2020 quarterback prospects and potential fantasy football impact

There is a promising crop of quarterbacks hoping to make their marks on the NFL in 2020, but not all of them will get a chance to have immediate impact on a team. Some will be Week 1 starters, some will be thrust into the spotlight because of injuries or poor performance from those ahead of them, and others won’t see the field at all. We break down what signal callers are most likely to have the most fantasy football value.

Favorites

LSU’s Joe Burrow is the candidate with the most upside for the upcoming season. He’ll likely be the first signal caller off the board, as he’s expected to be selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the first overall pick. He’ll benefit from having an elite wideout in AJ Green manning the receiving corps, but will also have a capable second option in Tyler Boyd, who eclipsed 1,000 yards for the first time in his career last season. A versatile running back like Joe Mixon also helps Burrow’s case to remain the best in the field. He has a good chance to throw for the most touchdowns and yards.

Oregon’s Justin Herbert is projected to be the third quarterback off the board. Multiple factors will affect his 2020 fantasy production. The Indianapolis Colts or Los Angeles Chargers could start him if they miss out on high-profile free agents. Where Tua Tagovailoa is taken could also impact the role Herbert plays in his rookie season. If Herbert is given the right opportunity, he could be more valuable than Tagovailoa this year. He has the size, arm strength, and durability teams look for from a franchise quarterback.

Sleepers

Two sleepers to keep an eye on are Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts and Utah State’s Jordan Love. Quarterbacks with Hurts’ level of athleticism have gotten their fair share of criticism, but maybe Lamar Jackson’s MVP season will help Hurts make his case for a starting job. The chances of him starting for any squad early on in the year are slim to none, but if things go downhill, he could have his number called during the back half of the season. His dual-threat abilities give him a high ceiling in the right system.

Love has generated a ton of hype leading up to April, and there’s even some speculation that he could be a top 10 pick. Although he’s coming off an underwhelming year of college football, he has sensational arm talent and has shown he can make tons of difficult throws. He was a product of his environment during his final collegiate season, and many think he could thrive with quality players around him. He has a decent chance to jump Herbert on draft board, and if he does, he could be the second best fantasy quarterback in this rookie class.

Year two prospect

Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa could also be a candidate to be a top performer. However, the team that selects him could be wary about the hip injury that ended his college career prematurely. He’s expected to make a full recovery, but teams will be cautious with him since he has franchise player potential when healthy. His touch and accuracy is top-notch, but his injury history is cause for concern.