2024 tier-based quarterback rankings

Draft season is right around the corner! Over the years of playing fantasy football, I have discovered that tier-based rankings are the best way to compile fantasy rankings, especially for positional rankings. In this piece, we will be discussing my personal tier-based quarterback rankings for the 2024 fantasy football season.

In seven tiers, we will break down the category that best suits each top quarterback in the league from the cream of the crop down to the most relevant backups. Tier 1 players should be gone within the first round of redraft leagues with Tier 7 players likely to go undrafted, and so on.

Rankings will always change throughout the year but using previous performances and what has been released during training camp, I have used the best tools available to break down each qualifying quarterback as they should be seen entering all fantasy drafts.

These rankings are based on traditional four-point touchdown scoring.

Tier 1: The Elites

1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
2. Jalen Hurts

These two have cemented themselves as the clear best quarterbacks in fantasy football, and I don’t think that should really be a debate. Both have incredible rushing upside, which is the main reason why Allen and Hurts are at the top of the fantasy quarterback food chain.

With rushing touchdowns being worth six points apiece, quarterbacks with rushing upside are ultra valuable. Since becoming the full-time starter in 2021, Hurts has had seasons with 10, 13, and 15 rushing touchdowns. With the “tush push” remaining legal, I don’t expect this to change. Hurts’ high-powered offense and elite weapons will keep his passing numbers good enough to be an elite fantasy quarterback option.

Allen had a career-high in rushing touchdowns with 15 in 2023, which is likely unsustainable. However, this doesn’t change him being an elite fantasy option. He will still be in the seven to nine rushing touchdown range almost guaranteed, which is where he was from 2020 to 2022 when he had finishes of QB1, QB1, and QB2, respectively. Allen’s immense passing talent allows him to still put up elite passing numbers even with no true elite receiving option.

Tier 2: Great options with a wide range of outcomes

3. Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
4. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
5. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

I’m not ready to put any of these guys in the truly elite tier yet. Mahomes and Jackson have been too inconsistent year to year for fantasy and Richardson has only played four NFL games so far, with only two being full games.

For many, having Richardson up at three is probably a shock, but ever since he was a prospect out of Florida, he has been a player I am in love with. He hasn’t truly proven himself for real-life NFL talent yet, but for fantasy, I think he has already proven he can be a superstar.

In his full two games in 2023, Richardson was the QB4 and QB2 with 20.9 points and 29.6 points. In Week 3 he put up 17.7 points in only thirty-two percent of snaps before being ruled out with a concussion. Richardson’s rushing upside is through the roof, and he can also make jaw-dropping throws that also give him immense passing upside. He could enter the tier of elite fantasy quarterbacks, or struggle and drop down a couple of tiers. I believe in him.

As for Mahomes, call it as it is. He is the best quarterback in the NFL. Due to his incredible talent, he has the possibility of being the QB1 in any year. He doesn’t have a high rushing upside nor does he have any true proven elite wide receiver with Travis Kelce aging. However, Mahomes’ passing talent is arguably the greatest of all time, which elevates his receivers.

Mahomes can go off for 50 touchdowns in any season. He should have some positive rushing touchdown regression, as he was one of two quarterbacks in 2023 to rush for 250+ yards without a rushing touchdown. Due to all of this, he has a large range of outcomes and will be guaranteed to be a QB1 in fantasy, so this tier is perfect for him.

Jackson won the MVP award in 2023 and is widely considered the best rushing quarterback in the league. This seems like a broken record, but due to this his rushing upside gives him a high floor and will give him several spike weeks. The problem with Jackson is he won’t give you big passing numbers. This limits his ceiling.

Do I believe Jackson will be a QB1 in 2023? Yes. However, I’m not comfortable giving Jackson a top-three ranking due to his large range of outcomes. He can be the QB3, or he can be a low-end QB1 or high-end QB2. This is a huge range of outcomes. I don’t think he has the ceiling to be on Allen or Hurts’ level.