Projected winners from all of the key fantasy QB battles around the NFL.
The Top Quarterback Training Camp Battles to Track for Fantasy Football originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
With teams around the NFL back in pads, fantasy football draft season is picking up steam. It's imperative to follow the latest news on training camp positional battles, and we have you covered on the key competitions to keep tabs on over the next few weeks.
Also see: Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends
Cleveland Browns
Joe Flacco vs. Kenny Pickett vs. Shedeur Sanders vs. Dillon Gabriel
The past, present (maybe), and future of Cleveland will duke it out to become the starter, a role more important for Cleveland's fantasy skill players than these quarterbacks themselves.
Flacco (40) will see the greatest upfront challenge from Pickett, a former first-rounder, albeit on his third team in as many years. The storied draft-day fall of Sanders won't matter if he outplays Gabriel in camp, although all three of these younger guys are just trying to make an impression on the coaches for when their time comes later this year.
Projected result: This is Flacco's job to lose. So long as Cleveland is competitive, he gives everyone around him the best chance of success. Fantasy owners of Jerry Jeudy, David Njoku, and the running backs should root for Flacco's defiance of Father Time. If he leaves the lineup, expect Sanders to be granted the longest look in what would become a lost season.
Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Richardson vs. Daniel Jones
Arguably the worst quarterback room with significant fantasy implications, Indy features a newcomer in Jones battling an oft-injured Richardson for the QB1 gig. The 2023 NFL Draft's fourth-overall pick has missed significant time in each of his first two campaigns. Given the draft investment and raw upside, be certain Indy's brass wants Richardson to win in convincing fashion.
Jones is fully healthy from a November 2023 ACL tear and is now able to lean more on his sneaky athleticism. The Duke alum also can rely on his experience advantage. It's difficult to envision him not being better than Richardson at consistently incorporating multiple aerial weapons, such as Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, and Tyler Warren.
Simply put, a Richardson win is good for his value at the detriment of anyone catching passes as well as the TD potential for running back Jonathan Taylor. A Jones victory spells safer floors across this passing game -- and more scoring upside for Taylor -- at the expense of one fewer quarterback play most weeks.
Projected result: Barring Jones running away with it in camp to such a degree that Colts players will be angry with him not earning the starting job, Richardson should open Week 1 as the presumed starter. Whether he can avoid another serious injury and/or operate as an NFL-caliber passer long enough to retain the role is up to the football gods. Richardson's rushing chops alone will make him a fantasy-relevant option, whereas Jones would be merely a desperation matchup play.
New Orleans Saints
Tyler Shough vs. Spencer Rattler vs. Jake Haener
This one really has the feel of a wide-open competition. Internally, the Saints have every reason to hope for Shough to win the job going away, and it will be surprising if he isn't given more leeway than the others. A second-round selection out of Louisville in April's draft, Shough's collegiate career was marked by three consecutive injury-ravaged seasons (2021-23). At 6-foot-5, his best trait is natural arm talent, though his athleticism isn't a selling point.
Rattler showed very little when pressed into action as a rookie in 2024, throwing four touchdowns and five picks over seven appearances. To his credit, the Saints were ravaged by injuries, and he looked slightly improved down the stretch. Rattler needs to show he can let it fly and not play so timidly in camp.
Haener received first-team reps early in camp, a sign new head coach Kellen Moore is open to the best player winning the job. As for the 2023 fourth-rounder, Haener attempted only 39 passes in his short career -- all coming last season -- with dreadful results. Unless he makes massive strides under Moore's leadership, consider him the third option for now.
Projected result: Already the oldest QB of the trio, despite being a rookie, Shough should secure the job by the end of camp or early in the preseason. The Saints have limited talent, elevated injury concerns among its core positional players, and the line is suspect. Avoid Shough himself in fantasy, and expect only modest results from Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave.
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Related: Two Fantasy Football Tight End Training Camp Battles to Monitor
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Football
