Early 2025 Fantasy Football Breakouts: Quarterback

With the Super Bowl in the rearview mirror, it is officially the 2025 fantasy football draft season. While the landscape across the league is subject to change significantly throughout free agency and the NFL Draft, it’s never too early to get a head start on prepping for your draft.

While three of the usual suspects in Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow finished as the top three fantasy quarterbacks, rookie Jayden Daniels came in fourth after being drafted in the late rounds during draft season. Other severely underdrafted top-10 finishers included Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and Bo Nix.

Having a top-10 quarterback is pivotal to fantasy success. Whether you opt to draft one early or to chase upside in the late rounds is up to personal preference as both strategies can work, but you need to have your eyes on the right target if using the latter. These six quarterbacks have high-end upside in 2025 and can be targeted later as potential breakouts.

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Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears

The 2024 No. 1 overall pick had an up-and-down rookie season. He showed flashes, but overall, the consistency was not there for Caleb Williams. He glided to a QB16 finish in fantasy. 

Fast forward to Year 2, and Williams already has to change offensive systems after a complete coaching staff overhaul. Former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is at the helm, and it is only going to greatly benefit Williams.

According to FantasyPros Draft Wizard, Williams is currently going as the QB16 overall, which is on par with his 2024 finish. In Johnson’s system, which led Jared Goff to a QB6 finish this past season, everything is in place for a second-year jump.

Cam Ward, QB, Prospect

Rookie quarterbacks can be hit or miss in fantasy, as seen with last year’s class. Cam Ward is currently projected to be the top overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and although there is no guarantee he will go first, he will likely go top five. 

"I think he is the most pro ready of any quarterback in this draft class."@nfldraftscout speaks highly of Cam Ward's potential heading into the 2025 draft 📈 pic.twitter.com/3WkTzRjwN3

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) February 11, 2025

No matter where he lands, Ward has a Jayden Daniels-like ceiling. While he does not offer the rushing upside to Daniels’ extent, he has a cannon of an arm and could make a major impact in the league from Year 1. Keep him on your fantasy radar as a rookie.

Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots

After starting 11 games as a rookie, Drake Maye finished as the QB23 overall. He is currently being drafted as the QB15, but a strong offseason for New England could catapult him into top-10 territory.

Report: NFL Insiders are Saying 'Wait to Have Your Doors Blown Off' by the Offense Josh McDaniels Has Prepared for Drake Maye pic.twitter.com/dHr5e9dE7p

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) February 4, 2025

The Patriots have the most cap space in the league coupled with four top-80 picks in the NFL Draft (4, 38, 69, 77). After bringing in a proven winner in head coach Mike Vrabel and a successful NFL coordinator in Josh McDaniels, Maye’s situation should be significantly improved from Year 1 to Year 2. His rushing ability makes him an even more intriguing quarterback option.

Michael Penix Jr., QB, Atlanta Falcons

Michael Penix Jr. only started the final three games of the season for Atlanta, but the team is expected to move on from Kirk Cousins this offseason with Penix slated to step in as the franchise quarterback. 

Penix improved in each game, with his final game of the season concluding in a 312-yard, two-touchdown performance with an added rushing touchdown. He is currently graded outside of the top 22 quarterbacks in 2025 ADP, meaning he can be a late-round dart throw with significant potential. Atlanta’s offense is littered with weapons such as Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts, and one more offseason of work should allow Penix to take a Year 2 jump.

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Trevor Lawrence had a forgettable 2024 campaign, marred by injuries and inconsistent play. He finished as the QB27 after starting just 10 games with an 11:7 TD-to-interception ratio. Lawrence was viewed as the future of the league after a QB8 finish and a playoff win in 2022, but his 2023 and 2024 campaigns were nowhere near as efficient.

Jacksonville cleaned house this offseason, bringing in former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Liam Coen to be the head coach. This pairing, time to get healthy, and another year of chemistry with standout receiver Brian Thomas Jr. will catapult Lawrence back into top-end quarterback territory. He is currently going as QB21, making him a great late-round candidate with a top-10 upside.

Justin Fields, QB, Free Agent

It is still too early to say where Justin Fields will play in 2025 after what may end up being a one-year pit stop in Pittsburgh, as the former first-rounder is set to become a free agent in March.

Fields continues to show flashes both as a passer and runner and now as a winner as he led Pittsburgh to a 4-2 start over the first six games of the season. With several teams searching for a solution at quarterback and not enough proven talent to go around, it is hard to imagine Fields not getting another shot to start in 2025.

JUSTIN FIELDS TO Calvin Austin III. 55-YARD TD.

📺: #LACvsPIT on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/IyvXrXm1pU

— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024

His rushing upside gives him an elite fantasy ceiling, as seen with his QB7 finish in 2022. Fields is currently outside of the top 22 quarterbacks in FantasyPros 2025 ADP, but that will likely change should he land somewhere as a clear-cut starter. For now, he is worth a dart throw given he has high-end fantasy upside.

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