After so many spectacular performances from the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen last season, fantasy football managers are drafting their quarterbacks earlier than ever.

Even many of the stodgy, old fantasy analysts who for years preached that waiting on the quarterback position was the way to go have changed their tune, and the ADPs for QBs are higher than ever.

Does that mean you have to reach to draft a high-end quarterback?

It does not.

Waiting for you just a few rounds later likely will be two players who struggled last season, but could finish this year inside the position’s top five.

With Todd Monken taking over as the offensive coordinator in Baltimore, Lamar Jackson should be high on your draft priority list.

His on-field rapport with tight end Mark Andrews already has given off Mahomes-Kelce vibes, but the Ravens will also now employ an Air-Raid system that features 65-70 percent passing plays called each game.

Receiver Rashod Bateman is back on the field after a foot injury sidelined him for most of the 2022 season, and the Ravens added veteran Odell Beckham Jr. and rookie Zay Flowers to the receiving corps.

That gives Jackson four bona fide pass-catchers ready to dominate every week.

But it’s more than just the weapons for Jackson. This offensive scheme, along with some RPO-infusion, stretches out the defense both horizontally and vertically which, in turn, opens up running lanes you could drive a boat through.

Jackson will be looking downfield, but once he sees the field open up, he’s going to take off running on his own. Not only will he likely throw for 3,000 yards for the first time since 2019, but also he should eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark as well. That’s fantasy gold in any scoring format.

If you miss out on Jackson, keep your eyes peeled for the Browns’ Deshaun Watson. Last season was a struggle for Watson, who missed all of 2021 and was suspended for the first 11 games of 2022. He stepped onto the field for the first time in Week 13 last year , and the rust was evident.

His throws were inaccurate, he wasn’t extending plays with his legs like he used to and his overall performance left little to be desired.

But after a full offseason working with the Browns and Kevin Stefanski’s system, Watson is ready to regain that glory. He was a game changer in 2020 for the Texans and appears primed to repeat that performance with an arsenal of receivers at his disposal.

There is no reason to panic if you don’t land an elite quarterback, and you don’t need to wait too long to get your guy either. The casual fantasy player will overlook Jackson and Watson for fear of the missed time and poor performances last season, but you know better. Follow two of the better offensive schemes in football and each will lead you to a quarterback you can trust all the way to your fantasy championship.

Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on Twitter @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to Fantasy-Alarm.com for all your fantasy football advice.