With the NFL Draft less than a week away, dynasty managers are champing at the bit to get their hands on these new rookies. Whenever that happens, veteran players can sometimes be overlooked, causing their prices to drop. Here are nine QBs I’m trying to acquire before dynasty managers realize what’s going on.
- 2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2024 Dynasty Rookie Draft Rankings
- 2024 NFL Draft Guide
- Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
Dynasty QB Trade Targets
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It’s tough finding discounts at the top of the rankings but these three are all undervalued. C.J. Stroud saw a meteoric rise in the rankings since the season ended, which was boosted by the addition of Stefon Diggs. The return of others like Joe Burrow and Anthony Richardson, along with the great performances of Lamar Jackson and Jordan Love, have pushed some studs down in value.
Josh Allen lost Diggs and the team appears to be in a rebuild. Patrick Mahomes just won his second straight Super Bowl but is still looking for a true WR1. Hurts lost All-Pro center Jason Kelce to retirement and his “tush push” could be in jeopardy. All of these narratives have forced some reactionary dynasty managers to sell them off for ascending assets.
This is where I like to strike. All three quarterbacks are dynasty studs and worth whatever price you will pay for them. If there’s any discount available, you should capitalize now before that discount goes away. All of the narratives around these players are overblown. I’m not worried about any of them in dynasty. Get them and don’t worry about paying fair market value.
Mid-Range Options With Upside
If managers in your league aren’t offering discounts at the top, try looking a little further down the rankings for values instead. These are quarterbacks in rockier situations with more uncertain futures. That being said, all three are definite starters for 2024 and potentially longer. These are terrific QB2 options for Superflex leagues but also great options for backups with upside in 1-QB leagues.
Justin Herbert looks to be in the worst position of the three with the addition of Greg Roman and Jim Harbaugh to the coaching staff. Roman specifically wrecked a lot of Jackson’s passing value but Jackson was able to make it up with his feet. I’m not sure Herbert can do the same. On top of that, the top two receiving options on the Chargers are Quentin Johnston and Josh Palmer. Yikes. Regardless, Herbert is young and could easily see a bounceback this season depending on how the draft goes.
Baker Mayfield is an older QB who is perceived as being on a short leash. I don’t think he is. Mayfield finished as the QB16 in points per game (PPG) last year (QB10 overall), which is very good for a QB2 in fantasy. The team doesn’t seem interested in moving on from him either. Tampa Bay gave him a massive three-year, $115 million deal this offseason. With all of the other questions they have to address at the draft, I’d be shocked if they drafted anyone to challenge his role on the team.
Unlike Mayfield, Will Levis struggled a little bit last year, but he was a rookie on a team in turmoil, so I’m willing to let that slide. Now he gets a full offseason as the starter, a new offensive-minded head coach in Brian Callahan and some terrific new weapons in Tony Pollard and Calvin Ridley. I think Levis takes a big step up this year and I’m fine acquiring him at his current dynasty value. He’s currently being ranked behind Justin Fields, who is potentially a backup. That’s great value.
Discount Options
If you’re more interested in shopping in the discount bin, these are the guys for you. All three could be fantasy starters this year or not even see a start for your team. This variation in outcomes is why they’re priced so low. That being said, let me elaborate on why I like them at their price.
All three are expected to be backups, but all three could end up starting more than expected this season. Jacoby Brissett is likely getting a rookie QB to compete with in New England. Sam Howell has veteran Geno Smith in Seattle to compete with. Adrian O’Connell will have to beat out Gardner Minshew in Las Vegas. That said, all three could easily win their starting jobs at some point in the season.
For Brissett, he could see meaningful playing time as the rookie the team drafts gets up to speed. The Patriots have so many holes it could be a bad idea to throw a rookie into that system too soon. Smith has looked okay for the Seahawks but the team might want to see what they have in Howell at some point. O’Connell looked average last year, starting 10 games and finishing with a 12-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
All three seem to have the team’s backing heading into 2024 in one way or another. All three also have plenty of starting experience under their belts to be a bridge quarterback in whatever way their teams need. Bridge quarterbacks are often undervalued in dynasty due to their shorter lifespan, but those are exactly who I want to add to my bench in case of injuries or bye week needs. I’m fine adding all three of these for the right cost. Most managers are fine sending them away with the mindset that they won’t matter in the long run. That feels like a win-win.
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Andrew Hall is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Andrew, check out his profile and follow him @AndrewHallFF.
