Fantasy Football QB1 Candidates: 5 Quarterbacks Who Could Dethrone Lamar Jackson in 2025

July 21, 2025

Joey's top five quarterbacks who could dethrone Lamar Jackson as the fantasy football QB1. Top quarterback candidates include Jalen Hurts and more.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson finished as the overall QB1 last season behind an incredible fantasy campaign. He averaged a whopping 25.6 fantasy points per game and was one of just two players to score over 400 PPR fantasy points on the season. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase was the other (403 PPR fantasy points). 

However, finishing as the overall QB1 again is not in Jackson's favor. A quarterback hasn't repeated as the top fantasy quarterback since Josh Allen did it in 2020 and 2021. Before that, Drew Brees was the last to do so during the 2011 and 2012 seasons. That means there's a strong chance we have a new QB1 finisher in 2025. 

So, who are the top candidates to dethrone Jackson as the QB1? Let's dive in and find out. 

Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

If any quarterback were to dethrone Jackson as the fantasy QB1 this season, it would be Allen. The Bills quarterback has finished as the overall QB1 in three of the past five seasons (2020, 2021, and 2023) and as the overall QB2 in the two years he didn't finish at the top (2022 and 2024). Last year, the MVP fell just short of his second straight QB1 finish, totaling 49.4 fewer fantasy points than the Baltimore signal-caller. 

However, there's a strong chance he regains that top spot again in 2025. Allen's potential as both a passer and runner gives him a higher ceiling each week than most quarterbacks. He has rushed for over 500 yards and scored double-digit touchdowns on the ground in back-to-back seasons while throwing for at least 4,300 yards in four of the past five years. 

Most games with 300+ Passing and 0 turnovers?

Josh Allen (15) pic.twitter.com/hHETvetrOG

— BillsMuse (@BillsMusee) July 11, 2025

Therefore, fantasy managers can't go wrong with him at the top of drafts. He is usually the first quarterback selected with a consensus 24 ADP, and it's almost a guarantee the three-time Pro Bowler will finish as a top fantasy option once again. Given that no quarterback has scored more total touchdowns than Allen (215) since 2020, he is the likely quarterback to dethrone Jackson as the QB1. 

Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Although Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has never finished as the overall QB1 in fantasy before, his rushing upside could help him reach that mark in 2025. Hurts has rushed for over 600 yards and at least 10 touchdowns in four straight seasons, including a 630-yard, 14-touchdown rush effort across 15 games last year. 

Hurts came close to a QB1 finish during the 2023 season, in which he finished as the overall QB2. He threw for a career-high 3,858 yards and 23 touchdowns while rushing for 605 yards and 15 touchdowns in 17 games. However, he still finished with 38.8 fewer fantasy points than the QB1 Allen that year. 

His best opportunity to finish as the overall QB1 actually came the season prior in 2022. He averaged a whopping 25.6 fantasy points per game that year, which ranked first among all quarterbacks. If the Eagles quarterback hadn't missed two games due to a shoulder injury later in the season, he would have finished as the overall QB1 over Patrick Mahomes. 

In 4 Point Passing Fantasy Leagues,
Jalen Hurts belongs in the same tier as Allen, Lamar & Daniels

From 2022-2024
💥9.61 FPPG Rushing (1st)
💥1,995 Rush Yards (3rd)
💥42 Rush TDs (1st)

🤝 Jalen led the NFL in Highest Deep Passing EPA/Play as well🚀pic.twitter.com/ZIJw9EzaJw https://t.co/UbpMR3KrLX

— Dynasty Dad (@DynastyDadFF) July 5, 2025

We all know that Hurts is a top fantasy quarterback. He has averaged over 21 fantasy points in three straight seasons and has two top-3 quarterback finishes during the span. The key for him to finish as that top fantasy quarterback, though, is an increase in his passing numbers. He only threw for 2,903 yards and 18 touchdowns last year, which contributed to his QB6 points per game finish (21.3). 

If he can increase his passing numbers to around 3,900 yards and 25 touchdowns while also running for upward of 600 yards and 11 touchdowns, a QB1 finish is certainly attainable for the Eagles quarterback. Hurts will have every opportunity to reach those marks in 2025 on an elite Philadelphia offense. 

Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders 

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels exceeded all expectations in his rookie campaign. He threw for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns, ran for 891 yards and six touchdowns, and led the Commanders to the NFC Championship. Those strong numbers helped Daniels finish as the overall QB5 in his first season. 

After going later in 2024 fantasy football drafts, Daniels turned out to be one of the biggest steals at the quarterback position. He averaged 21.5 fantasy points per game (QB5) and finished as a top-12 fantasy quarterback in 12 of his 15 complete games. A big reason for his fantasy dominance was his rushing. 

Daniels rushed for over 40 yards in 10 of 17 contests last year, and his 891 rush yards ranked second among all quarterbacks. Only Jackson rushed for more yards (915) in 2024. With the 24-year-old now entering his second NFL season, the potential is there for him to finish as the overall QB1 in fantasy. 

There's a chance his passing numbers uptick in Year 2, and his legs should continue to be a major factor for him. Some fantasy managers are concerned that the Washington offense could regress slightly after exceeding expectations last season. However, Daniels will remain a strong QB1 option throughout the year, with the possibility of finishing as the top fantasy quarterback in 2025. 

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs 

There's no doubt that Mahomes has not been a solid QB1 option for fantasy managers in recent years. He finished as the overall QB8 in 2023 and the overall QB11 in 2024. Last season, the veteran was almost unstartable in most weeks, as he finished outside the top 12 at the quarterback position in 10 of 16 contests. 

While Mahomes' rushing numbers have stayed the same throughout his career, it's been his passing numbers that have taken a drastic hit in recent years. After throwing for over 4,700 yards and at least 37 touchdowns in three straight seasons from 2020 to 2022, the two-time MVP has averaged just 4,056 pass yards and 26.5 pass touchdowns over the last two years. 

Still, Mahomes is more than capable of putting together an overall QB1 fantasy season. He has done it twice in the past (in 2018 and 2022) and is, after all, the best quarterback in the NFL. If he wants to reach that third QB1 finish, though, he likely has to throw for over 5,000 yards with at least 40 passing touchdowns. 

Year 9 with QB1 🤯 @PatrickMahomes pic.twitter.com/h4w87nTAV3

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 7, 2025

Since Mahomes has never rushed for more than 400 yards in a season, most of his fantasy points have to come through the air. In both seasons, he finished as the overall QB1, throwing for over 5,000 yards and 40 touchdowns. Coincidentally, that's the only two times the Chiefs quarterback has thrown for those two numbers in his career. 

So, the eight-year veteran has to reach those passing stats at the very least to dethrone Jackson as the overall QB1. Given Mahomes will have the best receiving core of his career in 2025, we shouldn't completely overlook the 29-year-old from finishing that high in fantasy this season. 

Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is definitely a long shot to finish as the overall QB1 this season. He hasn't rushed for over 260 yards in his career, and that limited rushing could make it hard for him to finish with the most fantasy points at the position. Even after throwing for 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns last year, Burrow still finished below Jackson and Allen in fantasy.

However, things could not have played out better for Burrow's fantasy value this season. Both Chase and Tee Higgins were re-signed, and the Cincinnati defense could be even worse than it was last year. Akeem Davis-Gaither and Germaine Pratt left in free agency, first-round pick Shemar Stewart has yet to sign his rookie deal, and 2024 sack leader Trey Hendrickson is prepared to hold out until he gets a new contract. 

With the Bengals not improving on the defensive side, they could find themselves in more shootouts in 2025. If that's the case, Burrow has a slight chance to finish as the overall QB1 this year. He could throw for over 5,000 yards and 45 touchdowns, which would put him in serious contention to finish as the top fantasy quarterback. 

We have certainly seen how difficult it is for pocket passers to finish as the QB1 over the past few years. Therefore, Burrow will need to have a career year to even have a shot at finishing as the top overall quarterback. With two elite pass catchers and a lackluster defense, it's not totally out of the question. 

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