Quarterback is the most important position in football. A team’s offensive success is entirely contingent on the quarterback’s ability to make sound decisions, sustain drives and capitalize in the red zone. This influence extends to fantasy football, where the quality of quarterback play directly impacts the production at every skill position.
Wide receivers or tight ends benefit from being linked with an accurate quarterback who targets them frequently. On the other hand, running backs thrive with passers who check down regularly and provide consistent goal-line opportunities.
Given the quarterback position’s outsized influence on fantasy football output, it’s crucial to monitor training camp battles and speculation regarding starting roles. Savvy managers can gain an edge by projecting how these outcomes will shape the value of the supporting cast.
In what follows, I’ll highlight a number of quarterback rooms that remain ambiguous as we head deeper into the offseason. For each, I’ll assess how the outcome could alter the fantasy outlooks of the associated wide receivers, running backs and tight ends.
- Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2025 Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football ADP
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Quarterback Position Battles to Watch
Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson & Daniel Jones
Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones have had very similar career trajectories. Both were selected with early first-round draft capital and originally looked primed to be their team’s franchise quarterback of the future. However, consistent inaccuracies and turnover issues have prevented these players from reaching their true potential in the NFL. Now competing for the starting role in Indianapolis, one of these players will be given a second chance to deliver on this promise.
Indy will reportedly have a QB competition once camp opens. Here’s how Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson compared as passers in 2024: pic.twitter.com/ulX0CB8uaq
— Fantasy Footballers (@TheFFBallers) June 20, 2025
Richardson was drafted as a raw prospect whose athleticism and arm strength were promising. However, he’s yet to show signs of developing the other aspects of his game. In 2024, he earned a Pro Football Focus (PFF) passing grade of 90.3 on throws 20+ yards downfield, but failed to register a grade above 67.3 on all other throws. His adjusted completion percentage of 60.2% further illustrates his lack of precision in the short-to-intermediate areas of the field.
The main beneficiary of Richardson’s presence under centre is Alec Pierce, the team’s primary deep threat. Per PFF, Pierce was targeted an average of 22.8 yards downfield in 2024. The likes of Jonathan Taylor, Josh Downs and Tyler Warren will all see a considerable decrease in value if Richardson is named the starter. According to StatMuse, Downs has averaged an uninspiring 51.5 receiving yards per game with Richardson under centre. In games where backup Joe Flacco was named the starter, Downs produced an average of 71.8 yards per game.
The past two seasons have not been kind to Jones. He’s batted a slew of injuries and has struggled to re-find his footing on the field. However, unlike the aforementioned Richardson, Jones has had stints of success in the NFL. During the 2022 season, Jones compiled a 3:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio and led the New York Giants to the divisional round of the playoffs.
Jones thrived in Brian Daboll’s system, which was centred around the running game spearheaded by Saquon Barkley. Jones was very effective in a role that frequently involved play-action passes near the line of scrimmage. Given the Colts’ strengths on offense, Shane Steichen may elect to employ a similar offensive identity in 2025.
Taylor, who has averaged 3.17 yards after contact per carry across his illustrious career, is more than capable of being the focal point of this offense. Jones will be tasked with getting the ball in his playmakers’ hands, allowing the likes of Downs and Warren to generate yards after the catch. According to PFF, both Downs and Warren averaged an excess of 5.5 yards after the catch per reception in 2024.
Jones’ appointment as the Indianapolis Colts’ starting quarterback would be ideal for fantasy managers. Given Jones’ past successes and Richardson’s persistent shoulder injuries, Jones appears to be the better candidate for Colts fans as well.
Cleveland Browns: Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel & Shedeur Sanders
It’s not often that four different candidates are vying for the starting quarterback role on an NFL roster. The Cleveland Browns find themselves in a very peculiar situation following yet another catastrophic injury to former franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Watson, who’s set to earn nearly $36 million in 2025, is unlikely to see the field this season as he continues to rehab an Achilles ailment. With that in mind, the Browns will be turning to one of Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders as their Week 1 starter.
From a fantasy football perspective, Flacco is undeniably the most compelling option. The veteran’s high-risk, high-reward approach has often led to great fantasy football output. According to PFF, Flacco had the sixth-highest average depth of target (aDOT) among quarterbacks with a minimum of 100 dropbacks in 2024.
Flacco’s turnover-worthy play percentage of 3.8% was also the 13th-highest. Those who roster Jerry Jeudy, David Njoku and Cedric Tillman hope Flacco will earn the starting nod. Nevertheless, the Browns are clearly in the midst of a rebuild and aren’t likely to commit to a 40-year-old signal-caller in the long term.
The team acquired Pickett via trade earlier in the offseason. Despite earning first-round draft capital in 2022, Pickett has failed to establish himself in the NFL. His overall 15:14 touchdown-to-interception ratio sheds light on his struggles throughout his young career. After serving solely as a backup for the Eagles in 2024, it’s hard to foresee Pickett being thrust into a starting role in Cleveland. Like Flacco, Pickett’s role will likely be limited to occasional starts in the event of injuries or other unforeseen issues.
The Cleveland Browns are most likely to lean on one of their rookie quarterbacks to spearhead the team’s rebuild. Despite being drafted a couple of rounds after Gabriel, PFF metrics suggest Sanders is the more efficient passer. He outperformed his rookie counterpart in terms of passing grade, big time throw percentage, adjusted completion percentage and NFL passer rating in 2024.
Sanders’ off-field concerns are what caused his historic fall in the draft. As long as he maintains a good relationship with the coaching staff in Cleveland, the former Colorado Buffalo should be able to earn the starting job at some point.
All things considered, the Browns are likely to cycle through several starting quarterbacks before eventually settling on one of the rookies. At any rate, rookie quarterbacks have historically struggled to sustain consistent fantasy football production for the ancillary pieces of their offense.
Whether Gabriel or Sanders is eventually appointed as the starting quarterback, the pass-catching options in Cleveland are set to lose value. Jeudy and Njoku, currently ranked as the WR36 and the TE8, respectively, are very risky propositions in drafts.
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