Polarizing Fantasy Football Quarterbacks: Anthony Richardson, Daniel Jones, Geno Smith, Jordan Love (2023)

Some players generate a wide range of opinions or a divide within the fantasy football community. These players with a high standard deviation are considered polarizing because the range of opinions, rankings and projections means there isn’t a clear consensus. Some of these players will be busts. Some will be breakouts. Others will be somewhere in between. What matters is identifying why these players are polarizing and then determining just how risky they are and how you value them relative to your league and settings.

Our analysts combed through the expert consensus rankings (ECR) and identified the most polarizing players at each position. The results and accompanying justifications are below.

Identifying Rookie WR1s & WR2s | 6 Wide Receivers Most Likely to Become WR1s
Draft Targets for Every Round: Early | Middle | Late
Fitz’s Draft Primers: QB | RB | WR | TE
2023 Fantasy Football Draft Kit

For more fantasy football draft advice, check out our complete article on the Most Polarizing Fantasy Football Players ahead of the 2023 season.

Polarizing Quarterbacks

Who is one QB with a high standard deviation you are higher or lower on, and why?

Anthony Richardson (QB – IND)

“I’m very bullish on Anthony Richardson and have him ranked as my QB12. I think he is the highest-ceiling quarterback being drafted outside of the top 12 QBs right now. His rushing ability will provide an excellent floor in a way that won’t lose you your week. Meanwhile, in his final year at Florida, he had a 42.1% completion rate on throws at least 20 yards downfield, showing his deep-passing capabilities. He’s a star in the making and could be a league-winner this year.”
– Sam Hoppen (FantasyPros)

“Anthony Richardson has the highest standard deviation of any quarterback in the top 20, and I have him ranked QB13, five spots higher than ECR. Richardson’s passing stats won’t be pretty, but he’s probably going to be a prolific runner from the jump. The 6-4, 244-pound Richardson ran a 4.43 at the NFL Scouting Combine and will be working under new Colts head coach Shane Steichen, who as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator presided over Jalen Hurts‘ ascendance to elite fantasy QB status. Granted, I wouldn’t feel entirely comfortable having Richardson as my top quarterback in a 1QB league, but his immense rushing upside makes him attractive in superflex leagues and in larger 1QB leagues where it makes sense to draft a second quarterback.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

Daniel Jones (QB – NYG)

“The gas tank is full, and there’s plenty of room on the Daniel Jones party bus. Grab a cold beverage and take your seat. It’s going to be a wonderful ride for 2023. Last year Daniel Jones was the QB10 in fantasy points per game while heavily relying on his legs. Jones finished fifth in rushing yards, carries per game, and red zone carries per game. The Giants added a truckload of role-playing wide receivers and a dynamic seam-stretching tight end with Darren Waller to assist Jones with taking another step as a passer in 2023. Jones has top-five fantasy quarterback upside this season.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)

Geno Smith (QB – SEA)

“Geno Smith. I am higher on him because nobody seems to believe he can run back what he did last season…even though he’s been productive for Seattle over the last TWO seasons. Smith has averaged over 20 fantasy points per game in his 20 starts for the Seahawks since 2021. Additionally, all the Seahawks did during the draft was invest in No. 1 WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Anything but fantasy QB1 territory is still too cheap for Chef Geno. He should be viewed as a low-end fantasy QB1.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)

Jordan Love (QB – GB)

“I’m very in on Jordan Love this season, at least relative to cost. Love’s highest ranking in ECR is 17, and his lowest is 34th, so he definitely fits the bill of polarizing. And considering he’s following up a first-ballot Hall of Famer in Aaron Rodgers, pressure is high. Love has all the physical talent in the world, a great young offensive-minded head coach, sneaky-good skill players surrounding him, and of course, had the benefit of sitting and learning for multiple years behind Rodgers. I’m not saying Love is a no-brainer smash hit this season, but I am saying the upside is better than his QB21 ECR suggests.”
– Ryan Wormeli (FantasyPros)

Previously, our analysts took a look at the most overrated and most underrated players, the top rookies, the top breakout candidates, the safest picks, the biggest questions for each NFL team, and more.

Fantasy Draft Advice Featured Pros NFL Anthony Richardson Anthony Richardson Jalen Hurts Daniel Jones Darren Waller Geno Smith Jaxon Smith-Njigba Jordan Love Aaron Rodgers