QB Forecasts

Jalen Hurts 2023 NFL Player Outlook: A Clear Top-Five Fantasy QB

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts enters the 2023 season as a clear top-five option at the position. Compared to the 24-year-old's 2021 campaign, Hurts increased his completion percentage by 4.8%, tacked on 557 passing yards, and added six passing touchdowns giving him a total of 22 last season. While that number may look unimpressive compared to other top-tier fantasy quarterbacks, the former Oklahoma Sonner added plenty of fantasy points through the ground game. Hurts finished No. 1 in rush attempts and rushing touchdowns last season while placing fourth in rushing yards. The addition of wide receiver A.J. Brown proved to be enough to boost Hurts into the top tier of fantasy quarterbacks, and the fourth-year signal-caller will have the same rotation of pass catchers as he did during his stellar 2022 campaign. After averaging the most fantasy points per game last season (25.6 points) Hurts enters 2023 as a clear top-five fantasy quarterback with the potential to finish No. 1 overall, even though the strength of schedule is much tougher than it was last year.

Richie James Jr. 2023 NFL Player Outlook: Former Giants WR In Mix of Mahomes’ Weapons

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Richie James Jr. is a part of the multiple weapons quarterback Patrick Mahomes will have at his disposal next season. The 27-year-old wide receiver signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal with the Chiefs this past offseason, and he will join the deep receiver room of the Super Bowl champions. Last season, James played for the New York Giants, and he recorded 57 catches for 569 yards and scored four touchdowns in 17 games for the NFC East team. He will get a few snaps for the Chiefs next season if everyone stays healthy, as the franchise will focus on giving more opportunities to Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Justyn Ross. James will occasionally play, and his speed could help him make some impact for the Mahomes-led offense. Given the situations he finds himself in, it would be hard for the former Giants receiver to get notable points for fantasy managers. James is mainly an option in deep-league and best ball formats.

Josh Allen 2022 Outlook: Reigning QB1 On Track To Defend Title

The magic that is Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen took the NFL by storm once again in 2021. Some might have thought the former first-round pick was due for regression after being named to the Pro Bowl, finishing second in MVP voting, and signing a big extension. Nope. Instead, he bounced back with 409 completions, 4,407 yards, 36 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. He remained a threat on the ground, adding 763 yards and six scores with his legs. Despite playing all 17 games, he still posted a career-low 26 sacks. Allen finished the year as the QB1 in fantasy. He led the league in fantasy points (417.6) and fantasy points per game (24.6) while finishing third in fantasy points per dropback (0.58). Although Allen didn't have the best advanced football metrics, he continued to show impressive strides as a passer. He made better decisions about when to throw, run, or even just take a sack. He also dismantled some of the best defenses in the league, securing the Bills' second consecutive AFC East title before taking Patrick Mahomes on an incredible back-and-forth clash in the AFC Championship. The Bills may have lost Cole Beasley and Emmanuel Sanders this offseason, but their absences coincide with the timely breakouts of Gabriel Davis and Dawson Knox as well as the key additions of Jamison Crowder and O.J. Howard in free agency. Buffalo also drafted running back James Cook, whose youth and prowess in the backfield should take additional pressure off Allen and allow the offense to thrive. He is the consensus QB1 heading into the 2022 fantasy football season and should be your top target if you're looking to draft a quarterback early.

Lamar Jackson 2023 Outlook: Passing Ceiling To Finally Be Unlocked?

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has been nothing short of a fantasy football superstar since becoming the starter, but his passing ceiling has been limited and his injury woes continue to pile up. However, the Ravens moved on from offensive coordinator Greg Roman and hired former University of Georgia OC Todd Monken with hopes of transforming the offense into a more pass-happy attack. The team added Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers this offseason and will get Rashod Bateman (foot) back to go along with one of the best tight ends in the NFL in Mark Andrews. All that said, this should be Jackson's best group of weapons of his career. His career-high 3,127 single-season passing yards is far below the average full-time starter in the NFL, so he'll look to inch closer to the 4,000-yard mark in 2023. His rushing upside could be reduced with fewer designed runs, but he'll continue to be one of the elite scramblers in the league. Ultimately, his passing efficiency and touchdown-upside could make up for slightly less rushing attempts, so he remains a sure-fire QB1 in fantasy football with top-five upside at the position.

Joe Burrow 2023 NFL Player Outlook: Record Contract Extension Coming?

2023 is the last year that the Cincinnati Bengals will have quarterback Joe Burrow on the cheap via his rookie deal. While it does seem inevitable a deal will get done between the two sides, how big will it be? Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Burrow should agree to a percentage of the salary each year to compensate for it going up. Nonetheless, the contract extension talks shouldn't impact Burrow's fantasy outlook for 2023. Even without a ton of rushing upside, Burrow should still be viewed as a Top 5-7 quarterback for fantasy in 2023. The Bengals ran 11 personnel at an 82% rate in 2022, good for the second-highest in the NFL. With Joe Mixon, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and some improvements on the offensive line, it's hard not to see the Bengals' offense as a potent foe for 2023. In the two seasons combined Burrow has averaged 4500+ passing yards and 34+ TD passes per year.