The TRUTH: Top QBs in 2025 Part II (Fantasy Football)
As we sink deeper into the fantasy offseason, this is the perfect time of year to take a look back at the season that just ended to find exactly which players were actually helpful for fantasy rosters and which merely seemed to be useful.
Andy, Mike, and Jason have done all the hard work of diving into the TRUTH, starting with the QB position from 2025! The Ballers broke down the top-10 QBs from 2025, and now it’s time to get into the rest of the bunch!
Connect with the show:
Quarterbacks Breakdown
When it comes to the “rest” of the QBs in the TRUTH series, we’re talking about players who really weren’t weekly starters for fantasy rosters but had a role to play, whether positive or negative, for fantasy managers. This season, there were 47 different QBs who finished as a top-12 QB on a given week, the most since 2019 and the second-most over the last 10 seasons. While the QBs who finished outside of the top 10 for this season aren’t the league-winners we’re excited to talk about this time of year, there are some real conversations to be had about a handful of QBs in this group as we start towards 2026.
Before we jump back into the TRUTH about QBs, a few reminders of how we measured QB output for the TRUTH metric.
- Great Games = > 26 points
- Good Games = 21 – 25 points
- Meh Games = 16 – 20 points
- Bust Games = 15 points <
- Missed Games do not count against consistency score
11 Patrick Mahomes | Chiefs
Age: 30.2 | ADP: 5.05 / QB6
Consistency Rank: 3
1st Half: 1 / 2nd Half: 17
|
Great Games |
Good Games | Bust Games |
| 43% | 57% |
36% |
We start the second half of the QB truth series with Patrick Mahomes, who felt like he was giving fantasy managers a revival of one of the better fantasy QBs over the last several seasons before falling flat down the stretch. To start the season, Mahomes was the QB1 through Week 10, averaging 23.8 fantasy points per game thanks to 32 rushing yards per game during that stretch.
While the added rushing was nice, Mahomes set career lows in a number of categories like completion percentage (62.7%), passer rating (89.6), and TD rate (4.4%). Maybe more importantly, Mahomes had just 29% of his passes that traveled 10+ air yards, the same number as Shedeur Sanders and Bryce Young. Top it all off with an ACL tear to end the season, and the high hopes fantasy managers may have had with Mahomes on their roster fell extremely flat by the end of 2025.
Looking forward, the fantasy future seems murkier for Mahomes going into 2026 than it did in 2025, when you add in the complication of his ACL recovery. Ballers injury expert Matthew Betz noted that Mahomes is unlikely to be 100% in the early part of the 2026 season, and a dip in his rushing numbers should be expected. At the team level, the Chiefs could lose Travis Kelce this offseason, which would bring even more uncertainty into a Kansas City passing game that has left fantasy managers wanting more over the past few seasons.
12 Baker Mayfield | Buccaneers
Age: 30.8 | ADP: 6.09 / QB7
Consistency Rank: 23
1st Half: 20 / 2nd Half: 21
|
Great Games |
Good Games | Bust Games |
| 6% | 18% |
41% |
After being one of the best draft values in 2023 and 2024, Baker Mayfield really failed to live up to his draft price in 2025. Mayfield started the season on the right track, finishing as a top-12 QB in five of his first six games, but only hit that mark three times from Week 7 through the rest of the year. During that stretch, Mayfield averaged 7.6 fewer fantasy points per game and averaged nearly a whole TD less per game.
While Mayfield’s TD rate regressed to a more average 4.8% rate, there are some more concerning metrics that could be troubling for his future fantasy success. On the season, Baker averaged just 4.99 yards per attempt against man coverage, which puts him dead last in the NFL. Among the 38 qualifying QBs with 200+ dropbacks, Mayfield finished 35th in adjusted completion percentage, 32nd in percentage of off-target throws, and 28th in turnover-worthy throws.
Stop me if you have heard this before, but there will be a change at the Offensive Coordinator in Tampa Bay going into next season, although this time it’s not because the old guy got a Head Coaching job. What fantasy managers will have to bet on for next season is if they think the tools around Mayfield getting healthy can help right the ship for the Buccaneers’ offense. Mayfield will likely fall back into the “late-round” QB category for next season, which could only benefit the likelihood that he returns his draft value.
Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
13 Jaxson Dart | Giants
Age: 22.7 | ADP: Undrafted
Consistency Rank: 13
1st Half: 17 / 2nd Half: 9
| Great Games | Good Games | Bust Games |
| 21% | 50% | 29% |
The brightest fantasy spot in the 2025 rookie class was Jaxson Dart’s play for the Giants this season. Once Dart took over the starting role at QB in New York, things were pretty great for fantasy, finishing as a top-10 QB in seven of his 12 starts and putting up 20+ fantasy points in each of those games. The cheat code for Dart’s fantasy success was his work on the ground, where he averaged 41 rushing yards per game in his starts, the 5th-best rushing mark among rookie QBs ever. Dart got things done through the air as well, where he finished tied for 4th in fantasy points per dropback among QBs with 200+ dropbacks. The only QBs who finished with higher fantasy points per dropback were Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Brock Purdy, so there’s pretty good company.
Heading into 2026, there will be plenty of changes for the Giants with John Harbaugh taking over as Head Coach in New York. With any luck, Dart should be getting his main WR back in Malik Nabers and RB Cam Skattebo returning from injury, though it may take them a bit to get back up to full speed. Fantasy managers will have to decide exactly how high the ceiling for Dart will be in 2026, with a full season as the Giants’ starter on the way and the rushing upside that creates fantasy goodness on full display.
14 Sam Darnold | Seahawks
Age: 28.6 | ADP: Undrafted
Consistency Rank: 27
1st Half: 17 / 2nd Half: 32
|
Great Games |
Good Games | Bust Games |
| 12% | 24% |
47% |
There were plenty of questions around Sam Darnold’s move from Minnesota to Seattle this offseason, but the QB answered all those questions by following up his best season in 2024 with another great season in 2025. After a flat, terrible start to his career, the last two years have been nothing but great for Darnold. Over the last two seasons combined, Darnold is tied for the 5th-most passing TDs (60), 2nd-most yards per pass attempt (8.2), and is 3rd in passing yards behind only Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford. For fantasy in 2025, Darnold was better during his first nine games, averaging about 40 passing yards and an extra TD per game than he did in the back half of the year.
While Darnold was great for the Seahawks, he’s a perfect example of a player whose true value to the NFL doesn’t really translate to the fantasy game, mainly due to his lack of running. Looking ahead to 2026, there is expected to be a change at Offensive Coordinator with Klint Kubiak being considered for multiple Head Coach openings in the league. With a new play caller in Seattle, any uncertainty around what Darnold could mean for a fantasy roster going forward could keep him as a true streaming option yet again next season.
15 Jordan Love | Packers
Age: 27.2 | ADP: 13.02 / QB17
Consistency Rank: 22
1st Half: 14 / 2nd Half: 28
|
Great Games |
Good Games | Bust Games |
| 13% | 27% |
53% |
The hopes for a real bounce-back season for Jordan Love didn’t materialize in 2025. Since finishing as the QB5 in 2023, Love has struggled to really be a consistent fantasy option for fantasy managers. Over the last two seasons, Love has been one of the least consistent fantasy QBs, finishing with 20+ fantasy points in just 23% of his games. What’s encouraging is that the underlying metrics at least point to a productive passer, with Love ranking 1st in percentage of 20+ air-yard attempts (14%), 6th in passer rating, 7th in completion percentage over expectation, and 4th in pressure-to-sack ratio.
Moving forward, if Love is going to return to being a real fantasy-relevant QB, the big difference fantasy managers will need to see is an uptick in passing TDs since he hasn’t surpassed 30 TDs in the last two years. The WR room could really look different in Green Bay heading into 2026, with one of his favorite TD targets in Romeo Doubs needing a new contract and the team still waiting on the emergence of first-round pick Matthew Golden. Overall, Love should still be a late-round option unless something major changes in the Packers’ offense heading into 2026.
Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
16 Jacoby Brissett | Cardinals
Age: 33.1 | ADP: Undrafted
Consistency Rank: 21
1st Half: 23 / 2nd Half: 15
|
Great Games |
Good Games | Bust Games |
| 0% | 29% |
21% |
Number 16 gets us into the category of the “other guys” at QB, starting with the streaming option of the year in Jacoby Brissett. After taking over the starting role in Week 6 for the Cardinals, Brissett strung together nine consecutive top-12 QB finishes, becoming just the 7th QB to put together that type of fantasy streak since 2019. Whether or not Brissett will get a chance to follow up on his great 2025 is still to be seen with plenty of change coming in Arizona, but it’s unlikely fantasy managers can be confident asking “Where’s the Beef?” when it comes to their QB selection next year.
18 Daniel Jones | Colts
Age: 28.6 | ADP: Undrafted
Consistency Rank: 14
1st Half: 12 / 2nd Half: 24
| Great Games | Good Games | Bust Games |
| 8% | 38% |
23% |
A real bummer to the end of the season for Daniel Jones kind of overshadows the good he really brought to fantasy lineups for most of the season in 2025. Jones was a top-12 QB in six of his first eight games this season, putting him as the QB6 over that stretch while averaging 20.4 fantasy points per game. While Jones was healthy, he led all QBs in completion percentage when under pressure (59%) and passer rating when under pressure. Unfortunately, things really dropped off for Jones and the Colts down the stretch of the season, and his torn Achilles really creates more questions than answers for what 2026 will look like for both the team and the QB. There is a chance that Jones returns to Indianapolis to try and recapture the great start to 2025, but fantasy managers should be taking the “wait and see” approach ahead of draft season.
Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
19 Bryce Young | Panthers
Age: 24.4 | ADP: Undrafted
Consistency Rank: 19
1st Half: 31 / 2nd Half: 11
|
Great Games |
Good Games | Bust Games |
| 6% | 19% |
56% |
There were real signs of life from the former number one overall pick in Bryce Young this season. The Carolina QB took steps forward in completion percentage, TD passes, and rushing attempts yet again, but it was pretty hard to predict for fantasy-relevant weeks. Young did display the accuracy that pushed him to be a high draft prospect, finishing 1st in percentage of “off-target” throws and tied for 5th in adjusted completion percentage. The big gripe for fantasy success, though, is that there weren’t enough down-the-field throws to give the big plays a mostly pocket QB needs to push him into the fantasy-relevant arena.
While 2025 was encouraging for Young’s future overall, it’s likely that the Panthers QB never really jumps into that elite category for fantasy that a pocket QB needs to hit to be a real difference-maker for fantasy rosters.
20 Lamar Jackson | Ravens
Age: 29.0 | ADP: 2.09 / QB2
Consistency Rank: 16
1st Half: 3 / 2nd Half: 25
| Great Games | Good Games | Bust Games |
| 23% | 46% |
46% |
Major changes are coming to Baltimore and Lamar Jackson after a really disappointing 2025 season. Jackson started the season looking like the MVP-caliber player in 2025, but lost more than a month to injury and was never really the same for fantasy managers after that. As a passer, Jackson was still one of the most valuable assets for fantasy, finishing with 40% of his pass attempts traveling 10+ air yards and 9% of his passes being “end zone attempt” – the highest rate in the league. Heading into 2026, fantasy managers will have to make an early decision on what the new-look Ravens will mean for Jackson and offense in Baltimore, with a discount on draft price probably not likely based on what we’ve seen him do in the past.
21 C.J. Stroud | Texans
Age: 24.2 | ADP: 11.06 / QB14
Consistency Rank: 24
1st Half: 26 / 2nd Half: 19
|
Great Games |
Good Games | Bust Games |
| 7% | 21% |
64% |
As good as the Texans were in 2025, CJ Stroud was maybe one of the least usable fantasy QBs on a very good team in recent memory. Stroud saw declines in fantasy points per game and passing yards per game this season, all while only finishing as a top-12 QB just three times on the year. Over the last two seasons, Stroud has struggled to give fantasy managers the real high-end performances that are needed from a pocket QB, scoring 20+ fantasy points in just 13% of his games. With major changes unlikely in Houston, Stroud should enter 2026 as nothing more than a low-end QB2 who is just a streaming option on most rosters.
Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
23 Brock Purdy | 49ers
Age: 26.0 | ADP: 10.07 / QB13
Consistency Rank: 7
1st Half: 19 (2 games) / 2nd Half: 5
|
Great Games |
Good Games | Bust Games |
| 33% | 33% |
22% |
Despite missing most of the first half of the season, Brock Purdy really put together a nice back-end of 2025 for fantasy rosters. After returning from injury in Week 11, Purdy finished as a top-6 QB four of his seven games, including the QB5, QB4, and QB1 finishes during the fantasy playoffs. Purdy has been an efficiency monster in the 49ers offense since taking over as starter, sitting with a 6.2% TD rate through his first 49 career games – the 4th-best since 2000. Looking forward, it’s likely Purdy gets pushed to the late rounds again in 2026, but the 49ers will likely need to add something to the WR room to really make fantasy managers excited for him to be their QB1 heading into next season.
29 Joe Burrow | Bengals
Age: 29.1 | ADP: 4.04 / QB5
Consistency Rank: 17
1st Half: 35 (2 games) / 2nd Half: 7
|
Great Games |
Good Games | Bust Games |
| 13% | 50% |
38% |
The sadness that was Joe Burrow’s 2025 season has him sitting at QB29 for 2025. All of the hopes for this high-powered Bengals offense, paired with a terrible defense, came crashing down when Burrow not only started slow, finishing as the QB28 and QB30 in his first two games, but then missed nine games due to injury. When Burrow returned to the field, he finished as a top-12 QB in five of the final six games of the season, but by that point, the damage was done for fantasy managers. As we approach 2026, the big question for fantasy managers will be exactly how high they decide to invest in Burrow and the Bengals offense again to take the risk on what could be an elite QB for fantasy.
34 Jayden Daniels | Commanders
Age: 25.0 | ADP: 3.12 / QB4
Consistency Rank: 20
1st Half: 15 / 2nd Half: n/a
| Great Games | Good Games | Bust Games |
| 0% | 29% | 14% |
After an epic QB5 finish as a rookie, Jayden Daniels just made fantasy managers’ seasons go upside down in 2025. Daniels only played in seven games this season due to injury, and when he was on the field, he only really helped fantasy rosters by finishing as the QB6 in Week 6. Washington will have a new play-caller in 2026, with Kliff Kingsbury heading out of town and David Blough taking over as Offensive Coordinator for the Commanders, so that will only add to the uncertainty around one of the more exciting QBs to have on a fantasy roster next season. The weapons around Daniels are also up in the air, with Deebo Samuel’s contract void after 2025 and only one RB under contract as we head into the offseason (BILL!). While the temptation might be there to jump back on the Daniels bandwagon given the high-end success we’ve seen when he was on the field consistently, there’s certainly plenty of risk to be assessed before investing in the QB again for 2026.