With fantasy football managers becoming sharper by the day, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to implement the popular late-round quarterback strategy in drafts. Talented high-upside quarterbacks simply don’t slip into the double-digit rounds the way they used to.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t value to be found at the quarterback position, it just means we have to adjust our strategy a bit. If you miss out on the upper echelon of fantasy quarterbacks, you might have to implement a mid-round quarterback strategy to offset the rise in QB knowledge.
If you miss out on the fantasy football elites like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Jalen Hurts in the early rounds, these three QB2s (based on FantasyPros Expert Consensus Rankings) have the upside of delivering top-five production by the end of the season.
3 QB2s with Top-5 Fantasy Football Potential
J.J. McCarthy (QB – MIN)
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy enters his first full season as Minnesota’s starting quarterback after missing his rookie year due to injury. He steps into an offense that helped Sam Darnold post a Pro Bowl campaign in 2024 and has playmakers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones Sr. at his disposal.
McCarthy is currently ranked as the QB16 according to the FantasyPros Expert Consensus Rankings, but there’s reason to believe he could outplay those projections. His collegiate profile featured a 72.3% completion rate and above-average accuracy on the move.
Assuming the rookie-season knee injury didn’t drain his athleticism, he also has untapped potential as a rushing threat. He reportedly ran a 4.48 40-yard dash ahead of Michigan’s title-winning season in 2023 and could boost his floor with a handful of rushing yards per game.
Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell has been able to get the most out of every quarterback he has coached, and he is excited to work with his hand-picked successor to Kirk Cousins. That could lead to fantasy gold for those willing to take the risk on McCarthy in the later rounds of 2025 drafts.
Jordan Love (QB – GB)
After a breakout 2023 campaign that saw him finish as QB5, Love struggled with injuries and inconsistency in 2024, leading to a dip in production and a QB18 finish in points per game. Now fully recovered, Love is poised for a bounce-back year.
Love battled a sprained MCL, groin strain, and elbow issues last season, which limited his mobility and led to a more conservative offensive approach. The Packers shifted to a run-heavy scheme, ranking near the bottom of the league in pass attempts per game.
Despite the setbacks, Love remained efficient, posting top-10 marks in EPA per play and adjusted yards per attempt. With No. 23 overall pick Matthew Golden added to an offense already featuring Jayden Reed, Josh Jacobs, Tucker Kraft, and Romeo Doubs, Green Bay’s signal-caller could massively outproduce his current QB17 ranking.
Drake Maye (QB – NE)
After averaging over 16 fantasy points per game in 11 rookie starts, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye should benefit from a dramatically upgraded offensive environment. The Patriots added veteran wideout Stefon Diggs, rookie playmaker Kyle Williams, and pass-catching running back TreVeyon Henderson.
They also revamped the offensive line with Morgan Moses, Garrett Bradbury, and first-round tackle Will Campbell. These changes help address the protection issues that plagued Maye in 2024, when he was sacked 34 times and ranked 15th in the league despite limited starts.
Maye’s dual-threat skill set is what truly elevates his ceiling. He ranked ninth among quarterbacks in rushing yards and first in yards per carry (7.8) last season, giving him a reliable fantasy floor even when passing stats dip. With Josh McDaniels returning as offensive coordinator, expect a scheme tailored to Maye’s strengths with a heavy dose of play-action, RPOs, and designed rollouts.
At QB16 in the FantasyPros Expert Consensus, Maye is currently being drafted behind lower-upside veteran options like Justin Herbert, Jared Goff, and Dak Prescott. Take advantage now before his ADP starts to climb.
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