What Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes have accomplished in just three and a half years of being starting quarterbacks is incredible. Four division titles, two MVPs a Super Bowl win, countless records, and the list goes on and on. Unsurprisingly, their dominance transfers to fantasy football. When deciding between the top QB, should you draft Mahomes or Jackson for fantasy?
Patrick Mahomes Fantasy Outlook
ADP: QB1, 15th Overall
Patrick Mahomes has been sensational in his first two years as a starter. He is coming off of a Super Bowl championship, after a jaw-dropping playoff run. So much so that after two years, the Chiefs gave him the highest-paid contract in NFL history, with it worth up to $503 million. Mahomes is one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the league, and he is consistently elite.
The Chiefs did a phenomenal job of keeping their players in the offseason. They have Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce as top receiving options. Hill is one of the top wide receivers in the league, and Kelce has been nothing short of amazing at tight end. Both Kelce and Hill are used well in Andy Reid’s innovative offense. They line up all over the field, and their impact is felt every play.
There is no reason Mahomes won’t dominate in 2020. The Chiefs have one of the best offenses in the NFL, and they have loads of talent everywhere on the field. Mahomes is a leader, and no deficit is too much to overcome.
Lamar Jackson Fantasy Outlook
ADP: QB2, 17th Overall
Lamar Jackson was the surprise of the NFL last year, becoming the second unanimous MVP. What made Jackson’s season so special was how well he threw the ball. He became the second quarterback to record a perfect quarterback rating in two games in the same season. He led the league in passing touchdowns, rushing yards and countless other statistics. Bottom line: he was sensational and practically unstoppable.
The Ravens didn’t do all that much to help out Jackson in free agency. They traded away tight end Hayden Hurst and let Seth Roberts go. In the draft, they snagged J.K. Dobbins as well as a pair of young wide receivers in James Proche and Devin Duvernay. Dobbins, Proche and Duvernay are all players who can take it to the house on any given play. They are all electric and they will be making an impact during the season.
Adding in a completely healthy Marquise Brown and breakout tight end Mark Andrews, and Lamar Jackson has a crew of weapons around him that highlight his strengths. While they may not have the name value of the Chiefs’ players, they can be just as effective, giving Jackson sky high potential as a passer, to go along with being the most prolific rushing quarterback of all time.
Fantasy Verdict: Lamar Jackson
So, Jackson or Mahomes for fantasy? Either way, it’s a win-win. That said, I question if it’s worth taking Mahomes or Jackson so high up in the draft. There are a lot of other quarterbacks who do well in fantasy, especially if you are playing in a 10-12 person league.
Outside of personal opinion of their value overall, which individual is the better choice for 2020? It has to be Lamar Jackson. The Baltimore QB is an integral part of the Ravens run game, and he will get his fair share of rushing touchdowns. With Brown fully healthy, Jackson is poised (gulp) to do even better than last year.
Both Jackson and Mahomes will dominate, but the health of Brown is the difference-maker. Since 2000, only three quarterbacks have been the top fantasy quarterback in back-to-back years. Jackson is ready to make his bid to be added to that list.
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