Quarterback is so deep this year that more-so than any other year I think it’s safe to just entirely punt on the position in 12 team 1 QB leagues and just grab a couple of options extremely late in the draft and play the matchups and hope one becomes every week reliable. The main thing you need to look out for in more causal leagues is the drafting of backup QBs so don’t wait too long if you are in a league where people traditionally roster backup QBs. PSA: If you spend high draft capital on your starter; you don’t need and should not draft a backup QB. Just pick someone up when the bye week comes along. It’s a terrible waste of a roster spot. Now onto the list!
Aaron Rodgers – New York Jets
After Aaron Rodgers’ first season as a Jet was cut brutally short in the first quarter of his first game the Jets struggled to a 7-10 record with 3 other QBs getting starts in his stead. Rodgers returns at full health this season and though at age 40 he isn’t going to be the same player he once was he is going to be a monster upgrade at the position. His skill position players leave something to be desired, but they are more than enough to start Rodgers with confidence in Week 1. Garrett Wilson was a fringe first round fantasy selection last season and should be solidly in the 2nd round this season. Mike Williams is a great WR2 if he can stay on the field (that’s a big IF). Breece Hall is a top 5 option at the running back position after nearly hitting 1,000 rushing yards and 600 receiving yards on one of the worst offenses in the league. I am not setting out to land Rodgers as my QB1, but I am more than happy to build around higher end TE and depth and settle for him late and take a chance on one last great season from Aaron.
Deshaun Watson – Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson is off most people’s draft list and for good reason, but we are going to include him here because this is fantasy advice not morality. Watson has not looked good in the last two shortened seasons with the Browns. The Browns went out and acquired Jerry Jeudy to run opposite Amari Cooper and with Nick Chubb slated to miss the start of the season and in serious danger of never being the same player ever again this offense is going to have to run through the arm of Watson who also has David Njoku at TE who has finally found his footing in the NFL with an 81/882/6 season in 2023. It’s risky, but if Watson can finally shake off the rust and stay on the field he has the potential to be the biggest steal at the position.
Kirk Cousins – Atlanta Falcons
Another brand name QB coming off a season ending injury makes the list with Kirk Cousins. Cousins is in a new town and has serious competition behind him for the position, but if he comes into this season healthy he has the weapons around him to produce for fantasy. The Falcons are the only team in the league with top 10 draft picks at WR1, TE1, and RB1. Arthur Smith is gone and those elite talents should finally be allowed to flourish. The fantasy community is sold on both Bijan Robinson and Drake London who are first and second round selections and Kyle Pitts is probably going to be TE 5 or 6 off the board. If you think all of those prices are going to pay off then you gotta trust that the facilitator is going to produce as well. Cousins doesn’t have top 5 potential, but he could easily outplay his draft price of QB18 to be a top 12 option on the season and a fringe every week start.
Super Deep – Will Levis – Tennessee Titans
We saw some very high highs followed by some very low lows with Will Levis as a rookie. He debuted with a 4 passing TD game and then proceeded to throw 4 more total in his next 8 starts which is historically bad. His TD% (TD passes/pass attempts) over his 8 starts after his debut was 1.76% which is worse than Kenny Pickett’s 1.9% from last season or his 1.8% from 2022 which are both the worst rates by anyone with at least 14 pass attempts in a game since Sam Bradford in 2011. All this to say that Levis was atrocious last season and the Titans didn’t bring in any real competition for him (they signed Mason Rudolph to back him up because somehow Malik Willis is even worse than Levis and if you are thinking but wait why didn’t you mention Willis’ TD%… You have to actually throw a TD to have a TD% which Willis has yet to do).
What the Titans did do is build around him in a way that shows that they really want to know what they have in him and if he isn’t the one then they are going to be in a position to slide someone in next season and immediately be competitive, but Levis is going to have a long leash to prove he is the guy. Around Levis to start the season we have DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, former 2022 first round pick Treylon Burks, Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tony Pollard, and Tyjae Spears. Top to bottom this is one of the most complete groups of weapons of any team in the NFL. Yes, it is lacking some true top tier talent, but Levis is sporting this group with a QB24 price tag in drafts. I am not comfortable at all with him as my only QB, but as a stash alongside a more stable option like the ones listed above to see if we can hit the lottery you betcha.