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In fantasy football drafts, there are multiple tiers of quarterbacks to target. Every manager wants to draft the best ones (Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, and Lamar Jackson), but it will come at a significant price. All four of these signal-callers are going within the first four rounds of fantasy drafts.
Then, the next tier of quarterbacks (C.J. Stroud, Joe Burrow, Anthony Richardson, and Dak Prescott) have the upside to finish top three at the position. However, managers will need to spend a fifth through seventh-round pick on this group.
If you want to wait for a quarterback in fantasy drafts, though, there are plenty of sleepers and value picks in the later rounds. So, here are three quarterbacks to target in the later round of 2024 fantasy football drafts. These signal-callers are all going outside the top 125 on all platforms.
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Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons
Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins continues to be disrespected in fantasy. Despite finishing as a top-12 fantasy option in six of the past nine seasons, Cousins finds himself going as the QB18 in drafts currently. That makes him a steal at his 134.6 ADP in the later rounds.
Of course, things are working against Cousins heading into the year. He is coming off a torn Achilles' tendon, will enter his age-36 season, and is joining a new offense after signing with the Falcons this offseason. But there's no doubt the veteran quarterback can still play at a high level. Before his season-ending injury in 2023, the four-time Pro Bowler was on pace to post the best passing numbers of his career. He also averaged 19.3 fantasy points across the first eight weeks, which would have put him on pace to finish as the QB6.
The fastest man alive! 😂 pic.twitter.com/mx1gc6pWNg
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 1, 2024
While Cousins doesn't run at all, that hasn't seemed to affect his fantasy value in years past. He has finished as a top-11 quarterback in three of the past four seasons, and the only reason he didn't reach that mark in 2023 was because of his Achilles' injury. So, expect the soon-to-be 36-year-old quarterback to be a consistent fantasy option, especially with elite weapons (Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson) in the passing game.
Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
It makes sense why Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson finds himself going toward the back of drafts this season. He has played in just 12 games over the past three years. In those 12 games, Watson hasn't necessarily looked great, either. However, at his QB23 ADP, he is definitely worth a gamble at this point in drafts due to his upside.
Fantasy managers who rostered Watson last year were likely disappointed with him. He played in just six games before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. But in the five full games he started and finished, Watson was a consistent fantasy option. He averaged 18.3 fantasy points in those five contests while scoring over 20 points twice. That makes him a great value pick at his 172 ADP on Sleeper.
QB1 no look 👀 @deshaunwatson | #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/5W5AStoS0F
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) July 31, 2024
Even though Watson has struggled through the air over the past few years, he can still be a solid option later in drafts due to his rushing upside. The former Clemson product rushed for over 20 yards in four of his five full games last year while also on pace for over 400 rush yards. With a solid receiving group in Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore, and David Njoku, there's no reason why the Browns quarterback can't post consistent fantasy numbers this season.
Will Levis, Tennessee Titans
When you are in the last couple of rounds of fantasy drafts, you should be targeting potential breakout players. At the quarterback position, that could certainly be Tennessee Titans signal-caller Will Levis. Levis has a current QB27 ADP, which is later than quarterbacks like Geno Smith and J.J. McCarthy. That makes him a must-have quarterback because the potential is there for him to succeed in 2024.
There were some mixed results from Levis in his rookie campaign, as he threw for 1,808 yards and eight touchdowns across nine games. However, the former Kentucky quarterback showed some promise in a couple of games in 2023. In his pro debut in Week 8 against the Falcons, he threw for 238 yards and four touchdowns. Then, in Week 14, the 25-year-old threw for a career-high 327 yards and one touchdown in a come-from-behind win over the Miami Dolphins.
Goodness, what a THROW by Will Levis. pic.twitter.com/yJmNeOTozN
— Kyle Yates (@KyleYNFL) August 3, 2024
Now, Levis should be in store for a much more consistent season. He is entering his second NFL campaign and the Titans did a great job surrounding him with talent this offseason. They signed Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, and Tony Pollard in free agency -- three players who have excelled in the receiving game over their respective careers. Tennessee also hired an offensive-minded head coach in Brian Callahan. As a result, take a chance on Levis in the final rounds because the situation is there for him to break out.
Honorable Mention: Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
In every way possible, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence's 2023 campaign was a disappointment. After throwing for 4,113 yards and 25 touchdowns behind a QB8 fantasy finish in 2022, Lawrence took a step back in his third NFL season. The 24-year-old threw fewer passing yards (4,016), fewer touchdowns (21), and more interceptions (14) than the prior year. He also finished as the QB13 in fantasy.
As disappointing as his 2023 campaign was, there's no reason why Lawrence should be going as the QB17 in drafts right now. Yes, the Jaguars' quarterback struggled to be a consistent fantasy option last year. However, he really started to heat up toward the end of last season. From Week 11 to Week 18, Lawrence averaged the fifth-most fantasy points by a quarterback (21.1 points). During that span, he scored over 20 fantasy points four times while averaging 270.9 passing yards per game.
If it weren't for a slow start, we would likely be talking about the 24-year-old in a different way entering the 2024 fantasy season. As a result, take advantage of his 127 ADP and select him with confidence this year. Lawrence should be in store for a much better season.
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