Dynasty Quarterback Rankings and Tiers

With the advent of Superflex leagues, the strategic importance of quarterbacks in dynasty fantasy football has skyrocketed. Their longevity and consistency make them a safe and smart investment. Acquiring an elite quarterback is a strategy that can ensure your long-term success. And having a set of dynasty quarterback rankings is a good place to start. But negotiating requires a bit more nuance.

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In this article, we'll examine the league's relevant quarterbacks. This isn't meant to serve as a flat list of dynasty quarterback rankings. Instead, players will be placed into buckets with others who have similar profiles. Quarterbacks will be ranked inside those buckets. Team needs require different types of players. You may need a plug-and-play veteran to get you through the early part of the season while your fresh rookie waits his turn to play. If your roster is contending, those productive veterans are much more valuable. If you're in the midst of a rebuild, turn your sights to the younger players and be willing to absorb more risk, hoping to hit on the potential upside.

The Josh Allen Tier

Josh Allen

Few players are in a tier of their own regarding positional dynasty rankings. Josh Allen, however, has earned that title. If you look at any list of dynasty quarterback rankings, you'll likely find Allen atop it. He's been fantasy's QB1 for three of the last four years, with a lone QB2 season behind only Patrick Mahomes II in 2022. The addition of Stefon Diggs in 2020 helped Allen break out. And going into 2024, he'll be without his safety-valve receiver for the first time since. But Diggs became an offensive afterthought in the second half of 2023, and Allen didn't miss a beat. A young group of talented pass-catchers and his high-end rushing output will keep his fantasy production up. Going into his age-28 season and under contract with Buffalo through 2028, Josh Allen is the safest bet you can make in your dynasty fantasy football leagues.

Proficient Passers

Josh Allen is the safest asset in dynasty fantasy football, but this next bucket is close behind. They might not be the QB2-QB5 in a list of dynasty quarterback rankings, but they are very safe assets to acquire. Every quarterback in this tier will finish the 2024 season 29 or younger, still young by quarterback standards. These quarterbacks have the added benefit of some scrambling abilities, but most of their production will come through the air. They've all compiled seasons with at least 270 passing yards per game, putting a 4,500-yard season well within their range of outcomes.

Patrick Mahomes II is the clear leader of this group. Besides Allen, he's the only quarterback to turn in a QB1 finish since 2020. He can lead the league in passing yards and touchdowns on any given season and also provides about 350 rushing yards per season. While admittedly the riskiest in this group, C.J. Stroud probably has the highest ceiling. He just had the best season we've ever seen from a rookie quarterback. A creative coaching staff and loaded roster sets up a sky-high potential. If he can build off what we saw in 2023, his age could quickly push him ahead of Mahomes. Much has been made about the addition of Jim Harbaugh and how it could negatively impact Justin Herbert. But at the end of the day,' Herbert's 17,223 yards through Year 4 are the most of any quarterback in NFL history. Even with a new group of offensive skill players, Herbert should maintain prolific passing numbers. Joe Burrow is second-oldest on this list, behind only Mahomes. He's locked into a contract through 2029. Extensions for Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins would quell concerns about his supporting cast, but he's done enough through his career to entrench himself as a safe and elite dynasty asset.

These quarterbacks should be priority targets regardless of roster construction, likely to provide years of QB1 production ahead of them. They won't be cheap, but you'll rarely regret trading for a player like this.

Elite Rushers

These are your fantasy football cheat codes. Rushing for 1,000 yards in fantasy provides as many points as passing for 2,500, and all of these quarterbacks have that in their range of outcomes. Adding meager passing production atop that rushing floor could provide better fantasy output than everyone in the "Proficient Passer" bucket. Of course, the risk here is career longevity and injury likelihood. As quarterbacks age, their rushing drops.

Lamar Jackson, for instance, has seen his per-game rushing output dip every year since 2019. He's supplemented that by taking strides as a passer, but that won't be the case for every quarterback. Jalen Hurts is a bit of an anomaly, as his rushing production comes more from touchdowns than it does from yardage. However, a supporting cast of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, both under contract through 2028, has helped him provide the most passing volume of the bunch. He's maintained a 17-game pace of over 4,000 passing yards over the last two seasons while averaging 25.2 fantasy points per game, most among all quarterbacks. Struggles with the Eagles' offense over the second half of the season cause some concern, but a bounce-back in 2024 could quickly push Hurts into the same tier as Josh Allen. A small rookie-year sample and season-ending injury may have dynasty managers concerned about Anthony Richardson. But from our small taste in 2023, there's no reason not to view him as an elite dynasty asset. He averaged 23.1 points per game, second behind only Josh Allen. His abilities as a rusher and big arm and tailor-made for elite fantasy success. And going into his age-22 season this year, there's reason to believe he can sustain that for a long time. Kyler Murray has been so dominant that dynasty managers are getting bored. Like Hurts, he's an underrated passer. And his rushing abilities unlock a ludicrous ceiling. Even coming off an ACL injury, he averaged 18.9 points per game last year. And with the addition of Marvin Harrison Jr. this year, expect to see that grow. Jayden Daniels' early addition to this list may cause some to raise eyebrows. But 1,134 rushing yards last year in college should translate to his NFL game. He's got a strong supporting cast and no competition for a Week 1 job. Assuming he starts a full season, he should quickly pave his path to elite fantasy production.

Like the tier ahead, these elite assets will work with any construction. The long-term floors are a bit shakier, but the short-term production is almost guaranteed. In a list of dynasty quarterback rankings, all deserve to be ranked inside the top 12.

Could Make The Jump

This is where we start looking at some more volatile assets. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing! These quarterbacks all have some question marks that have suppressed their value, but they can easily find themselves shooting up the rankings early in the season. Their values will be polarizing depending on where you look at dynasty quarterback rankings. Some rankers are willing to anoint some of these quarterbacks as elite assets, while others want to see more prolonged production. These players won't come cheap, but they can still improve their value.

Caleb Williams was drafted first overall this season and falls into a dream scenario with a pass-catching corps of D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, and Cole Kmet. A toolsy skillset as a rusher could set him up as the next Josh Allen type of fantasy compiler. However, the Bears' history of quarterback development has caused some trepidation. And until we see it, he deserves to be ranked below proven veterans. Trevor Lawrence is a perfect example of untapped potential. His ceiling was just as high as Williams' when drafted. And although we've seen flashes throughout his career, he's never logged a season better than fantasy's per-game QB12. He's shown improvements, is still young, and has strong weapons around him. A 2024 breakout is possible but far from guaranteed. Jordan Love took the league by storm in 2023 after patiently waiting four years for his opportunity as a starter. On a per-game basis, he was fantasy's QB5. But his production was streaky. Some may already say he deserved his spot in the "Proficient Passer" bucket. But he'll need more sustained success because he can officially make that leap. Brock Purdy has spent two straight years battling narratives and continues to prevail. Is he a system quarterback? Is he a difference-maker? Can he do it again this year? We don't have the answers to any of those questions yet. But he's provided QB1 production for a year and a half now and remains in the same lucrative position he's been in. Another year of production should start to quiet the concerns. However, a slow start to the season could cause his value to tailspin.

None of these quarterbacks will come cheap, and they will all require a bit of personal conviction. If they hit, you'll feel like a genius. And if they don't, you could spend years trying to mend your roster. It's hard to determine who will or won't pan out. But these players all have enough upside to be high in dynasty quarterback rankings.

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Productive Veterans

If you're rebuilding, keep scrolling. These quarterbacks are not for you. While we expect these quarterbacks to have a few years left in the tank, they could potentially find themselves out of work. The lack of long-term security makes it hard to move them up in dynasty quarterback rankings, but they all have elite seasons in their range of outcomes as soon as this year.

Dak Prescott is a free agent after this year. And while he's probably done enough to prove himself, there's no guarantee he's a starter beyond 2024. Jared Goff is another veteran deserving of a starting job and probably an extension with his current team. However, franchises often try to reset the quarterback contract window by going after a rookie. And in that instance, Goff could be a 2025 backup. In regards to Prescott and Goff, these are the slimmest and worst-case scenarios. Likely? No. But possible. And because of that, rebuilding rosters should avoid them. But those concerns also open up great buying opportunities for contending rosters to get immediate production. New contracts will cause these players to rise in value. However, the NFL is a brutal business, and contracts are not guaranteed. Baker Mayfield received a well-deserved extension after an exciting 2023 season in Tampa Bay. He was productive with a strong supporting cast, but how long can we expect that team to remain intact? Mike Evans is aging. Chris Godwin is approaching the end of his contract. And with just $50M guaranteed, the Buccaneers haven't made much of a commitment to Mayfield beyond 2024. Rumors of Tua Tagovailoa being replaced have swirled since he took over in Miami. He'll play on his fifth-year option in 2024, but what if he doesn't get an extension? Can he replicate his success in a new environment without Mike McDaniel, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle? Perhaps. But those concerns make him a volatile player to acquire. Geno Smith is another player who has been productive in recent years. But talented play-makers and no long-term security could cause his recent run to end.

This section focused on the downside. But these players have plenty of upside as well. For instance, a long-term extension for any of these veterans would shoot him up dynasty quarterback rankings. But without security, the risk should not be ignored.

Sniff Test

The quarterbacks in this bucket have passed their expiration date. You go to your fridge this morning, sniff the milk, and it's fine. But tomorrow morning, you take a whiff and have to pour it down the sink.

Yeah, Kirk Cousins has been great over the last few years. Yeah, he's surrounded by elite weapons in a new system. But he's about to be 36, coming off a torn Achilles, and his team just drafted a pro-ready quarterback eighth overall. Rumors of Matthew Stafford's retirement swirled last year, and we know the end is near. He may still have a few years left in the tank and is coming off a respectable season. But we quickly see quarterbacks turn sour in their late 30s, and Stafford is heading into his. As for Aaron Rodgers, sure, he won back-to-back MVPs just a few years ago. But he's about to be 41. Like Cousins, he's coming off of a season-ending Achilles tear. He's only played four snaps dating back to January 2023. We've seen some spectacular seasons from quarterbacks aged 36 or older. But for every 2013 Peyton Manning or 2021 Tom Brady, there are a handful of disappointingly forgettable seasons. The players in this tier have a lot of risk but could be bought for cheap by teams that are a quarterback away from league contention.

This is the hardest group of players to place in a list of dynasty quarterback rankings. While their 2024 seasons could be undeniably elite, it's difficult to put a long-term ranking on a player who may only have one year left in the tank.

No Idea Where This Guy Fits In A List Of Dynasty Quarterback Rankings

Deshaun Watson

When grouping these players into buckets, I couldn't find the best fit for Deshaun Watson. He hasn't been a proficient passer in recent years. His rushing upside is no longer elite. Although he's a veteran, he's been far from productive. But going into his age-29 seasons, he's still far from his expiration date. He's also sitting on a monstrous contract from the cash-strapped Browns and has more long-term certainty than the many other quarterbacks. Overall, his stint in Cleveland has been a disappointment. However, the are reasons to believe he could bounce back. He played just five full games last year. He was a top-10 fantasy quarterback in three, QB14 in one, and absolutely laid an egg in the other. The team is doing what they can to improve his environment. They traded for Jerry Jeudy. They brought in D'Onta Foreman to maintain a decent run game while Nick Chubb returns from injury. They used their third-round pick to improve an already robust offensive line. It's easy to write Watson off as a has-been after everything that's transpired over the last few years. But consensus rankings have him below Baker Mayfield, Jared Goff, and Bo Nix. Few quarterbacks in his range can provide an elite ceiling like he does. In Houston, Watson was never worse than fantasy's QB5. He now plays on a team that runs more, controls the clock, and has a better defense, all factors that could cap his upside. But he's still young enough to bounce back and provide high-end upside. Offer a second-round rookie pick for Watson and see if you can get a bite.

High Risk, High Reward

What separates this group from Watson is age. These quarterbacks are all on the right side of age 25. If Watson hits, we're looking at a few lucrative years ahead of him. If Bryce Young, Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy, or Will Levis hit, you could be looking at a decade-plus of production. All of these players will deservedly be high in a list of dynasty quarterback rankings. But that value may scare off someone hoping to acquire them.

Statistically, Young is coming off one of the worst rookie seasons we've ever seen. An awful supporting cast, a sieve of an offensive line, and a midseason coaching change set him up for failure. But the Panthers righted their wrongs this offseason. Dave Canales should bring a more quarterback-friendly scheme to Carolina. They traded for Diontae Johnson and drafted Jonathan Brooks, this class's RB1. They moved up in the draft for Xavier Legette and landed Ja'Tavion Sanders in Round 4. It's easy to imagine a world where Young rebounds in 2024. Maye didn't fall in the ideal landing spot, but it's hard to bet against a player as talented as him. Like Canales and Young, Alex Van Pelt should help Maye develop. And a slew of young wide receivers allows him to build rapport with potentially budding stars. McCarthy is raw and could struggle to see the field much in 2024. However, taking the reins of an offense that has Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson would put him in a position that will be tough to fail in. When his opportunity arises, he'll immediately be in the discussion as a weekly QB1. This tier's theme is young quarterbacks with teams invested in their development. And that's what the Titans did this year with Levis. In addition to DeAndre Hopkins, they signed Calvin Ridley and Tony Pollard. JC Latham will be an anchor outside along a strong interior pass-blocking unit.

The only thing that makes these quarterbacks a bit unappealing is their cost. Youth and upside often blind dynasty managers, and these quarterbacks all have it. Like the "Could Make The Jump" tier, making a move for these players will require some personal analysis and conviction. High risk to acquire, high reward if they pan out.

Dynasty Quarterback Rankings Wild Card Rookies

Although many people scoffed at Michael Penix Jr.'s and Bo Nix's selections during Round 1 of the Draft, it would be silly to write them off. Meaningful investments in these players signal how their respective teams feel about them, and that's what matters most. Despite the collective stance of armchair GMs, actual NFL GMs have decided that Penix and Nix are worthy of being drafted highly. Penix was taken eighth overall and has the obvious Kirk Cousins hurdle ahead of him. But he was one of the most pro-ready quarterbacks in this class and would land in an ideal situation if he finds himself in a starting role. Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson are one of the league's best trio of playmakers. Whether Cousins starts the season on the mend, picks up a midseason injury, or is released after the 2025 season, Penix's opportunity will come eventually. Because of the bumpy road to relevance, he'll come cheap in rookie drafts this year. But he is certainly worth the risk as a late-first or early-second round pick. Nix went to the Denver Broncos just a few picks after Penix. Another aged rookie drew laughs from social media. But he has a clear path to start Week 1. The Broncos paired him up with his college WR1, Troy Franklin. And playing opposite Courtland Sutton makes a formidable one-two punch. The Broncos will lean heavily on their run game, but Nix may have what it takes to run Sean Payton's offense, which is predicated on timing routes. Penix and Nix should provide a valuable lesson in abandoning our pre-draft conceptions. Few people expected them to be drafted as early as they were. But to ignore the change in their situation would be foolish.

Dynasty quarterback rankings will have these guys ranked as high as QB12 or as low as QB30. The reality is that the wide range of outcomes and cheap cost to acquire makes them alluring assets. Both quarterbacks have much room for growth in their value and could see it rise quickly.

Could Start Them As Your QB2... For Now

Unless your roster is loaded to the gills, starting a QB2 in your Superflex spot is typically better than your RB4 or WR5. These are the "Break Glass In Case Of Emergency" starters. You can acquire them for cheap and get starter production. For a few weeks? For half the season? For two years? Who knows. These players will almost assuredly lose value on your roster. But you're not investing in them to flip for a profit down the road. You're acquiring them with the sole purpose of giving you immediate production. Likewise, if you're rostering one of these quarterbacks as your QB3 or QB4, peruse your leaguemate's rosters and look for a team needing a QB2. This might be your last chance to cash in before they become a permanent backup.

Young and Toolsy

So you're telling me there's a chance? Like the "High Risk, High Reward" tier, these quarterbacks are young and have upside. They have the added benefit of being really, really cheap. We could rename this the "Low Risk, High Reward" tier. You aren't giving up anything meaningful for these players, but they can develop into something. Justin Fields, when starting, has been an elite fantasy points compiler. There's no guarantee he will start in Pittsburgh. But if he does, the upside is immense. Trey Lance, another high draft pick from the 2020 class, was traded for cheap after a disappointing start to his career. But he's still young (a day younger than Michael Penix!) and hasn't had much opportunity. Maybe he's a bust. Maybe he's the heir apparent to Dak Prescott after he leaves in free agency next year. Send out offers for a fourth-round pick and take on the minimal risk. We expect Daniel Jones to start for the Giants this year, and we know he has some appealing rushing upside. But what if he doesn't, and Drew Lock gets to feed passes to Malik Nabers? The uncertainty in New York has surpassed the cost of both quarterbacks to a point that either is worth the risk. Maybe Sean Payton brings out the best in Zach Wilson, and he beats out Nix in training camp. These quarterbacks are all "what ifs" and pipe dreams. But they're cheap, young, and have traits that are desirable for fantasy production.

Fire Sale

We know the names. Most of these quarterbacks have started at one point or another. Others have been unable to earn starting reps over the years. But these are names that hold some value. Try to flip Jameis Winston or Kenny Pickett (low-ceiling assets) for Justin Fields or Trey Lance (high-ceiling assets). Package Desmond Ridder with a third-round rookie pick to see if you can move up to the second round of your draft. These players don't have a lot of stand-alone value but are close to becoming roster cloggers. Getting these players off your roster may take some creativity, but there might still be time.