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Five fantasy football quarterback values and sleepers to target in the middle rounds of 2023 drafts. Can these wide receivers surpass their ADP expectations?
Welcome RotoBallers to our mid-round quarterback draft values for 2023 fantasy football drafts. The middle of the fantasy draft is essential, and managers want to draft high-upside players that can provide a great return on value. Fantasy managers can afford to take some risks on various players, including forgotten veterans, players returning from injuries, or even skilled players with potential playing time concerns.
In this article, we look at some mid-round quarterbacks for you to consider drafting this season. Our editors have hand-picked these specific NFL players for your draft prep enjoyment. Usually only available to Premium subscribers, the outlooks below are meant to give you a taste of the in-depth analysis you receive with our industry-leading 2023 Draft Kit.
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Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars, Fantasy Football Outlook
After a turbulent rookie year, Trevor Lawrence lived up to the hype in 2022 showing why many scouts had him pegged as the best generational QB prospect to enter the NFL since Andrew Luck in 2012.
Jacksonville's offense features a talented array of skill players in Travis Etienne, Christian Kirk, Calvin Ridley, Zay Jones, and Evan Engram. Ridley missed all of 2022 but hopes to return to form as Lawrence's No. 1 target this fall.
The last time we saw a full season from Ridley was when he put up 90 receptions for 1,374 yards and 9 TDs in 2020. As a rising tide raises all ships, Trevor Lawrence's arrival in Jacksonville has certainly raised the Jaguars from relative obscurity to perennial favorites in the AFC South.
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins, Fantasy Football Outlook
Despite missing 4 games with injuries, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was sensational in 2022, where he averaged 8.9 YPA on top of throwing for 3,548 yards and 25 TDs. Miami was 8-5 with Tua and 1-4 without (including playoffs). The Dolphins recently picked up his 5th-year option, and Tagovailoa says he is fully healthy for 2023 after taking some Judo courses to prevent future concussions by better learning how to fall.
The Dolphins' offense has the fastest group of skill players in the league, with rookie RB Devon Achane alongside WRs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
As long as Tua is on the field, he should produce for fantasy in a Mike McDaniel offense that is a threat to score on any given play. However, it is worth noting that according to some medical experts: another concussion could very well end his season. Let's hope for all our sakes that doesn't happen.
Kirk Cousins, Vikings, Fantasy Football Outlook
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has finished no worse than the fantasy QB11 overall in each of his last three seasons, and he'll once again carry a low-end QB1 outlook into 2023. Minnesota has arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL in Justin Jefferson, a potential top-five tight end in T.J. Hockenson, and a shiny new first-round rookie in Jordan Addison. In Kevin O'Connell's first season with the team, Minnesota's offense jumped from No. 18 in pass rate in 2021 to No. 3 in 2022.
The identity of the team used to be "play defense and run the ball," but now it's a pass-happy offensive attack with some of the best weapons in the NFL. The Vikings' defense should still be one of the worst units in the league, meaning more shootouts and come-from-behind game conditions for Cousins.
His ceiling is limited by the lack of rushing upside many of the other quarterbacks possess, but he's been a consistent high-level passer and has shown no signs of slowing down just yet. In single-QB formats, targeting a signal-caller with a higher ceiling is ideal, but in two-QB or superflex leagues, he makes for a great QB2.
Anthony Richardson, Colts, Fantasy Football Outlook
Quarterback Anthony Richardson might not start for the Indianapolis Colts from the get-go of his rookie season, but the upside he carries is simply mouthwatering. At 6'4", 240 pounds and sporting 99th-percentile wheels (4.43 40-yard dash time), the dual-threat Richardson can't help but remind of a young Cam Newton.
The No. 4 overall pick in the NFL Draft holds PlayerProfiler's highest-ranked athleticism score of all time among 278 graded signal-callers. Richardson's arm is an obvious work in progress (54.7% completion rate in Florida career), but his legs should cement a strong fantasy floor while he's on the field.
The 21-year-old's gun-slinging potential also furnishes a sky-high ceiling. It's Richardson's rushing aptitude alone, though, which equips him with "cheat-code" QB1 upside when he gets under center in 2023.
Richardson denotes an extremely high-upside stash in the later rounds of 10-team leagues and a prime late-round QB prospect, but his rawness leaves him at risk of in-game benching. Fantasy managers need to ensure a viable backup or streaming strategy to guide them in case the rookie isn't in the saddle for Week 1 or proves unable to hone his accuracy issues during Year 1.
Geno Smith, Seahawks, Fantasy Football Outlook
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith had one of the most unexpected rises to fantasy football glory last season, finishing as the QB5 overall with 4,282 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
Naturally, fantasy football managers are concerned his season was just an outlier and he'll regress in 2023, but with an offensive skill group of DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Noah Fant, Kenneth Walker, and Zach Charbonnet -- he'll have plenty of margin for error.
There's little reason to disbelieve in Seattle's offense in a weak NFC, so Smith looks to be one of the best values in fantasy football drafts in the mid-QB2 range. All he needs to do is distribute the ball accurately and he'll be well within the QB1 mix for a second season in a row. If nothing else, he makes for a perfect second QB in superflex or two-QB formats.
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