X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Biggest Fantasy Football Surprises of 2024: Quarterbacks

Sam Darnold - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

With several quarterbacks turning heads with serious breakouts in 2024, Quincy breaks down the biggest surprises at the position heading into the offseason.

2024 saw passing numbers drop for many quarterbacks as defensive coordinators sold out to stop a surging NFL passing game by committing to a two-high safety scheme. Running backs reaped the benefits, but several quarterbacks suffered as a result.

On the flip side, a few quarterbacks landed in perfect situations that allowed them to exceed expectations, and frankly, they excelled. One can only hope for more excellence moving forward and an ability for quarterbacks to adjust to new-look defenses.

While it is never too early to look forward to the next season, sometimes it is prudent to look back on the season that just ended and reflect on the good and the bad. Let's jump in and take a look at the quarterbacks who surprised us for various reasons in 2024.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

1. Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings

Sam Darnold demonstrated to the NFL community that he is and has been, worthy of a starting job in the right situation. Darnold found himself in the starting role for the Vikings this season after a preseason injury sidelined rookie first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. Darnold would go on to throw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns.

Darnold's talent has always been undeniable, but starting stops in New York and Carolina did not exactly nurture those talents. Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell brought the best out of Darnold.

Perhaps the biggest surprise about Darnold was how dominant he was. From Week 11-on, Darnold only tossed two interceptions.

Darnold has played himself into a hefty contract. Whether the Vikings give it to him is another story. Should Darnold move on, his value will likely drop in fantasy. Should Darnold stay in Minnesota, we should see another season similar to 2024.

 

2. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Contrary to Darnold, C.J. Stroud was one of the biggest disappointments in 2024. Stroud was electric as a rookie, tossing 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He followed that up by throwing for 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in two extra games in 2024.

Stroud's offensive line did him no favors, and the poor play-calling resulted in the Texans' dismissal of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. However, Stroud did not look himself throughout the season and was starkly different from the poised rookie we saw a year ago.

Hopefully, with some investments along the offensive line, Stroud can return to form. This is a quarterback more than ready to join the 30-touchdown club.

Stroud was certainly overdrafted in fantasy in 2024, but he could be a steal in 2025 if the Texans fix their offense.

 

3. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

No Dave Canales, no problem. With the Buccaneers switching to Liam Coen as their offensive coordinator in 2024, Mayfield did not skip a beat. He went on to have a career year throwing for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns.

The question is whether or not this season is repeatable for Mayfield. For starters, he lost Coen to the Jaguars' head coach position. Stud wide receiver Mike Evans is a year older, and while Jalen McMillan showed promise as a rookie, his touchdown rate was unsustainably high.

Mayfield's own touchdown rate was also unsustainably high. Mayfield threw a touchdown on 7.2 percent of his passes. For perspective, if Mayfield keeps that up for the next decade, he will be considered an all-time great.

Despite all the stats that suggest this may have been a one-off magical season from Mayfield, we did just watch him throw for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns a season ago. It feels like Mayfield could settle somewhere in the middle as the Buccaneers continue trying to build around him.

 

4. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers

Jordan Love seemed poised to ascend into the next stratosphere after an exciting ending to the 2023 season and a great playoff run. Injuries to Love and the lack of a stud No. 1 wide receiver forced the Packers to lean heavily on the running game in a tough NFC North.

Love was a solid quarterback in real life in 2024. He finished fifth in QBR while only throwing for 3,389 yards and 25 touchdowns in 15 games. Love's issue for fantasy purposes is that he is a pocket passer. A season ago, he threw for 30 touchdowns while adding 247 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. His various ailments in 2024 kept his running in check, and his touchdowns did not stick.

Since we have seen Love cross the 30-touchdown threshold, we know he is capable of doing so. However, unless your name is Joe Burrow or, in some seasons, Patrick Mahomes, touchdowns are difficult to predict. Fantasy studs make magic happen with their legs, and that may not be something we can consistently rely on from Love.

Still, Love is a solid NFL quarterback. Should the Packers make a splash amongst their wide receiving corps, Love's fantasy prospects could become much more interesting.

 

5. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

Let's get back into the positive realm with rookie sensation Jayden Daniels. Given Daniels' running ability, it is no surprise that he was good for fantasy purposes. The surprise stems from just how good Daniels was for both real life and fantasy.

Daniels finished fourth in QBR and ran for a rookie quarterback record 891 yards. He accounted for 31 total touchdowns and over 4,000 total yards. He was unstoppable in 2024.

Daniels was unflappable under pressure. He seemed to always be in control with varying levels of pressure in his face. He was also an incredibly smart player this season. He rarely made crucial mistakes that cost the Commanders the game. In fact, Daniels would often make the very play that won the game.

The Commanders have an incredible amount of cap space this season and are likely to invest heavily in their offensive line and weapons. Daniels should pick up where he left off as a rusher and only continue to ascend as a passer in 2025.

 

6. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers

Bryce Young did his part to dispel the negativity surrounding him with a strong finish to the 2024 season. Young finished the season with 15 touchdown passes and nine interceptions in 14 games. That included a five-total touchdown season finale against the Atlanta Falcons.

While the Panthers' offensive roster did not look like one that any quarterback could succeed in this past season, Young and head coach Dave Canales seemed to find something in their first season together. Young improved across the board, particularly by bumping his QBR up by 20 points.

The Panthers have plenty of room to make significant roster improvements this offseason. Young should be given the chance to display he is the surgeon we all saw at Alabama. While he may not reach the heights of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL, Young has a chance to become a quality starter.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Taylor Ward

Exits Early After Collison
Braelon Allen

Says He Has a Lot Left to Prove
Sal Stewart

Reds Promoting Sal Stewart to Majors
Daniel Suarez

is A DFS Risk for Darlington Lineups?
Randy Rodríguez

Randy Rodriguez to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Noah Gragson

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Noah Gragson for Darlington?
Ty Dillon

is an Excellent Punt Option for Darlington DFS Lineups
Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanovic to Miss the Rest of EuroBasket
Denny Hamlin

Picking Up Where He Left Off At Darlington
Kyle Larson

The Sky Is The Limit for Kyle Larson at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

a Strong DFS Play at Darlington This Weekend
Tyler Reddick

Shouldn't Be Overlooked at Darlington This Weekend
Alex Bowman

An Easy Place-Differential Play in DFS This Weekend
Ty Gibbs

Could Be Strong at Darlington This Weekend
Erik Jones

Has Best Darlington Qualifying Effort Since Last Win
Zane Smith

Hopeful For Another Solid Run At Darlington
AJ Allmendinger

Still Seeking First Top-10 Finish at Darlington
Chase Elliott

Likely Won't Factor for the Win at Darlington
Joey Logano

Might Focus More on Playoff Races
Chris Buescher

Missing Playoffs Allows Chris Buescher to Potentially Go All Out at Darlington
Shane Van Gisbergen

Shane van Gisbergen Qualifies Too Well for DFS Consideration
Austin Dillon

Earns Best Qualifying Result at Darlington
Kyle Busch

Downturn in Speed This Year Makes Him a Worse DFS Option
Carson Hocevar

Should Run Better at Darlington Than the Numbers Predict
Ryan Preece

a Low-key Strong DFS Option at Darlington After His Speed in the Spring
Michael McDowell

Don't Expect Much From Michael McDowell
Aroldis Chapman

Agrees to Contract Extension
Juan Soto

Homers Twice in Loss
Nick Kurtz

Avoids Serious Injury
MacKenzie Gore

Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Reaches 25-Homer, 25-Steal Milestone
Chris Sale

Activated on Saturday
Dansby Swanson

Homers Twice, Drives in Six in Win
Nick Kurtz

Leaves Game With Oblique Soreness
Joe Burrow

Bengals Feel Joe Burrow Just had "the Best Training Camp of his Career"
Randy Rodríguez

Tommy John Surgery Recommended for Randy Rodriguez
Corey Seager

Placed on Injured List
Jackson Chourio

to Return From Injured List on Saturday
Jordan Lawlar

Diamondbacks Set to Promote Jordan Lawlar
Dallas Mavericks

Olivier-Maxence Prosper Waived by the Mavs
Lauri Markkanen

Dominant in Win Over Great Britain
Xander Bogaerts

Suffers Foot Fracture, Set to Hit Injured List
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Leads Serbia to a Win
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Shines Versus Portugal
De'Von Achane

Should be Ready for Week 1
Jose Alvarado

"Good" After Recent Fall
Alec Burleson

Lands on Injured List With Wrist Inflammation
Emmanuel Clase

Luis L. Ortiz to Remain On Leave for Rest of Season
Kyle Schwarber

has Historic Performance in Rout of Braves
Boston Red Sox

Payton Tolle Expected to Make Debut on Friday
Green Bay Packers

Packers Acquire Micah Parsons, Sign him to Four-Year Extension
Jauan Jennings

Remains Sidelined at Practice
Corey Seager

Undergoing Appendectomy on Thursday
Chris Godwin

to Miss First Month of Season, Possibly More
Quinshon Judkins

Not Considering Return to College
A.J. Brown

Returns to Practice, Expected to Play in Week 1
Jaylen Wright

Undergoes Surgery, Could be Back "Septemberish"
Tyreek Hill

on Track to Play in Week 1
Kyren Williams

to See Reduced Workload?
Jayden Reed

Dealing with Jones Fracture in Left Foot
Lauri Markkanen

Torches Sweden
Neemias Queta

Dominates in EuroBasket Opener
Kawhi Leonard

Clippers Not Allowing Kawhi Leonard to Play Back-to-Backs
Dallas Mavericks

Mavericks Looking to Trade Olivier-Maxence Prosper
Tyrese Haliburton

Expects to Return in 15 Months
Malik Nabers

Expected to be Full-Go for Week 1
Travis Hunter

Back at Practice, Will be Ready for Week 1
De'Von Achane

Not Practicing on Wednesday
Rashee Rice

Accepting Six-Game Suspension to Begin the Year
Kyle Hamilton

Ravens, Kyle Hamilton Finalizing Four-Year Extension
Rashee Rice

NFL Aiming to Place Six-Game Suspension on Rashee Rice
De'Von Achane

Dolphins GM Says De'Von Achane Will be Ready for Week 1
Joe Mixon

Texans GM: "We'll See" if Joe Mixon Plays in 2025
Adam Thielen

Traded to the Vikings
Terance Mann

Confident About Having a Big Year in Brooklyn
Zaccharie Risacher

Aims to Improve Ball-Handling Skills
NBA

Pistons And Timberwolves Join Race for Malik Beasley
John Tonje

Signs Two-Way Deal With Jazz
Max Strus

to Miss 3-4 Months After Surgery
Nikola Jović

Heat Have High Hopes for Nikola Jovic
Golden State Warriors

Cody Martin Drawing Interest From Warriors
Minnesota Timberwolves

Timberwolves Interested in Reunion With Bones Hyland
Kylor Kelley

Joins Lakers
Colin Castleton

Links Up With Magic

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP