Quarterbacks to Draft: Jalen Hurts, Anthony Richardson, Lamar Jackson (Fantasy Football)

By now, most fantasy football managers have heard of the term Konami Code. As it sounds, it’s become a cheat code of sorts. Rich Hribar of Sharp Football Analysis coined the term as it relates to fantasy football. In his words from this 2013 article:

If you’ve never played Contra, it doesn’t matter (except we can never be friends). What’s important is that this is the most famous cheat code ever created. And I’m here to tell you that the Konami Code has been entered into our game of Fantasy Football, namely the rushing quarterbacks and how they affect standard scoring.

Since then, rushing quarterbacks have taken the league by storm. It’s important to know the strategy and identify potential Konami Code quarterbacks to target in fantasy football drafts. Here’s a look at some of 2024’s crop of Konami Code quarterbacks.

Konami Code Rushing Quarterbacks

Pat Fitzmaurice breaks down Konami Code Rushing Quarterbacks to consider in upcoming fantasy football drafts.

Jalen Hurts (PHI)

Jalen Hurts finished QB2 in fantasy scoring in 2023, but there are reasons for concern heading into the 2024 season. After averaging 25.6 fantasy points per game during a banner 2022 campaign, Hurts’ scoring average dropped to 21.9 FPPG in 2023. His passing yardage per game fell from 246.7 to 226.9, and his yardage per attempt slipped from 8.0 to 7.2. Hurts also had slippage in completion percentage and touchdown rate, and his passer rating plummeted from 101.5 to 89.1. On the bright side, Hurts provided ample rushing value, with 605 rushing yards and 15 TD runs, the most ever for a quarterback in a single season. The fear is that Hurts’ fantasy value could take a tumble in 2024 if there’s a significant drop-off in rushing touchdowns. TD runs accounted for 24.1% of Hurts’ 2023 fantasy points. If Hurts is to remain a top-three fantasy quarterback, he’ll probably need to boost his passing efficiency.

Lamar Jackson (BAL)

Lamar Jackson has long been the best running quarterback in football — and quite possibly the best of all time. But Jackson made enormous striders as a passer in 2023, thriving under the tutelage of first-year Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Jackson established new career highs in passing yardage (3,678), completion percentage (67.2%) and yards per attempt (8.0). And of course, Jackson provided plenty of fantasy value as a runner, with 821 rushing yards and five TD runs. Jackson finished QB4 in fantasy scoring in 2023 despite being held out of the season finale, and he had a spectacular stretch run for his fantasy managers, averaging 27.8 fantasy points per game in Weeks 14-17. Jackson will once again take his rightful place on the top QB tier for 2024 fantasy drafts.

Anthony Richardson (IND)

Injuries limited Anthony Richardson to just four games in his rookie season, but that appetizer-sized portion of Richardson left fantasy managers craving an entree-sized portion in 2024. Richardson went on injured reserve in October after sustaining a grade-3 AC joint sprain in Week 5. He also missed a game after a Week 2 concussion. But in the two full games he played, Richardson was dazzling, with 21.9 fantasy points in Week 1 and 29.6 points in Week 4, good for weekly fantasy finishes of QB4 and QB2. Richardson had three TD passes and four TD runs. He averaged 0.43 fantasy points per snap. Putting that into perspective, Josh Allen, who led all QBs in fantasy scoring, averaged 0.36 fantasy points per snap. The 6-4, 244-pound Richardson has a rare combination of size and speed that makes him one of the best running QBs in the league. And based on the small 2023 sample, he may be a more advanced passer than he was billed as in the run-up to the 2023 NFL Draft. Richardson’s fantasy stock is ready to soar.