Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: How to Approach QB (2025)

We have a full slate of preseason games this week, and the heart of fantasy football draft season is just ahead. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and begin our draft prep in earnest.

FantasyPros analysts Derek Brown, Andrew Erickson and Pat Fitzmaurice continue a series of preseason roundtables by discussing quarterback draft strategy.

You can find the first article in our roundtable series here.

Fantasy Football Roundtable: QB Draft Strategy

What is your quarterback strategy in 1-QB drafts, and which one or two quarterbacks do you expect to draft most often?

Patience Pays

Andrew Erickson: I’m waiting at quarterback. There is a gargantuan tier of quarterbacks from QB8 to QB20 where you can find starters with rushing upside. My top targets are Justin Fields and Drake Maye (my QB7 and QB12, respectively).

Healthy Ecosystems

Derek Brown: In 1-QB formats, I’ll happily wait and draft both J.J. McCarthy and Dak Prescott. Each has the talent, supporting cast and projectable passing volume to be a top-10 fantasy quarterback (if not higher) this season.

Maye Day

Pat Fitzmaurice: Although I understand the appeal of drafting an elite quarterback, I’d rather lay the cornerstones of my roster at wide receiver and running back in the early rounds and wait to address the quarterback position.

Drake Maye is my preferred target. His ECR is QB16, but I think Maye’s rushing potential is immense, and I have him ranked inside the top 10 at the position. Brock Purdy, Jordan Love and J.J. McCarthy also look like solid values.