The quarterback position is one of the most flexible in NFL DFS. You can go in a variety of different ways. Do you pay up for one of the top studs or try to save some money with a value option? Do you eat the chalk or look for a low-owned option with upside? There’s no 100% one-size-fits-all answer, so each slate and contest type is going to require thought and consideration.
In this piece, I highlight quarterbacks who stand out in our large suite of analytical fantasy tools, most specifically, our FantasyLabs Player Models. While the models are built for DFS contests, this is an all-purpose fantasy article with actionable information for all formats.
As news breaks throughout the week and we adjust our projections (powered by Sean Koerner), player ratings in our Player Models will change as the projections change. For updates, visit the models directly.
And don’t forget about the tools that FantasyLabs has to offer, like our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Or you can just use our NFL DFS sims to effortlessly create advanced lineups.
Finally, make sure to check out all the projections available for purchase (Chris Raybon’s come included with a FantasyLabs subscription) within the FantasyLabs Models. Subscribers now have the option to purchase Derek Carty’s THE BLITZ from our Marketplace. Projections from One Week Season and Establish the Run are available if you’re a subscriber to those specific sites (our optimizer is a separate add-on feature).
You can also combine them to create your own aggregate projections:
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Josh Allen ($7,100 DraftKings, $8,800 FanDuel)
There are a lot of good quarterbacks in the NFL currently, but Allen might be in a tier of his own. He put that on display in Week 1, particularly in an elite fourth quarter. He passed for more than 250 yards in that quarter alone, ultimately finishing with 394 passing yards, two passing TDs, 30 rushing yards, and two rushing TDs.
Allen tallied 41.76 DraftKings points in that performance, and that’s something that very few QBs are capable of. In fact, Allen accounts for four of the past five instances of a QB cracking 40 DraftKings points, and the lone exception came in a game against Allen (Jared Goff last year). He is the preemptive dual threat at the position. He combines the short-yardage prowess of Jalen Hurts with the big passing production of Joe Burrow, making him a true 1-of-1.
Now, he gets a matchup vs. a Jets’ defense that was shredded for four passing touchdowns by the Steelers in Week 1. The Steelers were not expected to be a particularly good offense, so that’s a major red flag for the Jets’ future outlook. Buffalo is currently implied for 26.25 points, which is the second-highest mark on the main slate.
Allen has had some struggles with the Jets’ D in the past, but he put those in the rearview mirror last season. He had 22.98 and 24.4 DraftKings points in two meetings vs. the Jets last season, and he accounted for six total touchdowns in those matchups (four passing, two rushing).
Allen’s price tag also stands out to start the season. He was priced as high as $8,500 at times last year, yet he is currently listed at $7,100 on DraftKings. Paying up at quarterback is not typically a preferred strategy for cash games, but Allen could be worth making an exception. He’s the biggest sure thing in fantasy at the moment.
Mac Jones ($4,000 DraftKings, $6,000 FanDuel)
If you’re not going to spend up on one of the elite passers this week, it could be worth going all the way down to Jones. He’ll likely draw the start at quarterback for the 49ers on Sunday, with Brock Purdy expected to miss the next 2-5 weeks.
Jones flamed out as a starter in New England, and he wasn’t any more impressive last year with the Jaguars. However, Jones now has the benefit of getting to play in Kyle Shanahan’s elite system. He reportedly coveted Jones during the 2020 NFL Draft, and now he’ll have an opportunity to show why.
Jones won’t have the luxury of leaning on George Kittle at tight end, but he’ll still have plenty to work with vs. the Saints. Christian McCaffrey carried a massive load out of the backfield in Week 1, including a whopping 30% target share. Even if Jones just dumps it off to McCaffrey at a high clip, that could still result in plenty of fantasy points.
The matchup stands out as slightly better than average, with the Saints ranking 18th in pass defense EPA in Week 1. The total on this contest is one of the lowest of the week (40.5), but the 49ers are at least road favorites.
Still, the big selling point here is the price tag. Jones is priced at the absolute minimum across the industry, so he doesn’t need to do much to potentially return value. He’s more appealing on DraftKings – where salary is often at a premium – and he leads the position in projected Plus/Minus.
Now available: our NFL DFS SimLabs Lineup Generator that creates advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.
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Lamar Jackson ($7,000 DraftKings, $8,500 FanDuel)
If Allen is the 1A at quarterback, Jackson is the 1B. Jackson was actually the superior fantasy producer last season, averaging 25.6 fantasy points per game to Allen’s 22.6. He doesn’t have the same upside from a rushing touchdown standpoint, but he makes up for it with more yardage potential. He averaged 53.8 rushing yards per game last season, and he racked up 70 on just six carries in his first game of the year.
Jackson has also become one of the most efficient passers in football. He had a mindboggling 41-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio last year, and he had another brilliant display with his arm vs. the Bills. He attempted just 19 passes, but he completed 14 of them for 209 yards and two scores.
The big difference between Jackson and Allen this week is the matchup. Jackson will have to take on the Browns, who are one of the few defenses that have managed to keep him in check. He had a negative Plus/Minus in both games vs. the Browns last year, though he still managed very respectable fantasy totals in both (22.98 and 24.16 DraftKings points).
Ultimately, Allen grades out slightly better from a projection standpoint, though there’s no denying Jackson’s upside. The Ravens actually have the top implied team total on the slate, so it should shock no one if he delivers another excellent performance.
Joe Burrow ($6,600 DraftKings, $8,000 FanDuel)
The Bengals managed to secure a win in Week 1 for a change, though it’s hard to call their performance impressive. They managed just 17 points against the Browns, and they had just seven total yards in the second half.
Burrow’s passing production left a lot to be desired. He finished with just 113 yards and one touchdown. Those are the type of numbers we expect Ja’Marr Chase to finish with as a receiver, not his star quarterback.
Of course, there’s no real cause for concern with the Bengals’ offense. Burrow led the league in nearly every passing category of note last season, and he was tied for third at the position in fantasy points per game. He ultimately trails only Jackson and Allen in terms of ceiling projection, and he does it at a slight discount.
Trevor Lawrence ($5,600 DraftKings, $7,000 FanDuel)
On the other side of that matchup, Lawrence has some appeal for the Jaguars. The Bengals were an absolute goldmine for fantasy purposes last season. Not only did they surrender points and yards in bunches, but their offense was good enough to force opponents to keep their foot on the gas for all four quarters. We saw some monster games by opposing QBs vs. Cincinnati last year, and they allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to the position.
Lawrence is also arguably in the best situation of his career. He has two potential studs at receiver, so he could put together a career year in Liam Coen’s offense. Coen engineered some elite offenses with Tampa Bay over the past few seasons, and the Jaguars scored 27 points in his first game at the helm.
Lawrence didn’t have a ton of statistical success in that contest, but he didn’t really need to. The Jaguars were in control for most of it, and it featured a weather delay. Ultimately, Lawrence has the fourth-highest optimal lineup rate at the position in Sim Labs, trailing only the “big three” studs of Allen, Jackson, and Burrow.
Contrarian NFL DFS Tournament Options With Upside
Drake Maye ($5,200 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel)
The Patriots’ bandwagon hit a massive speed bump in Week 1, losing at home to the Raiders. They were a buzzy team all offseason, largely thanks to the promise of Maye at quarterback. Unfortunately, he didn’t hold up his end of the bargain, finishing with just 287 yards, one touchdown, and one interception on a whopping 46 attempts. Maye is not going to have that type of volume every week, so he’ll need to be more efficient moving forward.
The good news is that he’s capable of doing so. He had plenty of solid showings as a rookie, and his supporting cast is improved this season. Not only did the team upgrade his weapons, adding Stefon Diggs and TreVeyon Henderson, but they also upgraded his protection in the draft. Maye also brings solid rushing upside to the table, though he didn’t put that on display in Week 1.
Maye ultimately ranks third at the position in projected Plus/Minus on DraftKings, trailing Allen and the uber-affordable Jones. He gets a phenomenal matchup vs. a Dolphins’ offense that surrendered seven scores on seven drives vs. the Colts and finished 27th in pass defense EPA.
Cam Ward ($4,900 DraftKings, $6,700 FanDuel)
Ward stands out as one of the most overlooked options at the position for Week 2. He has the second-largest differential between optimal lineup rate and projected ownership on FanDuel, and he’s fourth in that department on DraftKings.
The rookie had one of the toughest possible matchups in his debut, taking on an elite Broncos’ defense in Denver. He predictably struggled, completing just 12 of 28 passes for 112 yards.
While those numbers leave a lot to be desired, Ward still showed off some impressive throws in the loss:
He gets a better, friendlier matchup in Week 2, so hopefully, Ward will be able to utilize his arm talent a bit more often. At a minimum, he should be able to lean heavier on Calvin Ridley after Patrick Surtain completely erased him. Ward is the third-cheapest QB on the DraftKings main slate, so he doesn’t need to do much to potentially provide value.
Dak Prescott ($5,900 DraftKings, $7,300 FanDuel)
I’m not sure why Prescott has so many haters, but the dude can throw the football. He led the league with 36 passing touchdowns in his last full season, and he put together an impressive first contest in 2025 vs. a tough Eagles’ defense. His numbers in that contest don’t jump off the page – 61.8% completion percentage, 188 yards, zero touchdowns – but no quarterback lost more yards to drops in Week 1.
The Cowboys moved the ball consistently against the Eagles for most of the first half, and his matchup should be a bit easier in Week 2. The Giants have a talented group of pass-rushers, but they weren’t able to do a whole lot vs. Jayden Daniels in Week 1. Prescott will take the field as a home divisional favorite, which is a spot where he’s historically flourished. He’s averaged 24.79 DraftKings points in that split, good for an average Plus/Minus of +4.97 (per the Trends tool).
If the Cowboys can give Prescott time, he should be able to pick apart New York’s secondary. He’s very affordable at $5,900 on DraftKings, and he’s projected for roughly 5% ownership.
Pictured: Josh Allen
Photo Credit: Imagn
