Top Impact Fantasy Football Rookie Draft Values and Sleepers: Quarterbacks

Which fantasy football rookie quarterbacks will make an immediate impact in Year 1? Joey Pollizze looks at three who are set to make an impact in their first year.

Quarterback is not only the most important position in football, but it's the hardest position to play. As a result, not every quarterback makes an immediate impact in the NFL. Patrick Mahomes sat out his entire rookie season, while Josh Allen struggled as a passer in his first year. Now, both Mahomes and Allen are top quarterbacks in the league. 

Sometimes, though, there are quarterbacks who make an immediate impact. C.J. Stroud and Justin Herbert are just a few quarterbacks who have come in and dominated from the start. Both Stroud and Herbert threw for over 4,000 yards as rookies. 

So, which quarterbacks from the 2024 NFL Draft will make an immediate impact in the NFL and become fantasy-relevant in Year 1? Let's dive in and find out. 

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Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has been one of the most talked about prospects since the 2022 college season. That year saw Williams total 4,537 pass yards, 42 touchdowns, 382 rush yards, and 10 rushing touchdowns en route to winning the Heisman. While his 2023 campaign at USC wasn't as strong -- throwing for 3,633 yards and 30 touchdowns -- he was going to be the first overall pick. 

Luckily, he landed in one of the best quarterback spots by a rookie in NFL history. Throwing passes to DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and fellow rookie Rome Odunze immediately boosts Williams' fantasy value in Year 1. That's why he is a quarterback who should make an immediate impact in his first season.

Williams also looked solid in his first preseason action against the Buffalo Bills. He completed 4-of-7 passes for 95 yards while rushing once for 13 yards across two drives. Yes, it is only the preseason, and fantasy managers should take games like this with a grain of salt. But the rookie's talent was obviously on display. 

Caleb Williams is just a natural. First real NFL throw on a 3rd & long to the left? No problem. This throw below - which he made look easy - is Mahomes/Allen stuff. pic.twitter.com/tAoVbasGW8

— Chris Simms (@CSimmsQB) August 12, 2024

As a result, we could see the Bears quarterback finish as a borderline top-12 fantasy quarterback in 2024. He has the weapons around him to succeed, and he has some rushing potential as well. In his final two college seasons at USC, Williams totaled 21 rushing touchdowns. Be patient with the rookie quarterback in fantasy throughout the first half of the season because there are going to be some up-and-down weeks. However, managers should expect him to take off as the season progresses. 

Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders

Very few people were familiar with quarterback Jayden Daniels before the 2023 college season. From 2019 to 2022, Daniels never totaled more than 3,000 passing yards or 20 passing touchdowns in any season. But that changed last year, as the 6-foot-3 quarterback broke out in his final college campaign at LSU. He threw for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns while rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns. 

That Heisman-winning season led to the Washington Commanders taking him with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Now, he has every opportunity to make an impact in his first season. Daniels goes to a Commanders offense that already has solid playmakers around him (Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and Austin Ekeler), and his rushing upside should give him a solid weekly floor in fantasy. 

Like Williams, Daniels was also impressive in his first preseason action. In his only drive, the rookie completed 2-of-3 passes for 45 yards while also rushing for a touchdown at the goal line. The 23-year-old's rushing potential makes him one of the best value picks currently in drafts at his QB14 price tag. 

It’s fitting that Jayden Daniels first preseason completion was on a deep ball and his first touchdown was on a QB run. He was the most explosive passer and runner in all of college football last year. THAT’S HOW YOU HEISMAN.

🎥 -@nfl pic.twitter.com/dvovVFoquU

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) August 10, 2024

Daniels totaled over 700 rush yards in each of the last three college seasons (2021 to 2023) and scored double-digit rushing touchdowns in two of those years (2022 and 2023). As a result, look for the rookie to lean on his legs in his first season. That is great news for his fantasy value in 2024. 

Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was originally on this list after his impressive showing in the team's first preseason game. But after being diagnosed with a torn meniscus, his rookie season could be in jeopardy. As a result, Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix makes this list instead.

There was some concern for Nix entering the 2024 NFL Draft, as he just turned 24 years old and played five college seasons. However, the Broncos loved what they saw from him in his final college season at Oregon and throughout the draft process. The 2023 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year threw for 4,508 yards, 45 touchdowns, and just three interceptions in 2023. With Denver needing a quarterback, the team selected him with the 12th overall pick in this year's draft.

Now, it remains to be seen if Nix will start the season as the Broncos' QB1. But his time will come to lead this offense, possibly as soon as this year. The former Oregon product has shown some nice things in training camp this offseason, and the rookie was impressive in his first preseason action against the Indianapolis Colts. He completed 15-of-21 passes for 125 yards and one touchdown.

Bo Nix was the most efficient QB in his draft class because of his ability to process complex schemes with ease and the QUICK RELEASE you see on this TD throw. He showed that going 15/21 for 125 yards with 4 scoring drives in his preseason debut and his creativity too.

🎥- @NFL pic.twitter.com/kiNXiPcKsy

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) August 11, 2024

It might be a long shot to see Nix start the year as Denver's QB1. However, he will get his shot to shine at some point in his rookie season, especially with quarterbacks like Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson as the only other two signal-callers currently on the roster. If anyone knows how to develop a quarterback, it's Sean Payton. As a result, there's a chance the 24-year-old is somewhat fantasy-relevant in the second half of his rookie campaign.

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