Early 2025 Fantasy Football Sleepers and Draft Targets - Quarterbacks

The Super Bowl has come and gone which means there is officially a wrap on the 2024 NFL season. All that means is that the 2025 fantasy football season has essentially begun. It is never too early to evaluate who we may be targeting during this fall's drafts.

Quarterback has been an interesting position to evaluate over the last few years. With running quarterbacks becoming prominent in the modern NFL, players such as Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Jayden Daniels have taken a stranglehold on the position in fantasy football. That leaves pocket passers lagging behind.

Even with running quarterbacks becoming so prominent, there are always a couple pocket passers who break out each season. When a player manages to throw for over 30 touchdowns and over 4,000 yards, they are generally pretty valuable for fantasy. Let's dive in and check out five potential sleepers and breakout quarterback options in 2025.

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1. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams is an easy choice for a breakout player in 2025. With the addition of new head coach Ben Johnson, the hope is that Williams can begin to ascend toward his true potential.

Williams' rookie season in 2024 left a lot to be desired. Many expected that with a wealth of weapons around him, Williams may have a rookie season akin to C.J. Stroud in 2023.

The fact in the matter is that NFL quarterbacks typically do not deliver for either fantasy or real life during their rookie season. Even Stroud was an average fantasy quarterback for most of his rookie season, save for a couple of boom games.

NFL quarterbacks tend to take large steps forward in their second and third seasons. Williams' talent is undeniable. He lacked an offensive mind this past season who could hone his talents and channel him into a solid structure. Johnson has worked wonders with Jared Goff in Detroit over the last few years and seems like the right man for the job.

Williams' stats were also not abysmal in 2024. He only posted a QBR of 46.7, but he did throw 20 touchdowns to just six interceptions. Most importantly for fantasy, Williams added 489 yards with his legs. Notably, Williams did not score a rushing touchdown this season.

With Rome Odunze ascending in the offense and DJ Moore still around, Williams has the weaponry necessary to take a step as a passer. If he can improve his passing touchdown count to 30, find the end zone with his legs a few times, and keep the interceptions low then he should be a solid fantasy quarterback in 2025.

Williams is likely to be drafted well behind the established fantasy quarterbacks making him a potential steal this season.

2. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Justin Herbert is entering year two of the Jim Harbaugh era in Los Angeles. Herbert finished as the QB12 this past season despite never surpassing 14.76 fantasy points through Week 7. Once the Chargers took the leash off their $52 million quarterback, he delivered.

Herbert was a viable starting option for most of the second half of the season. He is supremely talented and is currently lacking a true No. 1 wide receiver. Ladd McConkey was excellent as a rookie and Quentin Johnston had a nice season, but look for the Chargers to add someone this offseason.

With Harbaugh receiving another offseason to shape this roster to his liking, the Chargers should be true contenders this coming season. For them to reach those heights, Herbert will need to be and should be, excellent.

Herbert already has a 5,000-yard passing season under his belt. He may not reach those numbers in 2025, but look for him to surpass 4,000 passing yards this season and continue using his legs.

JUSTIN HERBERT THROWS ACROSS THE FIELD WHILE HANGING IN THE AIR, A SEAM FOR A TOUCHDOWN,

😱😱😱

HERBERT IS DEALING RIGHT NOW. PLAYING LIKE THE BEST QB IN THE LEAGUE.
pic.twitter.com/DK3vLQnVCu

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) November 18, 2024

3. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

Let's add another AFC West quarterback to the list. Bo Nix shined as a rookie, finishing as the QB7 in fantasy. It feels like there could be even more potential here. For Nix to have been this good as a rookie, he surely cannot have reached his maximum potential.

Much like Herbert, Nix delivered in 2024 without elite receiving options. Courtland Sutton was Nix's top target. While Sutton is a quality player, there is room for a stud wide receiver in this offense.

Perhaps Nix's best attribute this season was his ability to run. Nix padded his stats by rushing for 430 yards and four touchdowns. That is an excellent baseline if you are going to push for 30 passing touchdowns.

Keep in mind that the Broncos did not truly open up the playbook for Nix until about one month into the season. Nix was clearly suffering rookie growing pains prior to that point. However, his extensive college experience allowed him to overcome those challenges early.

The Broncos will surely add to their receiving corps and running back room this offseason. Adding to both will only continue to support Nix's development.

Perhaps the biggest draw to Nix is the fact that he will surely be drafted behind elite options at the position in 2025. He will likely settle in between Rounds 6 and 8 in most fantasy drafts. Grabbing a quarterback with legitimate top-five potential in that range is a steal. Nix should absolutely be on your radar in 2025.

the joker Bo Nix deserves pic.twitter.com/Q8DVTdD9kY

— Tyler🐴 (@HighAsTy) February 13, 2025

4. Drake Maye, New England Patriots

Drake Maye flashed stud potential in 2024. Despite playing behind a porous offensive line and with practically no wide receivers, Maye displayed considerable toughness and made excellent throws all year. Maye will need to cut back on the interceptions in 2025, but he posted a QBR of 58.6 in 2024, which was good for 17th in the league and better than fellow rookies Bo Nix and Caleb Williams.

Much like others on this list, Maye delivered with his legs in 2024 which made him a legitimate fantasy streamer this past season. Maye's 421 rushing yards came in just 13 games. The guy is a Justin Herbert-level athlete who should only continue to use his legs at a high level.

Insert Josh McDaniels as Maye's new offensive coordinator. Say what you will about McDaniels as a head coach, but the guy has never been unsuccessful as the Patriots' offensive coordinator. He guided Mac Jones to an excellent rookie season in 2021. Jones has not seen sustained success since.

With the year two jump looming for Maye, having a mind such as McDaniels in his ear feels like a perfect fit. Maye is unlikely to be drafted until the double-digit rounds this season, but he easily has top-ten upside for fantasy. If the Patriots can swing some massive moves along their offensive line and in their wide receiving corps, Maye could jump even higher.

Tetairoa McMillan is not Drake London. He's Drake London and Ladd McConkey put together.

Cutting knees on a⛔️sluggo-stop. No one in the NFL near his 6'5" size runs a triple break like this.

(Drake Maye could pen legends with this kid.) pic.twitter.com/ojHWCgiqQ1

— ZeeBee (@BellinoZee) February 13, 2025

5. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

Bryce Young looked like he finally enjoyed football again over the second half of 2024. He played with the utmost confidence and was a legitimate reason as to why the Panthers were in games and winning them. Young's five-touchdown season finale gives him plenty of momentum heading into 2025.

With Dave Canales entering his second season as head coach in Carolina, look for the offense to continue building around Young. With another weapon or two on the outside, and improvements to the offensive line, Young has a real shot to become a quality NFL starter this season.

For fantasy purposes, Young's path to stardom is tough. However, Young's propensity to run in 2024 provides hope. Young ran for 249 yards and six touchdowns in 14 games this past season. Touchdowns do not always repeat, but if he can continue running at a 300-yard pace, he can have fantasy value.

Young's physical profile does not paint him as a running quarterback, so time will tell if that actually comes to fruition. However, Young is an excellent dynasty stash or late-round flier in redraft. He is unlikely to be drafted anywhere close to a QB1 this season but he has a chance to be a quality streamer at minimum. If things break correctly, Young could have a true breakout season.

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