The quarterback position has been redefined in recent years. This is true in both fantasy football and the "real" NFL. The emergence of dual-threat quarterback has changed the game. One could argue that Lamar Jackson is solely responsible for ushering in a new era, but that's a conversation for another day.
Fantasy football managers are now acutely aware of the benefits of rushing production from quarterbacks. The early rounds of drafts are full of mobile quarterbacks who create with their legs.
But when these players are off the board, which quarterbacks should drafters turn to? These quarterback sleepers (selected after pick 100 per FantasyPros Consensus ADP) are drafters' best bets to return value.
Who are the best fantasy QB sleepers for 2024?
The days of being able to wait until the mid-to-late rounds to grab an elite quarterback in fantasy football are behind us. Over the last several years it has become clear that rushing quarterbacks carry elite upside, and the ADPs for these types of players have been adjusted accordingly. While it used to be frowned upon to draft a quarterback in the first couple of rounds, especially in home leagues, if you want a Jalen Hurts or even an Anthony Richardson, you have to draft them early. While the following players may not have as high of a ceiling, they could provide even more value based on when you draft them.
Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
In his final collegiate season, Jayden Daniels was electrifying game after game before being named the Heisman Trophy winner. The former LSU Tiger put on a show, particularly with his legs. But his highlight reel was also littered with deep balls to Brian Thomas Jr.
Daniels' fantasy value will undoubtedly be driven by his ability to produce as a rusher. Last season at LSU, Daniels racked up 1,134 rushing yards. This was the highest mark of any FBS quarterback last season.
Those who watched Daniels know that he is willing to scramble and is quite effective as a rusher. But the degree to which he is willing to scramble is not discussed enough.
He is getting outside the pocket and creating yards with his legs at a ridiculously high rate. This scramble rate and overall rushing production (94.5 yards per game) won't completely translate to the NFL. But nothing is stopping Daniels from being one of the most effective dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL.
The impact of rushing ability on quarterback fantasy production is well documented. In the current landscape of fantasy football, it is incredibly difficult to finish as a top-tier quarterback as a pure pocket passer.
Rushing ability certainly unlocks a new ceiling for many quarterbacks. But it also provides a fairly steady floor for quarterbacks who heavily rely on their legs. In the last six seasons, every quarterback who has eclipsed 700 rushing yards has gone on to finish as a top-10 quarterback.
Daniels is certainly a candidate to hit this mark this season. If his college rushing production halves (47.25 yards per game), he would be on a 17-game pace of 803 yards. This is by no means a perfect projection but just goes to show the magnitude of Daniels' collegiate rushing production.
If he can stay on the field and translate his rushing ability to the big leagues, Daniels could very realistically finish as a top-10 quarterback in his rookie season.
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
The fantasy community's relationship with Trevor Lawrence has been a rollercoaster ride so far. Last season, Lawrence was pegged as the up-and-coming gunslinger who had a chance to emerge into the upper tier of quarterback ranks. After a "disappointing" season, drafters now want nothing to do with Lawrence, who is drafted as the QB17.
There's no denying that Lawrence's 2023 campaign was disappointing as he failed to truly break out. But it should not be considered a complete failure. He still finished as the QB13 in a season where nothing went in his favor.
Lawrence's season was highlighted by injuries and asking, "what if" plenty of times.
Lawrence dealt with injuries to his shoulder, head (concussion), knee, and ankle last season, all of which hampered his ability to produce.
In terms of the numerous drops and near-miss touchdowns, Lawrence led the league in EPA lost to dropped passes. As a result, he finished the season with just 21 passing touchdowns, a far cry from what he's capable of given his talent and weapons at his disposal.
It seems that drafters have moved on from Lawrence and the Jaguars offense too quickly. Lawrence is capable of breaking into the top-10 quarterbacks if he reaches his ceiling. Even if his 2024 performance isn't a ceiling outcome, he is a great bet to beat out an egregious QB17 price tag.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford is drafted as the QB20 in fantasy drafts, making him a phenomenal option for those who completely punt the quarterback position. Stafford might be 36 years old, but he is still a field general with arm talent that few quarterbacks possess.
His talent, combined with Sean McVay's ingenious offensive scheme, can lead to some bloated stat lines for Stafford. We saw plenty of this in 2021 when Stafford passed for 4,886 yards and 41 touchdowns en route to a QB5 season. And he did this without breakout rookie Puka Nacua on the roster.
The Rams feature one of the league's most talented wide receiver tandems. Nacua, along with Cooper Kupp, make any quarterback's job easy.
Last season, Kupp's ankle injury held the duo back from performing to its maximum potential. But as Kupp's health improved over the course of the season, the offense started to hit its stride. Following the Rams' Week 10 bye, Stafford finished out the season averaging 19.4 PPG, ninth among quarterbacks.
Stafford will require astronomical passing numbers once again to be a top-5 quarterback. But if he picks up where he left off with Kupp and Nacua, a top-12 season is a reasonable expectation.
2024 Fantasy Quarterbacks: Deep sleeper QBs
In leagues with bigger rosters, there may still be more value to be had in the later rounds after the previously mentioned signal callers are off the board. While quarterbacks don't often provide a splash from the depths of draft boards, there are several players who could be meaningful in fantasy depending on your roster-build despite their late-round price tag.
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks : Geno Smith is just two years removed from a QB5 season. The Seattle offense features an incredibly talented receiver room, and a new scheme under Ryan Grubb should bring the most out of the offense.
Will Levis, Tennessee Titans : The Tennessee Titans are another team that will feature a new offensive playcaller in 2024. Brian Callahan should introduce a pass-heavy approach that will allow gunslinger Levis to push the ball downfield at will.
Drake Maye, New England Patriots : As a prospect, Maye was primarily commended for his arm talent. But he was fairly effective as a rusher at UNC, something that would cushion any struggles as a passer early in his career
Late-round QB dart throws
Ideally, the quarterback position will have been adequately addressed by this point in the draft. But for SuperFlex leagues or those who are hungry for the deepest sleepers, consider these quarterbacks.
- Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
- Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
- Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers
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