Top Candidates to Dethrone Josh Allen as the Fantasy Football QB1 in 2024

Quincy Milton analyzes four fantasy football quarterbacks who could be strong candidates to dethrone the Bills' Josh Allen as the QB1 in fantasy this year.

Josh Allen has finished as the QB1 in fantasy football in three of the last four seasons. During that span, his lone finish below QB1 was as the measly QB2 in 2022. Allen has been about as reliable as any quarterback in fantasy.

Allen's dominance comes from his combination of passing and rushing talent. Allen has thrown at least 29 passing touchdowns every season since 2020. He has also run for at least 421 yards and six touchdowns every season in his career.

Dethroning Allen will be no easy feat. However, in a season in which the Bills are retooling their wide receiving corps and so many other running quarterbacks are in the fold, could this be the year?

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Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Jalen Hurts is the obvious pick considering that he actually scored more fantasy points per game than Allen in 2022. He would have finished as the QB1 in total points if a shoulder sprain had not cost him two weeks.

Hurts' ability to score touchdowns on the tush push will largely dictate his ability to finish as the QB1. Over the last three seasons, Hurts has rushed for no less than 10 touchdowns in a season. He has finished no lower than QB9 during that span despite throwing for no more than 3,858 yards and 23 touchdowns in any given season.

Hurts finished as the QB2 in 2023 in an Eagles offense that looked dysfunctional at times. With the addition of offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and running back Saquon Barkley, expect this offense, and Hurts, to get back on track in 2024.

RUN @jalenhurts RUN pic.twitter.com/8CwALpmZKd

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 27, 2023

Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts

If Richardson can stay healthy in 2024, then the sky is the limit. In only four games in 2023, Richardson finished with 136 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Those numbers could have been even further padded had he not left two games early due to a concussion in Week 3 and an AC joint sprain in Week 5 that ultimately cost him the season.

Anthony Richardson is a dynamic talent in an offense with an excellent play-caller in head coach Shane Steichen. This was a good offense in 2023 with Gardner Minshew II at the helm. With Richardson behind center, a healthy Jonathan Taylor, and the addition of wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, the scoring opportunities should come often for Richardson.

Never forget what could’ve been…

Anthony Richardson week 2 at the Texans

•17.7 fantasy points
•6-10 56 yards, 0 TD’s
•3 rushes, 35 yards, 2 TD’s

*left the game in the 1st Q w/ a concussion after his 2nd TD 😢 pic.twitter.com/N9z55khSz2

— Top Fantasy Plays (@TopFantasyPlays) June 4, 2024

Richardson should push for double-digit touchdowns with his legs. With a year in an NFL facility under his belt, he should take another step as a passer. Richardson is currently being drafted as the QB7, but he is in a great position for a breakout into the top five.

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

We all know that Mahomes is the best player on the planet and is making a case for the best quarterback of all time. If anyone can go ballistic for fantasy in any given season, it is Mahomes.

We could watch these two play catch all day long.@PatrickMahomes x @TKelce pic.twitter.com/2rIlrY9jLL

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 12, 2024

Many of us are still feeling the sting of Mahomes' measly QB8 finish last year. Given how poorly the regular season went for Mahomes, the fact that he still finished as a top-10 quarterback is indicative of his talent and offensive system. We are only one season removed from Mahomes' finish as the QB1 during an MVP campaign in 2022.

Since Mahomes took the starting job in 2018, QB8 is his lowest fantasy finish. He has finished as a top-five quarterback in four of his six seasons as a starter. With an improved body of weapons in Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy, look for Mahomes to bounce back. All it will take is a Chiefs offense operating at a level close to what we are accustomed to. If Mahomes also adds a couple rushing touchdowns with his legs, then watch out.

Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

This is a serious dark-horse pick but Daniels has the tools necessary to push for a high fantasy finish. Daniels' best attribute is his ability to run. He has a legitimate chance to rush for between 700 and 1,000 yards this season. However, Daniels is a far more polished passer than most rushing quarterbacks are as they enter the league. With weapons such as Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and Luke McCaffrey, Daniels could push for over 20 passing touchdowns.

If Daniels can meet those marks and throw for between 3,500 and 3,800 yards, then he will be in the company of some of Jalen Hurts' recent fantasy seasons.

Transitioning to playing quarterback in the NFL is not easy. Daniels may not ultimately come close to any of the aforementioned passing marks. However, should he figure things out earlier rather than later, then we may find ourselves surprised by Daniels' fantasy finish.

Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels gets it.

A reporter asked Jayden what it's like being the "star quarterback" in town?

Jayden quickly responds, "I ain't a star quarterback yet, I got a long way to go. I'm a rookie."

Just the perfect response. pic.twitter.com/jmR27TVm6w

— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) June 12, 2024

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