The transition to the NFL is steepest for quarterbacks, and 2017 was brutal to the rookie quarterback class. If a first-year QB was lucky, he got to learn behind a veteran play caller on the sideline. The handful of QBs who did see action last season did not have great fates. Deshaun Watson, the most electrifying rookie QB last season, tore his ACL in practice Week 9. Mitchell Trubisky showed some signs of life, and will look to break out with improved talent at the skill positions. Others struggled with terrible offenses, crumbling coaching staffs, or just could not adjust to the next level.
Top 5 rookie quarterbacks heading into the 2018 fantasy football season
These new QBs on the scene are worth keeping an eye on. Check out our full 2018 Fantasy Football Draft guide!
The 2018 quarterback class might take some time to get their NFL careers started. It is entirely possible we don’t see a rookie take a start in year one. Of course, with Sam Bradford starting in Arizona, it is a safe bet Josh Rosen gets an opportunity this year. Otherwise, it is anybody’s guess when we’ll see these quarterbacks in the starting lineup. That being said, here is a look at five rookie quarterbacks owners will be talking about this draft season.
Jackson will put pressure on Joe Flacco for the starting job in 2018. That seemed to be the reason why the Ravens drafted the former Louisville QB in the first-round. Flacco had one of the worst seasons of his career in 2017. Plus, Jackson’s youth and athleticism are a vast improvement over Flacco. However, the 32nd-overall pick does need to improve his passing.
Insurance for 33-year-old Flacco is wise. Last season Flacco looked to be beyond his prime, averaging less than six yards per pass for the first time in his career. The receiving corps got a little better in the offseason, but it is not a drastic improvement. Jackson can offer dynamic plays with his legs that Flacco flat out cannot. The rookie has a high fantasy upside if he takes over the starting role. He is not as likely to start this season as the next guy on our list, but if he gets in, he could easily be the most dynamic quarterback of this bunch.
Rosen may have found an oasis in the desert his rookie season. The Arizona Cardinals took Rosen as the 10th-overall pick to back up Sam Bradford, but he could start Week 1. Bradford seems to deal with an injury every year. He has not played a full season since 2012. Last year in Minnesota, Bradford went down after Week 2 with a chronic knee injury he is still working through.
Learning the offense should be easy for Rosen coming from UCLA. Arizona has a solid arsenal of weapons throughout their skill positions, which will help out a rookie quarterback in the long run. Unfortunately, the offensive line was leaky in 2017 and it is unknown whether the new additions will make it the unit much better. Either way, he has to be ready to go at some point. Rosen is a fantasy risk but, he has enough silver lining to be worth the gamble.
Darnold has the best chance to begin his NFL career as a Week 1 starter, even after a holdout delayed his reporting to Jets training camp. New York took Darnold as the third-overall pick in April, and that was not so he would sit on the bench. The USC playmaker has a big arm. He has a steep learning curve, but Darnold continues to show progress in camp taking first-team snaps.
The Jets have veterans, Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater, vying for a starting role as well. They have not committed to giving any QB the driver’s seat yet. Darnold is most likely to get the nod — if not Week 1, then very soon after. That will be clearer after the exhibition games. Darnold is looking at an interesting season. The Jets do not have a deep or threatening set of receivers. The running backs are new, but it is up in the air if they are drastically improved. The offensive line is a mystery as well. Owners considering Darnold should be prepared for rookie hurdles.
When you get No. 1 overall in the draft, there is going to be hype. Mayfield may not see game action to start the season, but he is competing with former Buffalo Bills QB Tyrod Taylor for the starting role. Taylor is no slouch, bringing safe and steady play to the Browns’ backfield for the first time in Browns coach Hue Jackson’s tenure. Mayfield will need a spectacular preseason showcase to threaten Taylor for the Week 1 start.
The first-overall pick in the 2018 draft still has a good chance to make an impact during his rookie season, however. Once Mayfield catches up to the NFL system, it will be hard to justify leaving that much talent on the bench. Owners who want to roll the dice on Mayfield will need to be patient. He can emerge midseason into a decent fantasy asset.
Josh Allen - Buffalo Bills
The Bills traded Tyrod Taylor this past offseason, beginning the overhaul of their quarterback position. They drafted former Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen in the first round, and then signed veteran A.J. McCarron to join second-year play caller Nate Peterman on the depth chart. The position is still very up in the air, but Allen has been the best quarterback in camp, according to reports.
Allen is not the best prospect to take over an NFL offense right away. He completed just over 50 percent of his passes in college, and the Bills do not have a great cast of skilled players to help their quarterback succeed. Unfortunately, the Bills do not have the luxury to allow Allen to learn behind a solid veteran QB. He has some dynasty appeal, but owners should not expect Allen to be more than a game manager in his rookie campaign if he gets into the lineup.
