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Who are the ideal fantasy football targets and sleepers at quarterback in Superflex (2QB) leagues for 2024? Kyle Lindemann provides six names to keep an eye on.
Diving into a Superflex fantasy football league? Buckle up, because this isn’t your standard fantasy format. In Superflex, quarterbacks vanish from the draft board like hotcakes at a brunch buffet, often with as many as six QBs swooped up in the first round alone. This level of scarcity is a game-changer, pushing the value of quarterbacks sky-high due to sheer supply and demand. Your strategy? It’ll hinge on where you're drafting from, the size of your lineup, the scoring specifics, and the drafting habits of your league mates. The tricky part about Superflex leagues is that ADP can vary from draft to draft, so properly timing the quarterback run while also getting value at the other positions is pivotal.
The quarterback duo of Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts are the heavyweights in Superflex drafts. Typically, they're the first names called out. Once they're off the board, the debate begins: do you snag a superstar like Tyreek Hill or Ja'Marr Chase, or do you go for gold with a Christian McCaffrey or even a Breece Hall or Bijan Robinson-type, especially when there are so few bell-cow backs in today's NFL?
From experience, kicking off with two top-tier QBs might seem like a masterstroke, but here’s a cautionary tale: I once led with two elite signal-callers during a Superflex draft a couple of years back. However, only four QBs went in the first two rounds, and by my next pick, the crème de la crème among skill players had already been picked clean. Result? I had the strongest quarterback room but was playing catch-up on running backs and wide receivers right out of the gate. So, what’s the best move in Superflex? It’s all about balancing quarterback urgency with how your leaguemates draft while still making sure to snag those invaluable skill-position players. Let's take a look below at some quarterback targets and sleepers for 2024 Superflex drafts! (Superflex ADP data is the most recent from DraftSharks)
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Fantasy Football Quarterback Draft Strategy in Superflex Formats
Hitting the draft board for fantasy football in 2024 brings a whole new playbook for picking quarterbacks. Gone are the days of leisurely waiting until the late rounds to snatch a QB. Now, the landscape is dominated by dual-threat quarterbacks who rack up fantasy points not just with their arms, but with their legs, too. A decade ago, when things were much more predictable, the difference in fantasy points per game between QB6 and QB15 was a mere two points. Fast forward to now, and the number of quarterbacks rushing for over 700+ yards in a season has widened the gap, making rushing QBs, or what we affectionately call "Konami QBs," the ultimate game-changers in fantasy.
The Superflex format’s rise has only escalated the quarterback frenzy, pushing their draft stock sky-high. In leagues where passing touchdowns score six points or bonuses for completions add up, securing a top-tier QB becomes even more pivotal. The size of your league’s starting lineup also plays a crucial role -- if you have fewer spots, quarterbacks consume a larger slice of your weekly fantasy pie, elevating their importance. Conversely, a larger starting lineup dilutes their immediate impact, giving you a bit more breathing room to balance out your roster how you see fit.
When drafting in Superflex, the strategy isn't a cookie-cutter one. Early first-round picks often secure a QB, but it’s the late-first-round selections that present a real strategy test. Don’t get caught chasing quarterbacks during a run just to keep up. Instead, aim to maintain a balance -- keeping an eye on value picks like Justin Jefferson if he falls into your lap.
If you're a Superflex rookie, a general rule of thumb is locking down two quarterbacks within your first four picks to avoid getting boxed out altogether. Now that we've set the stage with some strategic musings, let's dive into the quarterbacks who should be on your radar this season, pinpointing both prime targets and potential sleepers for your future Superflex triumphs!
While this author is excited about Patrick Mahomes for 2024 given the strong wide receiver additions in Kansas City this offseason, we are going to exclude the top five quarterbacks in ADP from this article to make things a little more challenging. If you are picking in the first four to five picks of a Superflex draft, paying up for a quarterback makes too much sense. If you're picking later or want to wait on your QB2, here are some targets and sleepers who have a good shot to beat their ADP this season!
Fantasy Football Quarterback Targets in Superflex Formats
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
QB8, 19.0 ADP
Perhaps the most underappreciated quarterback in the NFL as well as the fantasy space, Prescott enters the season fresh off a campaign as the QB5 in fantasy football at 20.7 PPG and the overall QB4 in 2023. Dak was electric last season, helping the Cowboys clinch the NFC East, and he was very much in the MVP race before it was given to Lamar Jackson.
Prescott passed for 4,517 yards to go along with 36 passing touchdowns and just nine interceptions. While he isn't using his legs anymore as much as he did early in his career, Dak added 242 yards on the ground to go with two additional scores. He is an unrestricted free agent after the 2024 season and the Cowboys cannot use the franchise tag on him.
Prescott will inevitably become the league's highest-paid player and it's hard to envision him in another uniform next season despite owner Jerry Jones' stubbornness to get a deal done with Dak, star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and linebacker/edge- rusher Micah Parsons.
Dak Prescott turns 31 today. It would be a great day to pay him. pic.twitter.com/dsdvA7PYx9
— Ernie The Cowboys Fan (@es3_09) July 29, 2024
The Cowboys brought back RB Ezekiel Elliott this offseason and have a backfield that features Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, and Royce Freeman. Not exactly a scary group! While this team still looks good on paper, it's fair to wonder if it will be able to run the ball as successfully as it did last season. Expect 2024 to be another type of season where Dak puts this offense on his back. If you're picking at the end of the first round in a Superflex draft and can snag a top-tier running back or wide receiver to go with Dak in the second round, Hoo-boy is that a nice start! Expect Dak and Lamb to feast again this season.
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
QB9, 20.5 ADP
After missing the early part of the season recovering from an ACL tear, Murray saw his first action in Week 10 and was solid in the seven games that he played, averaging 18.9 fantasy points per game. The Cardinals added wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and drafted running back Trey Benson with pick No. 66 early in the third round, which helps to add to an offense that already features budding star tight end Trey McBride and veteran running back James Conner. The front office brought in veteran Jonah Williams to shore up the right tackle spot as well.
Given how barren the Arizona skill players looked in 2023, it's understandable to be a lot more bullish on Kyler being a solid fantasy football quarterback this season. One of his strengths for fantasy is his high rushing floor, as Murray has averaged right around five fantasy points per game with his legs throughout his career. Given the addition of Harrison as a bona fide WR1 to go along with second-year wideout Michael Wilson and slot man Greg Dortch, the Cardinals offense looks a whole heck of a lot better than it did at this time last year.
Overall, the game scripts should be pretty favorable for the Cardinals. Their defense finished second worst in points allowed in 2023 (455 total) and allowed 5.7 yards per play, which was fourth worst. While Arizona did make a few upgrades on defense this offseason, we shouldn't expect it to finish in the upper half of the league anytime soon, which provides plenty of urgency for Murray and the offense to keep airing it out.
At this stage of the summer, Murray just might be the best quarterback value in all of fantasy football. He's got as high of a ceiling as the top guys, a solid weekly floor from rushing, and he won't cost you a top pick to acquire him. Win-win.
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
QB16, 46.4 ADP
Lawrence hasn't quite lived up to the hype since being touted as a generational prospect as early as his freshman year at Clemson and then went on to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Despite not yet living up to his potential, there is reason for optimism with Lawrence in 2024.
The Jaguars added wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft along with wide receiver Gabe Davis, adding two vertical threats to the offense that Lawrence hasn't had since becoming the Jaguars quarterback three years ago. Add in talented running back Travis Etienne, wide receiver Christian Kirk, and tight end Evan Engram, and there are plenty of weapons for Lawrence to work with this season!
Trevor Lawrence still has so much untapped potential 🔥 pic.twitter.com/38KTGNMUuT
— Football’s Greatest Moments (@FBGreatMoments) July 25, 2024
From Week 11 onward last year, Lawrence kicked it into high gear, lighting up the fantasy boards as QB7 and slinging it for an average of 270.9 yards and 1.7 TDs per game. Not too shabby for the former top dog of the draft, right? And he pulled this off even after Kirk, his go-to guy, was sidelined with an injury for the final stretch and missed five games. Lawrence isn't just about that cannon of an arm; the guy can hustle with the best of them, too. Now, if he can just dial in that consistency, Year 4 might just be the breakout season we've been waiting for. It's okay to still believe in Lawrence becoming one of the NFL's best signal-callers, and at his discounted ADP, the value is there.
Honorable Mention:
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
QB11, 28.3 ADP
All he does is throw touchdowns.
Fantasy Football Quarterback Sleepers in Superflex Formats
Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
QB22, 85.4 ADP
The Deshaun Watson era in Cleveland so far has been a disaster! The Browns surrendered so much draft capital when they traded for Watson that they helped the Houston Texans turbocharge their rebuild and build a potential juggernaut in the AFC! To make matters worse, the Texans scorched the Browns and knocked them out of the playoffs last season. As a Browns fan, it's been a painful experience since the trade while watching former quarterback Baker Mayfield thrive in Tampa Bay.
Watson is a former first-round pick and was a fantasy quarterback darling for the Texans early in his career, finishing as the QB2 in 2019 with 22.1 PPG and the QB5 in 2020 while averaging 23.5 PPG. Since then, it's been all downhill. Watson sat out the 2021 season after a combination of failing to reach a contract extension with the Texans as well as awaiting charges from nearly two dozen women on allegations of sexual misconduct at massage sessions during his time in Houston. Ouch.
Watson was then suspended by the NFL commissioner for the first 11 games of the 2022 season and only played in five of them in 2023 after being shut down with a shoulder injury. Can Watson get healthy and reclaim some of the old magic he once had from 2018-2020, or has he just simply been through too much physically and emotionally over the last few seasons that the old quarterback we once knew and loved is gone?
The Browns offense is led by head coach Kevin Stefanski and features the likes of running back Nick Chubb, wide receiver Amari Cooper, tight end David Njoku, and arguably the best guard combo in the league of Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller. There are some other solid ancillary pieces on the offense as well: running back Jerome Ford and wide receivers Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore. Due to all of the talent around him and the fact that Stefanski wants the Browns to be more up-tempo and pass-heavy this season, could a breakout be on the horizon for Watson? It's fair to question it, but his ADP as the QB22 is the lowest we have seen since 2018. Buy the dip.
Will Levis, Tennessee Titans
QB23, 100.3 ADP
It's fair to question Levis for 2024. He had mixed reviews as a prospect and tends to be reckless with the ball and always go for the big play, as evidenced by his 11.1 aDOT in 2023, which was one of the highest in the league among quarterbacks. Despite the question marks, the Titans made some serious efforts this offseason to give their young quarterback as much help as possible.
Tennessee signed veteran wide receiver Calvin Ridley to a monster deal, as well as running back Tony Pollard and wide receiver Tyler Boyd, who should man the slot. It did the same with center Lloyd Cushenberry III and spent the No. 7 overall pick on Alabama left tackle JC Latham. Add in wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and the promising Tyjae Spears out of the backfield, and it's hard not to at least envision a scenario where Levis could thrive this season.
Will Levis hits Tony Pollard for an explosive TD on a wheel route at today's open #Titans practice 😍pic.twitter.com/gmQYHsXVaA
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) July 27, 2024
Former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan was brought in to be the team's new head coach, and he has a history dating back to his time with Andy Dalton for running a very pass-happy offense. If Callahan can help groom Levis to get through his progressions better, improve his accuracy, and take what the defense gives him, then the Titans' young quarterback could thrive this season. Levis doesn't have a ton of value in 1QB leagues and he won't add a lot for fantasy scoring with his legs (just 57 rushing yards in eight games last season), but in Superflex formats, he is worth a dart throw as late as he's being drafted right now.
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
QB27, 132.0 ADP
Young's rookie season in 2023 was as bad as it gets. The front office gave up a fortune to move up to No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft to select him, his head coach was fired early in the season, the offensive line couldn't block, and wily veteran Adam Thielen was his only option in the passing game. Young finished with 2,877 yards passing to go along with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. To make matters worse, the Panthers stumbled to a 2-15 finish, giving the Chicago Bears the No. 1 overall pick. Oof.
If you're a Panthers fan, though, you have to put all of that behind you and focus on 2024. The Panthers made the trade for Bryce and there's no looking back. The front office seemed to take the same approach this offseason, trading away veteran cornerback Donte Jackson and a sixth-round pick for talented wideout Diontae Johnson. Carolina also traded away edge-rusher Brian Burns to the New York Giants for the No. 39 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Panthers would eventually trade up on draft night to take South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette at No. 32 overall. They also added talented offensive guard Robert Hunt in free agency to help protect their young quarterback!
While there are still question marks about Young going forward, the organization also brought in Dave Canales to be the new head coach. Canales did wonders with Baker Mayfield as the offensive coordinator of the Bucs last season, and he worked with Geno Smith in Seattle as the quarterbacks coach in 2022.
Canales said the plan is for Young to get the ball out in 2.7 seconds or less this year. Per PFF, when Young got the ball out in 2.5 seconds or less last season, he had a 65.8% completion rate to go along with eight touchdowns and just two interceptions. When Young didn't get the ball out in that time, he had a 54.0% completion rate to go along with three touchdowns and eight interceptions. Regardless of how you feel about Young, the front office has at least given him a fighting chance to turn this thing around! Add in losing its best defensive player in Burns and this team could be in a lot of shootouts this season.
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