Lamar Jackson is solely responsible for changing the fantasy football landscape. After his breakout season in 2019, the way fantasy managers approach evaluating quarterbacks forever changed.
Sharo Football Analysis' Rich Hribar had been pounding the table regarding the value of mobile quarterbacks since 2013, but the masses were put on notice in 2019. Jackson averaged 28.1 fantasy points per game, a full six PPG more than the next-best quarterback. Since then, mobile quarterbacks have risen to the top of fantasy rankings.
DOMINATE YOUR DRAFT: 2024 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet
These days, the top tier of quarterback rankings consists of names like Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Anthony Richardson, and the aforementioned Jackson. Patrick Mahomes also makes an appearance in our top tier, but he is the only pocket passer in Tier 1. Mahomes isn't exactly a pure pocket passer either as he can get mobile if necessary.
Since Jackson's MVP campaign in 2019, a mobile quarterback has claimed the QB1 title in four of the last five seasons. The one exception to this was Mahomes in 2022. If quarterbacks don't produce with their legs, their path to being the top quarterback is murky.
Our top tier of fantasy quarterbacks is chock full of scramblers and goal line weapons, but who is the best option in fantasy football this year?
2024 PPR RANKINGS
Top 250 Overall | RB | WR | TE | DEF/ST | K
Josh Allen vs. Lamar Jackson vs. The Field: Who is the best QB for fantasy football in 2024
Josh Allen fantasy outlook
After joining forces with Stefon Diggs in 2020, Josh Allen has been simply unstoppable. He has finished as the QB1 or QB2 in four consecutive seasons. If that wasn't impressive enough, each of these four seasons has been a top-10 quarterback season of all time. Yes, Josh Allen accounts for 40 percent of the 10 best fantasy seasons of all time for a quarterback.
Now that Diggs is in Houston, some drafters are hesitant to draft Allen. Don't be. Allen's contributions as a rusher insulate his fantasy value. He is capable of rushing for 50 yards in any week and remains Buffalo's greatest weapon at the goal line.
Even when Diggs was essentially a non-factor in the offense, Allen thrived. From Week 7 on, Diggs averaged just 51.2 yards per game. Allen averaged 24.8 PPG in this same stretch and was the QB1 by a decent margin. The departure of Diggs should not scare you off from drafting Allen this season.
2024 POSITION TIERS & DRAFT STRATEGY
QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST
Lamar Jackson fantasy outlook
The 2019 season wasn't Jackson's only MVP campaign. He is coming off yet another MVP year, one in which he finished as the QB3. He led one of the league's best offenses, and this showed in Jackson's fantasy output.
The beauty of Jackson's game is that he can produce in fantasy with either his arm or his legs. Jackson finished as the weekly QB1 (Week 17) in a game where he rushed for just 35 yards and no touchdowns thanks to 321 yards through the air and five passing touchdowns. The Ravens' offense beautifully marries the run and the pass, often opening the door for explosive passing plays.
The Ravens also added Derrick Henry this offseason, which could arguably open the door for Jackson's rushing efficiency to improve. Henry, Jackson, and the Ravens' offense should once again be among the league's best in 2024. As long as he's on the field, Jackson is a top-notch fantasy quarterback.
Jalen Hurts fantasy outlook
Jalen Hurts has been neck-and-neck with Josh Allen in each of the last two seasons. He finished just 15 points behind Allen last year and was the QB2.
Hurts' fantasy value has been largely driven by his usage as a battering ram at the goal line. Hurts has 21 touchdowns from the 1-yard line since 2021. No one else has more than 14 and only six players outside of Hurts have reached double digits.
There is some speculation that the Eagles will move away from the Tush Push following the retirement of Jason Kelce and the arrival of Saquon Barkley. But it is hard to see a team fully abandoning the most effective short-yardage play in NFL history.
Hurts should remain the Eagles' primary goal line threat while commanding a potent aerial attack. This could finally be the year he bests Allen and the other QBs.
2024 FANTASY SLEEPERS
QB | RB | WR | TE | Each Team
Anthony Richardson fantasy outlook
Some may be shocked to see a player who has appeared in just four NFL games in Tier 1. But there is no doubt that Anthony Richardson belongs among the elite quarterbacks.
While the sample size is small, Richardson dominated fantasy football as a rookie. He led all quarterbacks in fantasy points per dropback. In two full games, he eclipsed 40 rushing yards and found the endzone in both contests. We're talking about a guy who scored 17.7 fantasy points in a game where he played 18 snaps.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen has already shared that Richardson will not be asked to hold back as a rusher. With his combination of size and speed, Richardson is a lethal fantasy option.
Patrick Mahomes fantasy outlook
Patrick Mahomes is the only "pocket passer" on this list. The quotes are key as Mahomes stretches the definition of a pocket passer. But he certainly does not have the rushing upside of the previously mentioned quarterbacks.
Mahomes may not be rushing for 600 yards each year, but he is a perennial contender to finish as the top quarterback. In fact, Mahomes has been the QB1 twice since 2018.
His path to finishing as the QB1 is through 5000-plus yards and 40-plus touchdowns. He reached both of these marks in each of his QB1 seasons.
Mahomes could realistically reach these statistical thresholds in 2024. The Chiefs revamped their receiving corps and are poised to bounce back in a big way after a down year. The 2023 season was the first year in the Mahomes era where the Chiefs averaged less than 28.0 PPG. Expect them to return to offensive dominance, boosting Mahomes' fantasy output as well.
2024 FANTASY AUCTION VALUES (PPR & STANDARD)
Overall | QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF/ST | K
The verdict: Who is the No. 1 fantasy QB in 2024?
Grabbing an elite quarterback is always exciting in fantasy football. You have a "set it and forget it" option that will deliver consistent production each week. But only one player can be the No. 1 option.
This player is clearly Josh Allen. His four consecutive top-10 seasons of all time should be the only thing you need to read. His lethal arm, contributions as a rusher, and goal line usage have made him the most valuable fantasy quarterback of the 2020s.
Yes, Stefon Diggs is gone, but don't overthink it. Allen has the best chance to finish as the QB1 and should be the first quarterback off the board in every draft.