunneYet) June 30, 2023
Lawrence finally emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the league with his breakout performance last season. With new head coach Doug Pederson taking over the offense, Lawrence developed and displayed why he was the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Lawrence guided the Jaguars to victory in seven of its final nine games. He also led the Jaguars to its first postseason victory since the 2017 playoffs. Lawrence orchestrated a 31-30 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild-card round, overcoming a 27-point deficit, the third-largest comeback in postseason history.
Lawrence came into his own, passing for 25 touchdowns and 4,113 yards, ninth in the league. His passing completion rate went from 59.6 percent in 2021 to 66.3 percent last season. The former Clemson Tiger also displayed his dual-threat ability by finishing in the top ten with 291 rushing yards and fifth with five rushing touchdowns.
His fantasy potential is ascending in a top-ten Jaguars offense that scored over 30 points in three of the final five weeks of last season. The explosive Jags offense also acquired playmaking wide receiver Calvin Ridley from the Atlanta Falcons. He was reinstated in March after serving his indefinite suspension for violating the league’s gambling policies. In his last full NFL season, Ridley caught 90 passes on 143 targets for 1,374 yards and nine scores in 2020.
Combine the growth of Lawrence with another season of teaching from Pederson, and the addition of Ridley, and fantasy managers will witness a top-five quarterback. Lawrence should be on every fantasy manager’s wish list come draft time.
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Dennis Sosic is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Dennis, check out his archive and follow him @CALL_ME_SOS.
