Some quarterbacks instantly shine as they step foot in the NFL, while a handful also needs more time to adjust before they can be put on the same pedestal with the game's best passers. The depth of the roster and the quality of the pieces around the quarterbacks deeply affect their chances to succeed, and these fantasy football breakout quarterbacks could have enough around them to have big seasons.
A strong 2019 rookie class headlines the list of quarterbacks who are primed to break out in fantasy football for the upcoming season. Fantasy football owners can snag these players to serve as productive backups or as safety nets in case their QB1 gets injured during the season.
Let's dive right into the fantasy football breakout quarterbacks list.
NFL breakout candidates
5. Gardner Minshew
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Gardner Minshew was able to overcome the odds despite a difficult route taken to play in the NFL. The former Washington State Cougar may very well be the steal of the 2019 NFL Draft as he was selected with the 178th pick in the sixth round but didn't play like one.
Starting playmaker Nick Foles went down with a shoulder injury that slotted Minshew to play under center for a couple of games. In his debut against the Kansas City Chiefs, he completed 22-of-25 passes, good for an 88% pass completion percentage which is the highest that any player has made in his debut in NFL history. Minshew was named the starter moving forward after it was revealed that Foles had suffered a broken clavicle.
Foles made his return back to the lineup after he recovered from his collar bone injury but underwhelmed in his first game back. Minshew was inserted in the second half of the game and never looked back. He appeared in 14 games and recorded 3,271 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, and six interceptions.
Minshew currently belongs to the average to above-average quarterback tier of the league. Having a full offseason to get first-team reps will certainly help him to build better chemistry with his teammates in the upcoming season. Fantasy football owners should definitely take a hard look at him if he is still available in the 130s.
4. Drew Lock
Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Drew Lock was selected by the team with the 42nd pick in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. However, he was dealing with a thumb injury that sidelined him for the early stages of the season. He eventually found his way as a starter when veteran Joe Flacco started missing games due to his own injury.
The former Missouri Tiger maximized the opportunities that were given to him. In a span of five games, he finished with 1,020 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions. He led the Broncos to a 4-1 tally as a starter to close out the 2019 season on a high note. He tied with legendary Broncos playmaker and current general manager John Elway for the most franchise wins by a rookie quarterback with 4.
With a full season ahead of him as a starter, Lock will now be able to showcase his wares more and tally better numbers. A healthy and promising quarterback paired with 2019 Pro Bowl wide receiver Courtland Sutton and rookie speedster Jerry Jeudy is looking scary for the rest of the league. Lock is positioned to be the 20th quarterback to be called off the draft boards and his production in fantasy football will ultimately depend on the health of the weapons around him.
3. Daniel Jones
Many were taken aback when the New York Giants decided to roll with Duke Blue Devil Daniel Jones with the 6th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. However, the talks were silenced when Jones proved that he also belonged in the league.
Throughout the season, Jones slowly took the starting position from retiring long-time quarterback Eli Manning. Despite losing most of his scoring options led by star running back Saquon Barkley due to injuries, he still managed to tally 3,027 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 12 picks through 12 games as a starter.
Despite the promise, Jones still has to work on his turnovers as he recorded 12 interceptions and 18 fumbles last season. He was also sacked 38 times which calls for a better offensive line around him. The Giants addressed it by selecting Georgia standout Andrew Thomas with the fourth pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
The Giants have a tough schedule from Week 1 to Week 4 against teams with solid defenses which will possibly lead to low numbers and will most likely be dropped by his first drafter if that's going to be the case. However, he is worth picking up from the waiver wire from Week 5 onwards when the Giants' schedule starts to loosen up. A healthy Giants scoring coup will also aid the 23-year old quarterback to tally better numbers in the upcoming season.
2. Josh Allen
A rebuilding Buffalo Bills side opted to face a new era with quarterback Josh Allen back in 2018. He was drafted by the Bills with the 7th pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, becoming the highest-drafted NFL player from the University of Wyoming and the highest-drafted quarterback in Bills' history.
He had a subpar outing in his rookie season but significantly improved in year 2 with the Bills. In his second year as a starter, he led the team to their first 10-win season and just second playoff appearance since 1999. He tallied 3,089 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, and nine interceptions through 16 games played. However, he does have lingering issues with ball security as he recorded 14 fumbles last season.
Allen's strong cannon will be maximized more with the acquisition of a potent threat in wide receiver Stefon Diggs during the offseason. Sophomore running back Devin Singletary is also primed for a big season while rookie Zack Moss is also expected to contribute for the Bills.
Allen possesses a big upside heading into the upcoming season. In fact, he even became the number one quarterback in all of fantasy football for several weeks during his rookie season. He certainly has the potential and will continue to have a high ceiling to produce good numbers especially with the new acquisitions on board. Allen will definitely be a steal in the later rounds given that he's also a dual-threat quarterback who can produce fantasy points on the rushing game.
1. Kyler Murray
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray tops this list as he was able to match high expectations coming into the league as the 2019 first overall pick. In fact, he was sacked 48 times last season which calls for a need to put a better offensive line to protect him. He also lacked potent weapons on the offensive side of the field to throw passes to.
Despite the team's gaping holes, he still amassed a total of 3,720 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions through 16 games played. The former Heisman Trophy winner also completed 64 percent of his total passes and only had five fumbles last season.
Murray is also a dual-threat as he leads all rookie quarterbacks with the most rushing yards made last season with 544 on 93 attempts. He just sits behind 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson for the most rushing yards made compared to all the other quarterbacks in the league.
Murray's prolific dual-threat playing style should be a huge advantage for him in fantasy football. His ability to run with the ball is a great insurance to consider in case his pass-catchers will be injured during the season. The 2019 NFL Rookie of the Year is a considerable option in the third to fifth rounds of fantasy football and has the upside to start as QB1 in most leagues.
*Additionally, here are ClutchPoints' top 5 fantasy football breakout candidates at running back, wide receiver, and tight end*
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