The NFL draft set a record with six quarterbacks taken in the first round. Below is what I saw, what I think of the landing spots and overall fantasy take for all six.
CALEB WILLIAMS 6’1” 215 (Bears)
What I see =
Mahomes-esque moments of Houdini ability with great touch & ball placement. Williams is a good athlete so while not a true “dual threat” has great mobility to extend plays, which he did extensively at USC. Inconsistent deep throws & moments of slow decision making are two areas he needs to and undoubtedly will improve.
NFL Comp = Dak Prescott with Patrick Mahomes upside
Landing Spot =
Ideal landing spot in a revitalized Bears offense that Chicago brass is building around him. They took ROME ODUNZE (more on him later) in the first to give Williams another weapon alongside DJ MOORE, COLE KMET and newly acquired KEENAN ALLEN and D’ANDRE SWIFT.
FFC Take =
While he has a few elements to his game that need polishing, Williams elite skill set combined with the weapons armory the Bears built for him make Caleb an elite dynasty asset and could push for top 12 fantasy production in year one.
JAYDEN DANIELS 6’4” 210 (Commanders)
What I see =
Daniels is an elite athlete and a true dual threat. Outstanding accuracy across the field, especially on deep balls. Goes through progressions well and if things break down can use his 4.35/40 speed to make you pay on the ground. Tends to run vs climb pocket to extend pass play and has to learn to protect his body at the next level. Considering his passing skillset, running should become a tactic not a go to for his development.
NFL Comp = Lamar Jackson
Landing Spot =
Commanders define everything about rebuilding. New ownership. New GM. New Head Coach. And now franchise QB. There are some that believe Daniels was the best QB in the draft so he should start right away. OC Kliff Kingsbury has experience with a player of Daniels skillset, working with PATRICK MAHOMES in college and KYLER MURRAY in Arizona. The OL isn’t great in DC, so that will be a challenge. Daniels has a legit receiver in TERRY MCLAURIN and JAHAN DOTSON is a capable #2. Beyond that, the weapons are thin in the passing game but again the franchise is a work in progress.
FFC take = Daniels rushing upside puts him on the map to push for top 12 but the offense is a work in progress. I would expect some big moments & even games from him in 2024 but temper expectations. For dynasty, he’s a top 10 option, unless you don’t believe in Adam Peters, Dan Quinn and the Commanders front office.
DRAKE MAYE 6’4” 230 (Patriots)
What I see=
He checks all the physical boxes. He’s a specimen and at just 20 years old has room to develop the body. Cannon arm and underrated athlete to pass and run when he needs to. I have concerns about decision making, especially against tougher competition.
NFL Comp = Justin Herbert, with a BUT. Herbert & Trubisky looked eerily similar coming out with same pros / cons. Could be Herbert. Could be Trubisky.
Landing Spot =
Patriots the dynasty is history. It is a new era in New England and a rebuilding era at that. Maye has room to grow and could benefit from a “red shirt” rookie season. The Pats likely saw the same thing as they signed JACOBY BRISSETT in free agency. Not a lot of weapons to speak of in New England. DEMARIO DOUGLAS was a bright spot as a rookie in 2023. JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER doesn’t look like the 1000 yard receiver he once was. Not much in the passing game outside of that, which isn’t great for Maye to start his career.
FFC Take = I would not expect a big fantasy year from Maye in 2024. Brissett could end up starting half the year. He needs time to develop and the Pats lack weapons for fantasy production. While I don’t love his 2024 prospects, he’s a very intriguing option for dynasty.
JJ MCCARTHY 6”3” 205 (Vikings)
What I see =
McCarthy has good size, arm and mobility but lacks elite traits you want in a franchise QB. While highly efficient he was not big part of offensive production (less than 150 yards in 5 of last 6 games). He is a true leader but there are concerns about his field vision & decision making for making it at the next level.
NFL Comp = Baker Mayfield
Landing Spot =
You couldn’t ask for a better landing spot for McCarthy. The Vikings are absolutely loaded. JUSTIN JEFFERSON is one of the best receivers in the NFL and the combo of JORDAN ADDISON & TJ HOCKENSON make this one of the most dangerous trios in the game. They also added AARON JONES in the offseason and he’s an outstanding pass game threat. One could argue JJ has the most upside of all the rookies in 2024.
FFC Take =
McCarthy lands in a dream spot for fantasy so depending on how quickly he gets acclimated to the pro game, so goes his fantasy year. I have reservations about his upside. He’s not immobile but won’t expect much in the run game. If decision making is questionable, his upside could be capped. While I think he’s a terrific buy for 2024, don’t know if I love him for dynasty because he lacks elite traits. But you can’t ignore the weapons he already has to make him a desirable QB2 right away.
BO NIX 6”2” 215 (Broncos)
What I see =
Terrific passer that can make tough throws. Underrated athlete & tough runner with the raw skills to be NFL starter. Room to improve accuracy but strong enough to start right away. One concern is that Nix played in pass friendly system vs weaker defenses, so question mark whether his game will translate to the pros.
NFL Comp = Kirk Cousins
Landing Spot =
There’s not much to love about the Denver Broncos offensively. COURTLAND SUTTON is a legitimate NFL wide receiver. Beyond that, there’s little to be excited about for Denver. JOSH REYNOLDS, MARVIN MIMS, ADAM TRAUTMAN & GREG DULCICH are not great for Nix’s fantasy prospects. I expect Denver to add more receiving help in the draft and the coming years.
FFC Take =
Nix should make a fine pro but it’s going to be a tough start. He’s not the kind of elite talent that can deliver fantasy numbers without a supporting cast. For dynasty, I like his upside. It could take a few years for Nix to be fantasy relevant but he has tools to be a low end QB1 with improved weapons and time.
MICHAEL PENIX 6’3” 215 (Falcons)
What I see =
Penix has a strong arm & terrific deep ball accuracy. Good size for the NFL but not highly athletic, meaning not especially mobile. While he has terrific highlights, he was an inconsistent thrower in college, especially when under pressure. More concerning is his injury history. Penix had season ending injuries in 4 of his 5 years in college including ACL tear in his right knee twice in his college career. Can be great if he has a consistently clean pocket
NFL Comp = Jacoby Brissett
Landing Spot =
In a word, horrible. But I would like to thank the Falcons for making me feel more comfortable with my NFL comp as a very good & reliable backup. Because that’s what Penix will be for the foreseeable future. The Falcons signed KIRK COUSINS to a 4 year, $180M deal with $100M guaranteed just a month ago. Seemingly all in this year with DRAKE LONDON, KYLE PITTS, BIJAN ROBINSON already in town and signing DARNELL MOONEY & RONDALE MOORE to round out the collections of passing game weapons. So great landing spot for a QB. Unfortunately they just signed a veteran pro bowler to take advantage of those weapons.
FFC Take =
Simply bizarre that Penix was taken at pick 8 to a team that just signed Cousins but here we are. His value for 2024 and even 2025 is nothing without an injury to Cousins. And the time to wait could be longer. What’s more I don’t see an elite QB worth rostering and holding in dynasty either. Sadly, a wasted fantasy asset for now.
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