When it comes to dynasty leagues, fantasy football managers have a tough balancing act. With QB careers often lasting for a significant amount of time, if you hit on one, they can be a long-term asset.
However, the fall-off from the top end of the position to the lower tiers can be steep. Therefore, fantasy managers always need to have their eye on a backup plan at QB.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at which QBs are the best ones for fantasy managers to be stashing entering the 2024 season.
Which QBs Should Fantasy Managers Target as Stashes in Dynasty Formats?
Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons’ rookie QB is the epitome of a dynasty stash. With Kirk Cousins entrenched as the starter, there’s no way Michael Penix Jr. will get a chance to start without an injury. That makes him much more affordable in dynasty, though.
Given that the Falcons, a team clearly positioned to win now, spent their first-round selection on Penix shows how much they believe in him. Penix is their quarterback of the future. He’s positioned to inherit a very good offense featuring Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson when he does inevitably take over.
The nature of Cousins’ contract makes it difficult to get out of until 2027. However, Cousins is still 36 years old coming off a torn Achilles. Despite how much money he’s making, if he gets hurt again and Penix steps in and plays well, Cousins is probably not getting his job back.
Penix is worth stashing in Superflex formats based on the likelihood that he will take over in 2027 and the possibility that he could step in as soon as this year.
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Calling last year’s No. 1 overall pick a dynasty stash is admittedly a stretch. But looking at this roster, there just aren’t any players worthy of being called a top dynasty stash. I don’t believe in Jonathan Mingo. Jonathon Brooks and Xavier Legette are more than stashes. Diontae Johnson is an established fantasy asset. That leaves us with the quarterback.
Some are already writing off Young as a bust. There’s no denying his rookie year was awful, but look at the circumstances. His top receiving option was 33-year-old Adam Thielen. This year, Young has Johnson, his clear WR1, and Legette, who should start on the opposite side. That allows Thielen to move into the slot exclusively.
Additionally, the Panthers hired Dave Canales as head coach. He was a key factor in Baker Mayfield’s revival last season.
Young may not be the dynasty asset he was a year ago, but he’s not worth giving up on just yet.
Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns
Did you realize Jameis Winston is only 30 years old? He’s now entering his 10th NFL season but is still relatively young in quarterback years. Once upon a time, Winston averaged 20.5 fantasy points per game.
By no means should anyone expect Winston to suddenly be a fantasy QB1. However, the offensive situation with Amari Cooper, David Njoku, and a hopefully-healthy-for-the-second-half-of-the-season Nick Chubb is far from a bad one. If Winston became the starter, he could do what Joe Flacco did last year and just chuck with reckless abandon.
Deshaun Watson has not looked good each of the past two seasons. Add in a shoulder injury that could potentially linger into the season and there’s a nonzero chance Watson finds himself on the bench at some point this year.
Hendon Hooker, Detroit Lions
The Lions’ offense is very consolidated. Everything runs through Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, and David Montgomery. Guys like Kalif Raymond and Craig Reynolds are not worth stashing.
I could have gone with Jameson Williams, but he still has enough believers (not me) that he’s more than just a stash. That lead me to Hendon Hooker.
By no means is Hooker a threat to Jared Goff. However, Hooker is the QB2 on an offense that scores a lot of points. If Goff were to go down, Hooker would get a chance to prove he can be a starting QB in the NFL. It’s a big-time long shot, but he’s the best choice for a dynasty stash on the Lions.