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Hey, RotoBallers! It's fantasy football draft season! We are back with more fantasy football articles to help you win your leagues as we continue to publish fresh content daily. As we inch closer to the Week 1 kickoff, fantasy football drafts are happening every day. The first few rounds of fantasy football drafts are essential, and managers should avoid taking riskier early-round picks. Today, we focus on quarterbacks. Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts are the only three signal callers selected in the top 36.
This article will present three early-round quarterbacks to consider drafting this season. Our editors have hand-picked these specific NFL players for your draft prep enjoyment. Usually only available to Premium subscribers, the outlooks below are meant to give you a taste of the in-depth analysis you receive with our industry-leading 2024 Draft Kit.
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Lamar Jackson, Ravens - Fantasy Football Outlook
Although a QB4 finish is nothing to scoff at, Lamar Jackson was perhaps even better in real life than he was for fantasy football in 2023. The 27-year-old led the Baltimore Ravens to a league-best 13-4 record and earned NFL Most Valuable Player honors for the second time in his five seasons as a full-time starter.
With a career-high 3,678 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions, Jackson was incredibly efficient as a passer last season, with Todd Monken taking over as Baltimore's offensive coordinator.
What’s stopping Lamar Jackson from another QB1 season? pic.twitter.com/25a5Vjxkz9
— FantasyData (@FantasyDataNFL) August 21, 2024
Still, the Ravens led the league in rushing and will pose an even more significant threat on the ground this season with the addition of four-time Pro-Bowler Derrick Henry. Jackson will likely cede opportunities to Henry near the goal line.
It's important to remember that his best fantasy output came in 2019 when Mark Ingram II and Gus Edwards combined for 12 rushing touchdowns and over 1,700 rushing yards.
Jackson can expect improvement from ascending talents Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Isaiah Likely, and a healthy Mark Andrews will return as his most reliable weapon.
Additionally, the team selected Devontez Walker in the fourth round of the NFL Draft to bolster its receiving corps following Odell Beckham Jr.'s departure.
There is little reason to doubt Jackson as one of the few difference-making fantasy quarterbacks heading into the 2024 campaign. His QB1 ceiling makes him a worthwhile selection in the fourth round of drafts.
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs - Fantasy Football Outlook
After being drafted as the top fantasy QB in 2023, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes finished the season as QB8. The 28-year-old threw for 4,183 yards and a 27:14 TD: INT ratio while rushing 389 yards over 16 games in 2023.
It's hard to blame the player, especially knowing how great Mahomes has been throughout his career. Since starting in 2018, Patrick Mahomes has had 219 passing touchdowns, with the next-closest being only 173.
The Chiefs had 30 dropped passes in 2023, six more than any other team, including over 100 more air yards dropped than the next closest. Second, without any true downfield threats, Mahomes ranked last in air yards per attempt, significantly limiting his weekly upside.
Patrick Mahomes had his worst season in fantasy football last year since becoming the starter
He has better weapons in 2024 and is still the best player in football
Whatever dip there may be, buy it. pic.twitter.com/nry6Em2gtE
— Colin McTamany (@Colin_McT) August 17, 2024
Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice are back. The additions of Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy bring back the speed and downfield threat to this Kansas City offense, opening up the field for more chunk plays.
With elite rushing, it's easier to argue Mahomes is reaching overall QB1 as he's done twice before, but it's hard to imagine not finishing inside the top-5 for the second consecutive season. Nevertheless, Mahomes 22.2 fantasy points per game is the best by a quarterback in NFL history.
He remains a safe option at a Yahoo ADP of 40 (QB3), which aligns with his RotoBaller overall ranking of 39, QB3.
Anthony Richardson, Colts - Fantasy Football Outlook
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson was on his way to being a top-5 fantasy QB before a concussion and shoulder injury derailed his rookie season. In two complete games, he averaged 25.8 fantasy points per game.
It's unlikely he would have sustained that average, but that would have put him at QB1 over Josh Allen (24.2 fantasy points per game). Richardson's rushing floor alone gives him a mid-range QB1 floor. In just under three games, he rushed 25 times for 136 yards and four touchdowns.
The @Colts opening drive 🔥
Anthony Richardson goes 7/8 for 65 yards and finds rookie WR Adonai Mitchell for the TD! pic.twitter.com/Bp3IvzZEX1
— NFL (@NFL) August 23, 2024
Extrapolate that out over an entire 17-game season, and you get 155 rush attempts for 841 yards and 25 touchdowns. Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen are the only other quarterbacks in the league with similar rushing prowess, and they all finished within the top 5 fantasy quarterbacks in 2023.
Now mix in head coach Shane Steichen's offensive scheme with Richardson's talent, and you get a recipe for massive success. Before Steichen's arrival, the Colts were 31st in yards per play. In Steichen's first year as head coach, the Colts were 14th in yards per play.
Additionally, the Colts were among the top 5 in plays per game (69.7) in the four games Anthony Richardson played. The potential is there; he has to stay upright and protect himself from NFL defenders. Don't hesitate to reach for him after the first four or five quarterbacks are off the board this season.
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