Assessing value with a tier-based approach is a way that many fantasy football managers like to draft. Visualizing rankings in both vertical and horizontal aspects can help managers make informed decisions in their fantasy drafts. Let’s examine where players sit in our fantasy football QB tiers for 2022.
If tier-based drafting is not something you want to do, then we also have our 2022 QB rankings available in list form.
Additionally, if you want to hear more on the players listed below, then be sure to check out PFN’s fantasy analysts Tommy Garrett and Jason Katz discussing the latest news from around the NFL on the PFN Premier Fantasy Football Podcast. Alternatively, if you want to ask questions directly to our analysts, check out our completely free Discord server.
Fantasy football QB tiers 2022
The tiers below are formed from a consensus ranking between PFN’s Fantasy Football Director Ben Rolfe, Senior Fantasy Analyst Tommy Garrett, and Fantasy Analyst Jason Katz. The scoring format for the tiers below is four-point per passing TD and is correct as of Aug. 17, 2022.
Tier 1
The top tiers are a little more congested in Superflex, where the whole QB position is congested. However, in 1QB, Allen has opened up some space between himself and the other elite fantasy options at the position. The benefit of drafting Allen is that he can provide fantasy points with both his arms and legs.
Allen has averaged over 4,400 yards and 36.5 touchdowns through the air in the past two seasons. Meanwhile, he has averaged more than 550 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns per season in his career. Allen’s floor and ceiling are so high that he has set himself apart in a tier of his own.
Tier 2
Justin Herbert
Patrick Mahomes
Lamar Jackson
Herbert’s start to his NFL career has been superb. He reached the heights of QB2 for fantasy in 2021 with more than 5,000 passing yards and 38 touchdowns. He has also found the end zone eight times with his legs in his career and is averaging 260 yards rushing per season.
Mahomes has been a top-four QB in each of the past two years and has never finished below seventh since becoming the starter. Things have changed in the offense around him, but Andy Reid is still his coach. There is a little more risk with Mahomes, but he should still be a solid top-five QB.
Jackson had his worst year since becoming a starter in 2021. Even then, he still averaged 20 points per game (ppg) as the QB8. Jackson’s rushing ability gives him both an exciting ceiling and a solid floor. The question is whether his 4.2 percent touchdown rate in 2021 was closer to what he will be going forward or the 6.9 and nine percent he posted in 2020 and 2019, respectively. The answer to that will determine his ceiling.
Tier 3
Jalen Hurts
Tom Brady
Kyler Murray
Dak Prescott
Russell Wilson
Joe Burrow
We saw how effective Hurts can be utilizing his legs last year. Repeating those 10 rushing touchdowns is a big ask, but that should be offset with further improvement in his passing game. We know what Brady is now as a fantasy asset in Tampa Bay. He is going to throw the ball around 40 times a game and is surrounded by talented pass catchers. He has an incredible floor and a top three ceiling.
Murray is getting headlines for all the wrong reasons, but he has proven he can be a valuable fantasy producer. Over the last two years, he has been averaging 22.6 ppg. However, there is talk of him running less, which limits his ceiling. Prescott has been an intriguing fantasy asset in the past three years. We saw his potential ceiling in a limited showing in 2020, and his floor has settled around 20 ppg.
Wilson had a down year in 2021, but the change of scenery to Denver should make a lot of difference. The potential limit to Wilson’s fantasy upside in 2022 is that the Broncos’ defense is strong and should keep things close. Burrow finished as a top-10 fantasy asset last year despite being on a slow-paced, conservative team. If that pace picks up, his ceiling is a potential top-five QB for fantasy.
Tier 4
Trey Lance
Aaron Rodgers
Matthew Stafford
Kirk Cousins
Lance is the true wildcard of this season. With his ability to make plays with his legs, he has Lamar Jackson’s MVP-season upside. His legs should also mean he has a solid floor. The concern is whether the 49ers will take the shackles off him or keep him running a contained offense. If they let him fly, his potential is off the scale.
Rodgers is coming off the back of averaging over 20 ppg in the past two years. The loss of Davante Adams has raised questions over the passing game. However, Rodgers should have a solid mid-QB2 floor, while his ceiling is a QB1 who can be got late in drafts in 1QB formats.
Stafford’s ceiling has been somewhat impacted by his elbow injury. If the issue persists into the season, we could see the Rams getting conservative late in games if they are leading. That will have an impact on the fantasy upside Stafford can produce. However, barring an injury setback, he should have a fairly secure floor.
Cousins’ has proven to have a secure floor for fantasy. Last season he did not score below 10 points in a single game. However, he has never averaged more than 19.1 ppg in his career. His ceiling is limited, but as a late-round high-floor option, he is a solid selection.
Tier 5
Derek Carr
Tua Tagovailoa
Justin Fields
Trevor Lawrence
Jameis Winston
This group is loaded with upside. Carr may have never averaged more than 17.9 ppg across a season, but this offense has a ton of potential. Tua has struggled through his first two years, but with Tyreek Hill in the fold, there is a huge potential ceiling to this offense.
It was a tough first season for Fields in Chicago. Luke Getsy as his new offensive coordinator brings plenty of upside, especially in a Bears team that should be trailing a lot in the second half. Lawrence also struggled as a rookie, but it was a very weird season in Jacksonville. Doug Pederson should bring stability, as well as having proven he can bring success with young QBs in the past. Winston was solid when on the field last year and has offensive improvements around him. He could be a very valuable option in Superflex at his current price.
QB fantasy football tiers 6-7
Tier 6
Ryan Tannehill, Daniel Jones, Matt Ryan, Deshaun Watson, Jared Goff, Mac Jones,
Tier 7
Zach Wilson, Carson Wentz, Davis Mills, Marcus Mariota, Baker Mayfield
Tier 8
Mitchell Trubisky, Geno Smith, Kenny Pickett, Drew Lock, Jacoby Brissett