You know that feeling, right? Scrolling through endless online shops, hunting for everything from a new car to socks for the kids, and suddenly you pause. What is 'value,' really? The dictionary might offer a dry definition, but in the trenches of fantasy football, value is the holy grail. It's what we're all chasing, even when drafting those shiny first-round talents like McCaffrey or Lamb. We expect them to perform. But where the real magic happens, where championships are forged, is in the middle and later rounds. Can that young gun make the leap? Is there one last hurrah left in a veteran? Or can an already elite player somehow ascend to an even higher plane of existence?
Nowhere is this quest for value more pronounced than at the quarterback position. In most leagues, you only need one starter. Nail that pick, especially if you can snag a week-winner without breaking the bank on draft capital, and you've built a foundational piece for your championship puzzle. It frees you up to build strength elsewhere on your roster.
So, with the 2024 season on the horizon, I've been digging deep, looking for those signal-callers who could offer you that crucial draft-day advantage. These are the guys who might just outperform their projected draft slots and give your team that much-needed edge.
Jayden Daniels: The Rookie Rushing Threat
Projected draft position: 12th round or later
While dynasty leagues might be buzzing about Caleb Williams, if you're looking for the rookie who can make an immediate impact in redraft leagues, my money's on Jayden Daniels. Why? Pure, unadulterated rushing upside. It's the same allure that had fantasy managers excited about Anthony Richardson last year and why Justin Fields is still a late-round dart throw this season. Daniels racked up over 2,700 rushing yards in his final three college seasons, including a staggering 1,100-plus in his senior year at LSU. He's also a more polished passer than those other two were coming into the league. Add in Terry McLaurin as a downfield threat in Kliff Kingsbury's Air Raid offense, and you've got a recipe for a player who could easily blow past his QB20 average draft position (ADP).
Justin Herbert: The Underrated Arm
Projected draft position: 10th round
I get it. The Chargers' offseason moves – hiring Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman, parting ways with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, bringing in Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, drafting tackle Joe Alt and RB Kimani Vidal – scream 'run-first, old-school football.' It feels like a step back to 2006. But what if it's not quite that drastic? This team has significant financial investment in Herbert. Roman himself has spoken about tailoring the offense for success, which implies they won't completely abandon the pass. Plus, they used a second-round pick on receiver Ladd McConkey. The potential upside here? Maybe a few designed runs for Herbert himself, boosting his fantasy value. If the draft community continues to sleep on him, you could be looking at a massive value.
Kyler Murray: The Forgotten Phenom
Projected draft position: Round 9
Are we suffering from Kyler fatigue? Or have we simply forgotten just how potent he can be as a fantasy quarterback? It's easy to let 2020 fade into the rearview mirror, but that was peak Kyler. He threw for nearly 4,000 yards, added 800 on the ground, and finished as the QB3. Even in 2022, before a knee injury ended his season, he was seventh among quarterbacks in fantasy points per game. His raw numbers in eight starts last year were modest, but the Cardinals' offense clearly improved with him back. Now, more than 18 months removed from his ACL tear, optimism is building. The big offseason move was drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. with the fourth overall pick. If the offensive line can show some improvement, a top-10 finish for Murray at a Round 9 price point isn't just a dream; it's a genuine possibility.
