Second-Year QBs: Who’s Breaking Out and Who’s Breaking Hearts?

We’re a year removed from the 2024 rookie class. All the pre-draft takes, Senior Bowl buzz and NFL Combine metrics are well in the rearview. Now it’s about what actually happened when these quarterbacks touched an NFL field. Some held up. Some folded. All got some playing time.

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Let’s be clear, this isn’t a ranking. It’s not another recycled dynasty list. This is about figuring out who these guys are moving forward. Far too often, we look to the next class instead of really diving into these players as they enter year two. What’s real? What needs context? Time to step back and recalibrate the hype.

This is the first entry in a full series. Over the next few weeks, we’ll hit every position from last year’s rookie class — RBs, WRs and TEs. What’s changed? What still matters? And who’s worth paying attention to in fantasy moving forward?

Let’s start at the top: quarterbacks.

Second-Year Scouting Report: Quarterbacks

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Heralded as the next generational quarterback prospect, Caleb Williams was supposed to be the guy. The 1.01 in just about every rookie draft last year. A perfect profile. A fantasy savior.

He finished as QB16. Respectable, but if you spent up to get him, it felt like a letdown.

Now it’s a true make-or-break season. The Bears are setting the table for him to take that next step. They brought in Ben Johnson, added protection up front and surrounded Williams with legit talent at wide receiver and tight end.

He was sacked 68 times as a rookie. That’s a wild number. Some of that’s on the line. A lot of that is on him. Williams’ biggest challenge wasn’t the talent gap; it was adjusting to NFL speed and structure. You can see the flashes. The arm angles, the second-reaction magic, the natural playmaker stuff. However, he also held onto the ball too long and forced plays that simply weren’t there.

Year 2 is about discipline. Trusting the pocket. Getting the ball out. And learning when to take the checkdown instead of trying to go full backyard football on every snap.

Fantasy Take