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In fantasy football, Superflex leagues offer a unique challenge, especially at the quarterback position. For the 2024 season, spotting quarterbacks who can excel as QB2s is essential for building a competitive roster. Spotlighting three quarterbacks (Baker Mayfield, Bryce Young, and Derek Carr), I see why these players don't hold value in one-quarterback leagues but are worth considering in Superflex formats.
Mayfield had a resurgence in 2023, ending the season as QB10. He is in a situation to be a favorable option for the 2024 season. Despite a shaky rookie year, Young shows potential for a solid sophomore comeback. Carr, though an aging vet, still possesses the capability to deliver reliable performances as a QB2 or QB3, primarily when utilized in favorable matchups. These players give beneficial depth to fantasy rosters in Superflex leagues.
Uncovering a reliable QB2 who can step in and perform when required is vital for Superflex rosters. Here is how to navigate the murky waters of the QB2 landscape.
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Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Oklahoma product revived his career in 2023 as the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Baker Mayfield threw for a career-high 4,044 yards and 28 scores in his first year with the Bucs.
The veteran quarterback posted over 20 points in three games that season. He completed the season as QB10, scoring 284.1 overall points while averaging 16.7 points per game.
Dave Canales, the offensive coordinator for Tampa Bay in 2023, aided the six-year veteran. Canales is now the Carolina Panthers head coach. Liam Coen, former offensive coordinator at the University of Kentucky, takes over play-calling responsibilities.
The 29-year-old quarterback will see consistency in the passing game as Tampa Bay retained wide receiver Mike Evans. In Evans' first season with Mayfield, the gifted wideout had 1,255 receiving yards.
Baker Mayfield to Mike Evans for 6 pic.twitter.com/kngvxkdtlG
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) September 10, 2023
Evans' 10th season in the league was also his 10th season with over 1,000 yards, making him the first player to achieve the feat. Additionally, the seasoned vet caught a career-best 333 yards after the catch in 2023.
Chris Godwin returns to the Tampa Bay wide receiver room. The Buccaneers' WR2 gained 1,024 receiving yards on 83 receptions last year. Mayfield should see two 1,000-yard wide receivers again in 2024.
Mayfield inked a three-year deal with the Buccaneers, valued at $115M with $50M guaranteed. The vet is the starter for the foreseeable future.
His FFPC ADP of 196 makes him a perfect fit for your roster. Mayfield is a top option for QB2 due to his rejuvenated play and the talent around him. Take advantage of where he is going in drafts.
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers' second-year quarterback will attempt to bounce back from his disappointing first season. In 16 games last season, Bryce Young tossed for 2,877 yards and 11 touchdowns while throwing 11 interceptions.
An ankle injury sidelined the rookie for Week 3. He could play the rest of the season, posting two top-12 finishes in 2023. Young tallied a 59.8 percent completion rate over the season. Playing behind a poor offensive line did not help the situation.
Frank Reich was dismissed as head coach 11 games into the season. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales is the new head coach in Carolina.
Often believed to be a quarterback whisperer, Canales resurrected the careers of Geno Smith in Seattle and Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay. He now wants to bring out the best in Young.
Bryce Young 🎯 Mike Strachan
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) November 10, 2023
Last season, the 2023 top overall draft pick had a supporting cast of Adam Thielen, Jonathan Mingo, Hayden Hurst, DJ Chark, and Miles Sanders.
The offense has improved for 2024. The team has been working to acquire weapons for the sophomore quarterback. The Panthers acquired wide receiver Diontae Johnson via trade and drafted wide receiver Xavier Legette in the first round of this past draft.
Running back Jonathon Brooks and tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders were also selected by Carolina in the 2024 draft.
2024 should be a rebound year for the Alabama product. The former first overall draft pick will turn 23 in-season. Young should be viewed as a viable low-end QB2 or high QB3. The youthful quarterback presently has an FFPC ADP of 310. Feel good about taking him late in drafts as depth on your Superflex roster.
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
Derek Carr is the same quarterback now as he has been for a good chunk of his NFL career. For fantasy football purposes, he has never been feasible as your QB1. For Superflex leagues, the New Orleans Saints starter has been an ideal low-end QB2 or high QB3.
In the 2023 season, the 33-year-old ended as QB16. He accumulated 249.1 fantasy points overall and an average of 14.7 fantasy points per game. Notably, he had two standout performances with over 20 fantasy points and five games with single-digit scores.
The Saints have made strategic moves to address their salary-cap issues, including restructuring the contract of the three-time Pro Bowler. Additionally, they drafted Spencer Rattler in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, a promising rookie expected to learn and grow under Carr's guidance.
Chris Olave is the only star wideout on the roster, totaling 1,123 yards on 87 receptions with five scores in his second year in the league. He posted 1,042 yards in his rookie season.
Olave had only 12 targets in the red zone last year. Carr's completion rate in the red zone was 52 percent in 2023, something he needs to work on in 2024.
Derek Carr ➕Chris Olave 🟰 SIX
The #Saints and #Bears are all knotted up.
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) November 5, 2023
New Orleans has a new offensive coordinator in Klint Kubiak, who joins the team after a stint with San Francisco. Kubiak brings originality and pre-snap motions to an offense trying to get wide receiver Rashid Shaheed more involved.
The Saints offensive line is poor, which has hindered Carr's ability to score fantasy points. To help bolster the offensive line, New Orleans selected left tackle Taliese Fuaga in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
The team hopes the offensive line will be better in pass-blocking this season. Quarterbacks on the roster were sacked a total of 35 times in 2023. Run blocking is also something the team is focusing on. Running backs averaged 3.6 yards per carry last season. The leading rusher was Alvin Kamara, posting only 694 yards.
If you draft Carr in your Superflex drafts, know you are getting a low-end QB2 or high-end QB3. The California native has an FPPC ADP of 294.6. He won't be a player you want to start often, but you may need to out of necessity. Use the New Orleans quarterback on your roster when he has a favorable matchup, as he is bound to post a few spike weeks this year.
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