The final whistles of the 2025 NFL Draft have blown, OTAs have taken place, and while excitement buzzes around the league’s newest talent, the draft’s aftermath often brings sobering news for existing players.
For veteran quarterbacks, the ripple effects can be particularly pronounced. Whether a team invested heavily in a potential replacement, failed to provide much-needed offensive upgrades, or signals a shift in offensive philosophy, several signal-callers have seen their fantasy stock take a hit.
This post will delve into the quarterbacks whose value is trending downward, highlighting the reasons why you might want to adjust your draft board and proceed with caution in the upcoming 2025 fantasy football season.
Jared Goff (Detroit Lions): Goff’s fantasy stock has taken a dip primarily due to the departure of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who was widely credited with revitalizing Goff’s career. Johnson’s scheme perfectly utilized Goff’s strengths, leading to incredibly efficient passing and career highs in passing yardage and touchdowns in 2024 (QB6 finish). While Goff still has elite offensive weapons in Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta, and the offensive line remains fairly strong — although the retirement of center Frank Ragnow leaves a giant hole up the middle — the uncertainty with a new offensive coordinator (John Morton) casts a shadow. Morton’s previous OC stint with the Jets was underwhelming, raising concerns about potential regression in overall offensive production and Goff’s hyper-efficient play. He’s no longer a strong QB1 candidate and is best viewed as a midrange QB2 with a wider range of outcomes.
Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis Colts): Richardson’s fantasy stock has taken a significant hit due to ongoing injury concerns and increased competition. After playing only four games in his rookie season (2023) due to a shoulder injury, he’s now dealing with a recurrence of inflammation in the same shoulder. The Colts also signed Daniel Jones to compete for the starting job, and Richardson’s latest injury will force him to miss mandatory minicamp, giving Jones a crucial advantage. Richardson’s undeniable rushing upside makes him a high-ceiling fantasy option when healthy, but his inability to stay on the field and struggles with passing accuracy (47.7% completion rate) combined with the new QB competition make him an incredibly risky pick. His value as a top-10 fantasy QB is now highly questionable, pushing him closer to a mid-to-low QB2.
Sam Darnold (Seattle Seahawks): Darnold’s fantasy stock has seen a decline despite signing a significant contract with the Seahawks. While initially positioned as the likely starter, the team’s decision to draft Jalen Milroe, a high-upside developmental prospect, introduces immediate competition. While coach Mike Macdonald has affirmed Darnold as the starter and indicated Milroe might be used in “specialty packages,” any struggles from Darnold could quickly lead to calls for Milroe. Darnold fizzled toward the end of 2024 in Minnesota, and he won’t have the same elite receiving talent in Seattle (no Justin Jefferson or Jordan Addison) and the overall offensive environment under Klint Kubiak is less proven. This instability and the looming threat of a benching reduce his fantasy appeal to a low-end QB2 or a speculative pick.
Will Levis (Tennessee Titans): Levis’s fantasy stock has plummeted significantly after the Tennessee Titans drafted Cam Ward as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. This move unequivocally signals that Ward is the franchise quarterback, relegating Levis to a clear backup role. While Levis showed flashes of potential in his rookie season, his overall inconsistency and the Titans’ aggressive pursuit of a top quarterback make it highly unlikely he’ll see significant playing time unless Ward suffers an injury. From a fantasy perspective, Levis goes from a speculative dart throw with starting upside to a pure handcuff, holding virtually no standalone fantasy value for the 2025 season.
Deshaun Watson (Cleveland Browns): Watson’s fantasy stock is at an all-time low. The Cleveland Browns’ baffling strategy of accumulating multiple quarterbacks (Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, alongside Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett) signals a complete lack of confidence in Watson as the clear franchise quarterback. Combined with his ongoing recovery from an Achilles injury (which some reports suggest could keep him out for a significant portion of 2025) and his already inconsistent play since joining the Browns, his fantasy outlook is incredibly bleak. The chaotic QB room, health concerns, and past off-field issues make him an undeniable fantasy faller, virtually undraftable in all but the deepest of dynasty leagues as a high-risk gamble.
