Ahead of the 2024 regular season, we preview how the sophomore Quarterback class performed. Just like their counterparts from the 2021 class, it was a mixed bag for last year’s rookie signal callers. There is however, reason to be optimistic that the Sophomore seasons for the likes of Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson will go a little better than they did for Zach Wilson and Trey Lance.
Read on to find out what those reasons are and for our verdict on the other Quarterbacks headed into their second year in the league.
CJ Stroud
After 11 combined wins from 2020-2022, CJ Stroud and head coach DeMeco Ryans led the Texans to a 10-7 record and a trip to Baltimore in the Divisional round of the playoffs. The Texans were a trademark example of how things can change in just a season in the NFL. When Stroud was drafted there were doubts over him and the situation he found himself in. But a year later Stroud is viewed as a superstar real life Quarterback with one of the best receiver rooms in the league.
Stroud finished the season as the fantasy QB11 in points per game with five top-10 weekly performances. Yet it does feel like the hype train is just a little over the top heading into this season (*ducks*). He’s being drafted as the QB5 in Redraft and as he’s not a “dual threat” Quarterback he’s going to need insane touchdown efficiency to return on that draft capital. But in 2023 he scored just 31% of his fantasy points inside the Red Zone, the second lowest mark of the top 12 Quarterbacks in points per game (behind only Joe Flacco). He completed just 48% of his Red Zone passes and even if we see some positive regression in this area, he’s going to struggle to crack the top five fantasy Quarterbacks.
He is the Dynasty QB3 according to the market (via KeepTradeCut) which again may be a spot or two too high when you consider he’s above Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts. That’s not to say that he won’t be fully deserving of that ranking in a years time if he follows up with a similar performance in his Sophomore season.
Redraft Verdict: 5th/ 6th Round Pick
Dynasty Class/Overall Rank: QB1/QB5
Anthony Richardson
It was a case of what could have been for Anthony Richardson and the Colts last year. Richardson appeared in just four games and only managed to finish two of them. In those two games he finished as the QB4 and QB2 on the week. And without Richardson the Colts ended the season just outside the playoffs with a 9-8 record. There is every reason to believe that if head coach Shane Steichen is able to get seven wins with Gardner Minshew at Quarterback, he will be able to make good use of Richardson’s superior skill set and turn him into a sustainable long term starter.
Your excitement level for Richardson in Redraft this season is pretty much directly correlated with your appetite for risk. If you would prefer a consistent output then you pass him up in favour of a pocket passer like Stroud (QB5 ADP) or Burrow (QB7 ADP). But if you want to opt for week-winning upside then you take Richardson (QB6 ADP). After all, Stroud missed two games in 2023 and Burrow seven.
In Dynasty, particularly Superflex, it is much more understandable to err on the side of caution and longevity.
Redraft Verdict: 5th Round Pick
Dynasty Class/Overall Rank: QB2/QB10
Bryce Young
It’s difficult to find anything positive to say about Young or the Panthers 2023 season. They were shutout in as many games as Young managed to throw multiple touchdown passes in (two). Even in the two games they did win they only scored one touchdown for a combined total of 24 points. Thankfully they have at least made some moves this offseason to make life easier for the number one overall pick from 2023.
New head coach Dave Canales has a good track record of turning Quarterbacks careers around having worked with Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield the last two seasons. They traded for Wide Receiver Diontae Johnson, spent a first round pick on another receiver Xavier Legette and a second round pick on Running Back Jonathon Brooks. It may be a while until we see any significant payoff on those draft picks but at a minimum Johnson gives Young something he didn’t have last season and that’s a pass catcher with the ability to get open.
While there are some reasons to be optimistic about Young in Dynasty, the ceiling outcome is probably just a run of the mill QB2. In Redraft, he’s best left on waivers outside of Superflex leagues where he’s a low end QB2/3.
Redraft Verdict: Superflex Only
Dynasty Class/Overall Rank: QB3/QB20
Will Levis
Similar to Young, Levis is heading into his Sophomore season with a new coaching staff and several new faces in his supporting cast. After sitting for the Titans first six games, he flashed his ceiling in a four touchdown performance in Week 8 against the Falcons. But struggled the rest of the way, only managing five touchdowns (one rushing) to go with four interceptions in his remaining eight appearances.
With Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd and Tony Pollard joining the offense’’s skill positions plus some investment in the offensive line there is little room for excuses from Levis in 2024. In fantasy it helps that we’ve seen the upside case for Levis already, so he’s a viable QB2 with upside in Dynasty. As with Young, he’s best left on waivers in Redraft though (outside of Superflex).
Redraft Verdict: Superflex Only
Dynasty Class/Overall Rank: QB4/QB21
Aidan O'Connell
A few weeks ago O’Connell was the favourite to land the starting role in Las Vegas but it has since been announced that Gardner Minshew won the camp battle. Although O’Connell put in some solid performances as a rookie (two top 12 weekly performances), this renders him pretty much irrelevant in Redraft for now.
In Dynasty he’s of course still worth a stash and is just about as likely as any of the backups in the league to be the starter come the fantasy playoffs.
Redraft Verdict: Superflex Only
Dynasty Class/Overall Rank: QB5/QB30-35
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