NFL Fantasy Football Redraft – Top-12 QB Rankings for 2022

DFS Army’s Gthom quickly breaks down the top-12 fantasy football quarterbacks for 2022, prior to the NFL Draft.

• RB rankings 1-6 and RB rankings 7-12
• WR rankings 1-6  and WR rankings 7-12
• TE rankings 1-6 and TE 7-12 rankings

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1. Josh Allen (QB) Buffalo Bills

The number one overall fantasy quarterback for two consecutive years, and he once again looks ready to repeat.

Allen is unique because he possesses gunslinger arm-talent, but utilizes his large athletic frame to run (and even sometimes punish defenders). No other quarterback has the floor/ceiling combination that Allen has. He can beat defenses in so many ways and he’s not a player that you can fully lock down.

The Bills have surrounded Allen with plenty of talented secondary players. Stefan Diggs leads the receiver group and needs no introduction. Diggs is an alpha wideout and is Allen’s number one target. From there we have the return of Gabriel Davis, a solid yet growing NFL prospect. Jamison Crowder was signed this offseason as well. A shifty slot-player like Crowder can revitalize the old Cole Beasley role. However, injuries have derailed Crowder in the past.

Tight end Dawson Knox was Allen’s go-to around the goal line in 2022. Knox caught 11 total touchdowns (including the playoffs) and he will likely be a staple for this team again. Devin Singletary and Zack Moss round out the running back group. Singletary seems to have elevated his game during last season and any further development would be welcomed. Moss is a prospect losing some steam with this coaching staff. Though he finds himself on the field quite a bit, he does little to improve this offense improve.

While the Bills did lose their offensive coordinator, their unit will likely remain the same under head coach Sean McDermott. Especially since the Bills elevated their passing game coordinator, Ken Dorsey, to the vacated position.

The Bills’ AFC East division remains competitive but Allen seems to be just fine when facing division rivals. In 2021 he finished with 22.61-FPPG, only two points lower than his season average within the same timeframe.

Through the 2020 – 2021 seasons Allen was able to score over 40 total touchdowns each time; that trend will continue barring injury. Allen remains the clear favorite quarterback heading into the 2022 fantasy football season.

2. Patrick Mahomes (QB) Kansas City Chiefs

Patrick Mahomes’ stock could be the lowest it has been since his first-year as a starter, and he comes in second on this list. This shift in outlook comes after Tyreek Hill was traded to the Miami Dolphins.

Understand this, the former MVP can blow every fantasy quarterback away. But unlike the previous years, his repertoire of weapons has taken a huge hit.

For the time being the top pass catcher in this offense is Travis Kelce. Kelce has been elite for many years and arguably one of the greatest tight ends to ever play.

At wide receiver there are new faces: JuJu Smith-Schuster comes in on a one-year deal and could become the breakout star he looked like in 2018. He is only 25, young for the NFL. Marquez Valdes-Scantling comes over from Green Bay and he will likely play the Tyreek Hill-lite role. Mecole Hardman remains as the WR3/gadget player, but does little to improve the offense.

The running back duo of Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Ronald Jones could prove to be helpful but there is some concern. Edwards-Helaire looks far removed from where he was selected in the NFL draft, but the Chiefs will lean on him to fill-in some of the target share. On the contrary, Jones could be the one with the most upside. Should CEH continue to struggle, or catch the injury bug again, Jones could take over the lead duties.

The Chiefs’ division is arguably the best division for fantasy football. All teams have established quarterbacks that can keep up during high scoring affairs and that is the secret formula to fantasy goodness.

Mahomes feels somewhat volatile in this ranking. Nevertheless he is an elite player with an elite skill set, that much cannot be denied. Unlike previous years where you could reach for Mahomes, 2022 may be the season where you do not want to.

Of course, I could be totally wrong and Mahomes could very easily… and once again… finish as the best overall quarterback in fantasy football.

3. Justin Herbert (QB) Los Angeles Chargers

Only Josh Allen averaged more fantasy points per game than Justin Herbert. The 24-year old undoubtedly broke out for fantasy in 2021. Now, pre-2022, he stands within the top tier of quarterbacks in fantasy football.

Herbert has the recipe to dominate fantasy once again. His head coach, Brandon Staley, has a gunslinger personality. Staley always puts pressure on defenses by scoring as many points as possible and by going for it on fourth-down, even when it seems impossible to convert.

The top offensive piece is none other than Austin Ekeler. While Ekeler may not be the fiercest runner, he elevates the Chargers’ passing game immensely. The familiar faces of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams will also return for the Chargers. Both of these receivers are well known in this offense and Herbert loves to look their way.

Newly acquired tight end, Gerald Everett, may provide further ammunition to an already lethal offense. Everett has not done much in the stats department, but his talent and athletic ability gives him an opportunity to shine with Herbert.

Herbert is the one-of-three AFC West quarterbacks listed on these rankings. Needless to say, this division will be one of the highest scoring. Herbert and co. will likely have to win a few divisional shootouts in order to make a playoff berth.

Herbert is a player you can start every single week, against any opponent. He finished 2021 with (1) 40-point fantasy outing and (4) 30-plus fantasy outings.

His ceiling potential is electric and departing your fantasy draft with Herbert could leave you with the number one quarterback in fantasy.

4. Kyler Murray (QB) Arizona Cardinals

Kyler Murray is a fantasy managers dream, but health has kept him from being an every week starter for fantasy managers. When healthy, Murray is an auto-start.

For the second year in a row we saw the former Oklahoma quarterback get injured and immediately become bashful about running. While he will always have great mobility, Murray’s passing ability continues to improve and that is why fantasy managers can remain bullish on Murray.

Teammate DeAndre Hopkins is a stud and easily a top receiver in the NFL. He played well with Murray in 2021 until he got hurt. Hopkins and Murray should continue to dominate this season. Hopefully Hopkins can keep himself healthy too.

From there, the receivers’ room becomes much more concerning. Rondale Moore will be a second-year player but as a rookie, he did not help this offense much (granted he was the WR4 at that time). Moore could easily grow into a more consistent role but we will need to see it to believe it. Antoine Wesley seems to be the final man in the trio. Wesley will also be a second-year player and must improve if he wants to elevate Murray.

The Cardinals’ front office did retain Zach Ertz, their tight end. This was greatly needed after seeing Christian Kirk, A.J. Green and Chase Edmonds move on this offseason. Ertz’s career breathed a breath of fresh air once he moved to Arizona. The tight end is solid for any quarterback given his deep experience and understanding of NFL offenses.

Looking at the NFC West division, we know that points are going to be scored and that will only trickle down to Murray. Six games in an offense-dominated division is something fantasy managers can look forward to.

Unlike Lamar Jackson, Murray has elite arm talent and elite rushing talent. He creates a floor/ceiling combination that is nearly unrivaled.

As the fourth quarterback in these rankings, he very easily could finish the season at the top of this list.

5. Lamar Jackson (QB) Baltimore Ravens

One of the most disappointing fantasy campaigns last season was from Lamar Jackson. When healthy, he averaged 21.08-FPPG but he also missed five games — six if you count the Week 14 game he left the first quarter of.

Marquise Brown, Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay are the receiving trio that Jackson is surrounded with. Brown started hot last season but ended the year with an eight-week stretch where he finished with less than 10 fantasy points. Rashod Bateman has a chance to take the next step for Baltimore. While many fantasy managers viewed him as a sleeper last season, he did not wow anyone. Finally, Duvernay is a quick slot player but does little for Jackson’s fantasy value.

Jackson’s best receiving option is tight end Mark Andrews. He is easily the most consistent receiver for Baltimore. Losing Andrews would devalue Jackson.

While the AFC North is always tough, Jackson seems to handle his division opponents pretty well historically. However we now have three elite quarterbacks within that division, meaning you could see even more offensive fireworks. Although Pittsburgh is missing a top-end quarterback, their defense is their team’s identity and they can make it difficult for Jackson.

Ultimately it is not the surrounding cast that elevates Jackson, nor is it his passing abilities. His rushing ability and rushing upside is what elevates the former Heisman Trophy winner. Running quarterbacks are pretty much a cheat code in fantasy football. The lack of Jackson’s passing attack usually keeps him from popping off as the QB1 overall.

If Jackson improves upon that lone flaw, he can easily be the most sought after fantasy quarterback.

6. Joe Burrow (QB) Cincinnati Bengals

2021 was a stellar sophomore year for Joe Burrow and that was coming off a major knee surgery. This upcoming season will bring high fantasy football expectations.

The former Heisman Trophy winner is surrounded by an organization that supports him, has provided elite weapons, and has a great head coach on their payroll.

Ja’Marr Chase is easily one of the top receivers in the league. Chase has the talent and opportunity to finish as the WR1 overall. Tee Higgins is another great weapon and he easily could be the WR1 in many NFL offenses, but he is the 1B here. Tyler Boyd is scrappy and dependable for Burrow as well, though he is not going to dominate for fantasy managers.

Running back Joe Mixon is another elite piece in this Cincy offense. He has the ability to be a three-down back: running efficiently and catching quick passes. Finally there is the newest addition, tight end Hayden Hurst. Hurst is not going to improve his quarterback directly, but he is a former first-round pick and he has the talent to help this offense.

The Bengals’ AFC division feels daunting since it features the Ravens, Browns, and Steelers. However last season Burrow was able to average 22.22-FPPG against his division opponents; for the entire season, he finished with 20.52-FPPG which helped him solidify the QB8 position overall.

Burrow really began to unlock his ceiling potential in Week 16 and 17, scoring 38.1 and 34.8-fantasy points respectively. Look for him to continue his development, become more consistent and even access his ceiling more often.

Burrow is the sixth quarterback on this list because you assume the aforementioned growth will take place. If it does, he easily could score the most fantasy points at the quarterback position. Without his growth he still remains a top-10 fantasy quarterback.

7. Tom Brady (QB) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Another fantasy football bargain last season was the NFL GOAT himself, Tom Brady. Brady finished as the QB3 overall with 22.75-FPPG. Consistency was one of his biggest traits, making him a coveted plug-and-play quarterback.

Of course Brady is surrounded by a very talented team. That continues to remain the same even after a few departures. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin are both incredible talents that elevate Brady’s ability. Hopefully Godwin can get back before missing too much time due to his long term injury. The Bucs also added Russell Gage who will make this trio one of the best in the NFL, once they are at full strength.

You also cannot forget about Rob Gronkowski who is noncommittal for 2022, but as long as Brady returns I would expect the same for Gronk. The duo of Brady plus Gronk uplifts the quarterback greatly. Finally, Leonard Fournette is also returning to Tampa. Lenny takes a lot of pressure off of Brady via the run and quick outlet passes.

Brady’s NFC South division remains a cake walk for the Bucs. The Saints, Panthers and Falcons all have huge question marks at their quarterback positions. The Bucs should cruise through the division 6-0 based on today’s outlook.

Age is the biggest factor for Brady, but in the end he possesses tremendous ability for consistency and upside. His elite floor-ceiling combination is what makes Brady the 7th ranked quarterback for this list.

He certainly has the potential to finish as the QB1 overall; however a top-5 finish overall is much more attainable and likely for the GOAT.

8. Dak Prescott (QB) Dallas Cowboys

Prescott was an interesting ownership experience for fantasy managers in 2021. The Cowboys’ quarterback had moments where we was electric for fantasy football, but there were also painful moments. Like when Prescott had a stretch where in four-of-five weeks he scored less than 12.5-fantasy points.

2022 looks to be a slight downgrade for Prescott and that would start with the walking papers served to Amari Cooper, the teams number one receiver in 2021. Of course CeeDee Lamb waits to commandeer the WR1-spot in this offense. Additionally, the talented Michael Gallup was resigned by Jerry and co., along with the addition of James Washington. Assuming Gallup gets healthy, this receiver group is still a strong group.

The tight end Dalton Schultz is also back and he seemingly was Dak’s safety net throughout the season. On the offensive line two starters were released and that could make things interesting for both Dak and the running game featuring Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard (the better of the two).

While there are legitimate question marks surrounding Prescott and this offense, they remain atop a weakened NFC East which keeps Dak’s stock boosted as a safe haven for early quarterbacks taken.

While it feels certain that Prescott will finish inside of the top-12 at quarterback, finishing as QB8 overall (based on these rankings) feels slightly volatile given the large changes around him. Nonetheless, he is an excellent option that can be started most weeks. The ceiling potential is what makes Dak the most attractive. With his big games comes week-winning fantasy production and that is always a premium.

9. Jalen Hurts (QB) Philadelphia Eagles

The biggest value at quarterback in 2021 was none other than Jalen Hurts. While Hurts was a tremendous value last season, in 2022 you will have to pay up if you want to secure him.

The appeal to Hurts is solely his running ability. 2021 was his first full season as a starting quarterback and he finished with 784 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. From the passing side, he was able to throw for 3,144 yards and 16 additional touchdowns. Hurts was the QB9 overall and averaged 21.41 fantasy points in 15 games.

On the contrary, his weapon arsenal was not the appeal of drafting Hurts. DeVonta Smith was the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner and was a big addition in the Eagles’ 2021 draft. While Smith’s NFL production was respectable for a rookie, it was not anything spectacular on a general basis. Jalen Reagor’s appeal has all but fizzled out. Raegor’s value continued to decline after a poor 2021 campaign, and declined further once Philly signed Zach Pascal from Indianapolis this offseason. Pascal, and the rest of the receivers, still do not boost the stock of Hurts.

At tight end, Dallas Goedert could be Hurts’ most consistent receiving weapon. While he is a great tight end, his presence on the field has not been good enough to elevate his quarterback. Additionally, the running back group does little to improve Hurts’ ability.

This offensive group could certainly improve as a whole though, especially DeVonta Smith. This is head coach Nick Sirianni’s second season with the Eagles and sometimes coaches need time to improve an organization.

Hurts could see his fantasy draft stock improve but it will require a first or second round pick at receiver. Keep an eye on the Eagles’ rookie selections.

While he has intriguing characteristics as a fantasy quarterback, Hurts’ team surrounding him could hold him back from moving up into the elite tiers at quarterback. Let Hurts come to you during fantasy draft-season, this is not a player you want to unnecessarily reach for. He is a great player though.

Leaving a fantasy football draft with Jalen Hurts does solidify your quarterback roster spot for the entire season. With his running ability he can be started any week, against any team; a rare thing to state about a fantasy quarterback.

10. Matthew Stafford (QB) Los Angeles Rams

The latest Super Bowl winning quarterback is back with LA, along with a well deserved extension. This Rams team is still good enough to go back-to-back which makes Stafford a strong option at quarterback.

Stafford is surrounded by well established team elements: a good offense with lethal weapons, a fortified defense and a great coaching staff. It also helps that LA’s division is one that requires offensive output in order to keep up. The NFC West is arguably the best division in the NFC.

Cooper Kupp is the anchor to Stafford’s optimism. Without Kupp (due to an unforeseen injuries), Stafford does lose significant value and likely becomes a week-to-week quarterback. Signing Allen Robinson is an intriguing addition to LA. Arob was a beacon of consistent PPR production in 2019 and 2020, but in 2021 the turdly Matt Nagy ruined his career trajectory. Los Angeles was a top-end landing spot for Arob. Van Jefferson rounds out the receiving trio. While Jefferson is a solid NFL vet he is nothing to write home about.

The zone running attack for LA has two talented running backs: Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson Jr. Those two will help open up the passing lanes for Stafford. Finally the tight end, Tyler Higbee, is a returning piece in this offense that creates some value, but he is not elite.

Out of the double-digit ranked quarterbacks on this list Stafford presents the least amount of risks for your fantasy football team. On the flip side, he possesses the lowest ceiling potential.

Stafford’s fantasy ceiling likely cannot exceed his 2021 production, however it is not out of the range of outcomes. He remains a strong quarterback that can be started nearly every week.

11. Russell Wilson (QB) Denver Broncos

To let Russ cook or not to cook? That is the question.

Question marks always surround quarterbacks transitioning to new teams, but Denver is an interesting opportunity for the one-time champ. With a new offensive minded head coach, Denver could look like an offensive force, something that has lied dormant since the departure of Peyton Manning.

The weapons around Wilson seems to bring the most optimism. Jerry Judy and Courtland Sutton have been begging to break out of receiver purgatory, both under performing their draft stock with the help of putrid quarterback play. Tight end Albert Okwuegbunam has a chance to step into the starting role and he should be ready for it. He showed promise as a receiving tight end in 2021 but played second-fiddle to the dearly departed Noah Fant.

Finally, Wilson should get relief with his running game as well. Sophomore Javonte Williams is one of the most sought after fantasy pieces for 2022 and for good reason since Melvin Gordon was given his walking papers.

Wilson also plays in the high octane AFC West which features the Chiefs, Chargers and Raiders. Scoring points will be a must if the Broncos want to come out of this division with at least a wild card birth.

Wilson has extreme talent but lately his fantasy output has not been on par. Looking at his passing yards / Rushing Yards / Total Touchdowns over the last few years you can see a huge decline in production in 2021: 4,110/342/34/ in 2019, 4,212/513/42 in 2020 and 3,113/183/27 last season. It is fair to point out that Wilson was injured a lot of the 2021 season and played through it. However the drop-off in production left fantasy managers with a sour taste in their mouth.

There are questions around Wilson’s talents, but he still remains a top-end quarterback for fantasy football until further notice. With that said, he does pose some risks but likely is an every-week starter for managers in 2022.

12. Deshaun Watson (QB) Cleveland Browns

The most infamous person on this list. Watson has a tremendous long term outlook, and dynasty managers should be hungry to acquire him. However for redraft leagues in 2022, Watson poses upside but not without risks.

Let’s start with the good. If you grab Watson in your redraft league, he has the ability to finish as the number one quarterback in all of fantasy football. Watson’s talent, plus the opportunity around him with Cleveland, may be enough to get the Browns to the Super Bowl.

The Browns have a great football team and they fortified their wide receiver room with Amari Cooper. I would also expect a bigger step forward for Donovan Peaples-Jones. Prior to the NFL draft Cleveland look like a complete team that lacked a quarterback. Watson will be an extremely coveted fantasy football player, but do not overpay at this point in the fantasy football offseason.

The ugly is that Watson is almost certainly going to miss time in the 2022 football season because of his off-the-field issues. The league’s personal conduct policy dictates that Watson will likely be suspended six games, but no official suspension has been levied as the NFL is still going through their investigation.

Even if the NFL suspends Watson, he could get through the 2022 season unscathed simply through the appeals process. Pretty unlikely that happens… But there is a chance.

One thing is for sure, Watson has extreme volatility within his redraft outlook. Grab him after the aforementioned quarterbacks until you get a clearer picture on his suspension timeline.

Without the suspension issues looming, Watson is a borderline Tier-1 quarterback.

Honorable Mention:

13. Trey Lance (QB) San Francisco 49ers

14. Aaron Rodgers (QB) Green Bay Packers

15. Kirk Cousins (QB) Minnesota Vikings

16. Derek Carr (QB) Las Vegas Raiders

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