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Fantasy football (QB) sleepers, value picks for the middle rounds of 2025 drafts including Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy, Caleb Williams, Justin Fields, and Dak Prescott.
At RotoBaller HQ, we wrap up our middle-round value article series with the quarterback position. Once the elite options, such as Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels, and Jalen Hurts, are off the board, the tiers in quarterback rankings can drop.
However, there is plenty of value at quarterback, as we provide a few options among our middle-round fantasy football quarterback (QB) sleepers and draft values for the 2025 season. We take a look at Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy, Caleb Williams, Justin Fields, and Dak Prescott.
The middle rounds of fantasy drafts are essential, as fantasy managers use the middle of the draft to build around their core players. During the middle rounds, managers can afford to take some risks on a variety of different players, including forgotten veterans, players returning from injuries, or even skilled players with potential playing time concerns. It's essential to have at least a handful of sleeper targets at each position heading into your fantasy football drafts, no matter the format. Here are some quarterbacks for you to consider during the middle of the draft for this season.
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Drake Maye, QB, Fantasy Football Outlook
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is in a prime position to take a second-year leap forward. The Patriots have overhauled their offense by improving on the offensive line and bringing in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who has a history of success with young quarterbacks. Maye was a legitimate streaming option at quarterback in 2024.
He threw for 2,276 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 13 games. Most notably, Maye rushed for 421 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His athleticism could unlock a serious fantasy season, especially since Maye was already a legitimate streaming option as a rookie. Additionally, the Patriots added wide receiver Stefon Diggs in free agency and drafted running back TreVeyon Henderson.
I am very high on Drake Maye. I wrote in detail why back in February @RotoBaller https://t.co/RJuMNBuBMd
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) July 10, 2025
The offense could still use another weapon or two, but those two additions are enough to boost Maye's stock. In 2024, Maye displayed toughness in the pocket and immense talent. With the stability the Patriots appear to be attempting to provide, Maye could thrive. Year 2 is often the season in which quarterbacks take a massive leap forward.
There is certainly no reason to believe that Maye will take a step back this season. Maye is being drafted as a mid-range QB2, but do not expect him to finish there. RotoBaller has Maye ranked at QB15, which is slightly higher than his ADP. This is a player that many could be kicking themselves for passing on during fantasy draft season.
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Fantasy Football Outlook
Following an end-of-season meltdown, the Minnesota Vikings opted not to re-sign Sam Darnold to a new contract this offseason. As a result, the 2024 NFL Draft's 10th overall pick, J.J. McCarthy, is set to take over as Minnesota's QB1. McCarthy is a total wildcard, but the Vikings' regime is reportedly very bullish on his outlook.
One last reminder: J.J. McCarthy has elite rushing UPSIDE. In the best case scenario, he runs a lot and racks up huge points. His mobility also helps him extend plays. Still a huge fantasy steal in an elite offensive environment for a QB in the Vikings.https://t.co/Q3UHbbzI9w
— JohnJohn Analysis (@JohnJohnalytics) August 23, 2025
This makes sense as the team traded up to acquire him in the 2024 NFL Draft and was comfortable letting Darnold leave so McCarthy could start. For fantasy football purposes, quarterbacks have fared quite well in head coach Kevin O'Connell's system.
With a revamped offensive line and Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson at his disposal, McCarthy has plenty of ammunition to deliver a strong 2025 season.
He won't cost much in drafts and has a current Yahoo Fantasy ADP of 125 overall. McCarthy is worth a gamble later in single quarterback leagues and is a fine QB2 option in superflex drafts. Don't be surprised if McCarthy turns heads in his first season as the Vikings' starter.
Caleb Williams, QB, Fantasy Football Outlook
Caleb Williams' rookie season can look different depending on the lens through which you view it. On one hand, Chicago sported one of the worst offensive fronts in the league last season, with the former first-round pick getting sacked a league-leading 68 times – 16 more than the next quarterback on the list, C.J. Stroud.
On the other hand, Williams didn't do himself any favors, routinely holding onto the ball for too long and sporting a dreadful catchable-ball rate.
Big Year 2 ahead for Caleb Williams? 🔮 @Verizon pic.twitter.com/mC8Cw1hHWh
— NFL (@NFL) August 26, 2025
He compiled 3,541 yards and a 20:6 TD:INT ratio across 562 pass attempts (62.5% completion percentage), chipping in 489 scoreless rushing yards and fumbling 10 times, losing half of them.
Objectively, that's far superior to 2023 first overall selection Bryce Young's rookie campaign. Williams indeed bolstered a better arsenal of weaponry than Young, but that will be the case again with rookie wide receiver Luther Burden III and tight end Colston Loveland joining a loaded offense.
Additionally, Chicago sunk a ton of resources into their offensive line and hired one of the best offensive minds of recent years, Ben Johnson, as their head coach. DJ Moore is still in his prime, and some expect big things from second-year wideout Rome Odunze, while veteran tight end Cole Kmet should still be a fine contributor.
Things are looking up for Williams heading into 2025, but Chicago's success will hinge on his development as a starting quarterback. He garners sneaky rushing upside as RotoBaller's QB13.
Justin Fields, QB, Fantasy Football Outlook
Justin Fields began the 2024 season as the Pittsburgh Steelers' starting quarterback. Despite having a 4-2 record to open the season, Pittsburgh opted to bench Fields in favor of veteran Russell Wilson. Not surprisingly, Fields spurned Pittsburgh in free agency and opted to sign a two-year, $40 million deal with the New York Jets.
Whether he is the team's long-term quarterback solution is very much up in the air. For now, Fields is set to begin the 2025 season as New York's QB1. He showed last year that he still carries plenty of upside for fantasy football purposes.
Fields averaged 19.5 fantasy points per game in his six starts and finished as a QB1 three times during that span. This was largely due to his ability as a rusher.
Justin Fields has a path to finish as the overall QB1 in fantasy football this season. 🥇
He was a fantasy monster during his 2022 campaign with the Bears:
💨 1,143 rushing yards
💨 8 rushing TDs
💨 Finished as QB5 in points per gameFields’ rushing prowess provides a stable… pic.twitter.com/j0IjcjVjqP
— PFSN (@PFSN365) August 13, 2025
The new Jets regime has made it clear they want to fully incorporate Fields' legs into its offense. One thing working against Fields is that it's unclear how long a leash he'll have if the team starts losing games. One thing is for certain.
As long as Fields is starting, he's a viable fantasy football QB1. With a Yahoo Fantasy average ADP of 101 overall, Fields is an ideal target for managers who wait to draft a quarterback.
Dak Prescott, QB, Fantasy Football Outlook
Dak Prescott has oscillated between injured and healthy campaigns since 2019. In his healthy seasons (2019, 2021, and 2023), Dallas' long-time signal-caller averaged 20 fantasy points or better per game. 2022 and 2024 haven't been as fruitful.
Last year, in particular, was his lowest FPPG effort in his nine-year career. A sputtering early-season run game stunted the Dallas offense, and Prescott wasn't quite on the same page with star receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Not only should he and Lamb recapture their chemistry from previous seasons, but Dallas has added a deep threat they've lacked since Amari Cooper was traded. George Pickens was fourth in deep targets and 14th in yards per reception (15.3) among wide receivers last season in Pittsburgh.
Prescott isn't being treated as a QB1 as he has in past seasons, but is a safe late-round target for fantasy managers who pass on drafting the cream of the quarterback crop.
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