2024 Dynasty Ultimatums: 5 QBs Entering Make-Or-Break Fantasy Seasons

Welcome back to our Dynasty Ultimatums series! Last season, we launched this series to spotlight players on the brink of pivotal fantasy seasons, offering insights into their future dynasty outlook. Reflecting on last year’s article, many of the quarterbacks featured ended up being major busts, which provided a prime opportunity if you decided to trade them away before the season. Conversely, some players exceeded expectations and increased their dynasty value. The quarterbacks analyzed in 2023 included Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, Jared Goff, Geno Smith, and Daniel Jones. Of these, only Goff met his ultimatum requirements, significantly improving his fantasy value heading into the 2024 season. While many of these names have maintained their starting jobs (for now), most are nearing irrelevance and possible extinction in dynasty leagues.

As the 2024 NFL season approaches, it brings a host of questions about the fate of many notable players. For dynasty managers, maintaining realistic expectations for these controversial players is crucial. It can be tough to lose faith in players we once had high hopes for, but setting dynasty ultimatums can help us manage our rosters more effectively. In this article, we will explore controversial quarterbacks entering make-or-break seasons, outlining the specific goals they need to achieve to meet their current expectations.

For a deeper dive into rookie quarterbacks and their fantasy football potential, check out Andy Holloway‘s new article, “The Reality of Rookie QBs: Can They Get the Job Done?“

Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers

In a world filled with disappointing rookie seasons, Bryce Young’s 2023 campaign stands out as particularly concerning. Drafted first overall by the Carolina Panthers, Young entered the league with sky-high expectations, which were especially difficult to reach given his stature. In his debut season, he seemed overwhelmed by the professional competition, failing to throw a touchdown pass longer than 18 yards. He only managed to throw 11 touchdown passes in 2023, ranking below Gardner Minshew, Joshua Dobbs, and Jake Browning. Despite his poor performance, it would be unfair to place all the blame on Young. Contributing factors included poor coaching, evidenced by an offense averaging just 4.7 yards per pass attempt, a lack of weapons, and a shaky offensive line.

Fortunately, the team has taken significant steps to right the ship for the upcoming season. First, they made a coaching change by hiring quarterback guru Dave Canales. Known for his ability to revive careers, Canales has recently been credited with facilitating bounce-back seasons for Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith. The hope is that Canales can work his magic once again, helping Young put the 2023 season behind him and leading him toward a promising career. A similar turnaround was achieved in Jacksonville when the Jaguars brought in Doug Pederson to rehabilitate Trevor Lawrence after a rough rookie year. While Lawrence has yet to fully meet his lofty expectations, he has made substantial progress and proven himself as a capable NFL starting quarterback. Whether Young can follow in the footsteps of the former first overall pick from 2021 remains to be seen, but it appears the team is making strides in the right direction.

Besides making a coaching change, the Panthers also made key acquisitions through the draft and free agency. They bolstered their offensive line, a crucial move considering 18% of Young’s dropbacks last season resulted in a sack or throwaway. This led to a loss of 477 yards from taking sacks, the third most in NFL history and the highest since 1991. To enhance their offensive arsenal of weapons, the team drafted Xavier Legette, Jonathon Brooks, and Ja’Tavion Sanders, all of whom are expected to assume starting roles. Additionally, they signed Diontae Johnson, a highly productive receiver known for his exceptional route running, who will step in as the team’s immediate WR1 and provide substantial support for Young. Whether these changes will be enough for Young to rebound from a historically poor rookie year remains to be seen, but the team is clearly putting him in a better position to succeed.

With the highest draft capital possible, Young is likely to receive ample opportunities before his team completely loses faith in him. However, it is crucial for him to show signs of improvement in his second year to avoid facing a similar fate as Zach Wilson. On draft night, Wilson was ranked as QB11 on KeepTradeCut (KTC). Despite a dreadful rookie season, he still held the QB17 spot heading into the offseason. Entering his second season injured, he was QB21 but rose to QB13 by Week 6. Unfortunately, by the end of the regular season, he had plummeted to QB31 and now barely clings to relevance in the deepest of dynasty leagues as the QB49.

Following an eerily similar trajectory, Young was QB9 on KTC on draft night, finished his rookie season ranked as QB17, and currently sits at QB20 after the 2024 NFL Draft. To avoid a downfall akin to Wilson, Young needs to bounce back this season. His dynasty ultimatum is to finish the 2024 season as QB15 or better. Achieving this would indicate significant improvement and hopefully make the Panthers more competitive than last season. While the metrics and odds are against Young succeeding in the NFL after a historically poor rookie year, his high draft capital ensures he will at least get multiple chances to recover. If you can find a quarterback-needy team in your league willing to trade high value for Young, it might be wise to minimize your risk and trade him before the season starts.

Will Levis, QB, Tennessee Titans

Will “Bananarama” Levis has become a hot topic heading into the summer as a potential breakout quarterback for fantasy football in 2024. Despite slipping to the second round of last year’s draft and having some glaring aspects of his game that need improvement, there are enough promising qualities in this young gunslinger to pique interest in his future dynasty outlook. While it might not be advisable to emulate his eccentric habits, such as eating bananas with the peel on and putting mayonnaise in his coffee, Levis could be poised for a more productive future than initially expected.

Levis had an explosive start to his professional career, throwing four touchdowns against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8. However, his performance waned, recording just four touchdowns and four interceptions over his final eight starts. His pocket awareness and decision-making are concerning, but this could surprisingly boost his fantasy value, as evidenced by his league-leading average depth of target (aDOT) of 10.8 yards. His powerful arm and willingness to take risks downfield draw comparisons to Jameis Winston‘s tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where his fantasy appeal often overshadowed his high interception rate and questionable decisions. Although Levis’ rushing stats are modest, he is an athletic player with a strong stature, unafraid of contact. If he can enhance and further utilize his rushing game in 2024, his size and speed could make him a formidable threat on the ground, further improving his fantasy upside.

While he might lack the first-round draft capital of Bryce Young, the Tennessee Titans have potentially positioned their young quarterback for even greater success in 2024. The team revitalized their offensive line, notably selecting JC Latham with the seventh overall pick. This bolstered line should provide Levis with more time in the pocket, potentially improving his decision-making and compensating for his lack of pocket awareness. Additionally, the Titans secured key free agent acquisitions in Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard, and Tyler Boyd. After finishing the season with the 29th-ranked offense in passing yards per game and 26th in points per drive, these additions aim to significantly enhance their offensive capabilities. The team also made a significant coaching change, replacing head coach Mike Vrabel with former Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan. This move is expected to transform the Titans into a more productive offense, hopefully setting the stage for a promising season.

Ultimately, Levis is positioned for more success than many young quarterbacks typically enjoy. These key acquisitions demonstrate the team’s potential commitment to Levis’ development and long-term success. He has the advantage of relying on three veteran wide receivers in Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins, and Tyler Boyd. Additionally, Treylon Burks, eager to redeem himself after a disappointing start to his career, will be competing for playing time. The Titans’ offense also boasts an exciting running back duo in Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears, complemented by the athletic tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo. These assets create a promising outlook for the 2024 season, generating excitement and optimism.

As a result, Levis is currently an intriguing buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues. We set the same dynasty ultimatum for him as for Bryce Young: to finish as a top-15 quarterback in the upcoming season. While Levis possesses the intangibles to potentially outshine Young as a fantasy quarterback, he faces added pressure to prove he is worthy of an NFL starting role to maintain his dynasty value. Given his second-round draft status, the team might be more inclined to move on from him if he fails to show significant improvement in the upcoming season. 

Justin Fields, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

After a challenging rookie season, Justin Fields rebounded impressively, finishing as the QB7 in 2022. During this season, he led all quarterbacks with 1,143 rushing yards, just 64 yards shy of breaking Lamar Jackson‘s single-season record set in 2019. Fields’ outstanding performance made him one of the most coveted young quarterbacks in fantasy football. Though his statistics were more modest last season compared to his breakout year, Fields still averaged 18.4 fantasy points per game, placing him 12th in the league. For countless dynasty teams, Fields has become a cornerstone of their rosters, excelling in fantasy football due to his exceptional dual-threat abilities.

Unfortunately, players who excel in fantasy football are not always valued the same way by the NFL. As the Chicago Bears secured the number one pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, it seemed inevitable they would move on from their controversial quarterback of the past three seasons. Throughout the offseason, rumors swirled about potential new destinations for Fields, but he was ultimately traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a 2025 sixth-round pick, potentially upgrading to a fourth-round pick based on playing time. Despite numerous NFL teams needing quarterback help, they did not see Fields as their solution. Consequently, Fields is set to be the primary backup to Russell Wilson at the start of the 2024 season, which offers virtually no fantasy value.

The challenge with Fields is that he is not your typical quarterback. At 25 years old, he is an athletic marvel who, despite his flaws as a passer, has shown significant improvement and is one of the most prolific rushing quarterbacks in the league. His age and unique skills, which are tailor-made for fantasy production, make it difficult for dynasty managers to move on from him and accept that his future may be more somber than lucrative. While his rushing accomplishments are impressive, it is equally important to note that he and Zach Wilson are the only two players to rank in the bottom four in completion percentage every season since 2021. Fields’ accuracy issues, tendency to take sacks, and difficulty reading defenses quickly have made teams wary of relying on him as a starting quarterback in the NFL.

Given his uncertain prospects for the 2024 season, it is crucial for Fields to demonstrate his ability to bounce back from this major career setback. This starts with putting up a competitive fight for the starting quarterback position as practices ramp up this summer. Although I believe Wilson will ultimately secure the job, it is significant for Fields to keep applying pressure. If negative reports about his performance surface during the offseason, Fields’ dynasty value will continue to plummet. Due to his fantasy football potential if given the opportunity, Fields’ dynasty ultimatum is to start a few games for the Steelers this year and perform well enough to earn a contract as a starter for the following season. While winning the starting job would be ideal, stepping in due to an injury to Wilson could also be effective. Despite my reservations about Fields’ prospects as a starting NFL quarterback, it is challenging to ignore the probability that we would consider drafting him as a top-10 quarterback for the 2024 season if he were the team’s starter. Therefore, while I understand the rationale for holding onto him to see how the situation unfolds, I would personally be tempted to trade him for high value to a team that might have more faith in his future outlook.

Kirk Cousins, QB, Atlanta Falcons

Kirk Cousins has been one of the most consistent fantasy quarterbacks since 2015, with many of his best seasons coming recently with the Minnesota Vikings. This includes his 2022 performance, where he finished as the QB6, throwing for over 4,500 yards and nearly 30 touchdowns. Despite being limited to only eight games in 2023, Cousins still averaged 19.3 fantasy points per game, ranking seventh at the position. Unfortunately, in a Week 8 win against their archrivals, the Green Bay Packers, Cousins suffered a season-ending torn Achilles. This devastating injury raised significant concerns about his future outlook as he entered free agency in the offseason. 

In a surprising move, Cousins signed a massive four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons. It is highly uncommon for a 35-year-old quarterback recovering from a major injury like a torn Achilles to secure such a lucrative long-term deal. However, the Falcons are desperate for stability at quarterback after several failed experiments since Matt Ryan‘s departure in 2022. While the team has struggled to find a reliable quarterback, they have invested heavily in young talent at key offensive positions, thanks to high draft picks nearly every year. This includes tight end Kyle Pitts, wide receiver Drake London, and running back Bijan Robinson, all top-10 picks selected in consecutive years. This talented young trio should significantly boost Cousins’ fantasy outlook as he begins his tenure in Atlanta.

After another losing season, the Falcons found themselves with the eighth overall pick for the third consecutive year. Having selected Drake London and Bijan Robinson with this pick in the past two years, the team was expected to address their defensive woes, particularly their poor pass rush, to complement their offense with an improved defense. However, the Falcons stunned everyone by drafting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the selection. Why would a team draft a quarterback with a top-10 pick after committing to a veteran with a massive long-term contract? Your guess is as good as mine. While this move might be seen as a misstep by the organization, it also introduces more uncertainty for Cousins’ dynasty outlook moving forward. Despite securing a deal that should cement his future in Atlanta, Cousins now finds himself under pressure with a 24-year-old quarterback champing at the bit for an opportunity to start.

This situation creates immense pressure for Cousins to transform a highly unproven offense into a productive unit in his first season with the team. This is a daunting task for any 35-year-old quarterback, especially one recovering from a torn Achilles. If Cousins struggles or suffers another significant injury, the Falcons may not hesitate to give Penix a shot at the starting job due to his high draft capital. Adding to the challenge, the Falcons’ season opener features tough matchups against Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Kansas City, and New Orleans. Ultimately, we hope to see Cousins perform as he did in his recent seasons with Minnesota. Although he no longer has the luxury of playing with Justin Jefferson, the Falcons boast enough offensive talent to support him, despite being largely unproven.

Cousins’ dynasty ultimatum is to remain Atlanta’s starting quarterback throughout the season and finish as QB15 or better. His future in dynasty leagues is fragile due to his age, and he cannot afford significant setbacks. Fortunately, he will not be dealing with an Arthur Smith-run offense and will be in a system more akin to the fantasy-friendly one of the Los Angeles Rams under new coaching. While Cousins’ days as a QB1 for fantasy teams might be nearing an end, it is not out of the realm of possibility for him to finish as one in 2024. After all, before his Week 8 Achilles injury last season, he was the QB6, averaging 291 passing yards, 2.3 passing touchdowns, and a 69.5% completion rate. Hopefully, the veteran quarterback can continue to provide solid value for dynasty teams over the next couple of seasons, despite the looming presence of a first-round rookie eager to succeed him in Atlanta.

Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers

Who in their right mind would include the beloved Jordan Love in a dynasty ultimatum article after his breakout campaign as the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers? Maybe I have a few screws loose, but I am not entirely convinced that Love is the superstar quarterback everyone seems to think he is after just one season of elite production. Do not get me wrong, I was extremely impressed with Love’s performance last season and believe he will be a solid option for dynasty rosters moving forward. After all, he did just finish as the QB5 in 2023, throwing for over 4,100 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also benefits from one of the most brilliant head coaches in the league and a terrific young core of receivers surrounding him for the foreseeable future. While these factors might persuade some of you to invest in his potentially inflated dynasty price, I want to pump the brakes a bit and suggest that he might be overvalued at this point in time due to his terrific debut season.

As mentioned, Love has many factors working in his favor that enhance his fantasy outlook moving forward. He is the starting quarterback for an organization renowned for producing Hall of Fame-worthy franchise quarterbacks and benefits from the offensive genius of head coach Matt LaFleur. Heading into the 2024 season, Love has an impressive core of pass catchers, including Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks. The team’s running game should also be productive with the addition of Josh Jacobs and rookie MarShawn Lloyd. Moreover, Love is supported by two promising tight ends, Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft, who both showed flashes of brilliance during their rookie seasons last year. Given these extremely favorable circumstances, it is hard to imagine Love having a poor fantasy season in 2024. He is also expected to sign a long-term contract with the team, solidifying his role as the franchise quarterback for the present and future.

While recognizing that Love is positioned for ultimate success as a quarterback, akin to Brock Purdy with the San Francisco 49ers, our focus here is strictly on his fantasy outlook moving forward. An area where Love can enhance his fantasy value is his rushing utilization. With his larger stature and decent athleticism, he has the potential to expand this aspect of his game. Last season, he rushed 50 times for a modest 247 yards and four touchdowns. Although he may not necessarily evolve into a prolific dual-threat quarterback, enhancing his skills in this area would be advantageous to mitigate any potential decline in passing efficiency and production. Ultimately, we want Love to demonstrate that last season was not a fluke and that he can replicate his highly productive fantasy performance.

On KTC, Love is currently ranked as the QB10 in dynasty, just after Justin Herbert. Despite being in a more favorable situation, I do not believe Love possesses the unique talent that Herbert does.  Love is also ranked higher than Kyler Murray, though I would personally favor having Murray on my dynasty roster of the two. Love’s dynasty ultimatum is to finish as a top-10 quarterback in 2024, solidifying his status as an elite asset at the position. He is far from a trade-away candidate given his performance last season and his favorable circumstances, but if you can secure a substantial return for him, the risk of last season being a fluke is worth considering. If he can repeat his brilliance in consecutive seasons and earn a long-term contract as expected, there is little reason not to rank him as a top-10 dynasty quarterback moving forward.