Fantasy & Betting
8/13/24
8 min read
Fantasy Football 2024: Ranking Top 32 Quarterbacks This Year
The days of selecting quarterbacks in the first round of fantasy drafts are over.
In the last several years, fantasy players have smartened up and have let quarterbacks fall in their drafts. A big reason is the overwhelming depth of the position.
Quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins, Matthew Stafford, and Aaron Rodgers aren't even being drafted inside the top 16 quarterbacks in most leagues. Fantasy players can get high-end starters and productive fantasy options in the double-digit rounds more often than ever before.
However, there are still a few quarterbacks out there who offer higher ceilings and more upside than their peers. But of course, you'll have to pay up for those league-winners. So, without further ado, here are our top 32 quarterbacks for the 2024 fantasy football season:
Tier 1: elite quarterbacks
1. Josh Allen, Bills
2. Jalen Hurts, Eagles
3. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
4. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
The top four quarterbacks in fantasy football this season are pretty straightforward. Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, and Lamar Jackson all had 500+ rushing yards last season, and Allen and Hurts both scored 15 rushing touchdowns on the ground. In addition to their incredible passing production, these three quarterbacks offer elite upside on the ground and value anytime in Round 4 or later.
The most interesting name on this list is Patrick Mahomes, who is the league's best quarterback by a wide margin. But that doesn't always translate to elite fantasy production.
He doesn't offer the same rushing upside as the other names on this list (zero rushing touchdowns in 2023) and has never recorded a 400+ yard rushing season. Still, he deserves to be included because he is a threat to eclipse 5,000 passing yards and 40 touchdowns in any given season.
TIER 2: SOLID QB1 OPTIONS
5. Anthony Richardson, Colts
6. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
7. C.J. Stroud, Texans
8. Joe Burrow, Bengals
9. Kyle Murray, Cardinals
If you miss out on one of the top four quarterbacks, have no fear, as Tier 2 is loaded with solid options.
Dak Prescott, C.J. Stroud, and Joe Burrow are all pocket passers capable of throwing 35 touchdowns in any given season. All three throw to elite receivers, and none have elite rushing attacks to steal away volume. Prescott is probably the safest of the three, but Stroud has the most untapped upside, given his age and weapons.
Anthony Richardson and Kyler Murray are similar in the sense that most of their fantasy production will come on the ground. Still, they have significant injury concerns to be wary of entering the season. Richardson has legit QB1 upside, as he ran for four rushing touchdowns in 173 snaps last season. His health is a huge concern, but the potential is sky-high in 2024.
TIER 3: LOW-END QB1
10. Jordan Love, Packers
11. Brock Purdy, 49ers
12. Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins
13. Jared Goff, Lions
After the top nine quarterbacks, there is a group of pocket passers who will play in elite offenses that are worthy of being considered. Jordan Love, Brock Purdy, Tua Tagovailoa, and Jared Goff all posted fantastic numbers last season and should be able to replicate their success again in 2024.
However, this group is comfortably behind the previous tier of quarterbacks because of the lack of rushing upside. Of these four quarterbacks, Love had the most rushing production with 247 rushing yards.
That just doesn't give any of these players enough upside to win you weeks. However, all four quarterbacks should comfortably throw for more than 4,000 yards and post 30+ touchdowns.
If you prefer to "wait" on a quarterback, wait and pick one of these players in the double-digit rounds, and you will surely be happy with their production. Any of the four are good value picks and should post QB1 numbers weekly in your fantasy leagues.
Tier 4: Upside QB2 Options
14. Jayden Daniels, Commanders
15. Caleb Williams, Bears
16. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars
17. Justin Herbert, Chargers
Tier 4 is the most difficult one to rank. At the top, you have two rookie quarterbacks who will be Week 1 starters and have the ability to make plays with their arm and their legs.
Jayden Daniels has a higher ceiling in Year 1 due to his rushing upside, but Caleb Williams has more weapons and a better offensive line. We've seen plenty of rookie quarterbacks succeed right away, and it's understandable why they are being drafted this high.
The more intriguing names are Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert, highly paid quarterbacks who are widely considered to be franchise players. Herbert was a league-winner in previous fantasy seasons, but his lack of weapons and the fact that Greg Roman is running the offense could limit his overall passing attempts.
Lawrence still has Doug Pederson running the show in Jacksonville, but the Jaguars lost Calvin Ridley this offseason and did not make significant upgrades to their offensive line. He has also never thrown more than 25 touchdowns in a season, and it's fair to wonder if this will be the year that he takes a big step forward in his passing production.
All of these quarterbacks have the upside of being starters on your fantasy teams, but consider drafting them as high-end backups rather than every-week starters.
TIER 5: OL' RELIABLE
18. Kirk Cousins, Falcons
19. Matthew Stafford, Rams
20. Aaron Rodgers, Jets
21. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers
22. Geno Smith, Seahawks
Older quarterbacks usually don't provide much in the run game, limiting their fantasy upside. But these five quarterbacks are capable of huge passing performances, making them incredibly useful in fantasy leagues.
The most interesting name on this is Kirk Cousins (sorry, Aaron), who signed with the Falcons this offseason. He'll join an offense with a fantastic offensive line and three playmakers who are former top-10 picks. As long as Cousins can stay healthy, the veteran quarterback is a threat to throw for 5,000 yards and 35+ touchdowns with his new team.
TIER 6: UNKOWN UPSIDE
23. Deshaun Watson, Browns
24. Will Levis, Titans
25. Bryce Young, Panthers
26. Drake Maye, Patriots
27. J.J. McCarthy, Vikings
28. Bo Nix, Broncos
This is one of the most interesting groups because it has five players in either Year 1 or Year 2 of their careers and a former fantasy superstar in Deshaun Watson. It's a make-or-break year for Watson, who has a ton of talent around him and a pass-first offensive coordinator (Ken Dorsey) by his side. The Browns need Watson to be successful, but his injury history and poor play during the last several years make him a tough buy in fantasy leagues right now.
Will Levis and Bryce Young had rough rookie seasons, but the Titans and Panthers loaded up on weapons to make them successful in Year 2. Levis has the higher ceiling due to his rushing upside and should be drafted earlier.
Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy will likely sit for a few weeks to start the year but should see the field early in their rookie seasons. The same is true for Bo Nix, who will likely open the year as Denver's starter, but his lack of weapons could limit his fantasy upside early in the season.
Tier 7: Avoid At All Cost
29 Derek Carr, Saints
30. Daniel Jones, Giants
31. Russell Wilson, Steelers
32. Aidan O'Connell, Raiders
Unless you are in a Superflex or two-quarterback league, it's best to avoid these names altogether. Outside of Derek Carr, all four quarterbacks have unstable job security.
Daniel Jones is coming off a torn ACL, and the Giants signed Drew Lock to a modest contract this offseason. Russell Wilson and Aidan O'Connell are currently entrenched in quarterback battles for their respective teams, and even if they win their jobs, neither possesses the fantasy upside worthy of a draft pick.
Of these four quarterbacks, Jones is probably the best bet because of his rushing upside, but his passing ability makes it easy to pass on him. Avoid this tier of quarterbacks if at all possible.
