3 ‘must-have’ fantasy quarterbacks in 2023

Our “must-have” series provides an in-depth breakdown of three players at each position that you need to draft for the upcoming season.

Welcome to the first installment of my 2023 fantasy football “must have” players for 2023. Each article for every offensive position will focus on three different players and have an in-depth breakdown of why these players can be considered difference-makers for the upcoming season.

Each positional breakdown will have one player with an early average draft position, one with a middle ADP, and another going in the later rounds (ADP courtesy of FantasyPros’ consensus at the time of writing). This way, you can consider one of these players no matter your preferred draft strategy.

On that note, here are my three must-have fantasy football quarterbacks for the 2023 season. 

Justin Fields, Chicago Bears 

Average Draft Position: 46.3 (End of Round 4), QB6.

Rationale: Justin Fields has had an up-and-down start to his career. As a passer, Fields has posted completion percentages of 58.9 and 60.4 over the past two seasons. Last season his completion percentage ranked 32nd amongst starting quarterbacks. However, when you do think of Fields, what instantly comes to mind is the insane rushing ability he has. He ran for 1,143 yards — first among quarterbacks — and made fantasy owners very happy. He finished 2022 as the QB6 (which is where he is being drafted now) and is the basis for him being a can’t-miss fantasy draft pick this year. Let me explain a bit more why:

1. Run, run, and run some more 

In Fantasy Football, it should be no surprise by now that having a quarterback that runs well and often is an incredible advantage. In other words, having a quarterback that runs like Fields should be considered cheating.

In the two seasons that Lamar Jackson rushed for 1,000 yards (2019 and 2020), he finished as QB1 and QB9 in fantasy PPG. Of the five quarterbacks (Fields, Jackson, Josh Allen, Hertz, Jones) who rushed for over 500 yards last season, all five finished in the top 10. While rushing the ball as a quarterback does also bring general injury concerns, Fields has managed so far in his career to avoid any major setbacks and is a good bet to rush for 1,000 yards again. This is also something he clearly wants too, given his stated belief that he is “a top-five rushing quarterback in NFL History”.

In short, you’re drafting Fields where he finished in 2022 (QB6), and it doesn’t get much clearer than that in terms of a safe draft choice of Fileds’ caliber.

2. The addition of DJ Moore 

I wrote about the impact of young quarterbacks adding an elite wide receiver in a recent article. Fields right now is regarded as a questionable passer at best. However, Josh Allen was looked at as a questionable passer before the addition of Stefon Diggs, with a completion percentage of 58.8% in 2019. That changed in one season as his completion percentage jumped to 69.2% and finished as the QB1.

Jalen Hurts was also regarded as a mediocre passer before the addition of AJ Brown, with completion percentages of 52.0% in 2020 and 61.3% in 2021. However this past year, he jumped to a completion percentage of 66.5 and finished as the QB1 in fantasy PPG. Fields is now bringing in DJ Moore who is an elite separator which should allow Fields to improve his accuracy rates. If Moore can help Fields throw for over 3,000 yards, and Fields takes care of the rushing aspect again, fantasy managers will be doing backflips. 

This time next year, Fields could be going at the round two/three turn where you typically see Mahomes, Allen, and Hurts going so far. Grab him while you can in the late fourth or early fifth rounds. 

Other QBs I like in this range: Trevor Lawrence (JAC)

Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts 

Average Draft Position: 122.2 (End of Round 9/Beginning of Round 10) QB16. 

Rationale: Anthony Richardson was perhaps the most polarizing prospect of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Colts swung for the fences, though, taking Richardson fourth overall despite him only starting 13 games for the Florida Gators.

The Colts took him because of his insane performance at the NFL Combine and his elite arm talent. I don’t think Richardson will be a great real-life quarterback in year one, but I think he can be really solid for fantasy managers. Here’s why:

1. Freak athlete 

Almost a copy and paste of what I said for Fields — Richardson can RUN. He posted a 4.43 40-yard dash at 6’4” and 245 pounds. His runs at Florida were absurd. Granted, Richardson at this point in his career is not a reliable passer. That’ll take time to develop but if the Colts want to make Richardson feel confident by making plays, they’ll let him run! If Richarson starts all 17 games, which given recent reports, he’s neck and neck with Minshew, he should have a good shot at rushing for 1,000 yards and finishing top 10. 

2. Shane Steichen + schedule 

The Colts have the perfect head coach for Richardson to succeed. Shane Steichen was the offensive coordinator for the Eagles last season and helped develop Hurts into what he is today. When Hurts started his rookie year (Weeks 14-17), he was the QB7. He knows how to develop rushing quarterbacks into better passers, and more importantly, he knows how to let them run at the beginning of their careers.

According to Sharp Football Analysis, the Colts have the 3rd easiest strength of schedule, which should allow Richardson to work in some easier matchups throughout the year in order to shine. 

Richardson might not be the prettiest real-life quarterback we watch this year and I am sure there will be some “what was he thinking” throws. However, his rushing ability adds a solid floor week to week and a decent shot for him to finish in the top 10 at the position.

Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos 

Average Draft Position: 144.0 (End of Round 12/Beginning of Round 13) QB18

Rationale: Broncos Country, Let’s Ride. 

All joking aside, last season was a disaster for Mr. Unlimited and the Denver Broncos. The team had so much hype going into the season and actually turned out to be one of the most painful offenses to watch throughout the entire year. However, this year all the hype is gone and Russell Wilson is practically free in fantasy football drafts. The comeback season is on and here’s why: 

1. The loss of Nathaniel Hackett and the addition of Sean Payton. 

It’s not just the addition of Sean Payton, the loss of Nathaniel Hackett factors in too. Wilson averaged a dreadful 15.1 fantasy points per game (22nd) with Hackett but in the two-game sample size without him averaged 24.4 ppg. Yes, it is only two weeks, and some quarterbacks were pulled early that week, but the point is he was a LOT better without Hackett.

Bring in Payton. From 2006 to 2019 (16 seasons) Payton’s Saints had a top 5 offense nine times (56%), a top 10 offense four times (25%), a top 15 offense twice (13%), and a top 20 once (6%). Meaning, 81% of the time he constructed a top-10 offense if you combine top 5 and top-10 finishes. If there is anyone that can get Wilson back to his former self, it’s Payton. 

2. Wilson prior to Broncos Country 

I know Wilson was horrendous last season but I think we need a reminder of how solid he was for fantasy in years past. From 2013-2020 Wilson finished as a top 12 quarterback every year and was top 5 four times. After the 2019 season, many thought Aaron Rodgers lost his mojo and he bounced back with two back-to-back MVP seasons. Wilson has solid weapons and I believe still has some great years of football in him. Wilson had a bad year, worse than Rodgers, and MVP is probably not in the cards. However, a top-10 fantasy finish definitely is and you can grab him as your backup quarterback.

To sum things up, this fantasy football season, I am leaving the draft with one if not two of the following players: Justin Fields, Trevor Lawrence, Anthony Richardson, or Russell Wilson. I am staying away from Mahomes, Allen, and Hurts because they go a bit too early for me. If Fields or Lawrence are too high for your liking, grab Richardson or Wilson late. Best of luck this fantasy season!