The most expensive quarterback on a slate is usually priced there for a good reason. He has the best offense, the best matchup, or the best track record. None of that makes him the right buy.
Price is the problem. Quarterbacks usually score more fantasy points than any other position, so sites price the top ones high, and every extra dollar has to come from somewhere else in your lineup. This article is about that tradeoff.
What spending up really costs
Here is a made up DraftKings example with a $50,000 cap.
| Quarterback (example) | Salary | Projection |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterback A | $8,200 | 24.0 |
| Quarterback B | $6,400 | 21.0 |
Quarterback A projects 3 more points for $1,800 more salary. Now look at what $1,800 buys elsewhere. Suppose it upgrades your second receiver from a $5,200 player projected for 13 points to a $7,000 player projected for 18.
| Lineup (example) | Salary used | Projected points |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterback A with the cheaper receiver | $13,400 | 37 |
| Quarterback B with the better receiver | $13,400 | 39 |
Same salary, and the cheaper quarterback lineup projects 2 points higher. That is opportunity cost. A player is only worth his salary if nothing better could be bought with the same money. The salary value guide shows how to run this comparison across a whole roster.
When the top quarterback is worth it
Paying up still makes sense plenty of the time. Look for these signs.
- The projection gap is big. If the top quarterback projects 6 or 7 points ahead of the next tier, the math often swings back in his favor.
- His game should be a shootout. A high expected total and a close matchup point to lots of passing on both sides. That also sets up a natural stack with his receivers.
- Cheap value opened up elsewhere. When a backup running back steps into a full workload at a low salary, you suddenly have room for the best quarterback without gutting the rest of the lineup.
- The field is avoiding him. In tournaments, an expensive quarterback that few people roster can be a strong play precisely because his price scares people off.
Rushing quarterbacks change the math
Not all quarterback points are equal. Under typical scoring, rushing yards are worth more per yard than passing yards, and a rushing touchdown counts for more than a touchdown pass. Check your site's scoring table to confirm.
That makes quarterbacks who run a lot unusually valuable. A quarterback who reliably adds 40 to 60 rushing yards starts every game with several points banked before he completes a pass. That steadier floor makes running quarterbacks strong cash game plays even at high prices, and their ceiling is huge when they also score on the ground.
A pocket passer at the same price needs a big passing day to return value. Sometimes he gets it. But his floor is lower, and in cash games the floor is what you are paying for.
Pricing differs by site
DraftKings classic football uses a $50,000 cap and full point PPR scoring. FanDuel classic football uses a $60,000 cap and half point PPR scoring. Because the caps differ, compare quarterback prices as a share of the cap rather than in raw dollars. In the example above, an $8,200 quarterback uses 16.4 percent of a $50,000 budget.
Scoring matters too. Full point PPR gives every catch extra weight, which makes it more costly to give up an elite receiver just to afford an elite quarterback. For a fuller look at how the two sites differ, see FanDuel vs. DraftKings Compared.
A quick pricing check
Before you lock in the top quarterback, run through four questions.
- How many projected points does he add over the next cheaper option?
- What would the saved salary buy at receiver or running back?
- Does he run enough to give him a safer floor?
- In tournaments, how many other lineups will have him?
If the answers point to the cheaper quarterback, trust the math and move on. The football hub has more on building the rest of the roster.