Over the years, we’ve seen a shift in mentality regarding quarterbacks in fantasy football. The “old school” mindset stipulated that quarterbacks were not worth selecting in the early-to-mid rounds of drafts. However, each season has seen quarterbacks’ average draft positions (ADP) getting progressively lower. The continued production from stars like Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson has made top-tier quarterbacks highly coveted in drafts.
Selecting one of the top-tier quarterbacks likely means sacrificing some of your depth at wide receiver or running back. The more traditional fantasy managers may not be willing to make this trade-off. Luckily, the 2024 fantasy football season offers a wide variety of sleeper quarterbacks. There are plenty of options for those who intend on acquiring quarterback value late in drafts.
The following list contains players who, despite their current ADP, will be great contributors to fantasy lineups. These players are ideal for those who will adopt a late-QB strategy during draft season.
- 2024 Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2024 Best Ball Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
Fantasy Football Draft Sleepers: Quarterback
Tua Tagovailoa (QB – MIA)
Rarely do you see a quarterback lead the NFL in passing yards and proceed to be an afterthought in fantasy football a mere year later. Tua Tagovailoa produced at an incredible rate in 2023, but this has yet to be reflected in drafts. His current cost as the QB14 is one of the best values on the market at this juncture.
Last season, Tagovailoa proved to be worth every penny of the four-year, $212 million-dollar contract he recently signed. Per Pro Football Focus (PFF), he ranked first in passing grade and second in big-time throw percentage among quarterbacks with at least 100 drop-backs. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel developed the ideal system catered to Tagovailoa’s strengths. The result was an explosive offense that provided fantasy production on multiple fronts.
What’s perhaps most exciting about Tagovailoa’s 2024 fantasy outlook is the fact that this offensive unit has remained relatively unchanged. He’ll still benefit from the stellar pass-catching duo of Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill. The two have combined for more than 2,800 receiving yards in each of the last two seasons. What’s more, he’ll continue to have the support of the league’s most explosive running game spearheaded by De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert. McDaniel is one of the brightest and most creative offensive play callers in the league. He’ll continue to put his franchise quarterback in advantageous situations.
Tagovailoa produced these counting statistics despite only having the ninth-most pass attempts in the league in 2023. The Dolphins often found themselves in blowouts, where they’d elect to run the clock out via the run game. That being said, the team lost several key defensive pieces during the offseason. Christian Wilkins and Xavien Howard departed in free agency. Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillps continue to rehab from injuries that will likely rule them out for a considerable part of the 2024 season. This defense will struggle to replicate its performance as PFF’s fourth-highest-graded unit. This will lend itself to closer games and more passing volume for Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa is also due for positive touchdown regression. The running backs on this team combined for an absurd 27 rushing touchdowns in 2023. It’s safe to project some of these touchdowns coming through the air in 2024. Tagovailoa will be the primary benefactor of this regression.
Matthew Stafford (QB – LAR)
Matthew Stafford is a great sleeper for very similar reasons. Like Tagovailoa, he benefits from continuity within the offensive ecosystem. He’s coming off an extremely efficient season that was somewhat masked by a lack of touchdowns. He has an incredible duo of WRs that are often schemed open by an ingenious play-caller. What’s best is Stafford’s even cheaper price as the QB19 in fantasy.
Among quarterbacks with a minimum of 100 dropbacks, Stafford ranked seventh in passing grade, sixth in big-time throws and fifth in yards per attempt. His turnover-worthy play percentage of 2.0% was third-lowest amongst qualifying quarterbacks (per PFF). The former Detroit Lion has produced at a high level from the moment he put on a Rams jersey. There are no indications that these performances won’t continue in 2024.
Puka Nacua‘s emergence as a bonafide superstar provides Stafford with an exceptional one-two punch at wide receiver. According to PFF, both Nacua and Kupp finished the 2023 season having averaged more than 1.85 yards per route run and 5.5 yards after catch per reception. The running game, led by Kyren Williams (PFF’s fourth-highest graded runner in 2023) and highly-touted rookie Blake Corum, will be a factor for opposing defenses to consider as well.
The Rams’ defense was ranked 20th by PFF in 2023. The retirement of perennial All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald will have drastic effects on this unit. While head coach Sean McVay tends to make his teams perform above the sum of their parts, this defense will concede points at a high rate in 2024. Stafford will find himself in shootouts often and will be tasked with an increase in passing volume.
It is nevertheless worth mentioning that Stafford carries a considerable injury risk. He’s missed time in both the previous seasons and has fought several nagging ailments over the years. At any rate, a healthy Stafford is a fantasy asset worth starting weekly. He’s an excellent sleeper for those who opt for a late-round quarterback approach.
Kirk Cousins (QB – ATL)
Admittedly, history would suggest that betting on a 35-year-old coming off a season-ending Achilles’ injury is unsound. Cousins’ health is a genuine concern heading into the 2024 season. That being said, these concerns are more than accounted for at his current price as the QB18.
Prior to his injury, Cousins was on pace to have one of his best seasons yet. Among qualifying quarterbacks, he ranked first in adjusted completion percentage and seventh in passing grade (PFF). This translated to fantasy football, where he produced as the QB6 during that span.
Now in Atlanta, Cousins will have the joy of working with many intriguing weapons. For one, Drake London is an emerging star at wide receiver. His career yards per route run of 1.96 (per PFF) suggests that he is due for a breakout season in 2024. Tight end Kyle Pitts is another pass-catcher on the brink of stardom. His 12.6 yards per reception ranked third amongst TEs with at least 40 targets in 2023. Finally, the running back duo of Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier will be an effective complement to the passing game led by Cousins.
5 year NFL QB @KurtBenkert is very high on new @AtlantaFalcons QB Kirk Cousins fantasy value this season ????????????️
"There's no way he doesn't have a TOP 10 year statistically." @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/PWAtzebMHu
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) June 27, 2024
Head coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson figure to instill the ideologies they learned under McVay’s stewardship with the Rams. In particular, Robinson operated as the Rams’ quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator over the years. As I highlighted earlier, the Rams have been excellent through the air. The team ranked ninth in PFF passing grade in 2023. Cousins will benefit from an efficient system that will cater to his abilities as a passer. All things considered, Cousins’ upside is well worth the investment in drafts.
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