2022 Fantasy Football QB Rankings & Tiers — McFarland

Ranking players by position is integral to fantasy football preparation, but grouping them into tiers is crucial to identifying the value you might be leaving in the draft room. For example, if you're on the clock and looking at several quarterbacks in the same tier, it could make sense to wait until the next round — someone equally as worthy may be available with your next pick.

Tiers can also help group players with similar expectations based on upside and floor. Most importantly, we don't want to pay more than the next drafter for a similar player.

ADP = includes ESPN, RTSports, Fantrax and Sleeper PPR data per Fantasy Pros

FFPC ADP = Football Guys Players championship; tight end premium data per Fantasy Mojo

Last updated: Aug. 24, 2022

TIER 1A – GREAT PASSING/GREAT RUSHING OPTIONS

This tier represents the two players with 4,500 passing yards and 750 rushing yards, reasonably within their range of outcomes.

Josh Allen is one of them, the reigning back-to-back fantasy football QB1. In addition, the Bills love to throw the ball well above league average in all game scripts, which insulates the fifth-year starter's production profile in a way that only a few other quarterbacks experience.

• Trailing by four or more points: 4th
• Within 3 points: 1st
• Leading by four or more points: 4th

Allen’s receiving corps isn’t as strong as some other quarterback options, but Stefon Diggs is an elite option who can work against all coverage types. Gabriel Davis had moments that created optimism over the past two seasons, but his underlying metrics don’t scream “breakout season.”

Buffalo didn’t spend an early draft pick on a receiver, but the team did add receiving-back James Cook in the second round and slot receiver Khalil Shakir in the fifth round.

There is no doubt that Allen deserves to be the QB1 in drafts. The challenge is how much earlier he goes than similar dual-threat options. To get Allen, you must pass on a high-end running back or wide receiver, which makes it prohibitive to draft him at cost.

Allen’s receiving depth chart:

Wide Receiver: Diggs, Davis, Jamison Crowder, Isaiah McKenzie, Khalil Shakir
Tight End: Dawson Knox, O.J. Howard

Kyler Murray‘s passing production is on an upward trajectory

The Cardinals looked to keep the momentum going on draft day by making a trade for Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Murray’s former Oklahoma teammate. The fourth-year receiver has eclipsed the 20% TPRR mark in all three NFL seasons, including a career-high 22% in 2021.

Murray's receiving depth chart:

Wide Receiver: DeAndre Hopkins, Brown, Rondale Moore, A.J. Green
Tight End: Zach Ertz, Trey McBride

Hopkins battled injuries all of 2021 before shutting things down early. If he returns to his 2020 form, this could be a lethal aerial assault, and the Cardinals’ schedule is loaded with shootout potential.

Murray is one of only a handful of quarterbacks with the upside to take on 20% to 25% of his team's rushing volume. The former No. 1 overall selection already has an 822-yard rushing season (2020) — meaning a 4,500-yard passing and 750-yard rushing season is in his range of outcomes.

Murray is a centerpiece quarterback to build your draft strategy around in 2022.

TIER 1B – ELITE PASSING/ABOVE-AVERAGE OR ELITE RUSHING OPTIONS