Lamar Jackson, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson - 2024 Fantasy Football Quarterback Outlooks

Should fantasy football players draft Lamar Jackson, C.J. Stroud, or Anthony Richardson in 2024? Joey Pollizze examines the case for all three quarterbacks

There are a lot of great quarterbacks to choose from in the early to middle rounds, including Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, and Patrick Mahomes. Those three signal-callers are the first to go off the board at the position in fantasy drafts this year.

However, don't worry if you miss out on Allen, Hurts, or Mahomes in fantasy. That's because the next tier of quarterbacks is just as solid in the middle rounds. Lamar Jackson, C.J. Stroud, and Anthony Richardson all have the upside to finish top three in fantasy.

So, should fantasy managers select Jackson, Stroud, or Richardson in drafts? Let's dive in and find out.  

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Lamar Jackson 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook

After two subpar fantasy campaigns in 2021 and 2022, Jackson turned out to be one of the best value picks in drafts last year. He finished as the QB4 while averaging 21.1 fantasy points per game. The 27-year-old was also strong at the end of the season, scoring 20 fantasy points in three of the final four games. 

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson and WR Nelson Agholor putting in more offseason work pic.twitter.com/nWgSCZvHzS

— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) July 1, 2024

Now, heading into the 2024 season, not much should change for Jackson's fantasy value. Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews return as his top two targets in the passing game, and the reigning MVP should continue to run at a high level. That makes him a nice selection in the first couple of rounds. 

C.J. Stroud 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook

Not many fantasy managers had high hopes for Stroud in his first year, but he surprised everyone. He finished as the QB11 while averaging 18.7 fantasy points per game. The 22-year-old also became just the fifth rookie in NFL history to pass for more than 4,000 yards in a season. 

#Texans QB CJ Stroud in Miami with all his offensive weapons, training & working out

👀

(📸 @ART_Marikit) pic.twitter.com/fsQMYPnx1q

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) June 30, 2024

Given how Stroud looked in 2023, it's fair to assume he'll be even better this season. Tank Dell (leg) will be back from his season-ending injury, and the Texans also traded for Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon this offseason. As a result, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year should be high on everyone's draft boards in 2024. 

Anthony Richardson 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook

Richardson is an interesting case in fantasy because he only played in four games (two full games) last season due to a shoulder injury. However, in those four games, the 22-year-old was a fantasy star. He averaged 25.8 fantasy points in the two full games he played and also scored 17.7 points in almost one quarter in Week 2 against the Houston Texans before exiting with a concussion.

Anthony Richardson launching BOMBS 💣

The Colts may have the BEST QB in the AFC South. pic.twitter.com/cMTbevGZjE

— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) June 29, 2024

With Richardson now fully past his shoulder injury, he should be an easy QB1 option for fantasy managers this season. He has the potential to throw for over 3,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 yards. Given his rushing upside, he has the chance to finish as the number one overall quarterback in 2024. 

Who Should I Draft in Fantasy Football?

At this point in the draft, fantasy managers can't go wrong with any of these quarterbacks. They are all great options and have the chance to finish top three at the position this upcoming season. However, Jackson is definitely the safest choice of the three. He just threw for a career-high 3,678 yards while rushing for over 800 yards last year. 

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