Who Should I Draft? Kirk Cousins, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels Fantasy Football Outlooks (2024)

Kirk Cousins Fantasy Football Outlook

Kirk Cousins had a fantastic 2023, leading the league in passing YPG with 291.4 (min. 8 games). Cousins regularly connected with receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison and Tight End TJ Hockenson for big plays and dicing up most defenses the Vikings faced. Cousins enjoyed 3 straight seasons of over 4,000 passing yards.

Kirk Cousins' final touchdown as a Viking. 💜
Thank you, @KirkCousins8 pic.twitter.com/jPrkDoErU9

— Janik Eckardt (@JanikEckardt) March 11, 2024

Cousins signed with the Atlanta Falcons last offseason and now has excellent talents in Drake London and Kyle Pitts to throw to. The Falcons boast an excellent offensive line, and we should expect more of the same from Cousins. However, coming off an Achilles tear in 2023, Cousins will have minimal rushing upside and could have significantly less mobility to move around the pocket and make plays.

Caleb Williams Fantasy Football Outlook

2022 Heisman Trophy Winner and No. 1 overall NFL Draft Pick Caleb Williams is looking to continue his success with the Chicago Bears. Williams was sensational at USC, often carrying the team on his back, and made highlight throws and runs with ease. Williams is a natural playmaker and will instantly elevate the Bears' offense. He proved this with an excellent preseason, where he showed off his Football IQ, timing, arm strength, and mobility, sometimes all in the same play.

EVERY Caleb Williams drop back in his preseason debut

4/7
108 yards

Was on pace for a 400 yard game pic.twitter.com/8CQ8bKF4cn

— Sadeek 𓋹 (@SadeekNextWave) August 10, 2024

Williams has an elite duo of WRs in Keenan Allen and DJ Moore and a top-10 drafted rookie in Rome Odunze to throw it to. D'Andre Swift at RB presents an excellent option for Checkdowns, allowing for more production from Williams when the WRs can't get open. Williams also has decent rushing upside, and is mobile enough to make plays. Williams shows an ability to have decent rushing production.

Predictions for Caleb Williams rookie season

71% Comp.
3500 Passing Yards
25 Passing TD
10 Interceptions

273 Rushing Yards
3 Rushing TD

Offensive Rookie of The Yearpic.twitter.com/XOwdfzKPOp

— David Peters Jr🐻⬇️ (@david_peters_04) September 2, 2024

Jayden Daniels Fantasy Football Outlook

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner was drafted by the Washington Commanders in 2024, but projects to be Fantasy Football dynamite. However, the Commanders have a big lack of talent at WR (Terry McLaurin is the only proven producer). In addition, Zach Ertz, the team's no. 1 Tight End, will turn 34 this season. The Commanders also have a poor offensive line, ranked 27th by PFF's preseason OL rankings. Why then is Jayden Daniels thought to be headed for a monster season?

Jayden Daniels breaks an 85-yard touchdown run!

Give this man the Heisman Trophy. pic.twitter.com/QCNWD75j92

— Matthew Brune (@MatthewBrune_) November 12, 2023

It's because he can fly. Jayden Daniels is an elite runner of the football at the QB position. Rushing yards are worth 2.5x the value of passing yards and rushing TDs 1.5x the value of passing TDs. Quarterbacks who can run well have much higher scoring ceilings than QBs who are less mobile. Running QBs can add upwards of 100 points to their Fantasy totals through rushing, and Daniels rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 TDs against elite SEC competition.

Though CFB isn't the same level of competition as the NFL, the SEC is as close as it gets, and Daniels carved up elite college defenses on the ground. Daniels ran for a TD in the preseason, and the Commanders would be unwise not to utilize his legs to boost the offense.

Jayden Daniels keeps it for a touchdown 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HMLtNmBuUP

— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) August 10, 2024

Daniels has elite fantasy upside if the Commanders use his rushing abilities even moderately.

Which QB Should I Draft in Fantasy Football?

Jayden Daniels is the obvious choice. Though Caleb Williams has the talent to produce an excellent rookie season and Kirk Cousins is a proven star NFL QB, Daniels rushing upside is a cheat code to score extra points, and Daniels has the speed, elusiveness, and burst to run effectively at the NFL level. Even if Daniels rushes for only 60 yards per game, that counts for the same amount of Fantasy points as 150 yards passing.

All 3 QBs' ADPs are in the middle to late rounds (95, 103 and 135).  Gaps in late- round ADPs are much less important than in the earlier rounds, so cost isn't much of a factor. If you're choosing between drafting Caleb Williams, Kirk Cousins, and Jayden Daniels, Daniels is the clear player to draft to maximize your team's potential.

More Fantasy Football Analysis