MIAMI, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Joe Burrow is among my three quarterbacks to avoid in fantasy football drafts at their current average draft positions. I would also steer clear of Jayden Daniels and Dak Prescott in favor of better values who could provide similar -- or superior -- statistics.
All of these players are still capable of elite production and remain great real-life players, but I believe taking them in their current slots could weaken your team. I factored in schedule strength, injury history, surrounding personnel and more into these conclusions.
My quarterback, running back, wide receiver and Top-200 overall rankings also are available. Average draft position charts are a valuable tool to use going into fantasy football drafts, as they help provide a range of players who will likely be available when you reach that portion of your draft.
Burrow is highest in my Top-20 quarterback rankings, falling in at No. 3. Daniels and Prescott rank No. 7 and 8, respectively. These rankings are based on when I would take the quarterbacks respective to their peers.
I prefer to wait to select my quarterback until the fifth- or sixth-round of fantasy football drafts and usually miss out on the highest-rated players at the position, but this strategy often results in deeper, stronger teams.
If Burrow, Daniels and Prescott fall well below their average draft positions, I would pick them up. I just wouldn't reach for them in favor of addressing other positions for your starting lineup.
Jayden Daniels
Daniels comes with the biggest investment out of my trio to avoid. The Washington Commanders quarterback is being picked as early as the end of the second round in some fantasy football drafts. That is way too rich for my liking due to the fact that Kyren Williams, Chase Brown, Tyreek Hill, James Cook, Tee Higgins and other valuable players also are being selected in that range.
Daniels was the fifth-best fantasy football quarterback last season, but could experience some regression as opposing defensive coordinators have a full year of tape available to prepare for the second-year passer.
He also enters the year set to face a schedule that features five games against teams that ranked inside the Top 10 for the fewest fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks last season. He'll get just two matchups against teams that ranked inside the Top 5 for the most fantasy points allowed to the position.
Joe Burrow
Burrow provided MVP-caliber statistics in 2024. He enters the 2025 campaign with what could be an improved offensive line and many of the same high-profile weapons from a year ago.
Burrow is being taken in the third round in some fantasy football drafts. While the Cincinnati Bengals star should give those risk-takers a weekly advantage at the quarterback position, he could also hamstring those teams at other spots.
Burrow has a very challenging schedule, which includes a league-high eight games against teams that ranked inside the Top 10 for the fewest fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks last season.
He'll get seven of those matchups within an eight-game stretch from Week 3 through Week 11. That skid includes four matchups within a five-game span against teams that ranked inside the Top 5 for the fewest points allowed to quarterbacks.
Burrow will face just one defense that ranked inside the Top 5 for the most fantasy points allowed to the position in 2024. I wouldn't take Burrow, unless he is available in the fourth or fifth round.
Dak Prescott
Prescott is a better value than Burrow and Daniels, but will walk into a gauntlet of tough opponents, especially to start his 2025 campaign.
The Dallas Cowboys schedule features seven games against teams that ranked inside the Top 10 for the fewest fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks last season, including six such matchups within the first eight weeks of their campaign.
That slate also includes three games within the first four weeks of the season against teams that ranked inside the Top 4 for the fewest points allowed to quarterbacks.
Prescott is being picked after the eighth round in most fantasy drafts, but I would avoid him in favor of several quarterbacks who require similar investment.
The Cowboys quarterback, who sustained a season-ending hamstring injury and missed nine games in 2024, completed just 64.7% of his throws during that campaign. That rate stood as the second-worst mark of his career, trailing only his second season. Prescott also produced his worst quarterback rating, lowest touchdown percentage and second-highest interception rate of his career in 2024.
The addition of former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens should provide a boost to the Cowboys' offense, but offensive line concerns, a new coaching staff and a tough schedule start to lower Prescott's ceiling.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Riley Leonard throws under pressure during the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on August 23, 2024. The Colts defeated the Bengals 41-14 in their final preseason game. Photo by John Sommers II/UPI | License Photo