I want to start by saying that the following quarterbacks in my top 5 should come as no surprise. Most of them, if not all, are able to make things happen with their legs in addition to throwing for a lot of yards which is something I value when looking for top fantasy quarterbacks. With that said, here are my top 5 quarterbacks for the 2023-2024 season.
*Note: Rankings are subject to change. To see the most up to date rankings, click here.
- Jalen Hurts
This guy can ball. Period. In 2022, Hurts threw for 3701 yards and 22 touchdowns while rushing for 760 yards and punching in a whopping 13 touchdowns. His ability to escape the pocket and make plays with his legs earns him the top spot on my list. A top notch pair of wide receivers in Devonta Smith and A.J. Brown doesn’t hurt either. Hurts easily could have finished last year as the No.1 overall fantasy QB but missed weeks 16 and 17 to injury. Adding fuel to the fire, he put on a masterclass in the superbowl against a talented Chiefs team regardless of the end result.
- Patrick Mahomes
Not a shocker the reigning NFL MVP and 2022 fantasy QB leader makes my top 5 list. A super talented individual who leads the pack of new young quarterbacks in the league, Mahomes praises are sung everywhere so I won’t rehash all that. I’ll just say he is fantastic and leave it at that. Mahomes gets edged out of the top spot due to the supporting cast he has not named Travis Kelce. Regardless, Mahomes could easily repeat as the No.1 QB again due to the high powered offense he operates in.
- Josh Allen
Allen is one of my favorite players in the National Football League. When he takes a break from giving quality life advice, he plays some pretty damn good football. Finishing as the QB 2 last year, Allen threw for 4283 yards and rushed for 7 touchdowns. A threat through the air and on the ground Allen presents himself as a top tier fantasy pick. He ranked third in QB rush attempts (124) in 2022 and I think the high rushing usage will continue for at least another year. The Bills remain as one of the top teams in the NFL and should compete with the Dolphins for first in the AFC East.
- Lamar Jackson
The man finally got paid! Going into year 6, the former MVP signed a $260 million dollar contract keeping him with the Ravens for another 5 years. I think this is great for both sides and am excited to see a full season from Jackson without the money situation hanging overhead. Only playing 12 games in 2022 due to a knee injury, Jackson still managed to finish as QB13. A massive threat with his legs, Jackson picks up extra yards scrambling out of the pocket and is used heavily at the goal line. Talking heads will question his throwing ability but don’t let that sway you. A nice veteran addition of Odell Beckham Jr. and a healthy Rashod Bateman should help. Also, Mark Andrews should continue to provide as a reliable target. Jackson should be a top QB pick in all leagues.
- Joe Burrow
Joe Brrrr runs one of the best high powered offenses in the NFL. In 2022, Burrow had a 68% completion percentage on 606 pass attempts. Out of QBs who played for more than 16 games, only Geno Smith finished with a higher completion percentage (69%). With three quality wide receivers, Burrow should continue to torch defenses.
Note: Burrow suffered a calf strain during training camp and is likely to be out for several weeks. Still TBD as to when he should return and if he will be ready for the start of the season. Check out this ESPN article to learn more.
- Justin Fields
Last season, Fields exploded onto the fantasy scene in large part to the points he picked up with his legs. Fields managed to rack up 1143 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. The not so great part was that he only threw for 2242 yards. One thing that I think is important to mention is that this will be year 3 for Fields. I say that because we have seen some young QBs in recent years make a leap when provided the right tools and support. Josh Allen got paired with Stefon Diggs, Jalen Hurts got AJ Brown and Tua got Tyreek Hill just to name a few. All three of those players saw a significant uptick in production as a result. I think the addition of DJ Moore will pay dividends for Justin Fields and help him develop his passing attack. Don’t sleep on this guy because more than likely others won’t.
Quarterbacks I like:
Kenny Pickett
Based on last year, I think it may be hard for fantasy managers to place a lot of trust in Pickett. However, he is led by a hall of fame coach in Mike Tomlin and has some quality receivers. Diontae Johnson had a solid year marred only by a lack of touchdowns and there are positive indications that George Pickens could make a leap in year two along with his QB. Pat Freiermuth and Najee Harris should continue to act as quality safety blankets for Pickett as well. In short, I am high on the Steelers offense. I would feel great if Pickett ended up as my backup in standard leagues or QB2 in two quarterback leagues.
Trevor Lawrence
I’ll be honest, I haven’t been the biggest Trevor Lawrence fan since he came into the league. I felt that he was overhyped as most “top” talent is nowadays and that the Jaguars were doomed to ruin his career. This was partially true after a disastrous year with Urban Meyer. However, my tune is starting to change after they won the AFC South and beat the Chargers in the wildcard round last year. This young team should continue to improve this season in a weak AFC South and the addition of Calvin Ridley should only help Lawrence.
Kirk Cousins (Thuggins)
For whatever reason, the general population thinks this guy is a bum. Cousins just carried a team with a terrible defense to a 13-4 record by throwing for 4547 yards and 29 touchdowns. On top of that, Cousins has finished as a top-12 fantasy QB seven of the past eight seasons. Personally, anyone throwing to Justin Jefferson gets an immediate bump in value. Rookie WR Jordan Addison also presents as an interesting target and you can’t forget about TE TJ Hockenson. Cousins may be overlooked in a lot of leagues but fantasy managers should feel good about rostering Cousins if unable to land the top guys at the position due to his QB1 upside and supporting cast.
Jared Goff
Similar to Cousins, Goff may get overlooked. He tends to not pick up extra points with his legs and hasn’t always been the most fantasy friendly. However, the Lions are heating up and he stands to benefit from a solid offensive line and quality WR in Amon-Ra St. Brown. I think he sits on the higher range of a QB2 with the potential to flash as a QB 1 for a game or two. Definitely a target in two QB leagues.