Outlook: Say what you will about his playoff failings, but Jackson enjoyed one of the best statistical seasons of all time last season, which says a lot, since he's already had two MVP awards. He surpassed 4,000 yards passing for the first time in his career, threw for a career best 41 touchdowns, and only tossed four picks. He did all this while continuing to be an elite runner, piling up 915 yards, his most since 2020. Not only was he incredibly consistent, but he's one of a handful of players that can single handedly win you a week all by himself.

Not only do all the important skill position players return, but the addition of veteran DeAndre Hopkins gives Jackson another reliable set of hands at the intermediate, and red zone level. With Derrick Henry forcing defenses to keep extra men in the box, expect Jackson to repeat his passing efficiency numbers. While it's going to be tough to repeat the 41 passing scores, Jackson should once again contend to be fantasy's best producer.

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Outlook: Any questions about injuries derailing his career were vehemently squashed, as Joe Cool enjoyed the best statistical season of his NFL career last season. Behind a league high 652 attempts, Burrow led the NFL with 4,918 yards passing, and 43 touchdowns, and cemented himself as fantasy's best pocket passer. More of a scrambler than runner, Burrow relies on a heavy volume (Cinci had the highest pass percentage in the NFL) and the best tandem of receivers in the game, to attack all levels of the field.

With the Bengals doing little to improve one of the worst defenses, Burrow and the offense are going to have to win plenty of shootouts, and while not great for real football, it's quite a boon for fantasy owners of any Bengals offensive player. Burrow is more focused and determined as ever and the metrics show he's only getting better. His 70.6 completion percentage was a career best, as was his 43-9 touchdown to inception ratio. As a pocket passer his upside and weekly consistently will be capped a bit, but he's the first QB off my board after Jackson, Allen, Daniels, and Hurts and someone I'd love to stack with Chase or Higgins.

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Outlook: Jayden Daniels burst onto the scene in 2024 with a rookie season for the ages, earning the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. The stat line is absurd: 3,513 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, and just 9 interceptions, paired with 891 rushing yards and 6 rushing scores. That's a dual-threat quarterback who can pile up elite numbers that rival Lamar Jackson.

Daniels finished as QB5 with 23.7 points per game, but 2025 Daniels looks even scarier. The Commanders added Deebo Samuel and rookie speedster Jaylin Lane to a receiving corps that already features Terry McLaurin.

Kliff Kingsbury's offense plays to Daniels' strengths -- quick decisions, deep shots, and plenty of designed runs. The O-line held steady last year, and with no major shakeups, he's got the protection to keep slinging it. Sure, his run-heavy style and slender frame carries some injury risk, but he stayed healthy in 2024, so it's not a huge red flag.

The guy's a fantasy superstar and a top-3 QB option, worth a third-round pick in single-QB leagues. He's got a real shot at being the QB1 overall -- don't sleep on him.

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Outlook: Jalen Hurts is the kind of quarterback who makes fantasy managers salivate and his 2024 season was another testament to his elite dual-threat status. Even with the Eagles having locked up their playoff spot thus allowing him to sit out the final two regular season games, Hurts racked up 2,903 passing yards, 18 passing touchdowns, and just 6 interceptions, posting a career-best 103.7 passer rating - good enough for fifth in the NFL. But the real fantasy gold continues to be on the ground: 630 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, placing him ninth among QBs in total points and sixth in points per game. Hurts just continues to be a guy who can salvage a so-so passing day with a monster rushing performance.

Looking at 2025, Hurts is locked in as a top-tier fantasy QB. The Eagles' offense didn't skip a beat in 2024, winning the Super Bowl and keeping the core intact with A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert all signed through at least next year. Saquon Barkley's presence only amplifies Hurts' play-action game, and with Nick Sirianni still calling the shots, this system is tailor-made for his strengths. Sure, his passing efficiency outside of play-action wasn't stellar, but who cares when he's piling up 14 rushing TDs? The floor is sky-high, and the ceiling - well, he's got QB1-overall potential if the Eagles let him loose.

Draft Hurts as a top-5 QB without hesitation. He's a prototypical blend of safe floor with explosive upside. Don't over-concern yourself with the occasional passing struggles - his legs more than make up for it.

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Outlook: Was Baker Mayfield's career-best season of 2024 the start to becoming one of the league's top signal callers? Or was 2024 simply one of those seasons that some QBs have (Blake Bortles anyone?) before turning back into the average quarterback they had always been? Those are two questions fantasy managers should ask themselves before investing QB1 draft capital on the former No.1 overall selection. It is enticing when you consider Mayfield is currently enjoying the most productive stretch of his career, as his six 300-plus-yard passing games in 2024 are one more than he had during the 2021 thru 2023 seasons combined. But he continues to turn the ball over in bunches. In a three-game stretch between Weeks 6 - 8 last year, he threw seven interceptions.

The Buccaneers continue to ensure that he has the weapons at his disposal. In March, they signed WR Chris Godwin to a three-year extension and followed that up in April with the selection of WR Emeka Egbuka during the NFL Draft. They will team with WR Mike Evans to provide Mayfield with one of the best pass-catching trios in the league. That's a definite plus for Mayfield.

I'm usually skeptical about the chances of a player with Mayfield's track record duplicating a career season, especially at 29 years old and playing with a first-time offensive coordinator like Mayfield will in 2025. He's viewed and being drafted as a QB1, and while he doesn't necessarily need another career season to validate that draft status, I'm not comfortable urging fantasy managers to target him as their QB1. If he ends up in that role for you, it will be vital that you have a solid team around him. Draft accordingly.

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Outlook: Widely considered the most talented player in the NFL, Mahomes' otherworldly ability hasn't translated into statistical excellence the past two seasons. In 2023, the two-time MVP passed for 4,183 yards, 27 TDs, and 14 INTs. Last season, those numbers dipped to 3,928 yards, 26 TDs, and 11 INTs. That's a far cry from Mahomes' most recent MVP campaign: 5,250 yards, 41 TDs, and 12 INTs in 2022. The good news is that the downturn in numbers doesn't have anything to do with age or erosion of ability.

Instead, the culprit is a general lack of talent around Mahomes. Aside from the reliable Travis Kelce, the Chiefs have struggled to find playmakers on the outside. A year ago, Xavier Worthy led the team's wideouts with 638 yards receiving. In 2023, Rashee Rice had a respectable 938 yards, but that was more than Justin Watson (460 yards) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (315) had combined as the second- and third-leading receivers.

Health was the biggest issue for the Chiefs' receiving corps in 2024. Rice appeared in just four games last season before suffering a knee injury, and newly signed Hollywood Brown was limited to two games after he injured his shoulder during the preseason. The Chiefs tried to fill in with veterans DeAndre Hopkins and JuJu Smith-Schuster, but at this stage of their respective careers they lacked the type of big-play ability that Rice and Brown would have offered.

The good news is that they're all healthy, and on paper, the foursome of Rice, Worthy, Brown, and Smith-Schuster is as deep a group of wideouts as Mahomes has had, even if there's no singular talent on the level of former Chief Tyreek Hill. Head coach Andy Reid has also talked about the need to get back to pushing the ball downfield this season after utilizing a lot of short passes in 2024. While not on the level of true dual threats like Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen, Mahomes remains a midrange QB1.

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Outlook: For the first time since 2020, his second year in the league, Murray started each of Arizona's games last season. It was a welcome sight after the former No. 1 overall pick missed six games in 2022 and nine more in 2023 after tearing the ACL in his right knee. Despite starting all 17 games, however, Murray put up middling numbers: 3,851 yards, 21 TDs, and 11 INTs through the air. He averaged a career-best 7.3 yards per carry, a sign that he had renewed confidence in his knee's stability, but he ran less than ever, posting a career-low 4.6 rushing attempts per game.

One of the big storylines entering last season was the arrival of a "true No. 1 receiver" in the form of Marvin Harrison Jr., the fourth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The results were disappointing. There were obvious communication errors throughout the season between Murray and Harrison, and the duo has reportedly spent extensive time working out together in Arizona during the offseason in an attempt to remedy their timing and execution issues.

Improved chemistry between the two, along with a better grasp of the offense following another offseason under third-year coordinator Drew Petzing, could go a long way toward pushing Murray into a higher echelon of NFL (and fantasy) quarterbacking. Entering his age-28 season, the diminutive QB claims to be in the best shape of his career and feeling great. That's all well and good for June, but his size is always a concern as he has tended to wear down over the course of 17 games.

Murray retains top-10 fantasy appeal due to his dual-threat skillset, though he's a notch or two below top mobile quarterbacks like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, and even Jayden Daniels.

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Outlook: There might not be much flash to his game, but Goff has been at the helm of one of the best offenses in the league for two-straight years. He's been a consistent top-10 fantasy option despite offering nothing as a runner and is blessed with not only an elite offensive line, but some of the best skill position players in the league. Detroit bombed people last season enroute to a 15-2 record, before the wheels fell off in the divisional playoff. It was there Goff showed some of the warts and limitations that often make him an underrated option.

Despite being a consistent winner and producer, Goff and this entire offense faces a massive question mark in 2025, as they get used to a different offensive leader, with mastermind Ben Johnson leaving to run the Bears. Goff and Johnson had a symbiotic relationship over the past few seasons. They combined to help Detroit's offense lead the NFL in points-per-game, yards-per-play, and touchdowns-per-game. Goff was 2nd in passing yards-per-game, despite being only 13th in pass attempts-per-game. The offense was efficient, but could also strike quickly. But losing Johnson is massive. John Morton, who has coached with Dan Campbell previously, and worked under Johnson in Detroit in 2022 will likely keep a majority of the scheme intact because it was literally built for Goff, but the in-game decision making and voice in the headset will be different. Look for Goff and the Lions to take a step back offensively, at least early, as they adjust to new leadership and a brutal schedule. A third-straight top ten finish is going to be tough to do, as he doesn't have the rushing upside to make up for any dips in passing production.

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Outlook: During Purdy's meteoric rise from Mr. Irrelevant to MVP candidate the recurring question was always how much was due to his talent and how much was due to being surrounded by elite playmakers and a dominant defense? Forced to play minus many of those stars a season ago, Purdy's numbers fell across the board, dropping from 4,280 yards and 31 TDs in 2023 to 3,864 yards and 20 TDs a year ago. Suffice to say, if you were inclined to view Purdy as a product of the system, last season did nothing to dissuade your misgivings.

The 49ers are not among the doubters, choosing to hand Purdy a five-year, $265 million extension as he was entering the final year of his rookie deal. They certainly hope they'll be getting the version of Purdy that finished fourth in MVP voting in 2023, and the return of key stars like Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) could go a long way toward making that a reality. There are still more question marks on that offense than in recent years, however, with Deebo Samuel gone, and McCaffrey, Aiyuk, and Trent Williams all coming back from injury filled seasons.

This is a big year for Purdy, and head coach Kyle Shanahan, who will be charged with getting the 49ers back to the playoffs amid a lot of roster turnover. Shanahan has shown repeatedly he knows how to run an offense, and he'll have had a full offseason to integrate the new pieces. If McCaffrey can stay healthy, that would be a huge difference maker. While there are absolutely some concerns for Purdy heading into 2025, the Iowa State alum looks like a low-end QB1 or strong QB2.

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Outlook: Dak Prescott's 2024 season was a tough one to watch. An injury sidelined him for the second half of the year, and even when he played, the numbers weren't pretty. He didn't throw more than two touchdown passes in any of his first eight games, hit 300+ yards in just two contests, and tossed multiple interceptions in half of his outings. The offensive line didn't do him any favors either - he was sacked at least twice in all but one game. Oh, and that goal line rushing upside we used to love? It's basically gone, with only four rushing touchdowns over his past four seasons combined.

However, looking ahead to 2025, there's hope. Prescott is expected to be ready for Week 1, though his mobility might take a hit early on as he recovers from that hamstring injury. The Cowboys have thrown significant resources at their offensive line, using early-round draft picks to rebuild what was once a strength. Plus, adding George Pickens gives Prescott a shiny new deep threat to pair with CeeDee Lamb. A better line and an upgraded receiving corps could spark a bounce-back, but the rushing decline and shaky efficiency he showed last year are red flags. If everything clicks, he's a low-end QB1; if not, he's a risky bet week to week.

Draft Prescott as a mid-tier QB2 with upside. He's got the tools to climb back into QB1 territory but understand that his best days are likely behind him despite this being the best offensive talent he's had around him since Amari Cooper left.

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Outlook: Everything has fallen into place for Williams and the Bears offense. No longer helmed by an inept coaching staff, Williams will have Ben Johnson whispering magic into his headset. The former Lions OC transformed another former first overall pick into an MVP candidate, and hopes to do the same with Williams, who flashed in 2024, but too often had a difficult time making routine plays. He took a historic amount of sacks (68), and never seemed to develop chemistry with his receivers, as his catchable ball rate (75%) was one of the lowest in the league. He simply must be better in the pocket, and throwing on schedule if he's going to be able to take a progressional leap. There are no excuses this year. The offensive line has been rebuilt, Chicago invested the 10th overall pick in shifty tight end Colston Loveland, and the franchise has made every roster and coaching staff move to help Williams.

Williams survived on raw ability last year as he was left out to dry by a clueless coaching staff. I believe in his talent, and Johnson is the perfect fit as head coach. If he can perfect his fundamentals, and play within the offense, he has the weapons, scheme, and running ability to flirt with the top-5. Chicago doesn't have a stable of backs like Detroit has, so look for Williams to sling it. As a fringe QB1, you can wait on Williams while loading up on other positions, and bank on his upside.

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