The Best QBs for College Fantasy Football in 2025

Quarterbacks in college fantasy football are like fireworks: flashy, unpredictable, and capable of blowing up in your face—or carrying you to the top of the leaderboard.

But here we are, back again, staring at our $100 million budget, convinced this time we’ve found The One.

The 2025 QB pool is stacked with dual-threat chaos agents, cannon-armed statues, and more sophomore hype trains than your group chat can handle. So buckle up. Here’s your guide to navigating the wild, wonderful world of CFB fantasy QBs.

💎 The Elites (Bring Your Wallet)

Cade Klubnik – $13.0M (Clemson)

The polished prince of predictability.

Klubnik costs more than a semester of out-of-state tuition, but he’s worth it. Last year he finally proved he’s more than just a highly-touted name. He ran. He threw. He didn’t implode mid-game. Clemson surrounded him with better weapons in 2025, and outside of a week 1 home matchup against LSU, there aren’t a lot of games in his schedule that make you nervous.

John Mateer – $12.5M (Oklahoma)

Loose cannon? Sure. Fantasy goldmine? Also yes.

Mateer followed his OC from Washington State to Oklahoma, and he’s bringing the kitchen sink with him. The guy is chaos personified—in a good way. He’ll take risks, extend plays, and occasionally do something that makes you scream at your TV. But if his Wazzu production translates to SEC speed, this could be one of the best fantasy returns at the top tier.

LaNorris Sellers – $12.0M (South Carolina)

Holy sh!t, how the f@#k did he just do that?!

Sellers makes plays that break your brain. He’s elusive, powerful, and has that “how-the-f@!k-did-he-just-do-that?” factor you can’t teach. If Nyck Harbor becomes the alpha target everyone expects, Sellers might be QB1 by the end of September and have the Heisman trophy pre-ordered by October. The only knock? A little more accuracy would help—but the dude (and yes, he is a DUDE) is barely 20. Who am I to judge?

🌶️ The Could-Be-QB1s (Slightly Less Pricey, Still Plenty Spicy)

Arch Manning – $11.5M (Texas)

A Manning that can MOVE - yes, please!

Arch Manning finally has the keys, and spoiler alert: the kid can go. He’s got the name, the wheels, and that “did-he-just-shrug-off-a-linebacker-and-drop-a-40-yarder-on-the-run?” vibe that makes you sit up a little straighter. Yeah, Texas lost some weapons and is reloading on the o-line, but Arch moves like a Manning who grew up watching Lamar highlights. The moment might be big—but so is the arm, the pedigree, and the chance he turns your fantasy team into a weekly flex.

Demond Williams – $11.5M (Washington)

A sophomore with serious wheels and even better feel.

Williams looked sharp in limited 2024 action, completing 78% of his passes and running like he was late for class. Now at Washington with the starting gig locked in, he’s got the schedule, the system, and the juice. Consider this the early invitation to a breakout party. (Maybe consider his teammates Jonah Coleman and Denzel Boston, too, while you’re at it).

Garrett Nussmeier – $11.0M (LSU)

Big arm. Big Weapons. Rushing upside of a vending machine.

Actually, that’s not fair to vending machines. A vending machine wouldn’t rush for -38 yards in a season. But hey, that’s not why you draft Nussmeier. You draft him because he can spin it better than anyone in college football. He’s surrounded by weapons, and if LSU lets him air it out (again), he’s a top-5 fantasy QB without ever needing to run. Toss in even 2–3 touchdowns on the ground? That $11M price tag starts looking like a Black Friday steal.

🧨 Dual-Threats With a Discount

(Plus Allar, because I’m out of taglines and it’s way past my bedtime)

Sawyer Robertson – $10.5M (Baylor)

Criminally underrated. Quietly dangerous.

Robertson held down the starting gig all of 2024 and made the most of it—solid production, sneaky rushing upside, and enough firepower around him to hang 30+ on any given Saturday. The best part? He doesn’t have to play Georgia’s defense. One of the better values if you like points and sanity.

Avery Johnson – $10.5M (Kansas State)

Mid-tier magic with wheels for days.

Johnson is everything you want in a fantasy QB2: fast, fearless, and in a system that actually lets him go. There might be weeks where he racks up more rushing yards than passing—and trust me, you won’t be mad about it. He’s a returning starter with legit weapons and, bonus, he doesn’t have to stare down SEC defenses every Saturday. He’s the guy you lock in Week 1… and then quietly never take out.

Between him and Robertson? Flip a coin and hope you picked right.

Drew Allar – $9.5M (Penn State)

The NFL scout’s dream. The fantasy manager’s dilemma.

Allar’s a likely Top 10 pick in next year’s NFL Draft. But in fantasy? He’s more Volvo than Ferrari. Penn State still wants to run the ball, control the clock, and keep things... beige. Yes, the wide receiver room got a major upgrade—but he also lost his security blanket in Tyler Warren. If the new weapons click and Allar pushes for 4,000 yards and 30 TDs, you’ve got a bargain. If not? You’re drafting Kirk Cousins in a Josh Allen world.

🛍️ Budget Ballers (Because You Spent $30M on RBs)

Fernando Mendoza – $8.0M (Indiana)

Reliable-ish, but upgraded with Big Ten swagger.

Mendoza’s move from Cal to Indiana makes him way more interesting. He’s still the definition of steady—won’t win you the week on his own, but also won’t make you rage-quit fantasy forever. With a revamped O-line and upgraded weapons in Bloomington, he’s set up for a rock-solid floor. No, you’re not drafting him for the fireworks of Mateer or Sellers—you’re drafting him because he’s the fantasy equivalent of a reliable used Honda. Not flashy. Just gets the job done. And hey, locking in a starter at $8.0M opens up a whole lot of options elsewhere.

DJ Lagway – $7.5M (Florida)

Freshman fireworks, sophomore storm ahead.

Lagway exploded onto the scene last year—nearly 2,000 yards, 12 TDs, and a level of poise and power that made it clear Florida found their guy. He’s dynamic, confident, and absolutely fantasy-relevant. But there’s a twist: he’s coming into the season a bit banged up, and after a manageable opening stretch, the Gators hit a buzzsaw starting in Week 6. The kind of schedule that makes fantasy managers question their life choices.

So here’s the play: hold him through the first four weeks. Let him cook, let the price climb, and then make your move. Florida’s on bye Week 5, which lines up perfectly for a clean exit before the chaos begins. Early-season value, late-season headache—treat him like a short-term rental and don’t look back.

Luke Altmyer – $7.5M (Illinois)

This year’s “Wait, why didn’t I draft him?” QB.

Altmyer threw for 2,700+ yards and 22 TDs last year, kept Illinois competitive in every game, and might be one of the most underrated pocket passers in college football. He doesn’t run as much as some of the premium guys, but he’s efficient and productive—and he gets Rutgers AND Northwestern down the stretch. Delicious.

Bryce Underwood – $7.0M (Michigan)

The hype is real—but so is the learning curve.

Underwood flipped to Michigan with a monster NIL deal and hasn’t looked back. He was the top QB recruit in the country, likely starting Week 1 for a Michigan team looking to rebound, and has the arm talent to back up every headline. But he’s still a true freshman, Michigan’s weapons are unproven, and the offense might lean conservative early. He might not be airing it out the first few weeks, but there’s a ton of rushing upside here, and at $7.0M, you’re betting on raw talent in a pro-style system.

Beau Pribula – $6.5M (Missouri)

New team, same wheels—now with a starting job.

Pribula transferred from Penn State to Missouri and looks locked in as the Tigers’ QB1. He’s got legit rushing upside, a scheme that’ll let him use it, and enough passing juice to keep things balanced.

Full transparency—I’m a Penn State alum, and there were several plays last year where I found myself thinking, “Damn, when did Allar get so fast?” before realizing it was Pribula subbed in for a wildcat. That burst is real. At just $6.5M, he’s one of the best upside dart throws in the entire game.

Wrap-Up: Draft Smart, Embrace Chaos

Picking a college fantasy QB is less science, more spiritual crisis. You’re not just weighing arm strength or rushing upside—you’re gambling on 19-year-olds with Instagram deals and midterms.

So here’s the blueprint:

• Pay up for consistency with guys like Klubnik, Mateer, or Sellers if you want set-it-and-forget-it QB1s who won’t make you question your life on Saturdays.
• Bet on breakouts like Arch, Demond, or Nussmeier if you’re chasing top-5 upside with just enough risk to make you sweat (and just enough savings to take that extra $1M straight to the bank).
• Find value in dual-threat grinders like Robertson, Johnson, and Pribula, who have rushing upside, favorable schedules, and price tags that leave room for you to splurge on WRs or RBs.
• And steal the room with smart budget plays like Altmyer, Mendoza, or a hold-and-flip plan with Lagway—ride the wave, cash out before things go full SEC horror movie.

Your QB won’t be perfect. He’ll fumble in the red zone, throw a pick-six while you’re mid–group chat victory lap, or take a -14 yard sack against Vanderbilt. That’s part of the fun.

Just draft the one that makes you smile more than he makes you swear.