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:
Top NFL DFS Cash Game Options
Lamar Jackson ($6,800 DraftKings, $8,700 FanDuel)
It has been an absolutely disastrous start to the season for the Ravens. They won just one of their first six games, and they’ve had to deal with key absences on both sides of the ball.
However, they’re expected to be a bit healthier following their Week 7 bye. That will hopefully include the quarterback position. Jackson is currently listed as questionable, but he was able to return to practice this week. That includes a full practice on Friday, which bodes well for his availability Sunday vs. the Bears.
When Jackson has been on the field this season, there’s been no issue with his production. He’s played in three full games this season, and he’s logged 29.36, 26.3, and 27.02 DraftKings points in those contests. Ultimately, he was the No. 1 QB in fantasy points per game over that stretch.
That makes $6,800 feel like an absolute steal on DraftKings. Jackson was priced all the way up at $7,500 in his last outing, so this represents a significant decrease. Historically, Jackson has averaged a Plus/Minus of +6.28 with a comparable price tag (per the Trends tool), so this is an elite buy-low opportunity.
Jackson also draws a strong first matchup back vs. the Bears. Chicago has not been nearly as strong defensively this season, particularly through the air. They’re merely 18th in terms of pass defense EPA, and they’ve allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to the position. They’ve also allowed the second-highest yards-per-carry average to opposing QBs, which could be a recipe for disaster vs. Jackson.
As long as he’s back in the lineup, he’s an absolute slam dunk on DraftKings. He leads the position in projected Plus/Minus, and he has the top ceiling projection as well.
Editor’s note: Lamar has been ruled out. Check the Player Models for updates.
Daniel Jones ($6,100 DraftKings, $7,700 FanDuel)
While Jackson is still a phenomenal option on FanDuel, he’s not quite as valuable at $8,700. Two quarterbacks edge him out in terms of projected Plus/Minus, with Jones taking the top spot overall.
Jones has repeatedly exceeded expectations for fantasy purposes this season. He’s posted a positive Plus/Minus in five of seven games, resulting in an average Plus/Minus of +3.92 overall. He’s combining solid passing production with just enough rushing upside, resulting in more than 20 FanDuel points in four separate outings.
Jones provided solid value last week in a tough game vs. the Chargers, and now he gets a significantly easier matchup vs. the Titans. Indianapolis is favored by more than two touchdowns in that game, giving them a massive 31-point implied team total. That’s the top mark by a pretty comfortable margin, with the Ravens coming in second at 28.25.
There’s always some concern that this game gets so out of hand that Jones doesn’t have to do much in the second half, but hopefully, he’ll have accrued enough fantasy points while the team was building their lead that it doesn’t matter. Historically, big favorites tend to do well at the position because their teams score so many points: Favorites of at least two touchdowns have averaged 21.07 FanDuel points per game.
Now available: our NFL DFS SimLabs Lineup Generator that creates advanced DFS lineups using the power of simulation.
Top NFL DFS Tournament Options
Bo Nix ($6,000 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel)
Nix has been a bit hit-or-miss this season, but he’s started to turn things around. He’s logged two big performances over his past four games. He finished as QB5 in Week 4, racking up 29.74 DraftKings points against the Bengals, and he had a QB1 finish vs. the Giants last week. Nix racked up 279 yards and two touchdowns through the air while adding 48 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He ultimately finished with 39.96 DraftKings points in a historic Denver comeback.
At his best, that’s what Nix can bring to the table. He’s one of the best sources of rushing production at the position, averaging 25.1 yards per game since entering the NFL. He also has eight total rushing touchdowns in just 24 starts. That’s not quite in the Lamar/Josh Allen/Jalen Hurts tier, but it’s not too far behind, either.
Now, Nix gets one of the best possible matchups vs. the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas is 30th in the league in pass defense EPA, and they’re elite on offense. That’s a phenomenal combination for opposing quarterbacks. It creates a game script where they typically have to throw the ball aggressively for four straight quarters, leading to some huge fantasy performances. No team has allowed more fantasy points per game to the position, and Nix’s +6.0 Opponent Plus/Minus is the top mark on the slate by a wide margin.
Ultimately, Nix provides a comparable ceiling to the best players at the position, and he does it at a slight discount.
Jalen Hurts ($6,600 DraftKings, $8,800 FanDuel)
Hurts is going to have to survive without his top receiver on Sunday. A.J. Brown has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, and that’s going to be a big loss. Brown has racked up a 27% target share for the Eagles this season, and he’s coming off a two-touchdown performance in his last game.
That said, Hurts has plenty of weapons still available to lean on. DeVonta Smith would be a No. 1 receiver on a lot of teams, and he’s also coming off a monster performance in Week 7. Dallas Goedert is a very viable pass-catcher at tight end, while Saquon Barkley could be used more as a receiver out of the backfield.
Of course, Hurts’ biggest fantasy strength has nothing to do with his receivers. He’s one of the biggest touchdown threats in the league thanks to the “tush push,” and he already has five rushing touchdowns through seven games. That puts him on pace for double-digit scores for the fifth straight season, and he’s had at least 13 touchdowns in three straight.
Hurts and the Eagles could be out for a bit of revenge after getting humiliated by the Giants in New York on Thursday Night Football. This time, they’ll get the Giants in Philadelphia, and they’re implied for a healthy 25.5 points in that matchup.
Hurts seems particularly appealing on DraftKings. His $6,600 price tag comes with a 97% Bargain Rating, which is easily the top mark among high-priced QBs. He also has the top DraftKings optimal lineup rate at the position in Sim Labs.
Josh Allen ($7,500 DraftKings, $9,000 FanDuel)
Allen could be the stud worth paying up for on FanDuel. He has a 70% Bargain Rating on that site, which ranks second among quarterbacks.
The Bills have not been at their best recently, losing two straight games before heading into last week’s bye. That said, Allen has still been extremely reliable at QB. He’s had at least 20.42 FanDuel points in four of six contests, including 41+ points in his first game of the year.
Ultimately, no QB in football combines elite passing and rushing production like Allen. His numbers have been slightly down this season, but he’s still the No. 3 QB in terms of fantasy points per game. He has the third-highest FanDuel optimal lineup rate, though he is projected to be a bit overowned.
Contrarian NFL DFS Tournament Options With Upside
Spencer Rattler ($4,700 DraftKings, $6,600 FanDuel)
Believe it or not, no QB is popping up more frequently in the optimal lineup sims than Rattler. He’s No. 1 at the position on FanDuel, and he’s No. 2 on DraftKings.
That stems primarily from his low prices. Rattler is among the cheapest options at quarterback across the industry, despite playing pretty well in a subpar situation. He also provides just a smidge of rushing upside, averaging 22.1 yards per game.
The biggest selling point this week is the matchup. He’s taking on the Buccaneers, who have been a massive pass funnel this season. They’re among the best teams in football against the run, so opposing QBs have had to air it out against them. They’ve allowed the 10th-most fantasy points per game to the position, and that number has been significantly higher of late. Sam Darnold had 341 yards and four touchdowns against them three weeks ago, and Mac Jones followed that up with 347 passing yards the following week. I doubt Rattler can follow in their footsteps, but he definitely has more upside than usual.
Baker Mayfield ($6,400 DraftKings, $8,300 FanDuel)
On the other side of that matchup, Mayfield should be able to take advantage of a subpar Saints defense. They’re 24th in pass defense EPA, and the Bucs are implied for 25.5 points.
Mayfield is dealing with some key injuries at receiver, but the cupboard is far from bare in Tampa. Emeka Egbuka has been a star basically right out of the gates, while Tez Johnson has made a name for himself over the past few weeks. Even with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin out of the lineup, the Bucs still have plenty of potential playmakers.
Mayfield is popping as one of the most undervalued options at the position this week. His optimal lineup rate is +3.0% higher than his projected ownership on FanDuel, and it’s +1.2% higher on DraftKings.
Drake Maye ($6,200 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel)
The Patriots appear to have themselves a quarterback. Maye came on strong last season, and he has carried that play into 2025. He’s currently sixth at the position in fantasy points per game, trailing only a quintet of established superstars (Patrick Mahomes, Jackson, Allen, Hurts, and Dak Prescott).
Maye has already racked up 14 total touchdowns this season – 12 passing and two rushing – and scored at least 21.22 DraftKings points in five of his past six games. He draws a tough matchup this week vs. the Browns, but the Pats are still listed as seven-point home favorites. Cleveland has also been a bit worse against the run than the pass, so Maye still carries a solid ceiling projection at minimal projected ownership.
Pictured: Bo Nix
Photo Credit: Imagn Images
