2025 College Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback Rankings, Projections and Outlooks

College fantasy football quarterback rankings, projections and outlooks for the 2025 season from the RotoWire team, including Arch Manning as he prepares to take over under center for the Longhorns.
2025 College Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback Rankings, Projections and Outlooks

College football season is fast approaching, and RotoWire's college football staff has written their breakdowns on the top players to target at each position. We kick things off at quarterback, where there is another loaded crop of exciting players ranging from dual threats to high-volume passers who can rack up yardage and touchdowns through the air and on the ground. 

Note: These rankings are based on a standard 4-point passing touchdown format and may vary based on the format of your league. Visit our College Football Rankings page to customize the rankings to fit your league's format.

2025 College Fantasy Football Draft Kit

2025 College Football Quarterback Rankings

1) Cade Klubnik, Clemson

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Cade KlubnikClemsonSr5,931826.51233463164265

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Klubnik's first couple of seasons in the college football ranks didn't lead to him blowing the doors off the competition, but boy, did that change in 2024. He closed out the regular season throwing for 3,041 yards and a 29:5 TD:INT ratio, adding 92 carries for 437 yards and seven touchdowns as a rusher, leading the Tigers to the ACC Championship Game and

College football season is fast approaching, and RotoWire's college football staff has written their breakdowns on the top players to target at each position. We kick things off at quarterback, where there is another loaded crop of exciting players ranging from dual threats to high-volume passers who can rack up yardage and touchdowns through the air and on the ground. 

Note: These rankings are based on a standard 4-point passing touchdown format and may vary based on the format of your league. Visit our College Football Rankings page to customize the rankings to fit your league's format.

2025 College Fantasy Football Draft Kit

2025 College Football Quarterback Rankings

1) Cade Klubnik, Clemson

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Cade KlubnikClemsonSr5,931826.51233463164265

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Klubnik's first couple of seasons in the college football ranks didn't lead to him blowing the doors off the competition, but boy, did that change in 2024. He closed out the regular season throwing for 3,041 yards and a 29:5 TD:INT ratio, adding 92 carries for 437 yards and seven touchdowns as a rusher, leading the Tigers to the ACC Championship Game and a College Football Playoff berth. While it was an early exit for Clemson, Klubnik certainly wasn't the problem, throwing for a combined 598 yards and seven touchdowns in the two contests. He's back to close out his college career in 2025 and arguably has the best wideout room in the country at his disposal, featuring returnees Antonio Williams, TJ Moore and Bryant Wesco. Also gone is Phil Mafah, leading to some questions in the running back room, but he accounted for just a 6.2 percent target share. Also gone is Jake Briningstool, which will be a bit more difficult to replace, but the budding wideout room is more than capable of absorbing additional targets, and Olsen Patt-Henry appears set to assume starting duties at tight end. All signs point to another top-notch campaign for Klubnik in 2025, and he projects as the top quarterback off the board in most fantasy formats.

2) Colton Joseph, Old Dominion

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Colton JosephOld DominionSo11,430425.312251316979413

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Joseph opened the 2024 campaign as Grant Wilson's backup, but after two lackluster showings under center and an apparent injury and a subsequent mediocre effort from Quinn Henicle in Week 3, Joseph got his first opportunity to shine against Bowling Green in Week 4. While that yielded rather pedestrian results - six completions for 26 yards on 13 attempts and nine carries for 65 yards and a score - he took off from there. Over the next seven games, Joseph averaged 227 passing yards and 1.6 passing touchdowns while adding 14.6 carries for 83.0 yards and another 1.4 rushing scores per game on the ground before an injury sidelined him for the season finale versus Arkansas State. Wilson transferred to Indiana during the offseason, and there's little doubt the job is Joseph's heading into 2025. While there are plenty of moving pieces around him between the running back room and wide receiver unit, Joseph presents enough intrigue both as a thrower and a runner to warrant an early pick among the quarterback crop for the 2025 campaign.

3) Arch Manning, Texas

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Arch ManningTexasSo11,530225.11230182983308

2025 Fantasy Outlook

There aren't many last names in college football that hold more weight than that of Manning, and the next generation of the family's quarterback lineage will arrive in full force in 2025. Manning did see some sprinkles of action last year and even made a couple of starts for the injured Quinn Ewers last season, racking up 583 passing yards and a 4:2 TD:INT ratio along with seven carries for 29 yards and a touchdown over his two games between Weeks 4 and 5. Ewers elected to turn pro this offseason, leaving the reins of the Longhorns to Manning in 2025 with a fully-stocked crop of pass-catching talent despite significant turnover between the wideouts and the tight end room. Manning is much more mobile than his uncles, Peyton and Eli, and has the weapons surrounding him to turn in one of the better fantasy seasons in the country at the quarterback position.

4) Blake Horvath, Navy

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Blake HorvathNavySr13,4,830227.4111433144106315

2025 Fantasy Outlook

It was a season for the ages for the academy schools last season, and the Midshipmen got the last laugh in the regular-season finale with a rather one-sided victory over Army, followed by a one-point win over Oklahoma in the bowl game. Horvath was front-and-center in the offense, completing 57.6 percent of his 139 pass attempts for 1,353 yards and a 13:4 TD:INT ratio. As is usually the case in a triple-option offense, he was even more impressive on the ground, totaling 175 carries for 1,246 yards and 17 scores. He missed most of Weeks 12 and 14 due to injury, so those numbers could have ranged even higher had he stayed healthy for the season's entirety. Horvath is set to reclaim the duties under center in 2025 and should have another huge season in store. As always, Navy players carry with them an additional bye week that others don't have to account for, but Horvath's weekly production should more than make up for it, and he should prove to rank among the best quarterback options among quarterbacks in fantasy drafts this fall. 

5) LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
LaNorris SellersSouth CarolinaSo11,6300251227462087848

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Sellers took the bull by the horns in 2025 and didn't disappoint in his first season under center following the graduation of Spencer Rattler, completing 65.6 percent of his 299 pass attempts for 2,534 yards and an 18:7 TD:INT ratio. He also lived up to his billing as a true dual threat under center, racking up 674 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. The Gamecocks should sport a formidable offensive line again in 2025, and the group returns a decent contingent of the production in the receiving game. Sellers does lose his top target from a year ago, tight end Joshua Simon, but Nyck Harbor, Mazeo Bennett, Jared Brown and Vandrevious Jacobs return, and the trio of Michael Smith, Brady Hunt and Jordan Dingle will compete to fill the shoes of Simon at tight end. Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains also left for the head coaching gig at Appalachian State, but Mike Shula takes over as the head man of the offense after serving as an analyst last year, so the offense shouldn't diverge too much, and big numbers should remain within reach for the budding signal-caller. 

6)  John Mateer, Oklahoma

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
John MateerOklahomaJr11,529924.912291623115879

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Mateer is looking to follow in the footsteps of Cam Ward, transferring from Washington State to a top-end power-conference school. Mateer follows his former offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, to Oklahoma in hopes of revitalizing a passing offense that struggled in 2024. He'll have to do so with a largely unproven pass-catching corps outside of Deion Burks, who caught 31 passes for 245 yards in five games last season with the Sooners. Arkansas-Pine Bluff transfer Javonnie Gibson suffered an injury during spring practices and is uncertain for Week 1. Jayden Gibson missed all of 2024 with a knee injury and also sustained an injury this spring. Arkansas transfer Isaiah Sategna, who logged 37 catches for 491 yards last season, figures to play a significant role, but he also missed time this spring with a hamstring injury. All of this is not to say Mateer can't replicate his 2024 production, when he logged 3,139 passing yards, a 29:7 TD:INT, 826 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. However, with plenty of uncertainty at the wide receiver position and one of the most talented running back rooms in the Big 12, Oklahoma could be less pass-happy than the Arbuckle-led Cougars. Still, Mateer's dual-threat ability and immense talent place him firmly among the elite fantasy QB options.

7) Parker Navarro, Ohio

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Parker NavarroOhioSr10,729824.9122267121293715

2025 Fantasy Outlook

The 2024 season marked Navarro's first year as the starting quarterback for the Bobcats, and it ended with a MAC Conference championship and bowl game victory. Although he underwent a minor offseason shoulder procedure, he should be healthy for the season opener and is now heading into his fifth collegiate season with a full head of steam and infinite upside. The 6-foot quarterback's passing skills were nothing to brag about in the 2024 campaign (2,423 yards, 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions), but his rushing upside is what made him a weapon for Ohio. He rushed for a whopping 1,054 yards with 18 rushing touchdowns. This put him at number one in rushing touchdowns in the MAC conference and fourth in rushing yards; he was the only quarterback in the top five of the conference in either category. Not many quarterbacks in any conference can say the same, so Navarro will enter what will likely be his last year as a valuable fantasy asset.

8) Micah Alejado, Hawaii  

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Micah AlejadoHawaiiFr12,6,929424.512363329111886

2025 Fantasy Outlook

There's a lot of hype around Alejado heading into the season, despite him making just one start as a true freshman. With Brayden Schager injured, Alejado burst onto the scene with a 469-yard, five-touchdown performance in Hawaii's season finale against New Mexico, completing 37 of his 57 passes. Alejado, a former three-star recruit out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, should be set up for success in the Warriors' air-raid offense with top wideouts Pofele Ashlock and Nick Cenacle both returning in 2025. Hawaii's propensity for throwing the football under head coach Timmy Chang is well-established at this point - they threw the ball on 60.5 percent of their offensive plays last season, the fourth-highest rate in the nation. Alejado also demonstrated some rushing ability in his lone start, tallying 54 yards on 10 carries.

9) Devon Dampier, Utah  

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Devon DampierUtahJr11,628824122653111290312

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Dampier and offensive coordinator Jason Beck come over from New Mexico, where they ran an explosive option offense. Dampier was the definition of dual threat in 2024 with 2,768 yards and 12 touchdowns through the air to go along with an eye-popping 1,166 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground. There are areas of Dampier's game that need improvement, as he also had 12 interceptions and completed just 57.9 percent of his passes. The true question will be whether he can make the jump from the Mountain West to the Big 12. Odds are that he will flourish at Utah as they bring back four starters on the offensive line and are expected to compete for the top of the conference. Dampier will be boosted by top receiver Ryan Davis, also coming over from New Mexico, as well as the versatile running back Wayshawn Parker from Washington State, and his ability on the ground should make him an intriguing fantasy asset again in 2025.

10) Haynes King, Georgia Tech  

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Haynes KingGeorgia TechSr11,628423.71229262084949

2025 Fantasy Outlook

King returns for his third year at Georgia Tech, having firmly established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the ACC. Last season, his passing numbers declined significantly, but his efficiency and ability to take care of the football increased dramatically as well. He also missed some time and dealt with arm injuries that hindered his ability to throw the rock. Under offensive coordinator Buster Falkner, a run-heavy play-caller who uses King's legs to the fullest extent, the quarterback accounted for 2,114 yards, 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions through the air while also notching 587 yards and 11 scores on the ground. He also completed nearly 73 percent of his passes. With the Yellow Jackets returning the same staff that's allowed King to thrive as a premier dual-threat quarterback, in addition to starting tailback Jamal Haynes (944 yards, 5.6 yards-per-carry last season), King should once again be an efficient dual-threat gunslinger. He may not light up the stat sheet each and every Saturday, but his legs stress defenses - and allow him to score fantasy points - in many ways, and his passing stats should return to an extent if he can stay healthy.

11) Demond Williams, Washington  

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Demond WilliamsWashingtonSo10,328123.41228152365815

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Williams received his opportunity to show his stuff after the Huskies elected to bench Will Rogers for the final two games of the season, and the freshman showed incredible promise despite the team going 0-2 down the stretch. Williams enters the 2025 season as the unquestioned starter under center, and he hopes to build on his late-season success under coach Jedd Fisch's high-powered spread offense. Williams turned heads in the Huskies' final game at the Sun Bowl, where he torched the Louisville secondary for 374 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed 20 times for 48 yards and a touchdown during the loss. The sophomore's mobility and dynamic playmaking skills should take the Huskies far this year. Williams' bread and butter came from short and medium-length passes and improvising in RPO snaps. He lacks accuracy with the long ball, and it's a trait that needs improvement to match the offensive behemoths present in a difficult slate of opponents in the Big Ten. With Omari Evans coming over from Penn State and Denzel Boston returning, Williams has a solid corps of receiving targets to choose from, and senior running back Jonah Coleman will keep defenses honest and open up Williams' passing lanes. At 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, Williams is slightly smaller than the prototypical quarterback. While it could be a slight handicap at the professional level, he's shown the ability to compensate for the disadvantage in the college ranks.

12) Avery Johnson, Kansas State  

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Avery JohnsonKansas StateJr11,4,828023.31225652495737

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Johnson was a solid contributor during the 2024 season with 32 total touchdowns, with clear dual-threat ability, notching seven of those scores on the ground. The Wildcats jumped to a strong 7-1 start last year before fading in conference play and falling out of contention. Johnson will have the opportunity to work with new offensive coordinator Matt Wells as he attempts to develop his game for the next level. Johnson received an invitation to the Manning Passing Academy in the offseason and has a lot to play for during the upcoming year. The signal caller will be aided by a stud running back in Dylan Edwards; however, he will need to get used to new receiving weapons, including Jerand Bradley, Caleb Medford, and Jaron Tibbs, though Jayce Brown and Garrrett Oakley remain in the mix. With an experienced roster in 2025, Johnson will attempt to be one of the best in the Big 12 and increase his stock as a prospect. Johnson's fantasy schedule may hurt his ADP a bit, as the Wildcats play in Week 0 and thus will sport three bye weeks during the fantasy schedule in leagues that don't include it.

13) Matthew Sluka, James Madison

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Matthew SlukaJames MadisonSr3,927823.21221522087429

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Sluka made waves early in the 2024 season after opting to redshirt the 2024 season after three games, citing "certain representations that were made" not being upheld after he enrolled at UNLV. He went 21-for-48 with 318 yards, a 6:1 TD:INT and 254 rushing yards before electing to sit out. He'll enter his fifth collegiate season as a member of James Madison, where he's expected to serve as the team's starting quarterback. Alonza Barnett, the Dukes' 2024 starter, suffered a "serious" leg injury before JMU's bowl game and, given Sluka's addition, it seems like Barnett will miss most or all of 2025. Barnett threw for 2,598 yards and 26 touchdowns while adding 442 yards and seven scores on the ground - an example of Sluka's upside in the offense. Sluka offers significantly more rushing capabilities, having run for 1,200 yards in back-to-back seasons with Holy Cross before departing for UNLV.  Camden Coleman is also in the running for the job under center, but most believe Sluka will win the gig, and if Sluka's limited action with the Runnin' Rebels is any indicator, he's in for a monster 2025 campaign.

14) Sawyer Robertson, Baylor

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Sawyer RobertsonBaylorSr11,727522.91230262882785

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Robertson helped Baylor win their last six regular-season games in 2025 and is poised for a breakout for the Bears and fantasy rosters this year. Last season, he racked up 3,071 passing yards and 28 touchdowns compared to just eight interceptions. He showed some dual-threat ability, too, with 230 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. It will be his second year with OC Jake Spavital, who is expected to run an uptempo scheme once again. Add in four returning starters on the offensive line, an up-and-coming running back in Bryson Washington, a full stable of returning receivers, and there's a legitimate recipe for success in Waco, Texas. Robertson's developing leadership and combination of poise, production, and familiarity with the offense should have Baylor contending for a conference title, and he should come off the board relatively early among quarterbacks in 2025 fantasy drafts.

15) Marcel Reed, Texas A&M

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Marcel ReedTexas A&MSo10,427422.91227492195637

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Reed was pushed into a starting role in Week 3 of the 2024 campaign after starter Connor Weigman suffered a shoulder injury and made three starts before Weigman returned in Week 6. A&M gave Reed another opportunity with the ones midway through a Week 9 bout with LSU, and the rising sophomore led an impressive comeback to land the win and claim the starting quarterback job for the remainder of the season. In the eight games Reed started, he averaged 215.4 passing yards and 55.8 rushing yards while totaling 18 touchdowns. Overall, he finished with 1,864 passing yards, a 15:6 TD:INT, 547 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. Weigman transferred to Houston during the offseason, leaving Reed unchallenged for the 2025 starting role. He'll be throwing to a young group of wide receivers, plus NC State transfer KC Concepcion, and he'll have a talented pair of backs behind him in Le'Veon Moss and Rueben Owens.

16) Sam Leavitt, Arizona State

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Sam LeavittArizona StateSo11,627322.71227772454585

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Leavitt has become the face of the Arizona State football program, and if he plays his cards right, he could challenge for the Heisman in 2025. He was the Big 12's freshman of the year in 2024, and his 3,328 total yards were a school freshman record. He racked up 29 total touchdowns, and Arizona State had a top-30 offense in pretty much any important metric. While superstar RB Cam Skattebo departed for the NFL, they do return a dynamic receiver in Jordyn Tyson and have four returning offensive linemen. Creative OC Marcus Arroyo is back again, and this team was shockingly impressive in the College Football Playoff. With a stacked supporting cast and some swagger from an impressive freshman season, Leavitt is set up for a huge year in the desert.

17) Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Garrett NussmeierLSUSr10,627222.71239803112-493

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Nussmeier warranted plenty of hype going into 2024, his first season as the full-time starter at LSU, after lighting it up in his first two appearances of meaningful game action before last year. Nussmeier delivered on the hype as he completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 4,052 yards with a 29:12 TD:INT ratio. Many pundits and scouts now have Nussmeier as the top-ranked quarterback in college football this year, with a hopeful outlook to be the first quarterback drafted in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, there has been a bit of a shakeup to his pass-catching group since last year. LSU and Nussmeier will lose three of their top four receiving targets in Kyren Lacy, Mason Taylor and C.J. Daniels. However, the Tigers' receiving corps should not be short on talent, as they are returning their top pass catcher from a year ago, Aaron Anderson, along with speedsters Chris Hilton Jr. and Zavion Thomas and big tight end Trey'Dez Green, who saw four of his 13 catches a year ago go for touchdowns. Along with the returnees, LSU also added two former four-star recruits and highly touted transfer wide receivers in Barion Brown and Nic Anderson. With a fully equipped and capable pass catchers' room and a head coach who wants the game to rest in the hands of his quarterback, Nussmeier looks poised to have another stellar season.

18) Owen McCown, UTSA

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Owen McCownUTSAJr5,927222.712341726103333

2025 Fantasy Outlook

With Frank Harris finally graduating and moving on from UTSA, McCown stepped into the starting quarterback role for the first time in 2024. He started all 13 games for the Roadrunners, including the bowl victory, and threw for 3,424 yards with 25 touchdowns and 10 picks. He also ran for 340 yards and three scores for good measure. Here in 2025, there is no real threat to McCown's role as the starting quarterback. He's also still working under head coach Jeff Traylor, who probably missed his window to move to a bigger job. That's to McCown's benefit, though. There also isn't a ton of turnover around him in the passing attack, either, with Devin McCuin, David Amador and Willie McCoy set to return and Houston Thomas and Patrick Overmyer also back at tight end, as well as Robert Henry returning in the backfield. In short, this should be an explosive Roadrunners offense, and McCown should be a highly regarded quarterback for fantasy purposes.

19) Caden Veltkamp, Florida Atlantic

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Caden VeltkampFlorida AtlanticJr10,427022.512349928121235

2025 Fantasy Outlook

The Owls have a new quarterback, but the excitement is really about the new head coach. Veltkamp started for Western Kentucky last season after serving as a backup for a couple of seasons prior. However, this actually hadn't been the plan. TJ Finley was supposed to be the guy, but he got hurt, and Veltkamp got his chance. In 12 games as a starter, he completed 66.8 percent of his passes for 3,097 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also ran for seven touchdowns but averaged only 1.3 yards per carry. Still, his 6-foot-6, 236-pound frame makes him a threat to punch it in around the goal line. That was good enough to get Veltkamp the chance to transfer to FAU and the AAC, where he will see another Western Kentucky alum. Zach Kittley is getting his first shot as a head coach. You may remember him as the Houston Baptist OC whose dynamic offense was ported over to WKU, where Bailey Zappe set FBS records, and then Kittley moved on to Texas Tech, where his offense still played. Veltkamp in a Kittley offense could put up some video game numbers, and he'll have some continuity in the passing game with Easton Messer transferring to FAU alongside him. 

20) Bryson Barnes, Utah State

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Bryson BarnesUtah StateSr10,627022.512278228205645

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Barnes is poised to take over the starting job after throwing for 856 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions while backing up Spencer Petras in 2024. It won't be an easy task for the senior under new head coach Bronco Mendenhall, as none of the Aggies' top-five receivers from last season will return in 2025. Barnes, a former Utah transfer, will likely be asked to make a lot happen with his legs - he ran for 530 yards and five touchdowns on 68 attempts last year. We've seen run-first quarterbacks have success under Mendenhall - under the veteran coach, Devon Dampier rushed for 1,166 yards and 19 touchdowns with New Mexico last season.

21) Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Diego PaviaVanderbiltSr12,726722.31221571847497

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Pavia broke out in 2024, delivering 2,293 passing yards, a 20:4 TD:INT, 801 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in his first season in the SEC. He won a lawsuit against the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility and returns to Vanderbilt with high expectations. Pavia's top two targets from 2024 will run it back as well, with tight end Eli Stowers (49 catches, 638 yards) and Junior Sherrill (29 catches, 411 yards) leading the pass-catching crew. WR depth behind Sherill is shaky, but Pavia should have enough talent around him to keep up or exceed his 2024 totals. One player to keep an eye on to emerge in that room is Trent Hudson. Hudson played with Pavia at New Mexico State in 2023, and caught 36 passes for 551 yards and 10 touchdowns before riding the bench at Mississippi State last year. But even if Vanderbilt's air attack falters, Pavia's rushing ability keeps his fantasy floor high. He logged the sixth-most rushing yards of any SEC player in 2024 and tied for ninth in rushing touchdowns.

22) Byrum Brown, South Florida

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Byrum BrownSouth FloridaSr10,526722.212270518105868

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Time for Brown to get back to work. He emerged as a star in 2023 at South Florida, throwing for over 3,000 yards with 26 touchdowns and then adding over 800 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Last year, though, Brown injured his foot in the Bulls' fifth game, and that was that. Brown was having issues through the air before his injury, but he did run for 269 yards and three touchdowns. He's had plenty of time for his foot to heal, and the hope would be that he looks like the guy he was in 2023. The issue is that he wasn't quite that guy even before his injury. That being said, two of the games that Brown played in were against Alabama and Miami. Not the easiest of competition. It will be very interesting to see how Brown looks coming out of the gate healthy and with something to prove, and his rushing ability still makes him an intriguing fantasy option, especially in leagues with only four points per passing touchdown.

23) Braylon Braxton, Southern Miss

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Braylon BraxtonSouthern MissSr10,626622.11226262276264

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Braxton transferred from Marshall to Southern Miss for his fifth collegiate season, following Thundering Herd head coach Charles Huff, who'll hold the same role with the Golden Eagles. He threw for 1,624 yard and a 19:2 TD:INT ratio over just 11 games on the season (10 and change with minimal action against Ohio State), adding 134 carries for 610 yards and four scores as a rusher. He started the 2024 campaign behind Stone Earle on the depth chart and didn't fully surpass Earle until Week 8. From that point on, Braxton averaged 180 passing yards on 23.6 pass attempts along with 58.1 rushing yards. He logged a 12:2 TD:INT during that stretch. Marshall had been a run-first team throughout Huff's tenure, and his approach shouldn't change with Southern Miss. Still, Braxton's efficiency and rushing upside make him an intriguing fantasy option.

24) Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Brendan SorsbyCincinnatiJr11,426522.11227421884559

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Sorsby started all 12 games for the Bearcats in 2024 after transferring in from Indiana. His ability to contribute in the run game, where he had 447 yards and nine touchdowns, is what makes him intriguing for fantasy rosters. It will be his second year in Scott Satterfield's offense, and he will have one of his favorite targets in TE Joe Royer. It's worth noting that Cincinnati did lose four of their top five receivers, so there will need to be some chemistry built with the new pass-catchers. There's also some newer talent in the backfield with Ohio State transfer Evan Pryor (he did play in a reserve role at Cincinnati last year) and Wisconsin transfer Tawee Walker. In a competitive Big 12 conference, the Bearcats should put up some impressive offensive production weekly, and Sorsby should remain front and center in that offense.

25) Kevin Jennings, SMU

2025 Fantasy Projection

    Fantasy  Passing  Rushing 
Player NameTeamEligibilityByePtsPPGGYdsTDINTYdsTD
Kevin JenningsSMUJr12,52642212316423103595

2025 Fantasy Outlook

Jennings broke onto the national scene last season after usurping presumed SMU starting quarterback Preston Stone early in the campaign. After Stone struggled early on for the Mustangs, Jennings was inserted in his place and was a full-fledged starter by the third game. The SMU staff banked on his upside, and it's easy to see why; he finished the season with 3,245 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing 65.0 percent of his passes, adding 354 yards and five scores on the ground. Jennings is a legit dual-threat option with an excellent arm, and he figures to be one of the ACC's best quarterbacks in 2025 and a potential darkhorse Heisman contender if he continues to develop and flourish in offensive coordinator Casey Woods' scheme. Jennings will have to get used to some new pieces around him, as SMU loses its top running back (Brashard Smith) and receiver (Roderick Daniels). Still, the Mustangs return talented pass-catching tight ends RJ Maryland and Matthew Hibner, as well as their No. 3 receiver from last season, Jordan Hudson (39 catches , 422 yards, five scores). If Jennings can get acclimated to his new skill players quickly, this offense could be even more dangerous in 2025.

For the full list of rankings and projections of the quarterback position, visit the rankings page linked near the top of the article.

Want to Read More?
Subscribe to RotoWire to see the full article.

We reserve some of our best content for our paid subscribers. Plus, if you choose to subscribe you can discuss this article with the author and the rest of the RotoWire community.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Chris is the college football editor and the Kansas City Chiefs beat writer. He's a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Jake attended college at the University of Alabama, where a childhood love for college football truly blossomed. During his time in college, Jake started his own blog, where he wrote about all sports, but it mainly focused on college football, NFL and MLB while also giving gambling advice. Jake now covers college football for RotoWire.
Jeff has provided sports content for numerous sports outlets and has played fantasy sports since scores had to be tabulated via newspaper. He started working with RotoWire in 2017. Originally from South Carolina, he's a lifelong Clemson fan now enjoying the sun in Los Angeles.
NHL, MLB and CFB contributor at RotoWire. Previously covered MILB for Metsmerized Online and MetsMinors.net.
Chris Morgan is a writer of sports, pop culture, and humor articles, a book author, a podcaster, and a fan of all Detroit sports teams.
Luke Nemoir is a breaking news writer and customer service representative at RotoWire as well as a current Sophomore at UW Madison. When not at the office, he enjoys new movies, the spirit of Christmas, and long walks on the beach.
Seamus Rohrer is a RotoWire breaking news writer from Brooklyn, NY. He is currently a journalism student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Cameron Wilhorn writes about fantasy sports for RotoWire
RotoWire Logo

Continue the Conversation

Join the RotoWire Discord group to hear from our experts and other College Football fans.

Top News

Tools

NFL Draft Kit Logo

NFL Draft Kit

Fantasy Tools

Don’t miss a beat. Check out our 2025 NFL Fantasy Football rankings.