2020 College Football Draft Kit: Quarterbacks

We're kicking off our 2020 Draft Kit for the upcoming college football season with a look at the top quarterbacks in the fantasy landscape. Our staff of beat writers pitched in to write outlooks for the top quarterbacks in the nation and give a glimpse of what to expect from this loaded position group. 

There are the established high-upside players like Texas' Sam Ehlinger and Clemson's Trevor Lawrence to go with some ascending talents who aren't household names just yet like East Carolina's Holton Ahlers and Kent State's Dustin Crum. And graduate transfers like Georgia's Jamie Newman and Miami's D'Eriq King are ready to make some noise for their new programs. And of course, there's Heisman runner-up Justin Fields leading the way as the nation's top quarterback. 

1.) Justin Fields, Ohio State

In most years, a 40:1 TD:INT and 10 rushing touchdowns at the helm of an undefeated team would give a player a pretty compelling case for the Heisman. That was Fields last season, but he was up against a historic season from Joe Burrow for the award. Now Burrow is off to the NFL and Fields is the top overall player in college fantasy football, and he's arguably worthy of that distinction in a non-fantasy lens as well. At 6-3, 228 with powerful athleticism and a big arm, Fields simply takes over games every time he steps on the field. He had eight games with at least one rushing touchdown on top of multiple passing touchdowns. Tack on the fact that he plays in a well-designed offense loaded with weapons like Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson and there's reason to believe Fields can come close to replicating his 2019 passing stats. There's also a chance that Fields' rushing production sees a slight uptick with J.K. Dobbins gone and Ohio State having somewhat of an unproven backfield by its usual standards. Fields' ability to affect the game through the air and on the ground, along with his stellar supporting cast, make him the clear top player for fantasy in 2020. -John McKechnie

2.) Sam Ehlinger, Texas

Ehlinger is one of college football's top returning quarterbacks after completing 65.2 percent of his passes for 3,663 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2019 to go along with 163 rushing attempts for 663 yards (4.1 yards per carry) and seven more scores on the ground. It is worth noting that Texas will be installing a new offense in 2020 with new offensive coordinator, Mike Yurcich, who led Oklahoma State's explosive offense from 2013-2018. While Ehlinger lost his two top receivers, Devin Duvernay and Collin Johnson, to the NFL, he has a pair of talented wideouts in Jake Smith and Brennan Eagles who should help him return value as one of the first signal-callers picked in fantasy drafts this year. -Nick Grays

3.) Holton Ahlers, East Carolina

Ahlers went from a raw passer with some rushing upside in 2018 to a complete fantasy weapon in 2019, and 2020 could be even better. He bumped up his completion rate from 48.3 percent to 59.7 percent and his YPA jumped from 6.8 to 7.7. Ahlers also has the added benefit of playing in an up-tempo (74.6 plays per game) system that throws well over 50 percent of the time. And when those passes are going to ascending stars like C.J. Johnson and Tyler Snead against soft competition, the opportunity for gaudy numbers is there for Ahlers. There's also the rushing element that Ahlers brings to the table, although his 6.4 rush attempts per game down the stretch could suggest that East Carolina is trying to dial back that part of his game. Even still, Ahlers will still be a threat near the goal line to poach some rushing touchdowns. Ahlers has the ability, supporting cast and system to be a Top 5 quarterback this season. -John McKechnie

4.) Trevor Lawrence, Clemson

Lawrence has been a model of consistency in his first two years with the Tigers, averaging 3,472 yards and throwing for at least 30 touchdowns each season. He took a step forward for fantasy owners last year, adding 103 rushing attempts, 563 yards and nine scores. There are some minor concerns for Lawrence's fantasy appeal, however. He's often removed early from contests due to lopsided scores, giving him a lower floor than other top quarterbacks weekly. Some rushing score regression can be anticipated, and Lawrence will be throwing to an unproven, though talented, group of young receivers following the departure of Tee Higgins and the season-ending neck injury to Justyn Ross. The talent remains elite, and Clemson figures to remain one of the nation's highest-scoring teams, so there's little reason to shy away from Lawrence as a top option, but it's possible his fantasy ceiling has already been established. -Chris Bennett

5.) Sam Howell, North Carolina

Howell is looking to build on an impressive freshman season that saw him throw for 3,641 yards and 38 touchdowns. How can he improve those totals as a sophomore? By being more efficient, as he completed "just" 61.4 percent of his throws, ranking a moderate 54th nationally. Howell will have a full complement of weapons to target, as the Heels return their top two leading rushers and top five receivers, led by a dynamic duo of Dazz Newsome and Dyami Brown, both of whom topped 1,000 yards and scored at least 10 times in 2019. Beau Corrales' 6-foot-4 frame gives Howell a bigger receiver to target inside the 20, and another year in the system with returning weapons suggests we haven't seen the best from Howell yet. He tossed multiple scores in every game last season, making him a consistent weekly option who could flirt or eclipse 40 TDs in 2020. -Chris Bennett

6.) Asher O'Hara, Middle Tennessee State

O'Hara took over the reins as the starting quarterback for the Blue Raiders in 2019 and turned into what was effectively a one-man offense. He wasn't just leading the passing game, as he was far-and-away the top rusher for Middle Tennessee State in his redshirt sophomore season as well. O'Hara rushed for over 1,000 yards with nine touchdowns while no other player on the roster had more than 290 yards. That's impressive, but it's also a bit concerning. Can O'Hara keep on carrying that much of the offense? He remains the engine of the offense, but the addition of two grad transfer running backs suggests that MTSU may be looking to lighten his rushing burden at the very least. -Chris Morgan

7.) Brock Purdy, Iowa State

Purdy is developing into an elite quarterback prospect after ranking fifth in the nation in 2019 with 3,982 passing yards and leading the Big 12 with 306.3 passing yards per game in an offense that's not historically racked up passing statistics. This is evident from the 21 school records that Purdy has established in his two astonishing years with the Cyclones. Iowa State returns just five offensive starters, but luckily for Purdy, one of those is running back Breece Hall who was an active part of the passing game with 28 targets in his eight games of action last season. He'll also benefit from the return of security blanket Charlier Kolar, one of the top tight ends in college football. Expect Purdy to be one of the best quarterbacks in the conference as he further builds his resume for the NFL. -Nick Grays

8.) Jamie Newman, Georgia

Newman is a graduate transfer from Wake Forest with the inside track at the starting quarterback job for the Bulldogs. USC transfer JT Daniels could be a factor if granted eligibility, but all signs point to Newman being the guy in Athens. Newman had a standout campaign for the Demon Deacons in 2019, completing over 60-percent of his passes for 2,868 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also flashed his dual-threat ability, rushing for 574 yards and six more scores. His ability to run the football should give the Bulldogs offense more variety as compared to Jake Fromm, though certainly Newman is not as polished of a passer. However, behind a better offensive line, Newman can still be one of the better passers in the SEC this season. -Jesse Siegel

9.) Dustin Crum, Kent State

Crum was one of the great out-of-nowhere stories in 2019 and now he enters his senior season as one of the top fantasy quarterbacks in the country. His blend of accuracy and mobility make him an asset for any team. His two regular-season interceptions were the second-fewest in the nation behind Ohio State's Justin Fields, and his 69.2 percent completion rate ranked 8th in the nation among qualified passers. And in terms of mobility, finished ninth among quarterbacks in rushing yards with 560. Crum is also surrounded by a talented supporting cast headlined by star receiver Isaiah McKoy, who is among the best in the MAC. The Kent State signal-caller has everything working in his favor and is in line for another standout season in 2020. -John McKechnie

10.) Shane Buechele, SMU

Buechele is back for his senior season and is in a favorable spot at the helm of SMU's up-tempo offense. He finished sixth in the nation in passing yards in the regular season and added 33 touchdowns against just nine picks on 443 attempts. SMU lost James Proche to the NFL but Buechele won't be wanting for talent given that Reggie Roberson and matchup nightmare Kylen Granson are back in the fold. Buechele won't offer much rushing production and his passing numbers may already be maxed out, but even if that's the case, the SMU signal-caller is a safe option with a high floor in an offense geared towards gaudy production from its passing game. -John McKechnie

11.) Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State

It was a steep learning curve for Sanders in 2019 as the youngster saw ups and downs while being forced to split reps with Dru Brown towards the end of the season. He'll look to make a big jump from his 2,065 yards and 16 touchdowns through the air and cut down on the 11 costly interceptions. Sanders' best quality is his legs as he had 628 yards and two touchdowns on 139 rushing attempts. He won't be without a supporting cast as the Cowboys return 19 starters including running back Chuba Hubbard and wideout Tylan Wallace who are two of the best weapons in all of college football. Considering the serious dual-threat ability and surrounding talent, Sanders has a lot of upside in the upcoming season. -Nick Grays

12.) Kedon Slovis, USC

How good was Slovis as a true freshman? So good that he prompted J.T. Daniels, once one of the most sought after recruits in the country, to transfer. When Daniels got hurt, Slovis stepped in for the Trojans. Slovis himself dealt with injuries as well, effectively missing two full games. However, when the freshman was on the field, he thrived in Graham Harrell's offense. Slovis completed 71.9 percent of his passes for 30 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Combining the spread offense with USC's talent level, and the clear potential in Slovis, could lead to some elite production -Chris Morgan

13.) D'Eriq King, Miami (FL)

Assuming King can hold up physically and mentally to the increased weekly competition at a Power 5 school, something he's done in small sample sizes previously, he looks poised to have a huge campaign for the Hurricanes. King's rushing ability makes him a high-end option in all fantasy formats, having rushed for 28 scores over the past three seasons, including six in just four games in 2019 before injury and redshirting. He comes in experienced in a spread offense, which the Hurricanes will transition too under new offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, formerly at SMU where he made Shane Buechele a fantasy commodity. Don't let Miami's lack of receiving stats fool you on the talent King has at his disposal, the Hurricanes are still loaded with speed and size at all skill positions, those players just havent been put in a position to succeed. Offensive line concerns are valid, and King may not have the nuances of Lashlee's system down immediately with no spring, so it could take a while to get going. But once everyone is on the same page, this offense is poised to pop on a weekly basis. -Chris Bennett

14. Ian Book, Notre Dame

Book isn't flashy, but the third-year starter offers consistency and a combination of passing and rushing upside. He's coming off a 2019 in which he finished 14th in points among quarterbacks and was one of just five quarterbacks to throw for 3,000 yards and run for another 500. There are some serious questions about his supporting cast, however. Chase Claypool, Cole Kmet and Chris Finke accounted for 65 percent of the targets and 62 percent of the receiving touchdowns and they're all gone. The top returning receiver, Javon McKinley, had 268 yards in 2019. So Book could be in for significant regression in terms of his passing efficiency, especially his bloated 8.5 touchdown percentage when he won't have the usual offseason program to get acclimated to his new starting wideouts. Book has enough experience and mobility to prevent a total production collapse, but expecting an improvement of his 2019 may be a reach. -John McKechnie

15.) Kellen Mond, Texas A&M

Mond is the top returning quarterback in the SEC this season, having combined for nearly 3,400 yards and 28 total touchdowns as a junior. Mond completed a career-high 61.1-percent of his passes in 2019, while also posting career bests of 500 yards rushing and eight touchdowns on the ground. Mond's dual-threat ability will keep him productive on a weekly basis, even in the SEC. He will also have a deep, talented roster of skill players at his disposal, including Jhamon Ausbon, who finished sixth in the SEC in receiving yardage last season. Mond enters his third season as the undisputed starter for the Aggies and could even be a dark horse for the Heisman Trophy. -Jesse Siegel

16.) Dillon Gabriel, UCF

Central Florida's quarterback situation was supposed to boil down to Brandon Wimbush and Darriel Mack coming into 2019, but it was Gabriel who ended up taking over and leading the Knights to a 10-win season. Gabriel was remarkably impressive, particularly for a freshman. Despite not starting every game, he finished with 29 passing touchdowns against just seven picks. He loses top target Gabriel Davis, but talented options like Tre Nixon and Marlon Williams are more than ready for elevated roles. Tack on Central Florida's well-designed system and Gabriel has everything in place to have another powerful season for fantasy. -John McKechnie

17.) Kyle Trask, Florida

Trask, a career backup dating back to his high school days behind D'Eriq King, finally got his shot to lead a team in 2019 and he didn't miss. He led the Gators to an Orange Bowl victory on the strength of his impressive 10-game stretch as a the starter. He threw for 2,775 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven picks while completing 66.7 percent of his passes at 8.3 YPA. Trask loses several of his top receivers, including Van Jefferson and Freddie Swain, but he still has the best tight end in the country, Kyle Pitts, at his disposal. That helps. Toss in the fact that Florida ranked 12th in passing play percentage in 2019 and the door is open for Trask to challenge for the SEC lead in pass attempts (outside of K.J. Costello at Mississippi State, of course). With Trask's talent and accuracy being amplified with elite volume, he's a dark horse to finish as a Top 10 quarterback this season. -John McKechnie

18.) Micale Cunningham, Louisville

Cunningham quietly finished 2019 third nationally in passer rating at 194.8, behind only Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa. Despite not assuming the full time starting role until Week 3, Cunningham finished the season with 2,543 total yards and 28 combined touchdowns. His ability to run seemingly keeps his floor safe (second on team with 122 carries), and he's thrown only 245 career passes in two seasons, suggesting there is room for growth in his second season as a starter in Scott Satterfield's offense. Louisville returns their top two running backs and three of their top four receivers from a year ago. It all adds up to Cunningham taking a step forward. That may not have always felt like the case when watching Cunningham last season, as the offense used a lot of smoke and mirrors to create mismatches. Despite the passing efficiency, Cunningham didn't always pass the eye test. As such, expecting just modest statistical improvement, assuming 12 starts, is the safer play here. But Cunningham carries a higher ceiling than most. -Chris Bennett

19.) Chevan Cordeiro, Hawaii

Last season, Cole McDonald threw for over 4,000 yards with 33 touchdowns as Hawaii's starting quarterback. Cordeiro had 907 yards, eight touchdowns, and three picks in spotting McDonald as the primary backup for the Rainbow Warriors. That includes one start, though it was against a pretty easy opponent in San Jose State. McDonald has graduated, which means Cordeiro is in line to be Hawaii's new starter. In the past, that has traditionally meant the potential for gaudy numbers. However, the team has a new head coach in Todd Graham, and he doesn't necessarily come from the same school of thought. Could Hawaii's offense get a little less freewheeling, and what would that mean for Cordeiro's numbers? - Chris Morgan

20. K.J. Costello, Mississippi State

Costello had an injury-plagued 2019 campaign at Stanford, but he has the chance for a huge rebound campaign as a graduate transfer with Mississippi State in 2020. Under new head coach Mike Leach, Costello will get the chance to air it out in the pass-happy, Air Raid offense. He will have a potent running back at his side in the form of Kylin Hill, the leading returning rusher in the SEC. Add in the return of leading receiver Osirus Mitchell, and Costello looks poised to return to his 2018 form when he passed for 3,540 yards and 29 touchdowns, even in the SEC with games like Alabama, LSU and Auburn on the schedule. -Jesse Siegel

21.) Adrian Martinez, Nebraska

Martinez didn't experience the breakout campaign many were expecting in 2019. While some of that could be attributed to Martinez battling a nagging knee issue, it's worth noting that Martinez's rushing numbers (144 carries for 636 yards and seven touchdowns) were essentially on par with what he recorded as a freshman. Where Martinez struggled most was in the passing game, finishing the season with just a 59.4 completion percentage and a 10:9 TD:INT ratio to go along with 7.8 passing yards per attempt. A second offseason in the Frost system should pay dividends, though it's worth noting top target JD Spielman has opted to transfer elsewhere for his final season. Wan'Dale Robinson seems the likely candidate to hold that mantle in 2020 after hauling in 40 passes for 453 yards and two scores last year. Jack Stoll should also supply a reliable option at tight end. -Chris Benzine

22.) Sean Clifford, Penn State

Clifford has things in place to be a major fantasy factor this season. He was productive as a first-year starter in 2019 with 28 total touchdowns and over 3,000 total yards, but he could take off in 2020. Yes, K.J. Hamler is gone, but Pat Freiermuth is a top tier tight end and Jahan Dotson is an ascending star who can fill the void left by Hamler. On top of that, Penn State is installing a new offense under Kirk Ciarocca, who turned Tanner Morgan into a 30-touchdown beast in 2019. If blue-chip receivers like Daniel George, John Dunmore and TJ Jones can take the next step, Clifford will have a stacked receiving corps in an offense designed to take shots deep down the field. His current draft price does not reflect his upside.

23.) Hendon Hooker, Virginia Tech

Hooker enters 2020 as a feast or famine option, seemingly stuck between taking a giant step forward or possibly losing his starting job. At his best, he's arguably the best dual threat quarterback in the ACC, running at least 10 times in all but one start last year while accumulating 18 total touchdowns in eight games. But whether it's a lack of confidence from his coaching staff or poor decision making, Hooker was often left to dink and dunk, forcing the ball downfield only when the scoreboard necessitated. He completed a mere 98 passes once assuming his starting role, and any early season struggles will likely lead to extended chances for Oregon transfer Braxton Burmeister or Quincy Patterson. The ceiling for Hooker could be 3,000+ total yards and 20+ touchdowns, but the floor could be he's replaced before October, which makes him a lottery ticket QB3 in larger formats on draft day.

24.) Sam Hartman, Wake Forest

With Jamie Newman transferring to Georgia, Hartman appears free of the shadow that he battled for playing time over the past two seasons, with each earning and losing the job to one another. In two games last year where Hartman saw extended action, he threw for 658 yards and two scores, and Hartman also had seven multi-touchdown showings as a freshman in nine games before ceding snaps to Newman. He's not nearly as mobile as his predecessor, and Hartman has also show a tendency to lock into a receiver, namely Sage Surratt, and force balls his way downfield. Outside of Surratt, the Deacons receiving corps is inexperienced, which won't aid Hartman's development. There's upside here as a bit of a gunslinger, but Hartman is unlikely to be matchup proof as he takes back over the reins of this up-tempo, pass-happy offense.. -Chris Bennett

25.) Myles Brennan, LSU

Brennan has perhaps the biggest shoes in all of college football to fill. All his predecessor Joe Burrow did was have arguably the best season for a quarterback in the history of college football. Burrow set all sorts of passing records in the SEC, won the Heisman Trophy and the National Championship, and was the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. Certainly, a tough act to follow. That being said, Brennan still has an outstanding supporting cast around him, including arguably the best wide receiver in the country in the form of Ja'Marr Chase. Brennan hasn't played much but was a four-star recruit out of high school in Mississippi. It could be trial by fire for Brennan as the Tigers begin life after Burrow.