During the course of a fantasy football draft, there are many decisions that have to be made. One of those decisions may be which elite QB to draft. What will the Patrick Mahomes fantasy outlook be this year? What about Jalen Hurts? With Hurts and Mahomes both on the board, which QB should you draft in 2024?
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Patrick Mahomes – Mike Lindberg
When choosing between Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts for your 2024 fantasy football team, Mahomes should be your pick. Despite a rough 2023 season where he finished as the QB8, Mahomes is set for a big rebound. He’s still being drafted among the top QBs, and there’s a good reason for that. His poor performance last year was largely due to a subpar receiving corps. Despite this, Mahomes had an excellent completion percentage and still rushed for 389 yards. This is impressive stuff coming from a player that isn’t known for his rushing abilities. With Kansas City adding speedsters Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy to their roster, Mahomes is poised to bounce back and regain his top-tier status.
Jalen Hurts, on the other hand, presents some concerns for 2024. Since the departure of offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, Hurts’s passing stats—such as yardage, completion rate, and touchdowns—have declined. Additionally, Hurts relies heavily on rushing touchdowns for his fantasy points. With Saquon Barkley now in the mix, Hurts might see fewer red zone rushing opportunities. The retirement of Jason Kelce could further complicate his ability to execute effective rushing plays. These factors cast doubt on his ability to maintain a top three QB finish this season.
Offensive Upgrades
Mahomes’s exceptional talent, and the Chiefs recent upgrades to their receiving corps, position him well for a major rebound in 2024. Despite a frustrating 2023 season, marred by an unusually high number of dropped passes and defenses specifically designed to stop him, Mahomes is set to turn things around. The addition of dynamic playmakers like Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy will provide him with the best supporting cast he’s ever had. With such an improved lineup, the Chiefs are poised to reach new heights. The potential for Mahomes to deliver a historic season is very real.
In contrast, Hurts’s fantasy prospects for 2024 are more uncertain. This is due to his declining passing metrics and increased competition in the red zone. For a quarterback with a proven track record and an upgraded supporting cast, Mahomes offers a higher ceiling and more reliability. Don’t overlook him in favor of Hurts. Mahomes has the potential to return to elite form and provide significant value in your fantasy draft.
Jalen Hurts by Jeremiah Retzlaff
Oftentimes, fantasy gamers confuse quarterback greatness with fantasy football output. This is a case that presents itself in the form of comparing Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts. The Lombardi trophy contest is firmly locked up for Patrick Mahomes. However, in fantasy football Jalen Hurts takes the reins.
Hurts was QB2 in fantasy football in 2023 and will be QB1 in 2024. Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore will provide a boost in creativity to the passing game which became predictable last season. In 2023, Hurts was No. 3 in air yards per attempt, No. 2 in best ball points added with 88, No. 4 in air yards with 4,669, and No. 7 in deep ball attempts. The narrative that Hurts can’t throw the deep ball is vastly overstated.
In 2023, Jalen Hurts was No.2 in fantasy points per game with 21.9. His biggest boost comes in the rushing game which separates him from Patrick Mahomes. When Mahomes runs with the football, he looks like he is afraid to spill a water pitcher that he is carrying. This is not the case with Hurts as he has perfected the infamous tush push which helped Hurts score 15 rushing touchdowns in 2023 which was No.1 at the position. The Konami code is alive and well in Philadelphia.
Speaking of rushing, Hurts was also first in carries at quarterback with 157 and in red zone carries with 44. Hurts led quarterbacks in red zone carries per game with 2.6. His 605 rushing yards and 9.2 rushes per game were No.3 overall. Given the Eagles expected improvement in the passing game, combined with Hurts rushing ability, expect Hurts to go nuclear in 2024.
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