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 the award-winning expert ranker, 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 within the FantasyLabs Models. Subscribers now have the option to purchase Derek Carty’s THE BLITZ from our Marketplace.
You can also combine them to create your own aggregate projections:
Top NFL DFS Cash Game Picks
Josh Allen ($7,700 DraftKings, $9,100 FanDuel)
Allen continues to prove that he is in a tier of his own at quarterback, at least for fantasy purposes. He’s capable of racking up points in so many ways. He had an awful game as a passer in Week 3 – 204 yards, zero touchdowns, two interceptions – but he made up for it with his work on the ground. He tallied 22 yards and two scores, saving what could’ve otherwise been a dreadful fantasy day.
Allen’s 20.46 DraftKings points were still his lowest tally of the season, but if that’s his floor, it’s still incredibly high. For the year, he’s averaged more than 31 fantasy points per game, easily the top mark in the league.
Allen draws a matchup vs. the Patriots in Week 4. This was initially expected to be a battle for the AFC East crown, but the Pats are off to a disastrous start. Drake Maye has deservedly gotten most of the criticism, but the defense isn’t without blame. They’re down to 11th in EPA per play defensively, and they surrendered 35 points to the Jaguars in Week 3. As a result, the Bills are listed as 6.5-point favorites, while their 27.5 implied team total ranks first on the slate.
Allen ultimately boasts the top raw projections at the position. However, he’s also one of the best pure values at QB. He’s third in projected Plus/Minus on both DraftKings and FanDuel. Finding the salary for Allen isn’t easy, but there is no safer QB in fantasy.
Trevor Lawrence ($5,900 DraftKings, $7,900 FanDuel)
Lawrence is one of the few guys who is potentially a stronger value than Allen this week. That’s particularly true on DraftKings, where his $5,900 salary comes with an 87% Bargain Rating.
Lawrence was always expected to be a future NFL star, but it took some time for him to fully realize his potential. That finally happened down the stretch last season. From Week 12 on, Lawrence led all quarterbacks with an impressive 26.3 fantasy points per game.
Lawrence has kept that production rolling into this season. He was subpar in Week 2, but that game was against the Broncos in Denver. Facing their defense is never easy, especially at the altitude of Mile High Stadium. Lawrence scored 20.78 and 26.1 DraftKings points in his other two contests, resulting in a positive Plus/Minus in each.
This week, Lawrence takes the field in a potential shootout vs. the Bengals. The game has a 51.5-point total. That’s the top mark on the main slate by three full points. Cincinnati has an elite offense but a shaky defense, so Jacksonville is going to have to score points to keep up.
There’s no reason Lawrence can’t do it, and he’s simply too cheap at $5,900. Dating back to the start of last season, he’s averaged a Plus/Minus of +3.63 with a comparable salary (per the Trends tool).
Top NFL DFS Tournament Picks
Joe Burrow ($6,800 DraftKings, $8,200 FanDuel)
The more things change, the more they stay the same. The Bengals have been searching for answers on defense for years now. They did bring in Dexter Lawrence this offseason to beef up their defensive line, and he has clearly helped. However, their new-look defense was not up to snuff in Week 3. Despite facing an old, beat-up Aaron Rodgers, the Steelers hung 30 points and 411 yards of total offense on Cincinnati. Overall, they rank 24th in yards allowed for the year, so they still have big question marks on that side of the ball.
It leaves Burrow to carry a sizable burden on offense. His numbers have been a bit muted so far this season, but he put together his best showing of the year in Week 3. He threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns, resulting in 23.58 DraftKings points. The Steelers entered that contest first in the league in defensive EPA, so it was an impressive showing.
Burrow faces another stiff test this week vs. the Jaguars, who are fourth in defensive EPA per play. Still, Vegas expects some scoring in this matchup. If this game approaches the listed total, there’s a good chance that Burrow has his hands in it.
Sam Darnold ($5,500 DraftKings, $7,500 FanDuel)
The Seahawks are coming off the most shocking loss of the season in Week 3. They got Darnold back from injury, while their elite defense was facing Marcus Mariota. It seemed like a monster mismatch on paper, but Washington managed to claw out a slim victory.
However, the Seahawks still dominated for most of the game. They outgained Washington by more than 175 yards but were done in by three turnovers. Darnold was responsible for two of them, including a back-breaking pick-six.
When Darnold did hold on to the ball, he carved the Commanders to shreds. He tallied 379 yards and four touchdowns, resulting in 32.66 DraftKings points. Jaxon Smith-Njigba looks absolutely unstoppable at receiver, and he’s bringing his quarterbacks along for the ride.
Now, the Seahawks get a matchup vs. the 0-3 Chargers. They’re reeling, and while their defense hasn’t been the biggest problem, it also hasn’t been the solution. They’re 16th in defensive EPA per play, including No. 20 vs. the pass.
Darnold is underpriced at $5,500 on DraftKings, resulting in an 87% Bargain Rating. It’s hard not to love him at that figure, and he owns the top optimal lineup rate at quarterback in Sim Labs.
Jacoby Brissett ($5,000 DraftKings, $6,800 FanDuel)
If you’re looking to go really cheap at QB this week, Brissett could be your guy. He appears underpriced across the industry, and he owns the top projected Plus/Minus at the position on both DraftKings and FanDuel.
Brissett hasn’t been a great option for fantasy owners to start the year, but he managed to turn things around in Week 3. He finished with 25.6 DraftKings points vs. the 49ers in a game where the Cardinals played from behind. The Cardinals haven’t gone quite as pass-heavy this year as they did with Brissett in 2025-26, but they still rank in the top half of the league in dropback percentage.
The Cardinals will square off with the Giants this week, and they shouldn’t have to throw the ball as much. That said, Brissett could make up for it with increased efficiency. New York is 28th in pass defense EPA through the first three weeks, and that might be underselling things a bit. If not for a matchup against Cam Ward in a nor’easter last week, those numbers could be even worse.
Contrarian NFL DFS Tournament Picks With Upside
Case Keenum ($4,600 DraftKings, $6,400 FanDuel)
Keenum opened the season as the Bears’ No. 3 quarterback, but he was forced into starting duty last week. Caleb Williams is out with a hamstring injury, while Tyson Bagent was unable to practice due to a concussion.
Bagent was ultimately cleared in time to start last week’s outing, but the Bears chose to stick with Keenum. After an excellent performance – 247 yards and two touchdowns passing plus an additional touchdown on the ground – it’s possible that they continue to ride the hot hand.
If Keenum draws another start, he’ll be worth consideration against the Jets. New York’s defense has been good to start the year, but their numbers were inflated by matchups vs. the Titans and Packers. They faced the Lions last week, and Detroit had minimal issues moving the ball against this unit.
Keenum gets the benefit of working in a Ben Johnson system, and he has an excellent group of skill-position players at his disposal. That’s enough to make any QB a viable option. He also looks undervalued in Sim Labs. He’s projected for roughly 4% ownership on DraftKings, while his optimal lineup rate is closer to 8%. That’s the largest discrepancy at the position.
Geno Smith ($5,200 DraftKings, $6,900 FanDuel)
On the other side of that matchup, Smith has exceeded all expectations for the Jets to start the year. He looked washed with the Raiders last season, but he’s proving that he has a little juice left in his right arm. He was awesome vs. the Lions, completing 31-of-37 passes for 321 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
Smith is up to 8.5 adjusted yards per attempt for this season, which would represent a new career-high. His price tag has yet to reflect his increased value. Smith will also have Garrett Wilson in the lineup, who briefly exited last week’s game due to a possible concussion but was ultimately cleared.
Smith is another player who stands out as undervalued in Sim Labs. He’s projected for less than 3.5% ownership on DraftKings, while his optimal lineup rate is nearly double that mark.
Bo Nix ($5,600 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel)
Nix has not played particularly well this season, but he managed to at least put some fantasy points on the scoreboard last week. He had three total touchdowns vs. the Rams – two passing, one rushing – bringing him to 25.14 DraftKings points for the day. He’s proven to have one of the higher ceilings in fantasy for this price range, with upside with both his arm and his legs.
Nix is going to have to do some scoring to keep up with the 49ers in Week 4. San Francisco has been an offensive juggernaut through three weeks, ranking first in EPA per play. They’ve scored at least 27 points in all three games, including 35+ in back-to-back games. There’s some shootout potential here, giving Nix more upside than usual.
Pictured: Josh Allen
Photo Credit: Imagn
