Redraft fantasy football leagues are months away, but it's never too soon to start thinking about dynasty and who you should be eyeing for your team.
Whether it's a startup or your fifth year in a league, you always need to be thinking about the future of your team and how you can improve.
In standard redraft leagues, age doesn't mean a thing unless you are focused on regression. In a dynasty league, age and skill level are imperative to have a successful roster. Offloading older players to teams in win-now mode could be the best thing for your team.
So who are the quarterbacks to target and fear in dynasty fantasy football this year? Is it Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen, or Kirk Cousins?
Before we get into the top 10 dynasty quarterback rankings, let's review the honorable mentions first.
15. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
14. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
13. Tua Tagovaiola, Miami Dolphins
12. Daniel Jones, New York Giants
11. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
So who ended up making it into the top 10 heading into the 2023 NFL Season and how does your team stack up compared to others?
Lamar Jackson cracks the top 10 for the first time since 2020
Lamar Jackson finally got his new contract signed and he is remaining with the Baltimore Ravens after a long battle with the front office that included a trade request.
This may seem a bit low for Jackson, who is one of the NFL's biggest threats when it comes to running quarterbacks. He's led the team in rushing for the last four years, averaging 935.5 yards per season and hitting 1,000 yards twice. That doesn't even include the 19 touchdowns on the ground he has scored.
So what lands him at number 10? To keep it simple: longevity. Lamar has only played in 12 games the last two seasons due to various injuries. In fact, he hasn't played every game in a season since 2018.
The Ravens quarterback finished as QB14 in 2022, QB15 in 2021, and QB10 in 2020. These are just average numbers for your starter because of his injury history.
If Lamar can finish the season playing all 17 games, he is easily a top 5 quarterback in the league. In 2019, he finished as QB1 after playing only 15 out of the 16 games that season.
Kyler Murray isn't dead in the water, yet
Many have already given up on Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals. Currently, they are projected to be the worst team in the NFL and because of a draft day trade with the Houston Texans, could finish with the top two picks in 2024.
After tearing his ACL late in the 2022 season, Kyler's stock has plummeted in fantasy football. Lamar is ranked at QB10 because of injuries, but understanding that this is a freak accident for Kyler is important.
In just four years, Kyler has only ranked outside the top 10 just once in his career, and that was last year after suffering the ACL tear in his 11th game of the season.
Before that, Murray finished as QB6 (2019), QB3 (2020), and QB10 (2021). He's had a career of top-10 finishes in the NFL which is tough to do considering the talent at quarterback right now.
How much should a dynasty team factor in the ACL? A lot to be truthful. But considering you're in a dynasty format and would have Kyler for years after this, I'd still hold stock in him. The QB is only 25 years old and even if he misses the first quarter of the season, can come back strong to finish.
If the Cardinals decide to move on in the offseason and trade him so they can draft one of the top two quarterbacks in 2024, he'd likely go to a team ready to win, making him more valuable.
Kirk Cousins' time could be coming to an end in Minnesota
Is a new contract season the thing that is going to get Kirk Cousins fired up this season and have one of his greatest seasons? At 34, Cousins is likely looking for one more deal that will net him starting time in the NFL.
The Vikings just drafted a potential replacement in the 2023 NFL Draft and also have Nuck Mullens waiting. However, this is still Kirk's job to lose for quite some time.
On arguably the best team in one of the weakest divisions, Cousins should be able to shine on the Vikings this season and put up some big numbers.
Kirk finished as QB6 last season after finishing as QB11 the previous two seasons. That's good stats from a quarterback that was originally drafted in the 4th round as a backup.
Don't hold onto him for too long though, Cousins is the oldest quarterback in these rankings and should only be kept if you are wanting to win now, rather than later.
Trevor Lawrence continues to get better in Jacksonville
Trevor Lawrence was touted as one of the best quarterback prospects since Andrew Luck in 2012, yet he hasn't cracked the upper echelon of the quarterback hierarchy.
After finishing as QB23 in his rookie season, Lawrence jumped up to QB8 to close out the 2022 season. That's a drastic jump to pair with a team that went from the first overall pick to a playoff-winning team.
Lawrence has what it takes to be a great quarterback. Jacksonville just helped him out this offseason by acquiring Calvin Ridley as well. Fantasy owners are hoping that will propel Lawrence into the top 5 in 2023.
Justin Fields takes a massive step on the field with new weapons
Is there a larger fantasy success story than what Justin Fields did in 2022? After finishing as QB31 his rookie season, he jumped up to QB7 last year largely due to his production on the ground.
Last year, Fields was able to be productive with no virtual threats in the passing game and a poor offensive line play. His passing numbers were not spectacular, but his 1,143 yards and 8 touchdowns were!
The Bears made getting weapons in the wide receiver room and acquired DJ Moore in a trade that sent the first overall pick to the Carolina Panthers. That pairs Moore with Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool, and others like draft pick Tyler Scott.
Chicago's offense should get moving this season and Fields should be the mastermind behind it all. If you are looking for a quarterback to build your dynasty around, he might be the future of the NFL for several seasons.
Justin Herbert leaps back up toward the top
Justin Herbert can be a scary move for many dynasty owners. So far, Herbert's career has been a little bit of a roller coaster. In 2020, he finished QB9, then jumped to QB2 in 2021, falling to QB11 last year.
If you follow that logic, Herbert should finish in the top-5 this season. He's never thrown for under 4,000 yards which is a boost to his numbers even with a rushing game from Austin Ekler. Having a running back that can catch and make a run for it helps the passing offense.
Last year was a career low for Herbert as injuries piled up on the team late in the season and Herbert was also dealing with rib issues.
In the 2023 NFL Draft, the Chargers selected WR Quentin Johnston to pair up with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. This should help Justin move the ball down the field and have a better outing in 2023.
At 25, Herbert is worth holding onto in dynasty. He'll be entering a contract year after next season, so it's likely the Chargers want to get something locked in this year.
Will Joe Cool crack the top of the NFL QB hierarchy?
There should be no question that Joe Burrow is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. Two straight years, Burrow finished in the top 10 and last year he finished as QB4 scoring 21.4 points per game.
Burrow needs just a little more to be considered in the elite category for fantasy football. One of the only remaining "old school traditional" quarterbacks that drop back and pass in the pocket, Burrow limits his fantasy production to just his arm.
The top three have the ability to move and get down the field if they wanted to. While Burrow could, he would rather make the play with his arm and move the ball down the field that way.
None of that is a bad thing. Having Joe as your quarterback in dynasty is a solid choice considering he is near the top each year. Forgetting about the season he tore his ACL, Burrow has always been in the top 10, which should increase his fantasy value.
Will Josh Allen return to fantasy greatness in 2023?
That question can seem a bit odd considering Josh Allen is considered to be one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL and is ranked No. 3 in dynasty.
But, after finishing as QB in 2020 and 2021, he took a step back in 2022 as QB2. Wow, what a huge drop!
Josh sits as QB3 heading into the dynasty season mostly due to who sits at QB1 and QB2. Both quarterbacks took a major step up and deserve the top two spots this year.
Josh is a very good quarterback and makes use of both his legs and a cannon of an arm. If it weren't for a late-season injury to his elbow on his throwing arm, the Bills likely would have finished in a much better spot.
Expect big things for Josh Allen in 2023. He's one of the only quarterbacks in the NFL that I'd be looking to make a deal to get on my team.
Jalen Hurts is a star in the NFL
When looking for a feel-good story in the NFL, look no further than Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles. After being benched in the National Championship for teammate Tua Tagovailoa (who went on to come back and win), Jalen transferred to make his own name at Oklahoma.
The former Heisman winner wasn't drafted in the first round like many others on this list. Jalen wasn't even expected to start in the NFL right away, and maybe never. He was drafted to sit behind Carson Wentz, who was traded the following season to the Indianapolis Colts.
Jalen got his chance the following year in 2021, but after the team finished 9-8, there were questions on whether he could still be the guy for Philly. But in 2022, former Offensive Coordinator Shane Steichen was able to turn him into an elite quarterback.
After last season, Jalen received a new contract that made him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. He is considered one of the elites in fantasy because of his work not only in the air but on the ground.
Finishing with 700+ yards and 10+ touchdowns on the ground in each of the last two years, he is considered one of the best running quarterbacks in the league.
Patrick Mahomes remains the top choice in fantasy
When you want to be the best, shouldn't you have the best? Patrick Mahomes is one of the best quarterbacks to play the game. After finishing as QB4 in 2020 and 2021, he jumped back to the top and finished as QB1 in 2022.
Scoring 25 points per game, primarily through the passing game, Mahomes just is on a different planet when it comes to football.
Last year, many thought he'd take a step back from QB4 because he lost his main weapon when Tyreek Hill was traded to the Miami Dolphins. Instead, there was a cast of receivers that took a step up. Of course, Travis Kelce was still his favorite target.
The pair connected for 110 completions, 1,338 yards, and 12 touchdowns on the year. That put Kelce as TE1 for the fifth time in the last seven seasons. He finished as TE2 for the other two years.
As much as I'd want to suggest doing whatever it takes to get Mahomes on your team this year, don't sell the entire farm to get him. Remember dynasty is a marathon, not a spring like a redraft league.
At the end of the season, whoever has Mahomes is likely in the playoffs. And if you can manage to pair him with Travis Kelce, you are likely winning a championship. At least that's what happened to me in a league last year.
