Most fantasy football managers don't deviate wildly from the quarterback they drafted when constructing their Week 1 lineups.
In your typical fantasy league, you start one quarterback, and unless the scoring system creates a severe advantage for the position, you're either drafting a stud or waiting as long as possible to fill that spot.
Of course, with the rise in superflex and two-quarterback fantasy formats, the opportunity to start a second slinger makes acing your fantasy QB weekly lineup decisions much more important for the modern game.
With this in mind, we'll keep an open mind when considering the best starts and the possible sit options for these Week 1 QB rankings.
Scroll onward to digest our full breakdown of the quarterback position for the opening week of the 2025 fantasy season.
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Fantasy QB Rankings Week 1: Who to start, sit at quarterback
These rankings are based on four-point passing TD scoring and were updated on Sept. 2.
| Rk | Tr | Quarterback | TM | OPP |
| 1 | 1 | Jalen Hurts | PHI | DAL |
| 2 | 1 | Joe Burrow | CIN | @CLE |
| 3 | 1 | Jayden Daniels | WAS | NYG |
| 4 | 2 | Lamar Jackson | BAL | @BUF |
| 5 | 2 | Josh Allen | BUF | BAL |
| 6 | 3 | Baker Mayfield | TB | @ATL |
| 7 | 3 | Jordan Love | GB | DET |
| 8 | 3 | Patrick Mahomes | KC | LAC |
| 9 | 3 | Kyler Murray | ARI | @NO |
| 10 | 4 | Bo Nix | DEN | TEN |
| 11 | 4 | Brock Purdy | SF | @SEA |
| 12 | 4 | Drake Maye | NE | LV |
| 13 | 4 | Trevor Lawrence | JAX | CAR |
| 14 | 4 | Dak Prescott | DAL | @PHI |
| 15 | 5 | Jared Goff | DET | @GB |
| 16 | 5 | J.J. McCarthy | MIN | @CHI |
| 17 | 5 | Justin Herbert | LAC | KC |
| 18 | 6 | Caleb Williams | CHI | MIN |
| 19 | 6 | Matthew Stafford | LAR | HOU |
| 20 | 6 | Tua Tagovailoa | MIA | @IND |
| 21 | 6 | C.J. Stroud | HOU | @LAR |
| 22 | 6 | Bryce Young | CAR | @JAX |
| 23 | 7 | Daniel Jones | IND | MIA |
| 24 | 7 | Michael Penix Jr. | ATL | TB |
| 25 | 7 | Geno Smith | LV | @NE |
| 26 | 8 | Justin Fields | NYJ | PIT |
| 27 | 8 | Aaron Rodgers | PIT | @NYJ |
| 28 | 8 | Sam Darnold | SEA | SF |
| 29 | 8 | Cam Ward | TEN | @DEN |
| 30 | 8 | Russell Wilson | NYG | @WAS |
| 31 | 8 | Spencer Rattler | NO | ARI |
| 32 | 8 | Joe Flacco | CLE | CIN |
| 33 | 9 | Tyler Shough | NO | ARI |
| 34 | 9 | Dillon Gabriel | CLE | CIN |
| 35 | 10 | Jaxson Dart | NYG | @WAS |
| 36 | 10 | Anthony Richardson | IND | MIA |
| 37 | 10 | Jimmy Garoppolo | LAR | HOU |
| 38 | 10 | Jalen Milroe | SEA | SF |
| 39 | 10 | Tyrod Taylor | NYJ | PIT |
| 40 | 10 | Shedeur Sanders | CLE | CIN |
Go here for our full group of fantasy football weekly rankings.
Who are the best fantasy QBs for Week 1?
Jalen Hurts, at home, against a Dallas Cowboys defense that just traded away star pass-rusher Micah Parsons looks primed to lead all of fantasy in scoring. The vibes will be humming for the defending Super Bowl champs.
This nudges him ahead of a few other big names. Two of those stars are facing each other: While they're still strong QB1 fantasy options this week, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson -- the consensus top two quarterbacks selected in most fantasy drafts -- face tough defensive matchups that temporarily limit their ceilings.
A slippery playing surface of GrassMaster hybrid grass-turf marred the NFL's last tip to Brazil's Arena Corinthians. The 2024 Sao Paulo setback might cloud the Chiefs vs. Chargers matchup. I'm more willing to bet on Patrick Mahomes than Justin Herbert, even with the Chiefs losing WR Rashee Rice to suspension.
Luckily, plenty of alternatives to Herbert remain in play. (Don't drop him unless it's a shallow league, though.)
I was tempted to list a typically cheesy NFC North quarterback up here but want to save him for the Week 1 QB sleepers section below. Keep reading for that quarterback who's ready to pop off immediately.
Read our Week 1 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em for more QB player analysis.
Who are the best fantasy QBs waiver pickups Week 1?
Recommending to pick up a quarterback in Week 1 of your fantasy league chiefly pertains to those in leagues where drafting your starter wasn't that important -- a one-quarterback lineup, for example.
- Did you wait and get stuck with someone like CJ Stroud as your QB1? Scoop up Daniel Jones and swap him in to snag some extra rushing points.
- As you'll read later on, believe in the new Trevor Lawrence ... again. I promise. This time it's for real. Definitely 😬 ....
- If you're cycling QBs and your league passed on the previously injured Matthew Stafford, tuck him away as your second quarterback.
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Who are the best fantasy QB sleepers and superflex plays for Week 1?
We'll highlight some of the top starting QB sleeper picks who could help in leagues where you're simply streaming your one starter or who would get an extra boost in superflex leagues.
- Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers will pester a Detroit Lions defense in transition after Aaron Glenn's departure from the DC position.
- A date with the New Orleans Saints' defense on their indoor turf should allow the Arizona Cardinals' Kyler Murray to pile up fantasy points on the ground. Fade the noise on K1's poor history versus Brandon Staley defenses.
- I'm backing Bo Nix (DEN vs. TEN) and Brock Purdy (SF @ SEA) as strong borderline QB starts. I wouldn't scoff at playing Dak Prescott for the Cowboys' garbage-time possibilities against the Eagles.
For the superflex players who are digging deep for a QB2 -- or those who winged it at QB and are already willing to stream:
- Drake Maye was a popular preseason sleeper for the improved offensive line and receiving corps, plus the possibility that he'll serve as a primary runner more often. A Week 1 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders should slot him within the top 10 QBs at weekend's end.
- Trevor Lawrence's home-road splits that tilt toward his trips away from the Jacksonville Jaguars' digs should be ignored. The Jags have a sizable trench matchup advantage over the Panthers, and the new offense installed by Liam Coen should enjoy a dazzling debut.
- Daniel Jones at home against a sieve-like Dolphins defense? Yes, it's the ideal one-week play -- if you need to do that sort of thing. Of course, the Colts' offensive setup is much better than most think, which could give Jones many top-15 weekly fantasy finishes this season.