By now, most fantasy football managers have heard of the term Konami Code. As it sounds, it’s become a cheat code of sorts. Rich Hribar of Sharp Football Analysis coined the term as it relates to fantasy football. In his words from this 2013 article:

If you’ve never played Contra, it doesn’t matter (except we can never be friends). What’s important is that this is the most famous cheat code ever created. And I’m here to tell you that the Konami Code has been entered into our game of Fantasy Football, namely the rushing quarterbacks and how they affect standard scoring.

Since then, rushing quarterbacks have taken the league by storm. It’s important to know of the strategy and identify potential Konami Code quarterbacks to target in fantasy football drafts. Here’s a look at 2022’s crop of Konami Code quarterbacks along with their rankings, player notes, and, for those that played significant snaps last season, how much of their scoring came from rushing in 2021.

• Top 5 Konami Code Quarterback to Target

Justin Fields (CHI): QB17

Fantasy football point percentage from rushing yards: 31%
Fantasy football point percentage from rushing touchdowns: 9%

Justin Fields has fallen all the way to QB18 in early best ball ADP. Everyone is afraid of the situation in Chicago. But don’t forget that a washed-up Cam Newton went from irrelevant to a top-12 ranked QB in one week last year because of rushing production.

Fields finished as a top-12 fantasy quarterback in his last four full games in 2021, averaging 21.7 fantasy points per game. He also averaged 56 rushing yards per game over his last six. All in all, Fields averaged 35 rushing yards per game during his rookie season. The last three rookie QBs to do so? Newton, Josh Allen and Robert Griffin III. They all finished as top-12 fantasy quarterbacks in their second seasons, with the two former QBs finishing top-6.

It won’t take long for the narrative to spin on the talented Fields after he starts the season hot out of the gates. Five of the Bears’ first six matchups are against secondaries that are the weak part of their respective defense, lost talent in free agency and/or are unproven. In Week 1, Fields takes on the 49ers. He rushed for over 100 yards against them last season.

Deshaun Watson (CLE): QB21

Deshaun Watson is a top-five option when he gets back on the field after his six-game suspension.

He was exactly that from 2019-2020, and there is no reason to think the 26-year-old won’t pick up where he left off. During his last season of play, Watson led the NFL in passing yards and yards per attempt (8.9).

Considering some best ball leagues are won in November/December, not September, he’s worth stashing if you opt to wait on the quarterback position.

Daniel Jones (NYG): QB22

Fantasy football point percentage from rushing yards: 17%
Fantasy football point percentage from rushing touchdowns: 7%

Per the Athletic’s Dan Duggan, the Giants want to unleash quarterback Daniel Jones. It’s music to the ears of fantasy drafters looking for a late-round quarterback with upside because Jones has the skill set to be that player in a better offensive environment.

Before a Week 5 concussion, Jones was the QB8 overall and in points per game (23.3). The Giants quarterback ranked third in rushing yards per game (47/game) and second in PFF passing grade.

This offseason, New York drafted the best offensive tackle in the draft with the selection of Evan Neal at No. 7 overall. It provides Jones the protection he desperately needs as he looks to prove to the New York organization that he is worthy of being the long-term answer at quarterback.

With the Giants upgrading their entire offensive line through free agency and the draft, Jones is back on the fantasy QB2 radar in Superflex formats. Recall that last season he was playing behind PFF’s third-worst graded offensive line.

He will also benefit greatly from the No.1-easiest strength of schedule for QBs.

Desmond Ridder (ATL): QB36

Desmond Ridder falls in the same third-round bucket as Malik Willis and Matt Corral from this class. Marcus Mariota might have been signed as the team’s bridge quarterback option, but that doesn’t wipe Ridder off the map to possibly win the job out of camp. The draft capital doesn’t ensure he’ll be given that shot, but Arthur Smith knows Mariota quite well from their time in Tennessee. If Smith thinks Ridder can bring something more to the table or operate similarly to Mariota, he could win the starting call. Smith’s love for play-action passing will help Ridder. Last year Matt Ryan ranked 11th in play-action dropback rate (minimum 200 dropbacks, per PFF). In 2021, Ridder was tied for 17th in play-action passing touchdowns out of 121 qualifying quarterbacks (minimum 200 dropbacks, per PFF).

Malik Willis (TEN): QB40

The fall from draft capital grace was tough to watch for Malik Willis. I could easily rant here about how NFL teams are foolish for passing on his moon-shot traits, but I’ll save that for another day. Despite falling to the third round, Willis still has a path to play as early as next season. Ryan Tannehill will be entering his age 35 season in 2023, and the Titans can save nearly 18 million against the cap if they were to cut him. The upside with Willis is immense just off of his rushing ability alone. While Tannehill won’t be mentoring Willis, it might not stop this talented rookie from taking his job.

FantasyPros Staff Consensus 2022 Redraft Fantasy Football Rankings