Finding the best value picks is how smart fantasy football managers build championship rosters – and our Featured Pros experts are here to help you do exactly that. In this article, our panel of trusted analysts answers the key question every fantasy football manager asks before draft day: Who is the best value pick at QB based on current ADP, and why?
Whether you’re hunting for under-the-radar steals, proven veterans flying under the radar, or breakout stars ready to smash their draft price, this list will point you toward the players our experts believe are must-draft values for 2025. Let’s dive in and find you some league-winning bargains!
Fantasy Football Value Picks by ADP
Who is the best value pick at QB based on his current ADP and why?
“J.J. McCarthy is the best value pick at QB based on his current half-PPR ADP. He’s the 18th QB going off the board. He will be an afterthought in most fantasy football league drafts, but I will project that he finishes as a QB1 this season. He has an arsenal of receiving weapons, and on occasion, he can scramble for rushing yards.”
– Jeff Boggis (Fantasy Football Empire)
“J.J. McCarthy has a high probability to surpass his QB18 ADP, stepping into an ideal situation to perform as a QB1 this season. He brings significant upside in a high-powered offense featuring a stellar WR duo of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, a top-tier TE in TJ Hockenson, now further recovered from an ACL tear, a solid RB tandem of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, and an improved offensive line. With head coach Kevin O’Connell having turned Sam Darnold into a QB9 finish last season, it’s easy to envision McCarthy excelling in this Vikings offense and becoming a fantasy football league winner.”
– Dennis Sosic (Fantasy Six Pack)
“J.J. McCarthy is being CRIMINALLY undervalued in the current ADP. QB19, player overall 123? Really?! McCarthy enters into one of, if not the, most QB-friendly setup in football with Kevin O’Connell at the helm. McCarthy also has an array of weapons at his disposal, with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson all there to be on the receiving end of McCarthy’s dropbacks. McCarthy also has sneaky rushing upside, making his fantasy potential even more appealing for 2025. If McCarthy stays at this price, I will have him on every single team this season.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
“J.J. McCarthy at QB18 is free money. Yes, I know we haven’t seen J.J. McCarthy play outside of an abbreviated preseason sample last year, but I’ll be targeting him everywhere this season. This should remain a pass-happy offense after ranking eighth in neutral passing rate and third in pass rate over expectation last year (per Fantasy Points Data). The Vikings remain loaded with skill players and added to the offensive line this offseason to give their new signal caller all the time in the world to dice up opposing pass defenses in 2025. Sam Darnold (yes, that Sam Darnold) finished as the QB9 in fantasy points per game last year, continuing a long history of quarterbacks under Kevin O’Connell finishing as QB1s. I believe McCarthy will keep that streak alive. He was a stellar prospect who had been airdropped into the perfect situation. In his final collegiate season, McCarthy ranked inside the top 12 FBS quarterbacks in passing grade, adjusted completion rate, yards per attempt, adjusted completion rate with downfield throws, and against pressure (per PFF). It’s wheels up for McCarthy in 2025.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
Cameron Ward (QB – TEN)
“The adage about waiting for a quarterback has never been more true. With an influx of young rookie quarterbacks making their mark last season, veteran quarterback prices are at an all-time low. While I’m tempted to consider Geno Smith or Sam Darnold on their new teams, I’m buying low on Tennessee’s Cameron Ward at QB27 and ADP 159. I love his confident play on the field, and his assuredness will be infectious on a team that needs a pick-me-up after some really bad seasons.”
– Matt De Lima (Athlon Sports)
“If you are looking for value at the QB position later in your draft, don’t sleep on 37-year-old Matt Stafford. If you like early rounders like Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams, the guy delivering them the football is going to put up some points. The addition of red zone beast Davante Adams should have Stafford easily outplay his current ADP of 134.”
– Steve Anagnos (Double G Sports)
Jordan Love (QB – GB)
“Does anyone remember 2023 Jordan Love? You know, the one that had nearly 4,200 passing yards, 336 total TDs, 250 rushing yards, and finished as the QB5 on the season. Yeah, that Jordan Love shouldn’t be going as the QB17. Last year, in their opening game, Love went down with a sprained MCL. Despite only missing two games, he never fully recovered. As a result, this was Matt Lafleur’s first team as a Head Coach to finish in the top 12 in rushing attempts. They weren’t just in the top 12 either; they had the 5th most rushing attempts in the league. This is a clear indicator that something wasn’t right. Some may believe that this was a result of Josh Jacobs; however, Lafleur had the elite duo of Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams and never came close to the number of rushing attempts last year. The pendulum should swing back to Lafleur’s previous five years of play-calling. Pair that with a new first-round receiver and a fully healthy Love, and his current ADP is a steal.”
– Ellis Johnson (FantasyPros)
Trevor Lawrence (QB – JAC)
“The Jags pulled off a shocker in the draft. They went up and got their guy, CB/WR Travis Hunter. Hunter, along with Brian Thomas Jr., should form a lethal combination at WR. That makes life easier for Trevor Lawrence. Jacksonville also hired Tampa Bay’s former offensive coordinator, Liam Coen, to be their head coach. Coen contributed to Baker Mayfield‘s fantasy comeback the past two seasons. Even with the losses of Christian Kirk and Evan Engram this past offseason, Trevor Lawrence appears to be in line for a career year, if the Jags can protect him. Lawrence’s current ADP at QB 20 seems very cheap when you factor in the improving situation in Jacksonville.”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)
Justin Herbert (QB – LAC)
“It was a slow start for Justin Herbert and the Chargers last year. Herbert dealt with an ankle injury early on, and they averaged a paltry 22.8 attempts per game prior to their Week 5 bye. After that? Herbert averaged nearly 32 attempts per game and was much more active on the ground. The involvement in the ground game, and expectation of a much more exciting and refreshed offense in 2025, has me buying in at QB13 prices.”
– Seth Miller (Crossroads Fantasy Football)
Dak Prescott (QB – DAL)
“Despite recovering from a hamstring injury that ended his 2024 season in Week 9, Dak Prescott is shaping up to be one of the better values in 2025 fantasy drafts. Currently going as the QB15, he’s priced well below quarterbacks with less proven upside and more question marks. With a strong supporting cast that now includes George Pickens and a healthy offensive line, Prescott still carries top-10 fantasy potential. If you’re looking for a QB2 with QB1 upside, Dak is one of the best bets at his current cost.”
– Mason (RPO Football)
Justin Fields (QB – NYJ)
“Justin Fields was the QB7 in points per game in his six starts last year. The new Jets QB finished 4th in fantasy points per dropback (0.62). He posted 50+ rushing yards in three of those games, giving him an elite rushing floor and ceiling. Now he gets a fresh start in New York under a first-time HC who knows how dangerous he is on the ground. Fields faced the Lions’ Aaron Glenn defenses five times during his time with the Chicago Bears, rushing for 100+ yards in three of those contests.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
“While he isn’t an ideal starting NFL quarterback, Justin Fields is undervalued as the QB10 in the ADP. Last year, the former Ohio State star averaged 18.9 fantasy points per game over the first six weeks as the starter for the Steelers. Fields would have been the QB8 for the season on a points-per-game basis with that average. More importantly, the veteran was productive in his last year as the unquestioned starter, ranking as the QB9 on a points-per-game basis among quarterbacks with at least nine games played in 2023 despite a limited set of weapons. While he isn’t an elite fantasy option, Fields should get drafted closer to QB6 than QB12.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)
“Justin Fields should lead the best value for quarterbacks due to the upside he offers. Fields is locked in as the starting quarterback for the Jets for the entire season. The last time Fields played a full season, he was a top-7 fantasy quarterback. Even in 2024, Fields was QB6 in the six games he started. Fields will also reunite with his college teammate, Garrett Wilson, who should help him thrive with the chemistry they have. It’s good value for a potential QB1 in fantasy.”
– Steven Pintado (The Fantasy Coaches)
Brock Purdy (QB – SF)
“My favorite quarterback to draft at their current ADP of QB12 is Brock Purdy. Purdy has been the QB9 and QB6 in FPPG the past two seasons, and Kyle Shanahan is arguably the best offensive play-caller in the NFL. It appears that Christian McCaffrey is going to be healthy heading into the season, which is good for any offense. I expect Purdy to be a top 10 quarterback in FPPG again this season, and he has, dare I say, top five upside.”
– Nick Penticoff (Fantasy Football Astronauts)
Drake Maye (QB – NE)
“Last season, Drake Maye came into the fold on a full-time basis in Week 6 and, outside of leaving two games early, started the rest of the way. Even when thrust into an immediate role on an awful team with a bad offensive line with just over half a season to work with, Maye finished as QB22. Now he has his first true weapon in Stefon Diggs, and the New England Patriots invested in their offensive line. Fade Maye at your own risk.”
– Trevor Land (FlurrySports)
“Drake Maye at QB16. I think he has top-10 upside because of his rushing potential. When Maye was a sophomore at North Carolina, he had 698 rushing yards in 14 games. College quarterbacks have sack yardage deducted from their rushing yardage. Maye lost about 200 yards in sacks that year, so he was really closer to 850 rushing yards in 14 games. Maye had only two touchdown runs last season. In his two seasons as a college starter, he had 16 touchdown runs in 26 games. And Maye was surprisingly good as a passer last year despite playing behind a terrible offensive line and throwing to terrible wide receivers. The Patriots have upgraded both of those areas.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Jalen Hurts (QB – PHI)
“If you’re among the band of criminals that have now pushed Joe Burrow even with Jalen Hurts in best ball ADP, then you need to be stopped. Hurts was already screaming value as the No. 4 QB in ADP, more than a half-round behind Jayden Daniels. Hurts’ “disappointing” 2024 still found him scoring the fifth-most points per game across healthy outings. He got MORE TD chances with Saquon Barkley around. And his passing should rebound with at least some volume increase in 2025 and better health among A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert. Hurts ranks among the easiest clicks at the position and my most-rostered QBs.”
– Matt Schauf (Draft Sharks)
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn
