The quarterback position in most fantasy football leagues often goes overlooked. You primarily sit in two camps: either go after the stud quarterback early, or sit back and draft whoever falls the furthest with some value. This year, you can take the latter approach and not lose too much in your weekly matchups, as there are 17 quarterbacks on the board that I wouldn’t hesitate to be my starting quarterback for fantasy this year. Honestly, I could probably get to 21 without too much of an argument.
My personal draft strategy for quarterback in 2024 is to wait until the 5th round, and see who’s left on the board at that point. If any of my top five quarterbacks are available, I am probably going to draft one of them. If not, then I will happily wait quite a bit longer, opting instead to load up on skill position talent until I have an opportunity to get a quarterback at good value. Now that you know how to approach the position in your draft, let’s dive in to the rankings.
Tier 1
1. Lamar Jackson (QB, BAL) – Lamar Jackson is the most exciting quarterback in the NFL right now. He posted the best passing yardage total of his career and his third-highest rushing total on his way to another MVP award. He led the position in fantasy points per dropback while also playing the most games in one season of his career. Todd Monken’s offense suits Jackson well, and in year two of the system, I am projecting another step forward. Baltimore’s top wide receiver Zay Flowers showed that he still has more to bring to the Ravens offense. Not only that, but Isaiah Likely had a mini breakout in Mark Andrews’s absence. Oh yeah, and Derrick Henry arrived in Baltimore to give the Ravens, an already efficient run game, the most dynamic rushing attack in the NFL. Henry may steal some touchdowns here or there, but the duo should benefit from each other as one, Henry, will rely on touchdowns, and the other, Jackson, can rack up rushing yards.
2. Josh Allen (QB, BUF) – Josh Allen has been the best quarterback in fantasy football in four of the last five seasons, falling just 18.8 fantasy points short in 2022 of making it five in a row. He has a fair chance to do it again this season, but there are some questions about who his WR1 will be now that Stefon Diggs has moved on. Keon Coleman is not a Diggs replacement, even for the most generous of analysts, either in skill level or play style. Allen also benefitted last season from James Cook’s lack of power as he bulldozed his way to 15 rushing touchdowns, a mark he is not likely to repeat in 2024. Buffalo’s situation on offense is eerily similar to the Chiefs of last season. Dalton Kincaid will need to step up in a significant way while also staying healthy all season for Allen and the Bills to remain one of the top offenses in football. That being said, Allen brings a lot more rushing value than Mahomes, which should keep him in the elite tier of fantasy quarterbacks once again.
3. Patrick Mahomes (QB, KC) – When it comes to Patrick Mahomes, there is very little to say. He is likely to go down as the greatest ever to play the game. For fantasy football, he is somewhere in the same conversation. Last year was the worst non-rookie season of his career, posting over 4,000 total yards and nearly 30 touchdowns as the QB8. Those are still incredible numbers, especially when given the context that his wide receiver core was absent anyone who has surpassed 700 receiving yards in a single season. His only viable option was Travis Kelce, who dealt with injuries on and off. Luckily for Mahomes this season, he welcomes Marquise “Hollywood” Brown as well as rookie Xavier Worthy, and for at least part of the season, he will have his top receiver from 2023, Rashee Rice. The Chiefs made all the right moves to surround Mahomes with weapons that are an excellent fit for what the Chiefs do best. Mahomes is due for a bounce-back season in 2024. My current projections have him with just over 5,000 total yards and 38 total touchdowns.
4. Anthony Richardson (QB, IND) – Anthony Richardson is everyone’s favorite breakout fantasy football player, and for good reason. Last season, Richardson led the league in fantasy points per dropback and averaged more fantasy points per game than peak Patrick Mahomes. Now, zoom out a little, and we realize it was an incredibly small sample size, and that is why he isn’t already the QB1. The range of outcomes for Richardson in 2024 is wider than any player in the league. His upside is palpable, but he has a long history of injuries, and he has minimal experience as a starting quarterback, whether it be in college or the NFL. I don’t always say high-risk players are worth it, but for Richardson, I am all the way in. If he plays an entire season, he is, at worst, a top-five quarterback, and that is worth the gamble.
5. Jalen Hurts (QB, PHI) – Jalen Hurts at QB5 is an affront to many fantasy managers, and I understand if you are rage-quitting your browser window. He is in the top tier for a reason, but there are reasons to expect a decrease in production in 2024. First of all, his all-pro center, Jason Kelce, retired, and even a good replacement option needs to make up for the veteran experience and chemistry that Kelce brought. Secondly, the Eagles brought in Saquon Barkley to replace D’Andre Swift. The upgrade is a significant change when it comes to Hurts’ goal line scoring potential. For context, Barkley saw a 66% success rate on converting runs inside the five; Swift, in that same metric, saw a 33% success rate. Why does this matter for Jalen Hurts? 25% of his fantasy production last season came from his rushing touchdowns (15). The tush push has been kind to the Eagles quarterback. If you create some modest adjustments and bring Hurts down to his season average for rushing touchdowns without Swift (9), he would have been QB5 last season. Checks notes, that math is mathing.
Tier 2
6. Kyler Murray (QB, ARI) – Fantasy managers have forgotten just how good a healthy Kyler Murray is. In his first three seasons in the NFL, he was QB6 overall on average. Just two seasons ago, Murray was a near lock to throw for over 3,500 yards while rushing for 500+. In 2024, he has breakout tight end Trey McBride, rookie and future superstar Marvin Harrison Jr. at wide receiver, and one of the worst defenses in the league. Those things all combine to create a fantasy dreamland. He is a screaming value at his QB10/11 ADP. If you are overly concerned about injury, pair him with a rookie signal caller like Caleb Williams or Jayden Daniels.
7. CJ Stroud (QB, HOU) – C.J. Stroud posted the best rookie season by a quarterback in NFL history. He single-handedly revived a Texans franchise that had still not recovered from the Deshaun Watson fiasco. Stroud’s rookie season naturally set the fantasy football world ablaze, and he shot up to QB3 in dynasty leagues. Still, there are reasons that I would advise against putting him in your top five players at the position, no matter if you are playing with one season in mind or beyond. The primary one is rushing. Stroud isn’t a complete zero with his legs, but he is close enough. For NFL purposes, that may not matter, but for fantasy, it means he needs to be throwing the ball around 600 times in a season, even to put himself in contention to be a top-five option at the position. The Texans added Stefon Diggs to an already impressive wide receiver room, but as things stand now, CJ Stroud doesn’t belong in the tier above and is probably being overdrafted at his QB5 ADP.
8. Joe Burrow (QB – CIN) – Joe Burrow has yet to have a normal offseason program in his NFL career. While that in itself is alarming, Burrow experienced a wrist injury last season that no other quarterback has ever had. It makes projecting his return slightly more challenging. Still, he has a decent offensive line and gets to throw the ball to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, so a 4,000+ yard season is well within reach. In the two seasons where he missed one game or less, he eclipsed the 4,500 mark while also throwing for 35+ touchdowns. This tier is chalked full of volume passers, and Burrow could find himself anywhere from QB5 to QB13, which makes him a difficult player to pull the trigger on at his current ADP.
9. Jordan Love (QB, GB) – Jordan Love got his bag this offseason, which is something of an unprecedented move for a quarterback who has played in just 20 complete games in his four-year career. The Packers refuse to miss at the quarterback position, to the dismay of the rest of the NFC North. Love broke out in a major way last season, throwing for over 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in his first entire season as the starter. Love also brings some rushing upside, adding 247 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground. With a young nucleus of pass catchers, Love should be firmly entrenched as a QB1 for 2024, especially with veteran play-caller Matt LaFleur calling the shots.
10. Dak Prescott (QB, DAL) – Dak Prescott had one of the best seasons of his career in 2023. CeeDee Lamb’s emergence as one of the best wide receivers in football, along with the breakout of tight end Jake Ferguson, helped Dak become one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league. Dak had a 4:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio last season while throwing for over 4,500 yards. He is due for some regression, but the Cowboys are returning many of their weapons, and Dak looks to be locked in for another top-10 season. The two things that move Dak to the back half of QB1 territory are the concerns with Dallas’ run game as well as their still stout defense.
11. Caleb Williams (QB, CHI) – Chicago has found its quarterback in Caleb Williams. They also seem dead set on not taking three-plus years to find out just how good Williams can be, surrounding him with the best weapons a number-one pick has ever had. He is still a rookie, so the early season could come with its bumps and bruises, but Williams can play, and Shane Waldron’s system is pass-heavy enough to see Williams support each of DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze. Managers may be best off if they pair Williams with a veteran with a soft start-of-season schedule.
12. Jayden Daniels (QB, WAS) – Jayden Daniels has all but claimed the starting job for the Commanders. He improved every year in college, both as a passer and a rusher. For fantasy football, the rushing is the reason he will be in the QB1 conversation all season long. The goal for Daniels in year one would be to be something reminiscent of what Justin Fields was during his time with the Bears. I know that sounds bad, but for fantasy, it was borderline elite. While he is not quite the athlete of Justin Fields, if he can post similar passing numbers (197 yards/game) and slightly less rushing production (~50 yards/game), he should clear most fantasy managers’ expectations and definitely bring value for his round 8/9 ADP.
Tier 3
13. Jared Goff (QB, DET) – Jared Goff has found the perfect system for him to succeed. Surrounded by the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs, Goff was able to accomplish the rare feat of ranking in the top ten in yards per pass attempt while having a bottom-three average depth of target. He gets his supporting cast back in 2024 and looks on track to flirt with QB1 numbers. The Lions’ defense should fare better with additions to their secondary during the offseason, and that is the only major thing that could lower Goff’s floor. Similar to Brock Purdy, Goff isn’t likely to see the same efficiency numbers, but he has the weapons and the skillset to stay on the fringes of QB1 territory.
14. Brock Purdy (QB, SF) – Last season, Brock Purdy proved to everyone that he is here to stay. He was a top-15 quarterback 11 times during the regular season, and 10 of those were top-10 finishes. With a 70% completion rate last season and a nearly 3:1 touchdown touchdown-to-interception ratio, Purdy is due for some regression, and the potential loss of Brandon Aiyuk would significantly impact his production in 2024. That being said, Purdy provides a high floor option if you wait a little too long at the position.
15. Justin Herbert (QB, LAC) – There is no getting around it: Justin Herbert is frustrating for fantasy football. Last season, he was on an absolute tear to start the year, posting five QB5 finishes or better by week six. It all fell apart from there as Herbert dealt with injury. This offseason was less than kind to Herbert as he lost his top three receiving weapons. Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman’s run-heavy approach should also reduce Herbert’s passing volume. The one thing that could keep him relevant for fantasy football is his usage in the run game. Herbert is a more than proficient runner but has yet to be asked to do that too much over his career. 2024 could see him eclipse the 350 rushing-yard mark, and that alone could help float him into the top 15 at his position.
16. Trevor Lawrence (QB, JAC) – Trevor Lawrence had some unfortunate touchdown variances in 2023. Outside of that, he was consistent with what he was able to do in 2022 when he finished the year as the QB8. The Jaguars added weapons in Brian Thomas Jr., an X receiver with a nose for the endzone, and everyone’s favorite overhyped wide receiver, Gabe Davis. Even with the loss of Calvin Ridley, Lawrence should see more of those touchdowns being converted in 2024. The final piece that could catapult Lawrence to the heights he was at as a prospect would be to cut down on turnovers. He has averaged 13 interceptions and seven fumbles lost per season. I don’t see that being fixed this year.
17. Tua Tagovailoa (QB, MIA) – Tua Tagovailoa had, far and away, the best season of his career last year. It helps when you have one of the best wide receivers in football, of course. The challenging part about navigating Tua as your fantasy quarterback is that he doesn’t get any floor with his rushing ability. He needs to either throw for 300 yards or have three touchdowns in a game to sustain high-end production. With Hill and a healthy Waddle, he could repeat what he was able to accomplish last season, but I wouldn’t bank on it.
18. Kirk Cousins (QB, ATL) – Kirk Cousins may be one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the NFL and fantasy football. He has been a QB1 in six of his last eight seasons, minus last year, when he tore his Achilles when he was on pace to be the QB6. It’s true that his recovery and schedule to start the season are not instilling confidence in fantasy managers. His schedule in its entirety has plenty of difficult matchups, but he also has an impressive supporting cast with Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson, and more. My current projections have him eclipsing 3,000 passing yards and throwing for 25 touchdowns.
19. Matthew Stafford (QB, LAR) – Matthew Stafford is in the twilight of his career, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a streaming option in your fantasy leagues. The breakouts of Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams helped Stafford notch another top-15 season. When it comes to 2024, Stafford’s best chance to help your team win is if you punted quarterback and chose to pair him with a Jayden Daniels type. The first two games on the Rams’ schedules look to be barn burners, and week one, especially when Stafford gets to go against his former Detroit Lions.
Tier 4
20. Deshaun Watson (QB, CLE) – We will focus on Deshaun Watson on the football field. On the field, Watson has not shown much left. He has struggled with injury and ranked near the bottom of the league in most passing categories. Right now, he is not a lock to be healthy and cleared to play in week one. He has a strong roster around him, including Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore, and Cedric Tillman. His completion percentage over the last two seasons won’t get it done for another year, so the hope for Watson is that he can start to succeed more when pushing the ball downfield. The upside isn’t there like it was early in his career.
21. Baker Mayfield (QB, TB) – Baker Mayfield had his career revived in his first season in Tampa Bay, throwing for over 4,000 yards. Mayfield was playing like a man possessed. He threw for the most touchdowns of his career while pushing the ball downfield more than he ever has, thanks in large part to Mike Evans. Mayfield did lose Dave Canales to the Panthers, which will hurt, but he still gets to throw to Evans, Chris Godwin, Richard White, and newcomer Jalen McMillan. Baker presents a high-floor streaming option, as he only fell out of the top 20 players at his position three times all season.
22. Geno Smith (QB, SEA) – Will the real Geno Smith please stand up? Geno went from QB5 in 2022 to QB19 last season. The truth is he aligns more with the latter. He has one of the best wide receiver trios in the league with DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Tyler Lockett. With the addition of Ryan Grubbs, it’s safe to assume this offense will be getting a facelift. Geno is more of a bye-week fill-in than anything at this point.
23. Aaron Rodgers (QB, NYJ) – Aaron Rodgers has been begging for the spotlight for the last two seasons, and we are rapidly approaching his time to shine. Unfortunately for Rodgers, his return is going to be much better for Garrett Wilson than it will be for him. The reality is that the last time Rodgers was on the field, he was already showing signs of decline. Now at age 40, returning from a torn Achilles, he is a streamer at best for fantasy football purposes.
Tier 5
24. Drake Maye (QB, NE) – Drake Maye was the third pick in the NFL Draft and could be a major sleeper for fantasy football. As things stand now, Jacoby Brissett is atop the depth chart but I don’t see him holding that spot for long. Maye brings a do-it-all skill set with him from UNC. He has a strong arm and posted over 1,100 yards rushing while starting in college. His only real challenge is the young, unproven pass catchers for the Patriots. Some combination of DeMario Douglas, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Javon Baker will be his primary weapons. It may be a bit of a grind, but if he starts within the first month of the season, he could have a late-season breakout.
25. Will Levis (QB, TEN) – Will Levis is a game of extremes for fantasy managers. He is a big game hunter, but he’s a terrible shot. The Titans brought in Tony Pollard, Calvin Ridley, and Tyler Boyd to help their young QB develop. If Levis continues to be aggressive, fantasy managers in two-quarterback leagues may reap the benefits. He has a strong arm and, when given the opportunity, has a big enough frame to be a bruising runner as well. Levis is not someone you should be considering in 1QB formats.
26. Bryce Young (QB, CAR) – Bryce Young will forever be known as the quarterback the Panthers traded for in the worst trade in NFL history. It’s an unfortunate start to his career, but we should not write him off entirely, especially in two-quarterback leagues. Young was given very little to work with in his rookie season as the Panthers traded away not just draft capital, but also Young’s would be number one target DJ Moore. It led to him being at the bottom of the league in yards per attempt (5.5) and average depth of target. It was a throwaway season, as now he gets Dave Canales from Tampa Bay, who helped to revive Baker Mayfield’s career. Young averaged 196 total yards per game and has a ways to go to earn that first-overall pick value. He gets Diontae Johnson, Xavier Leggette, and Jonathon Brooks this year to help him get there. While none of them present offense-changing ability, Johnson brings high-end route running combined with Legette’s elite athleticism, and both should help Young to continue developing.
27. Daniel Jones (QB, NYG) – Daniel Jones looks to make his return from a torn ACL last season. The former Duke product has a lot to prove after the Giants chose to re-sign him just last year. There are questions about whether he will be ready for week one, but regardless of when he plays, there are some significant concerns with Jones’ profile. His arm strength has been a problem at the NFL level, and that, combined with the Giants’ atrocious offensive line play, does not bode well for Jones’ fantasy football production in 2024. He has had one successful season for fantasy managers in 2022, where he was able to rush for over 700 yards and seven touchdowns. As always, quarterbacks who run are the secret sauce for fantasy football. With Jones suffering from an ACL injury last season, there are questions about how often the Giants will ask him to use his legs. The good news is that New York drafted Malik Nabers with the sixth overall pick. Nabers’ run-after-the-catch ability is the perfect fit for a quarterback who has proven to be accurate when he isn’t asked to push the ball downfield.
28. Russell Wilson (QB, PIT) – Russell Wilson finds a new home in Pittsburgh after two poor showings with the Broncos. It’s hard to tell if Wilson should bear the brunt of the responsibility or if the Broncos’ disaster of an offense was to blame, but either way, there are signs the end is near for the former Super Bowl winner. He was near the bottom of the league in average depth of target as he dropped below 7.5 yards, which was the lowest mark of his entire career. When Wilson was first brought in, he was a lock to be the starter for the Steelers, but since then, Justin Fields has arrived in town. With Wilson currently nursing an injury, the former Bear has impressed in camp. Once preseason hysteria settles down, Wilson should win this job early on, but I do project Justin Fields to get a shot in the late season, which lowers Wilson’s already low ceiling.
29. Derek Carr (QB, NO) – Derek Carr has been the definition of average for most of his career. In his first season with the Saints, we saw a marked regression in Carr’s play. He was outside the top-15 quarterbacks in nearly 40% of his games played and saw five weeks outside the top 20 at the position. Carr was falling apart physically all season and heading into his age 33 season. You would do your best to avoid him. Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara will try to lift Carr into fantasy relevance, but it is not going to be an easy task.
30. Bo Nix (QB, DEN) – Bo Nix should start as early as week one for the Broncos. He comes out as an older rookie with five years of college experience. He is mainly off the fantasy radar in Redraft, but in two-quarterback leagues, if you are desperate, he makes the safe plays and often doesn’t push the boundaries and takes care of the ball. He is a rookie, so who knows if this will translate, but if you needed a bye week fill in, and he does earn the job, he is at least in the area code of usable.