A common misconception is that positional tiers and rankings are the same thing. Sometimes people will enter a draft with one set of rankings and think they're good to go. But if you want to take it that next step further, and really be prepared when the clock is ticking on your next pick, then positional tiers is the way to go.
The positional tiers include the rankings for that position, but it breaks them up into different groupings. Of course, it will be impossible to get someone from the top tier or two of every position, but these groupings can help you identify when you may need to pivot from your original plan. If you're drafting at the turn, but a QB run appears to be starting a the end of the draft board, you have to make some important decisions very quickly.
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: 2024 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet
If you decide to stand pat on your original strategy of waiting until the later rounds for quarterback, you start to realize you run the risk of having to choose your QB from Tier 4 instead of Tier 3. That means most of the remaining QBs with rushing upside will be gone. It also means that the average age of the remaining QBs also goes up quite a bit, and with added age, usually comes added injury risks or risk of talent erosion. It could mean that instead of a Jayden Daniels or Trevor Lawrence, you have to choose between Kirk Cousins and Matthew Stafford - both of whom are injury risks.
The bottom line is that sometimes rankings don't tell the entire story. On paper, it may look like the drop from QB10 to QB13 is only a few spots. But if it also means you're dropping to a different tier, it could feel like a bigger drop than just a few spots.
And remember, if you're in Superflex leagues that allow you to play a QB in the flex position, quarterbacks will start flying off the board earlier. Always make sure you're familiar with the league rules and settings before you draft. Let’s break down the different strategies for drafting a QB and which passers will be available at various points in your draft.
2024 POSITION TIERS & DRAFT STRATEGY
RB | WR | TE | D/ST
Fantasy Football QB Tiers 2024: Who are the best fantasy football quarterbacks?
Rankings and tiers based on four-point passing TD leagues
QB TIER 1
1 Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
2 Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
3 Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
4 Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
5 Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
It wasn't that long ago where someone would pull the trigger on a quarterback in the first or second round of fantasy drafts in a home league, and the rest of the room would erupt in laughter. While you might still get some snickers if a signal caller is drafted in the first round, Josh Allen's current ADP is 20 according to FantasyPros' Consensus ADP.
It used to be called a cheat code if you were able to draft a quarterback with rushing upside, but the number of QBs with rushing upside continues to grow year after year. Just about everyone in this tier can do some serious damage on the ground, but most have also shown the ability to air it out as well. The floor the rushing provides combined with potential ceiling these players possess is intoxicating.
Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Jalen Hurts have all shown the ability to rush for 100 yards and throw for 300 yards in the same game. Those are matchup-breaking performances, especially if you play in leagues with bonuses for hitting those milestones.
We originally had Patrick Mahomes in the second tier, but come on, it's Patrick Mahomes! He may be our fourth-ranked fantasy QB, but he's still the best QB, and arguably the best player, in the NFL. He doesn't always rely on his legs, but when he needs to be, he can be very dangerous in the open field. And while there are still questions around the offense, especially not knowing whether Rashee Rice will face suspension for off-the-field incidents, the addition of rookie Xavier Worthy gives them a new deep threat that could really open things up for the offense and allow 34-year-old Travis Kelce to continue to eat underneath and across the middle of the field.
Anthony Richardson was only able to suit up for four games, but those four games of his rookie season were enough to catapult him into the upper echelon of fantasy QBs for this season. Because of the very small sample size, and because the jury is still out on his passing skills, this is the one pick in this tier that carries some inherent risk, but the potential ceiling is massive. Even as a rookie on a struggling team, Richardson was able to tally four rushing TDs and three passing TDs in those four appearances. I'd rather bet on those four games being a sign of things to come rather than potentially miss out on something special.
2024 PPR RANKINGS
Top 250 Overall | QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF/ST | K
Fantasy Football QB Tiers 2024: Second-tier quarterbacks
QB TIER 2
6 C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
7 Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
8 Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
The drop from Tier 1 to Tier 2 is not a very significant one. Stroud and Burrow don't carry the rushing upside as the players in Tier 1, and Kyler Murray has shown too many inconsistencies to put him any higher. But it also likely wouldn't surprise anyone if any of the three end up in that top tier by the end of the season. Both Stroud and Burrow have immense talent, but also have an embarrassment of riches in the passing game. Burrow once again will have Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and Stroud will have Nico Collins and Tank Dell again, but also adds in Stefon Diggs, who will be looking for a redemption season.
But based on where Kyler Murray is being drafted, combined with the addition of Marvin Harrison Jr. and the fact that he's much further removed from his torn ACL which cost him the first half of last season, Murray could be the best value at the QB position this season. There's a non-zero chance he could lead the position in points scored, and his ADP is only 66 right now. Plus, since you can potentially land Murray in the middle of the fifth round, you can also try to land Harrison and maybe even Trey McBride to make a potentially potent, but very affordable draft day stack in terms of draft capital.
Joe Burrow is one of the best pure passers in the league, but without much rushing upside, it's hard to rank him much higher. Plus, he's dealt with some annoying and nagging injuries over the last couple of season, which has also limited his ceiling. With Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and rookie Jermaine Burton in Cincinnati, Burrow should have no problem racking up stats through the air.
2024 FANTASY AUCTION VALUES (PPR & STANDARD)
Overall | QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF/ST | K
Fantasy Football QB Draft Strategy: When should you draft a quarterback?
QB TIER 3
9 Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
10 Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
11 Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
12 Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
13 Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
If you weren't able to grab one of the QBs in the top two tiers, it is highly recommended you do what you can to make sure you draft someone from this tier. The names that you'll read about momentarily in Tier 4 are all capable of having big seasons, but they carry more risk. Everyone in this tier has at least shown prolonged stretches of success, and some have even shown flashes of brilliance.
Plus, you have to remember that things can get weird pretty quickly in home leagues from time to time. Not only will some QBs be going much earlier than expected, some managers may start drafting backup QBs before you have your starter. Depending on roster sizes, it's often recommended to not even waste a roster spot on a backup QB, but all bets are off in home leagues, and you have to be ready to adjust on the fly.
Dak Prescott is back under center for the Cowboys, but despite Jerry Jones saying they were all-in for this year, they didn't make any splashy moves, and had both Ceedee Lamb and Micah Parsons salty that they don't have new contracts yet. Prescott himself is also looking for an extension. But the running back situation isn't ideal as 29-year-old Ezekiel Elliott is back with Rico Dowdle backing him up. They also just signed Dalvin Cook earlier this week. So, especially with Lamb now having signed a massive extension, you can expect Dak to have to air it out quite a bit this season.
While it's hard to know with any certainty who the top target will be in Green Bay, Jordan Love has no shortage of options. After a tough start to 2023, Love went on a tear in the second half of the season and finished the year as the QB5 in fantasy. It's hard to see that changing with such an expansive arsenal of weapons. Christian Watson has the speed to stretch the field, Jayden Reed is a great underneath YAC option and can also handle carries out of the backfield, both Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks round out a wide receiver corps without any glaring weaknesses. Plus, they also have Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft at tight end. They may not have that alpha stud leading the receiving options, but that many options will give defenses fits.
Two rookies enter the fray in Tier 3 in Jordan Daniels and Caleb Williams. We have Daniels ranked higher because of the potential rushing upside, but Williams enters perhaps the best situation of any rookie QB in recent memory. With veterans DJ Moore and Keenan Allen at WR and Cole Kmet at TE, and with the addition of rookie Rome Odunze, the Bears' receiving corps, at least on paper, is more potent than its been in quite some time. There are usually some rookie growing pains, but both Daniels and Williams are in promising situations and have the talent to have impressive rookie campaigns.
Trevor Lawrence lost Calvin Ridley, but the Jaguars drafted Brian Thomas Jr. and added former Bill Gabe Davis in free agency. Look for Lawrence to improve on last year's numbers and remind fantasy managers why he was so highly touted coming out of college.
2024 FANTASY SLEEPERS
QB | RB | WR | TE
Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: What happens when you "wait" at QB?
QB TIER 4
14 Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
15 Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
16 Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
17 Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins
18 Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
19 Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons
If you've made it this far, and still haven't drafted a QB, then don't waste much more time. These QBs do carry some question marks, but most of those question marks are injury- or age-related. After this tier, the questions and warts increase.
Jared Goff is traditional pocket passer and doesn't thrive under pressure, but the Lions boast an elite offensive line and an explosive offense, so most of Goff's weaknesses are hidden by the roster construction here. Brock Purdy can be very divisive, but much like with Goff, he's in an explosive offense. While pressure has gotten to Purdy at times in the past, if offensive tackle Trent Williams can stay healthy (and end his holdout), I don't expect any kind of significant drop-off from him.
Tua Tagovailoa clearly brings with him a hefty injury risk given his history of concussions. But the talent on Miami's offense is undeniable with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Odell Beckham Jr., and Jonnu Smith in the receiving game and De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert in the running game. It's a big if, but IF Tua can stay healthy, he can put up some big numbers.
Justin Herbert was drafted as last year's QB6 based on Fantasy Pros' Consensus ADP, so this is a precipitous drop for him. He struggled last year under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, but injuries to Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler didn't help matters either. Moore is gone, but Jim Harbaugh is in as the new head coach, and it's highly expected that he'll bring with him a run-heavy approach. Keenan Allen and Williams are both gone, so the receiving options aren't as strong either. Herbert has immense talent, but his lack of weapons and change in scheme limit his upside considerably.
Kirk Cousins and Matthew Stafford are 35 and 36 respectively, and both bring with them considerable injury risks. Cousins is returning from a torn Achilles, and Stafford has missed 18 games over the last four seasons. Cousins gets a change of scenery as he joined the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. But then the Falcons shocked everyone, including Cousins, when they drafted Michael Penix Jr. Given that Cousins is getting $90M guaranteed, it's hard to envision Cousins not holding onto this job given he doesn't suffer any setbacks in his return from the Achilles injury. And with Stafford, he still has that gunslinger mentality. Cooper Kupp is back healthy and reports indicate he's looking like the Kupp of old. Puke Nacua just suffered a knew injury in camp, and we're awaiting details on the severity, but if Nacua doesn't have to miss significant time, the Rams will boast one of the best 1-2 punches at WR in the league.
Fantasy Football QB Rankings Tiers: Weekly streaming options
QB TIER 5
20 Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
21 Will Levis, Tennessee Titans
22 Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Unless you're in a Superflex league, you likely shouldn't be drafting any of the QBs in this tier. That being said, each of these QBs could be a more-than-serviceable starter on any given week depending on their opponent. Aside from a memorable run out of the tunnel carrying the American flag in Week 1 last year, despite seemingly constant headlines, Aaron Rodgers was never able to get off the runway for the Jets. Garrett Wilson had a tremendous rookie season, especially considering who was throwing him the ball, so can he become Rodgers' new Davante Adams?
Will Levis showed some flashes in a tough situation last season. In addition to continuing to build his rapport with DeAndre Hopkins (who is currently hampered with a knee injury), Tennessee also brought in Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd.
Meanwhile, Baker Mayfield had an out-of-nowhere career-year last season. With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin still at his disposal and with Cade Otten continuing to make strides at TE, it could be another strong year for Mayfield.
Fantasy Football quarterback sleepers
QB TIER 6
23 Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
24 Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
25 Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
26 Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
27 Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
28 Drake Maye, New England Patriots
This tier is a mix of young signal callers and veteran quarterbacks. Bryce Young is entering his second season, and Bo Nix and Drake Maye will be seeing their first NFL action as rookies. And then there's Geno Smith who will be entering his 11th season. You typically won't see a 33-year-old on many sleeper lists, but there's a case to be made here. Ryan Grubb, who ran the air raid offense at the University of Washington, joins Seattle as its new offensive coordinator. The receiving corps still has DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, and Jaxson Smith-Njigba could be primed to take a major leap this season. If the offensive line can give Smith time to identify the open man, there may be plenty of juice left in the tank.
Deshaun Watson looked like a shell of his former self for the most part last season, but is that the new normal? There have been concerning reports that he's having a difficult time dealing with having a quality backup behind him in Jameis Winston. But all of that being said, while he carries incredible risk, if he can more closely resemble the player that was in Houston, he could end up returning tremendous value - but that's only for the biggest risk-takers.
Derek Carr was dinged up often last year, but did play in 17 games. Will Chris Olave continue to develop into an elite WR? Will Rashid Shaheed take a leap and become a potent No. 2 WR? And if all else fails, Carr can still pepper Alvin Kamara with targets out of the backfield.
While Denver doesn't boast a dynamic offense yet, there are still some serviceable pieces like Courtland Sutton, but Nix will likely need Josh Reynolds or Marvin Mims to ascend to another level and for rookie Troy Franklin to make his presence felt.
The Panthers still have a long way to go, but given Bryce Young's pedigree, it's too early to give up on him yet. The addition of Diontae Johnson to the receiving unit could be a big one. Adam Thielen is still on the roster, and Young will need contributions from rookie Xavier Legette to really unlock his potential. Maye's situation is one to continually monitor. Jacoby Brissett was named the Week 1 starter, but all indications were that Maye made it a tougher decision than initially anticipated. But given Maye's potential rushing upside, and with so many unknowns at WR, if the stars align perfectly and he takes over from Brissett in short order, there is some sleeper potential here.
Fantasy QB Roster Stashes and Watch List
QB TIER 7
29 Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings
30 Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
31 Daniel Jones, New York Giants
32 Gardner Minshew, Los Angeles Raiders
Tier 8
33 Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns
34 Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers
35 Drew Lock, New York Giants
36 Aidan O'Connell, Los Angeles Raiders
37 Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
38 Sam Howell, Seattle Seahawks
39 Jacoby Brissett, New England Patriots
40 Joe Flacco, Indianapolis Colts
41 Tyrod Taylor, New York Jets
42 Jimmy Garoppolo, Los Angeles Rams
Tier 9
43 Spencer Rattler, New Orleans Saints
44 Jarrett Stidham, Denver Broncos
45 Kenny Pickett, Philadelphia Eagles
46 Mac Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars
47 Zach Wilson, Denver Broncos
48 Hendon Hooker, Detroit Lions