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Top 5 quarterbacks disappointing

Daniels out again, Lamar?

It was a rough year to use an early pick on a quarterback. Arguably none of those guys have worked out thus far.

The news got worse with a report that Jayden Daniels (hamstring) won't play in Week 8. Since it's only Wednesday when we're hearing this, that doesn't really sound great for his odds of playing in Week 9, either.

Lamar Jackson has missed Baltimore's last 2-plus games since getting hurt in Week 4. Coming off a bye week we're figuring Lamar will be ready to go for Week 8, but the team practiced on Monday and Lamar didn't. So kind of up in the air.

The consensus top 5 quarterbacks from our Experts Poll in the magazine, and I think in most drafts, are shown below, along with a note about their performances to date.

TOP 5 QUARTERBACKS, SO FAR
QuarterbackNote
Josh AllenGreat Week 1. Since then, 201 pass, 45 run, 2 TDs per week
Lamar JacksonInjured 3 of 6 games
Jayden DanielsInjured 3 of 7 games
Joe Burrowinjured 6 of 7 (and counting)
Jalen HurtsHealthy; 3 of 7 lesser games

Allen has been best, Hurts 2nd-best. They've been healthy, and with those guys runners, their stats will usually be decent in fantasy leagues even if they're not having great games.

But if we wound the clock back to August, I think almost all of us would have preferred to select the quarterbacks selected later in the top 10 (Mahomes, Mayfield, Goff) or in the 11-15 range (Herbert, Prescott). Or much lower (Maye), or not even drafted at all (Dart).

Thinking I'll be waiting at the quarterback position next year.

--Andy Richardson

5 Reader Comments:

Robert Cummings

Los Angeles, CA
2025-10-22T19:46:06Z
Don't forget Daniel Jones. He kept me afloat for a while...now in my main league, I'm totally locked into another guy who I'm just going to cross my fingers and let him roll - Flacco.

The guy who drafted Burrow in the first round, who we were all jealous of, is in last place. Always a good idea to build first and wait for your QB.

Nick Fritz

Sausalito, CA
2025-10-22T20:15:39Z
A ton of big injuries this year. Is it an outlier or trend? To me, drafting a high end QB has tended to be "safer" early than a RB, and this depends a lot on scoring system too.

Richard Loppnow

Columbus, WI
2025-10-22T21:22:02Z
The Top 3 wide receivers - Chase, Lamb, Jefferson - haven't worked out any better. As to the top running backs: Barkley ouch, Henry ouch. Jacobs and Gibbs, alright for where they were taken, but nothing more than that, really.

So just Bijan super, Taylor especially so for going a touch later, and McCaffrey so for going still a little bit later.

Andy Richardson (Fantasy Index)

Port Chester, NY
2025-10-22T22:29:28Z
I don’t know to me the year shows you have better luck of pulling very good or great quarterbacks out of the later rounds then doing the same at running back or wide receiver. yes it’s true -Some of the early picks of those positions got hurt too, but they are not as replaceable with late round picks as quarterbacks have been this year

William Hansen

Georgetown, DE
2025-10-23T14:07:28Z
Chase has had a rough year losing Burrow but credit to him for still being near the top of the WR group.
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