Quarterback Targets and Sleepers for Best Ball Leagues - 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook

July 19, 2024

Mike Fanelli provides his four favorite best ball fantasy football targets at quarterback and four double-digit round sleeper candidates.

The Scott Fish Bowl is underway. While the rest of redraft leagues won’t draft until next month, July is the perfect time for fantasy players to join a best ball draft. However, they should know the difference between redraft and best ball fantasy leagues.

Fantasy players need to manage their redraft leagues, making weekly transactions and lineup decisions. Yet, they don’t need to do either in best ball leagues. Instead, fantasy players draft their team, and their highest-scoring lineup is selected automatically every week.

Finding value at the quarterback position is critical, regardless of which style of fantasy football league you are playing in. Let’s look at my favorite targets and top sleeper picks at the quarterback position. ADP for this article is via Underdog Fantasy.

Best Ball Quarterback Targets

Patrick Mahomes (KC): ADP 49.4 | QB4

I’m a fan of waiting on drafting a quarterback in a 1QB league this year, with several excellent late-round options for fantasy players. However, anyone who wants to use an early-round pick on a quarterback should target Mahomes. Unfortunately, the superstar was only the QB8 in 2023, the lowest finish of his career.

Last year, he had the worst fantasy season of his career, averaging fewer than 20.5 fantasy points per game for the first time as the starting quarterback. Yet, Mahomes is a bargain as the fourth quarterback in ADP after the Chiefs added Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy this offseason. With Travis Kelce returning at 100%, Mahomes will have the best receiving core of his career, especially if Rashee Rice escapes a massive suspension.

Anthony Richardson (IND): ADP 57.4 | QB5

Unfortunately, Richardson’s rookie season ended after playing only four games. The former Florida Gator was the QB11 on a points-per-game basis, averaging 18.2 fantasy points per contest. Yet, he left two games early with injuries. While fantasy players should be worried about his injury history, the second-year quarterback is full of league-winning upside.

Richardson averaged 25.3 fantasy points, 211.5 passing yards, 1.5 touchdowns, 48 rushing yards, and a touchdown in the two games he finished as a rookie. The Colts improved his receiving core, spending a second-round pick in the NFL Draft on Adonai Mitchell. Richardson has overall QB1 upside if he can stay healthy.

Anthony Richardson hits the spin spike celebration 🙌

📺: #LARvsIND on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/Jq9JHUeqb6 pic.twitter.com/hXTguZwtmV

— NFL (@NFL) October 1, 2023

C.J. Stroud (HOU): ADP 66.3 | QB6

Stroud was an elite fantasy quarterback as a rookie, averaging 18.4 fantasy points per game. Furthermore, he was outstanding to end the year. Stroud was the QB5 on a points-per-game basis from Week 9 through the end of the season, averaging two passing touchdowns and 20.5 fantasy points per contest.

More importantly, he was outstanding during that run despite playing only five games with Tank Dell. While the Texans have two talented young wide receivers, a solid tight end, and a talented running back, that didn’t stop them from making a blockbuster move for Stefon Diggs. Stroud has arguably the top receiving core in the NFL at his disposal, making him a steal at his current ADP.

Jordan Love (GB): ADP 97.9 | QB10

The former Utah State Aggie had doubters heading into his first year as the starter. Love began the season on fire, averaging three passing touchdowns and 21.7 fantasy points per game over the first two weeks. Unfortunately, he had a rough patch during the season, totaling six passing touchdowns from Week 3 through Week 9.

After hitting a slump, Love proved he is a franchise-caliber quarterback. He was the QB2 over the final seven contests of the fantasy season, averaging 2.3 passing touchdowns and 21.6 fantasy points per game. The second-year starter has an exciting young core of receiving options led by Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. Love has significant fantasy upside, especially at his current draft price.

Best Ball Quarterback Sleepers

Jared Goff (DET): ADP 126.9 | QB16

Goff is one of my favorite quarterbacks to draft, especially if I can wait until the double-digit rounds. The veteran was the QB7 in 2023, averaging 17 fantasy points per game. He had 30 passing touchdowns last year, the second-most of his career. While the Lions thought Ben Johnson would leave this offseason, he returned as the team’s offensive coordinator. Therefore, Detroit’s offense should be an elite unit again this season.

The Lions get on the board first 😎@jaredgoff16 | @amonra_stbrown

📺: #Kickoff2023 on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/EBLJ3Rwf5g pic.twitter.com/ZtuqfWCMFt

— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2023

Meanwhile, Goff is outstanding when he plays in a door. Unfortunately, the veteran has struggled when playing outdoors. Last season, the former No. 1 overall pick averaged 2.1 passing touchdowns and 19.9 fantasy points per game in 12 contests in a dome. By comparison, he averaged one passing touchdown and 13.3 fantasy points per game in the five contests outside. Thankfully, Goff plays only three games outdoors this year.

Kirk Cousins (ATL): ADP 147.1 | QB18

The veteran quarterback has consistently been a low-end QB1 since becoming a full-time starter in 2015. Cousins has been a productive quarterback for fantasy players despite posing no rushing upside. The veteran has averaged only 6.4 rushing yards per game in his career. Yet, he has averaged 18.7 or more fantasy points per game in three of the past four seasons, including in 2023.

While he is coming off a torn Achilles, Cousins expects to be ready for Week 1. He has an outstanding receiving core in Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Darnell Mooney, and Bijan Robinson. Furthermore, Cousins will play most of his games indoors and against suspect defenses this season. If he is 100% healthy, he should have another top-10 finish.

Deshaun Watson (CLE): ADP 161.8 | QB20

Unfortunately, fantasy players have forgotten how much of a superstar Watson was earlier in his career. He was once one of the top quarterbacks in fantasy football. He averaged 20.7 or more fantasy points per game in each of his first four seasons. More importantly, the veteran played better in 2023 than fantasy players realize.

Watson averaged 17.7 fantasy points per game in the five contests he played at least half of the snaps last season. That average would have made the veteran the QB13 on a points-per-game basis. Meanwhile, the Browns added Jerry Jeudy to their already solid receiving core this offseason. Fantasy players shouldn’t be shocked if Watson has a massive bounce-back performance this year.

Bryce Young (CAR): ADP 192.1 | QB25

While Young had an awful rookie season, fantasy players shouldn’t give up on the former No. 1 overall pick. Despite playing for multiple coaching staffs, Young had a few impressive moments last year, including a 312-yard and two-touchdown performance late in the year against the Green Bay Packers. More importantly, he should be significantly better in 2024.

The Panthers gave him no chance of succeeding as a rookie. Yet, they learned from their mistakes, improving Young’s offensive line by signing Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt in free agency. Furthermore, Carolina added Diontae Johnson, Xavier Legette, Jonathon Brooks, and Ja'Tavion Sanders to his receiving core. While he likely won’t become an elite fantasy quarterback, Young could have a low-end QB1 finish this season.

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