In this piece, I highlight quarterbacks who stand out in our large suite of analytical fantasy tools, most specifically, our FantasyLabs Player Models. While the models are built for DFS contests, this is an all-purpose fantasy article with actionable information for all formats.
As news breaks throughout the week and we adjust our projections (powered by Sean Koerner), player ratings in our Player Models will change as the projections change. For updates, visit the models directly.
And don’t forget about the tools that FantasyLabs has to offer, like our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 150 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Top NFL DFS Quarterback Picks in the FantasyLabs Models
On DraftKings, there are three quarterbacks near the top of the individual Sean Koerner, Chris Raybon, Cash Game, and Tournament Player Models.
- Josh Allen
- Justin Fields
- Daniel Jones
We’ll discuss why these three are popping in our models, as well as take a look at some other quarterbacks.
Top Model NFL DFS Quarterback Picks
Josh Allen ($8,500 DraftKings, $9,200 FanDuel): Buffalo Bills (-8) at Cleveland Browns (49.5 total)
Josh Allen’s elbow didn’t appear to slow him down from a DraftKings perspective, as he was still able to put up 25.6 DraftKings points in Buffalo’s loss to Minnesota last week. It wasn’t Allen’s best game from a real-life perspective. As he had one touchdown to three total turnovers. He lost a fumble that gave Minnesota life when the game was over, and he threw a game-sealing interception in overtime.
However, for DFS purposes, I don’t care if Allen throws ten interceptions if it’s going to lead to a good fantasy performance. In Allen’s four games with multiple turnovers, he’s put up 33,48, 19.62, 26.8, and 25.6 DraftKings points. One of the most promising signs was that his elbow injury didn’t lead to a down-tick in his ground game usage. He carried the ball six times for 84 yards.
Allen’s outlook was originally looking grim this week as Buffalo was preparing to play in a couple of feet of snow. However, the game was moved indoors to Detroit, which is prime condition for a quarterback of Allen’s nature. Coupling the dome with this putrid Cleveland pass defense, Allen may be in for a big game.
The Browns rank in the bottom eight in yards per attempt allowed, yards per completion, touchdown rate, and passing points allowed per attempt. Allen should be on everyone’s radar, even in the most difficult matchup, so he’s squarely in play when that matchup is in his favor.
Allen is the top quarterback in Sean Koerner’s Pro Model and our Cash Game Model.
Justin Fields ($7,600 DraftKings, $8,700 FanDuel): Chicago Bears (+3) at Atlanta Falcons (49.5 total)
Jalen Hurts took the league by storm to start the year, but it’s been Justin Fields with some jaw-dropping performances as of late. Fields broke his streak of increasing DraftKings point performances, as he couldn’t do it for the seventh straight game. To be fair, a 45.72-point performance was tough to beat, so we’ll settle for his 43.38-point game against Detroit.
Fields continued to dazzle last week, scoring four total touchdowns. Once again, he wasn’t forced to use his arm too much, racking up 167 yards and two touchdowns on only 20 attempts. His legs were leaned on again as he carried the ball 13 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns. His explosiveness is impressive, as he was able to rip off another 60+ yard touchdown.
We always knew Fields was capable as a runner, but this recent uptick through the air has boosted his DraftKings value. We know he can scramble and score touchdowns with his legs, but if he can continue to throw for multiple touchdowns through the air, his price will climb to be up there with the likes of Allen, Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes.
Fields goes from one carvable defense to another, as Atlanta ranks in the bottom six in pressure rate, completion rate, yards per attempt, and passing points allowed.
He’s the top quarterback in our Tournament Model.
Daniel Jones ($5,700 DraftKings, $7,800 FanDuel): New York Giants (-3) vs. Detroit Lions (45 total)
Despite a middling box score, Daniel Jones put up his third-best fantasy performance of the season. He attempted merely 17 passes, throwing for 197 yards and two touchdowns. He added 24 yards on the ground, which was a nice cherry on top. Jones isn’t the same guy who tucks it and runs consistently, but he still has some rushing upside in there. He ran for 79 yards and 68 yards in Weeks 3 and 4, and he ran for 107 yards and a touchdown a few weeks ago against Jacksonville.
Jones really needs those outlier games on the ground to become of use, as he’s only topped 20 DraftKings points twice all season, both coming in games with 1+ scores on the ground. He hasn’t thrown for more than 217 yards in any game this season and just has eight passing touchdowns on the year.
If there was ever a time for Jones to break out, it’s now. It’s hard to expect Jones to drop back more than he has been, but his efficiency could spike. The Lions are allowing the most rushing yards per game to opposing quarterbacks and yards per attempt. We just saw Justin Fields run for 147 yards on Detroit last week, while Jalen Hurts (90), Geno Smith (49), and even Aaron Rodgers (40) have seen some success against Detroit with their legs.
Jones is the top quarterback in Chris Raybon’s Pro Model this week.
Other Notable NFL DFS Quarterback Picks
Lamar Jackson ($8,400 DraftKings, $8,400 FanDuel): Baltimore Ravens (-13) vs. Carolina Panthers (41.5 total)
Lamar Jackson is still a dominant fantasy quarterback in our eyes, but he’s only topped 20 DraftKings points once since Week 3. He has faced a handful of capable defenses, but Jackson is someone whose talent usually trumps matchup. The Baltimore receiver room is in rough shape, with their top receiver in Rashod Bateman on IR for the year. Mark Andrews has a solid shot to play after logging a limited practice on Friday.
If Andrews is out, Jackson’s pass-catchers will be really thin. Carolina gave up some yards to Marcus Mariota on the ground last week, so Jackson could surely do the same. It’s hard to see Jackson accessing his full ceiling without Andrews, but he will be low-owned and has some cheap stacking options.
Jackson is a great tournament option.
Jalen Hurts ($8,200 DraftKings, $8,800 FanDuel): Philadelphia Eagles (-7) at Indianapolis Colts (45.5 total)
It feels as if the public is dying to play Jalen Hurts every week, so it’s exciting to see him projecting for low ownership. Philadelphia is coming off their first loss of the year, where Hurts was able to muster 22.8 DraftKings points. Hurts isn’t running as much anymore, as he has less than 30 rushing yards in four straight games. However, we know the rushing production is in there, and he’s more than capable of finding the end zone multiple times with his legs.
The Colts are a middling defense, so the matchup is nothing to write home about. The important notes are that we’re getting a guy of Hurts’ caliber at low ownership in a matchup that isn’t necessarily difficult.
Lock and load.
Kirk Cousins ($6,100 DraftKings, $7,600 FanDuel): Minnesota Vikings (+1.5) vs. Dallas Cowboys (48 total)
Kirk Cousins threw for 300 yards for the first time all season, as he totaled 357 in the road win over the Bills. You’d have hoped for more than 20.48 DraftKings points, but Kirk was only able to find the end zone once and threw two interceptions. He got stuffed on a quarterback sneak late in the fourth quarter, which would have made his box score look quite different.
This matchup against the Cowboys is one of the most exciting of the week, but it may be a difficult matchup for Cousins. Dallas leads the NFL in pressure rate and ranks third in rate of quarterback hits per dropback. When these teams matched up last year, Cousins threw for merely 184 yards and one touchdown. Cousins makes sense in potential game stacks, as this game boasts one of the highest totals on the main slate.
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