Dynasty Fantasy Football Outlooks for Rookie Quarterbacks: Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and More
Discussing the landing spots for rookie quarterbacks and how their dynasty league values look now.
The NFL Draft is in the books, meaning we are that much closer to the NFL season and fantasy football!
I thought it would be fun to discuss the landing spots for rookies and how their dynasty value was impacted as a result. Of course, we will start with the quarterback position. Check back for stories on other positions.
Caleb Williams Fantasy Outlook
Williams has been one of the most talked about quarterback prospects in recent memory. It came as no surprise that Williams landed with the Chicago Bears.
As you’d expect with a top pick, there’s no other viable starting option on the team. Williams will start in week 1 for Chicago, unless he’s injured, of course.
It was a desirable landing spot with some of the team’s recent moves. D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen are a pretty strong 1-2 punch, and the team also drafted Rome Odunze, giving Williams one of the better WR trios in the league before he even took a snap for the team.
You can’t forget about Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett, who are a solid duo at tight end. Chicago also has D'Andre Swift, Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson to turn to out of the backfield.
The Bears are loaded at the skill positions, so that means that Williams should be a great fantasy option. It will all come down to the play of the offensive line. If they can protect Williams and open some running lanes, Chicago might have one of the best offenses in the entire NFL.
Jayden Daniels Fantasy Outlook
There was a debate as to which quarterback would go second overall to the Washington Commanders, but it swung in the favor of Daniels well before draft night.
Washington signed Marcus Mariota this offseason. He will provide leadership for Daniels, and should be a great mentor. I’d be shocked if Daniels isn’t starting in week 1.
The Commanders aren’t nearly as loaded on offense. They have Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson as the top two receivers, and the newly-drafted Luke McCaffrey could be an option in the slot. Olamide Zaccheaus is another option.
In the backfield, the veteran Austin Ekeler is there, with Brian Robinson and Chris Rodriguez as other options. Rookie Ben Sinnott and Zach Ertz are a solid 1-2 punch at tight end.
It’s not as great a landing spot as Williams, but that could force Daniels to be heavily involved offensively, especially as a runner. The team needs to make sure he protects himself, otherwise they’ll have a situation like the Colts had with Anthony Richardson last season.
Just based on what kind of season I envision Chicago and Washington having, I see the Commanders playing from behind a bunch, and it might lead to Daniels being the top fantasy option in 2024. I still like Williams a touch more in the long run, but if Washington can surround Daniels with more talent in the years to come, he might be the top fantasy QB out of the class.
Drake Maye and Joe Milton III Fantasy Outlook
I do not like the New England Patriots offense much right now, but with several quarterbacks in place, it might allow the team to ease Maye into things, even though he went third overall to the team.
Jacoby Brissett is a strong veteran presence to have Maye learn from, and Bailey Zappe is another guy who has started. It looks like Zappe could be on the way out after the team also drafted Milton in the sixth round.
Maye and Milton should be the team’s top two quarterbacks for years to come, and it’s possibly Milton could be a trade chip if he performs well in the preseason, and any regular season action he gets.
The team’s top receiver might end up being second-round pick Ja'Lynn Polk. Kendrick Bourne and Demario Douglas are probably the other starters at this point. Fourth-round pick Javon Baker, JuJu Smith-Schuster and K.J. Osborn are among the other options. After being banged up last season, the Patriots definitely made it a point to add bodies to the wide receiver room.
Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper are the top two tight ends probably at this point. Rhamondre Stevenson is the lead back, with Antonio Gibson likely backing him up.
There’s some talent on the offense, but unless Maye is otherworldly in year one, this offense is likely a couple years away from competing and leading the team.
Michael Penix Jr. Fantasy Outlook
I still do not understand why Atlanta drafted Penix. They didn’t sound like they were worried about Cousins as he worked his way back from injury, and even if they were, Taylor Heinicke was a backup option until Cousins was ready.
Penix isn’t a developmental QB, and unless Cousins gets hurt or someone gets moved, Penix isn’t likely a starter for several seasons.
In dynasty leagues, Penix obviously still has some value, but it was really diminished by landing in Atlanta. The owners who already roster Cousins should be the ones drafting Penix in offseason drafts.
It doesn’t even pay to go into the Atlanta offense, because it will be Cousins leading the show. If he isn’t ready to play and Penix is the starter for a while, then we will cover his fantasy value at that point. For now, Penix looks like a good quarterback stuck on a team with a locked-in starter for several years.
J.J. McCarthy Fantasy Outlook
Minnesota was another good landing spot for a quarterback, and the Vikings landed McCarthy with the 10th pick.
Sam Darnold is on the roster, but McCarthy should be the starter from the outset of the season - you don’t use a top-10 pick on a quarterback if you are a playoff contender and then not start them (yes, I’m talking to you Atlanta).
Justin Jefferson is the team’s top wide receiver, and Jordan Addison is a good No. 2. Brandon Powell and Trent Sherfield are slot options.
T.J. Hockenson is a great receiving option at tight end, so hopefully his injury doesn’t slow the growth of McCarthy. Aaron Jones is now the top back, with Ty Chandler backing him up.
I didn’t love McCarthy as a QB prospect, but he landed in a pretty good offense. As long as the team can protect McCarthy and run the ball at least somewhat well, McCarthy should have a pretty solid fantasy season. As long as his confidence doesn’t get wrecked in year one, he also should have a solid long-term outlook, as he’ll have Jefferson and Addison around for a while.
Bo Nix Fantasy Outlook
I predicted Nix to Denver early in the offseason, and the Broncos landed him with the 12th overall pick. Many saw this as a reach, so there will be a lot of eyes on Nix as he develops.
Depending on how Nix looks early on, the Broncos could start Zach Wilson for a couple weeks. That should be an interesting position battle between those two.
Denver’s offense is in pretty rough shape, so whoever starts isn’t in that great of a fantasy situation - it might actually be the worst spot in the league.
Courtland Sutton, Josh Reynolds and Marvin Mims are probably the starting receivers right now. Fourth-round pick Troy Franklin is a name to watch because he played with Nix at Oregon.
Adam Trautman and Greg Dulcich are options at tight end. Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine, fifth-round pick Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin are running back options.
I’d say this is the worst offense for one of the first-round quarterbacks to fall into, a decent way below New England. Denver is a few years out from actually competing for anything, so as long as they don’t ruin Nix before then, he’s got a chance to be the long-term starter. I don’t love Nix as a fantasy option in dynasty leagues, but if you are desperate for a starter, he’s an option.
Spencer Rattler Fantasy Outlook
Rattler went in the fifth round to the New Orleans Saints, which I think is a solid spot for him.
Derek Carr is the starter there, but his future is murky at best. If Rattler impresses in year one, he could be in the hunt for the starting job beginning in the 2025 season.
I’d only consider drafting Rattler in an extremely deep dynasty league, but those leagues are definitely out there. The Carr owners should be targeting him for sure.
Jordan Travis Fantasy Outlook
This is another great landing spot. The New York Jets got Travis in the fifth round.
Aaron Rodgers is the starter and Tyrod Taylor is the top backup, and those two will be great mentors for Travis. If Travis can remain patient and be a sponge, he could be a starting option in a couple seasons.
Devin Leary Fantasy Outlook
Leary could be the top backup option in short order for the Baltimore Ravens, who took Leary in the sixth.
Lamar Jackson isn’t going anywhere, but Josh Johnson is the backup. Leary could take over that role at some point this season, but I’d guess it happens in 2025 for sure.
Leary could be a trade piece if he shines in training camp/preseason action.
Michael Pratt Fantasy Outlook
Pratt was a surprise seventh-round pick, landing with the Green Bay Packers.
He’ll battle for the top backup spot with Sean Clifford, and could be a trade piece if he looks good. Jordan Love appears to be pretty locked into the starting role, and when he signs his extension, that will eliminate any chance Pratt has of starting in GB (unless Love is hurt).
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