College Football Draft Kit: 2018 Quarterback Preview

With the season around the corner, we'll be posting a series of position-by-position writeups this week to get you familiar with some of the top players in the college fantasy football landscape. We're kicking things off with the quarterbacks, where Khalil Tate has the honor of being the No.1 ranked fantasy signal caller in the nation. Behind Tate is an interesting mix of quarterbacks both experienced and new, with some quarterbacks taking over favorable situations and others being tasked with carrying their entire offense on their shoulders.

To see our growing list of projections for over 850 players, including kickers, click here.

1.) Khalil Tate ARIZONA

From the start of October onward, no quarterback struck fear in opposing defenses like Tate did in 2017. Tate had 26 total touchdowns over the final nine weeks of the season and racked up 1,325 rushing yards in that stretch. Now that Tate enters the year as Arizona's unquestioned leader, he'll rightfully draw plenty of Heisman buzz. New coach Kevin Sumlin's track record in developing dual-threat quarterbacks only bolsters Tate's stock heading into 2018. There's no other quarterback that can take over a game like Tate, which makes him appointment viewing every week.

2.) Kyler Murray OKLAHOMA

Murray is finally ready to get his shot after a circuitous first three years of his college football career that included a transfer from Texas A&M and a year as Baker Mayfield's backup. It's easy to forget just how talented Murray, a former five-star, is as a dual-threat option. In limited action last year he completed 18 of 21 passes for 359 yards and three scores. He also ran for 142 yards on just 14 carries. Murray running Lincoln Riley's offense with elite team context over a full season will net absurd production both on the ground and through the air.

3.) Nathan Rourke OHIO

Rourke burst on the scene in 2017 to become one of the most dominant fantasy quarterbacks with 38 total touchdowns -- including a school single-season record 21 rushing scores. And there's room for improvement. He completed just 55.1 percent of his passes with a 7.5 YPA, so it stands to reason that those numbers will improve with a year as the starter under his belt. Even if he doesn't repeat his 20-plus rushing scores, Rourke is a safe bet for rushing scores in the mid-teens to go with increased passing numbers to make him a top fantasy option in 2018.

4.) Will Grier WEST VIRGINIA

Grier reintroduced himself to the college football world in 2017, throwing for 3,490 yards and 34 touchdowns in just 10 full games before suffering a broken hand against Texas. He could be even more dangerous this year in a pass-first, up-tempo offense that returns one of the nation's best receiving corps headlined by David Sills (18 TD in 2017). There are very few weaknesses to Grier's game and if he can shave off some of the turnover issues from last year (12 INT), he'll finish this year as the top fantasy quarterback in the Big 12.

5.) Justice Hansen ARKANSAS STATE

Quietly, Hansen was one of the nation's best fantasy performers last year and he shows no sign of stopping even with several big contributors no longer on the roster. Volume is Hansen's calling card; he was sixth in the nation in pass attempts per game at 40.6 and he accounted for 44 total touchdowns. Tempo is the fuel behind Hansen's success with Arkansas State running the third-most plays per game in the nation. With no major coaching staff changes, there's no reason to think Hansen can't put up similar production again in 2018, which makes him an elite fantasy option.

6.) Dwayne Haskins OHIO STATE

As a redshirt freshman, Haskins completed 70.2 percent of his passes for 565 yards, including a 6-for-7 effort at Michigan in the regular-season finale. Joe Burrow's transfer following spring solidified Haskins claim to the throne as prior to fall camp. While the sophomore signal-caller doesn't possess the running skills of J.T. Barrett, he grades out as a better passer and shouldn't have much trouble orchestrating a talented Ohio State offense in 2018. The continuity of the returning top pass-catchers from a season ago should also ease Haskins' transition.

7.) Jordan Ta'amu MISSISSIPPI

Most people were ready to write off Ole Miss after Shea Patterson went down with a knee injury until Ta'amu stepped in and didn't miss a beat. The former JUCO star was actually more accurate (66.5 percent) and efficient (9.7 YPA) than his predecessor and now has a full offseason working as the starter. Ta'amu has the advantage of playing in the second-most pass-heavy system in the SEC and the Rebels boast the SEC's best receiving corps. Combine all those factors along with natural improvement from Ta'amu and we see a quarterback poised for a big year.

8.) McKenzie Milton UCF

The loss of Scott Frost raised some concerns about a drop off for Milton, but UCF's hire of Josh Heupel from Missouri should keep the offense humming. Milton accounted for 45 total touchdowns and 4,650 total yards at the helm of the No.1 scoring offense in 2017, and while that'll be tough to top, there isn't a major regression coming, either. UCF is also expected to play at an even higher tempo this season, which is always something to consider when choosing a quarterback. The offense will look different, but Milton will still have elite production.

9.) Trace McSorley PENN STATE

McSorley gets overlooked a bit as a fantasy asset, but he was among the most productive players in the nation last season, averaging 31.2 fantasy PPG in standard formats. He's losing Saquon Barkley and his offensive coordinator, but Penn State is still loaded at the skill positions and the scheme won't change much after promoting an in-house option. In fact, McSorley might be better positioned to produce this year without Barkley eating up such a large share of the offense. Look for McSorley to be the ringleader of an offense that'll be better than expected.

10.) Malcolm Perry NAVY

The Midshipmen have gotten by with more powerful quarterbacks running the triple option since Keenan Reynolds left, but now the offense belongs to the speedy Perry. Though sample size is small for Perry, it's promising. He rushed for 1,182 yards and 11 TDs on just 138 carries last year and of the six games in which Perry had 10 rushing attempts, he ran for over 100 yards in five of them. The tradeoff in rostering a Navy quarterback is that you're punting on passing stats, but when the rushing production is this consistently explosive, it's worth it.

11.) Jawon Pass LOUISVILLE

The former blue-chip recruit is ready to follow in Lamar Jackson's footsteps and lead the Cardinals. Pass is immensely talented in his own right at 6-4, 220 with arm talent to match his athleticism. He'll also be working within a scheme that gets the most out of its quarterback and Pass will have one of the top receiving corps in the ACC at his disposal to help mitigate the learning curve. Pass flashed his ability when given the chance, completing 23 of 33 passes for 238 yards and two TDs. There's risk in spending a high pick on a mostly unproven quarterback, but Pass the skills and supporting cast end up being one of the steals of your draft by year's end.

12.) Nick Fitzgerald MISSISSIPPI STATE

The lack of practice time in a new offense while recovering from ankle surgery is concerning, but Fitzgerald is still one of the top quarterbacks in the game. His passing is never going to be prolific and he faces tough competition every week. And yet, he still produces. Fitzgerald would have easily surpassed the 1,000-yard mark on the ground had he not gotten injured in the regular season finale. At his best, Fitzgerald is a devastating runner that brings enough as a passer to keep defenses honest, which is more than enough to keep his elite status.

13.) Tyree Jackson BUFFALO

Jackson (6-7, 245) is a hulking quarterback that seemed to figure things out down the stretch. He completed 63 percent of his passes for 1,363 yards, nine touchdowns, and two picks over his last four games, during which Buffalo went 3-1. A big reason behind that surge was his chemistry with Anthony Johnson, who blossomed into the MAC's best receiver. Jackson has the look of a breakout candidate, and even if he's not able to sustain that torrid pace he was on to end the year, he'll still be a top fantasy quarterback thanks to his skills and supporting cast.

14.) Taquon Marshall GEORGIA TECH

The option offense produces consistent results from its quarterback and Marshall was no exception last season, leading the team in rushing with 1,146 yards and racking up 17 rushing touchdowns. Of course, going after Marshall also means punting on passing production as he attempted just 116 total passes in 2017. Still, Marshall is a high-floor quarterback that will provide reliable rushing production on a weekly basis and is a fine pivot if some of the top air raid-type quarterbacks are off the board.

15.) Justin Herbert OREGON

If Herbert were guaranteed a fully healthy season and a system under Mario Cristobal that was just as effective as it was under Willie Taggart, he'd be much higher on this list. When healthy, few could match what Herbert could do on a per game basis last year, completing 67 percent of his passes with a 9.6 YPA in addition to posing a run threat. In seven full games under Herbert last yer Oregon averaged 49.7 points. Unfortunately, health has to be baked into the equation here, but he still could be kingmaker in most leagues even if he plays 10-11 games.

16.)D'Eriq King HOUSTON

King followed the Greg Ward blueprint of starting out at receiver for the Cougs only to supplant a high recruit at quarterback. And, like Ward, King proved to be a natural. He took over in October and completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,238 yards, six TDs and two picks. King also proved to be a rushing threat with a nose for the end zone, racking up eight rushing touchdowns. King won't have his top wideouts from last season, but he's more experienced and will be the do-it-all threat in Houston's offense.

17.) Caleb Evans LOUISIANA MONROE

Evans is a do-it-all signal caller for the Warhawks that can make plays both as a runner and as a passer. He threw 17 touchdowns and added 13 on the ground and kept the turnovers to a minimum with just six picks. He'll an excellent receiving tandem at his disposal with Marcus Green and RJ Turner back in the fold after combining for 94 receptions, 1,533 yards, and 11 touchdowns in 2017. It's also fair to reason that Evans has another level he can reach with a full year of experience under his belt.

18.) Shea Patterson MICHIGAN

With the eligibility controversy behind him, Patterson is ready to take the reins at Michigan. Big Blue hasn't been a trove of fantasy output in recent years, even under Jim Harbaugh, but Patterson's arrival forces Michigan to modernize its attack. Building more RPO looks into the offense plays to Patterson's skill set and stresses the defense in new ways. It's a small sample, but what Patterson showed at Ole Miss with arm talent and improvisational skill suggests he'll be a success at Michigan, particularly with the loaded skill group at his disposal.

19.) Drew Lock MISSOURI

Lock is one of the most talented and pro-ready quarterbacks in the nation, and entering his fourth year, it's fair to wonder why he isn't higher on this list. It has less to do with anything in Lock's control and more to do with Josh Heupel's high-powered system heading to UCF and Derek Dooley's slow-paced approach entering the fold. Lock's skill will still be on display and he still has red-zone nightmare Albert Okwuegbunam and big-play target Emanuel Hall at his disposal. But the introduction of a slowed-down, pro-style system will curtail his numbers.

20.) Brandon Wimbush NOTRE DAME

A rocky end to the season clouds how valuable Wimbush was last year. He ran for 803 yards and 14 scores and added 16 passing TDs. The disappointing part was his passing numbers. Wimbush was a blue-chip recruit partly because his passing ability, but he posted a 49.5 completion percentage and just 1,870 yards. He'll need to hold off some competitors to retain the starting job, but assuming he does, Wimbush will be valuable again. Wimbush's rushing ability gives him a solid floor, and a natural progression as a passer will make him even more valuable in 2018.

21.) Gardner Minshew WASHINGTON STATE

There's a bit of a hedge here with Minshew not arriving on campus until the summer, but if he's able to win the job, he'll be put in a position to put up big numbers. It's no secret that the quarterback in Mike Leach's system is always a lock to produce and even though Minshew will have a learning curve in mastering the scheme, he has what it takes to be a legitimate fantasy asset on The Palouse. He's not going to be Luke Falk, but Falk was a former walk-on, so it doesn't take a five-star to execute the system at a high level.

22.) Eric Dungey SYRACUSE

As is always the story with Dungey, he's a dominant player when healthy. But his max effort play style every down has led to injuries that have been a major part of his college career. Dungey regressed a bit statistically last year (59 completion percentage, 6.6 YPA), but his showings against Clemson and NC State show that he's a problem for the opposition when healthy. There will be some risk taking him as your top quarterback considering he's never played a full season, but the payoff of 12 games worth of Dungey production could be huge.

23.) McLane Carter TEXAS TECH

The Red Raiders don't have the luxury of having a clear succession plan at quarterback the way they did last year, but Carter appears to have the edge and with that, he's got major fantasy appeal. Kliff Kingsbury doesn't need an elite talent at quarterback for the offense to click; Nic Shimonek completed 66 percent of his passes and tossed 33 touchdowns and went undrafted. Carter needs to show a command of the offense and beat out Jett Duffey in order to get the keys to this Lamborghini of an offense. Just keep an eye on the competition heading into Week 1 to make sure Carter is the guy in Lubbock.

24.) Dru Brown OKLAHOMA STATE

No, he's not going to just pick up where Mason Rudolph left off, but Brown is the odds-on favorite to start for one of the best-designed offenses in the college landscape. Brown's numbers at Hawaii weren't eye-popping (2,758 yards, 18 TD, 8 INT) but it's worth noting he had next to no help on the roster. Taking over at Oklahoma State means an uptick in volume for Brown along with a major upgrade in supporting cast. With Justice Hill keeping opposing defenses honest in the run game, Brown will be frequently put in advantageous situations where he can thrive.

25.) Shawn Robinson TCU

There's a leap of faith involved here based on limited track record and shaky accuracy in 2017. That said, leaps of faith don't feel so risky when it comes to a player of Robinson's talent and a proven system at TCU. Robinson is a true dual-threat that will be a nightmare for Big 12 defenses. Having a year on campus with in-game experience will only help him hit the ground running as a starter. If he can dial in his accuracy, Robinson will easily surpass what Kenny Hill offered as a fantasy option and make his current ranking look foolish by season's end.