Espn Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings (2024)

FAQs

Who is the best quarterback to pick in fantasy football? ›

For example, QB is the highest-scoring position in most leagues. But elite RBs and WRs typically get drafted first because you need more starters at those positions and their scoring drops off more sharply. That's why the best way to draft is generally to prioritize RBs and WRs while waiting on QBs and TEs.

There's always a trade-off, though… taking a QB in Round 1 means no Christian McCaffrey, no Justin Jefferson, etc. If you play in a lot of leagues and have missed out on these other positional studs, a 2QB format gives you a much better shot at drafting one of them deep in the first round.

That No. 1 honor belongs to Josh Allen who, even after losing Stefon Diggs in an offseason trade and Gabe Davis in free agency, still does enough with his legs and his arm to earn the top spot — but it isn't unanimous.

One of those things is cost. Because the demand for quarterbacks is so small, it allows usable players at the position to drop in fantasy drafts. In fact, since 2006, the 12th quarterback, on average, has left the board in the middle of the eighth round. In a 12-team league, that's the last hypothetical team starter.

The optimal strategy is to hold off until at least the fifth and sixth rounds to ensure you'll get a competent, mid-tier QB who delivers (hopefully with some rushing upside). Still, worse case, you end up with a pocket passer tied to an explosive offense.

Round 3, Picks 21-30: Draft a quarterback

It's important to add an elite quarterback, even in a 10-team league. While there are 10 quarterbacks who each team can draft and feel comfortable with, Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts have been consistently great the past three seasons.

1. Ryan Leaf, Chargers vs. Chiefs, Sept. 20, 1998: (-9.78 Points)

What is the highest fantasy football score ever? ›

Billy Cannon has racked up the most PPR fantasy points in a game, with 68 points versus the New York Titans on December 10, 1961.

Every fantasy manager should draft their Best Ball roster with the same basic starting point. You will take at least two quarterbacks, four running backs, five wide receivers, and two tight ends. Those are the minimums you should have at each position.

You have to consider quarterbacks versus other positions much earlier in a start-two draft than in a start-one, even as early as the first round. And then you have to keep considering QB vs. other positions at every other pick throughout the draft until you have your starters and backup(s) secured.

When playing daily fantasy football, you can increase upside by pairing your quarterback with one of his receivers. If the quarterback has a big day, which is pretty much a prerequisite for taking down a tourney, it's highly likely that your pass-catcher will produce as well.

Don't draft a backup quarterback

This is the same logic as drafting backup tight ends. When you've got just one quarterback starting on each team in standard leagues, there will always be someone startable in a given week in free agency.

Top target: CeeDee Lamb

You might be surprised to see Lamb -- and not Christian McCaffrey -- topping our PPR rankings. But Lamb is coming off a massive 2023 season, leading all WRs in PPR points. The 25-year-old has grown his target share and yards per route run each season.

Tier 1. This tier is reserved for the most consistent fantasy quarterbacks. Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts have both averaged at least 21 fantasy points per game in each of the last three seasons. They are two of four quarterbacks with at least 2,000 rushing yards in that time while no one else is above 1,300.