We are still months away from the start of the 2022 season, but there are always things happening in the NFL. Redraft leagues may not be on the horizon, but dynasty fantasy football startups certainly are. PFN’s fantasy team (Tommy Garrett and Jason Katz) has assembled our top 30 dynasty QB rankings. The following is an updated breakdown of the top 15 quarterbacks following the wild and crazy moves of free agency.
For a complete list of intriguing dynasty quarterbacks, make sure to check out our breakdowns in PFN’s top dynasty QB rankings.
2022 Dynasty QB Rankings | 1-5
Who are the top five quarterbacks in our top 15 2022 dynasty QB rankings?
1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
I still think Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in the NFL. But for fantasy, there’s no question it’s Josh Allen. The man averaged 24.2 fantasy points per game last season, which was 1.5 ppg better than the next signal-caller.
Allen is just 26 years old and has the highest weekly ceiling in fantasy. While he likely won’t rush for 763 yards ever again, Allen will probably add around 3-4 rushing ppg each week while sacrificing nothing through the air. He’s just as elite as they come.
2. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Here are Mahomes’ finishes in fantasy points per game (minimum eight games played) since taking over as the Chiefs’ starting quarterback in 2018: QB1, QB6, QB1, QB5.
With a shortage of weapons at his disposal following the Tyreek Hill trade, Mahomes can no longer challenge Allen for the top spot. With that said, the man is still just 27 years old as of September, and the Chiefs will eventually supply him with more weapons. Even if 2022 is a down year, Mahomes will be a top-five fantasy quarterback for the next decade.
3. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert followed up a breakout rookie campaign with an even better sophomore season. He averaged 22.6 ppg in 2021 and displayed overall QB1 upside. Herbert had games of 30, 35, and 42 fantasy points last year.
Herbert is just 24 years old. He should still have another 3-4 years of a productive Keenan Allen, and the Chargers locked up Mike Williams for the next three years. Herbert is the clear QB3 for me behind Allen and Mahomes.
4. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
At the end of the day, Kyler Murray will always look like a top fantasy quarterback. He scored 24.5 ppg in 2020 and 22.1 ppg in 2021. I fully expect him to be in that area once again.
All I can say is, buyer beware. I was a huge fan of Murray coming out of college and supported him for the past three seasons. I’ve had enough. He’s a fake QB1. In 2021, he scored 32.4% of his fantasy points in Weeks 1, 2, and 13. He averaged 19.1 ppg in his other 11 starts. Murray is still an excellent fantasy QB, but he’s overvalued in my book.
5. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
On the opposite side of things, we have Lamar Jackson coming off a disappointing, injury-riddled campaign. I’m expecting Jackson to bounce back in a big way. Last season, the Ravens were decimated by injury and forced to abandon their run-heavy approach. While I usually never support teams running more than they pass, the Ravens are different because of Jackson’s rushing prowess.
Jackson is just 25 years old. The Ravens are steadily improving the pass catchers around him. His top two running backs will return from injury, and an extension is coming. I anticipate Jackson climbing this list a bit by the end of the 2022 season.
2022 Dynasty QB Rankings | 6-10
Who are the next five quarterbacks in our top 15 2022 dynasty QB rankings?
6. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
The Deshaun Watson saga is finally moving toward a conclusion. We know where he will play for the foreseeable future (Cleveland), and we know he won’t be charged criminally for his alleged misconduct. The last domino to fall will be Watson’s inevitable suspension.
While the duration of Watson’s suspension heavily impacts his 2022 value, it doesn’t move the needle much on his dynasty value. He is a soon-to-be 27-year-old quarterback that was a consensus top-five option at the position before sitting out the 2021 season. Even if he’s suspended for all of 2022, he’ll be an elite QB1 entering the 2023 season.
7. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
If we were ranking quarterbacks based on “coolness,” Joe Burrow would be No. 1 — and it wouldn’t be close. All Burrow did in his sophomore season was come back from a torn ACL, lead the NFL in completion percentage, and take his team to the Super Bowl.
Burrow averaged 20.4 ppg and only finished as the QB9. At the same time, he displayed elite week-winning upside with back-to-back overall QB1 finishes in Weeks 16 and 17. He’s 25 years old with arguably the best WR duo in the NFL in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The Bengals spent 2022 free agency improving an offensive line that let Burrow get sacked more than any other QB last season. Yeah, the arrow is pointing up.
8. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott will be 29 years old this season. That’s not old for quarterbacks, but it is starting to get up there for mobile quarterbacks. Here’s the thing about Prescott, though: he’s not actually a mobile quarterback. His lack of rushing is terrible for his weekly fantasy value but good for extending his career.
I expect Prescott to remain at least a mid QB1 for most of his career. However, I do worry a bit about short-term production. The Cowboys are nominally in their Super Bowl window, but I think 2022 will be a bit of a competitive rebuild. They lost Amari Cooper, Cedrick Wilson Jr., and La’el Collins. This offense may get a little worse before it gets better.
9. Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers
I’m starting to get a little worried about Trey Lance. It’s now April, and the 49ers don’t appear to be any closer to moving on from Jimmy Garoppolo. They say Lance will start this season regardless, but I’m not so sure. After all, they were one dropped interception away from returning to the Super Bowl for the second time under Garoppolo.
At the same time, the 49ers drafted Lance third overall. They have to start him sooner rather than later. Even in limited action as a rookie, Lance displayed considerably fantasy upside, posting rushing totals of 41, 89, and 31 in his three appearances. This is a kid with overall QB1 weekly upside and someone who may be a consensus top-five QB by this time next year.
10. Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos
Russell Wilson is a challenging puzzle to solve. On the one hand, he’s one of the most efficient quarterbacks of all time. On the other hand, he’ll turn 34 years old this season. Wilson is not Michael Vick or Cam Newton, but I wouldn’t exactly call him a traditional pocket passer. Guys that play like Wilson are typically done by their mid-30s. Wilson is in his mid-30s.
With all that said, it’s hard not to be optimistic about Wilson in Denver. After a decade of imprisonment in Pete Carroll’s 1970s offense, Wilson now joins Nathaniel Hackett in Denver, a coach that worked with Aaron Rodgers. If the Broncos finally allow Wilson to attempt 35 passes a game, we could be looking at a QB with top-five upside throwing to Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy.
2022 Dynasty QB Rankings | 11-15
Who are the final five quarterbacks in our top 15 2022 dynasty QB rankings?
11. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
At 34 years old, it may feel strange to value Matthew Stafford over some of the younger guys. However, recent history has proven quarterbacks built like Stafford can play effectively well into their late 30s.
The Rams are in their Super Bowl window. They have the best wide receiver in football in Cooper Kupp and added Allen Robinson. The Rams also expect to bring back Odell Beckham Jr., although he won’t be available until likely November. Stafford was only the QB11 last season, but he averaged over 20 ppg. He is well capable of doing that again.
12. Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
Justin Fields struggled mightily as a rookie, but he did show some flashes. Fields battled injury throughout the 2021 season, but he finished as a QB1 in four of his last five starts.
With a new coaching staff and a new offense, we are banking on the Bears fully unlocking Fields’ rushing ability building a scheme designed for him to thrive.
13. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
If we knew with absolute certainty that Jalen Hurts would be a starting quarterback for the next decade, there’s no way he’d be this low. Hurts averaged 21 ppg last season and finished as the QB7. The Eagles made the playoffs, too.
The problem for Hurts is his poor completion rate (61.3%) and questionable decision-making at times. There’s a higher chance Hurts is not a starting quarterback in 3-4 years than anyone else in the top 15. If he takes a step forward in 2022 and proves he’s a starter in the NFL, he will jump in dynasty rankings.
14. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
I struggle to evaluate Trevor Lawrence. Rookie year production matters and Lawrence just had one of the worst rookie seasons in NFL history. At the same time, he and his entire team were sabotaged by his historically incompetent head coach. I genuinely believe Urban Meyer is the worst head coach in the history of the NFL.
The Jaguars have already shown an interest in getting Lawrence some better weapons. Say what you want about the Christian Kirk contract, but he will help Lawrence. Bringing in Evan Engram also shows me the Jaguars are trying to improve Lawrence’s pass catchers. The truth is, Lawrence has nowhere to go but up. This ranking suggests that’s exactly where Lawrence is headed.
15. Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
As much as I don’t buy Tua Tagovailoa as a future elite quarterback, I also don’t buy him ever getting benched. He should be starting in the NFL for the next decade.
All the Dolphins have done this offseason is surround Tagovailoa with weapons. They added Tyreek Hill, Wilson, and Chase Edmonds and bolstered the offensive line with Terron Armstead. Tagovailoa has everything he needs around him to succeed.