Fantasy Football Player Notes
2024 Draft Rankings
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1.
Josh Allen
BUF
The fantasy track record Josh Allen has compiled is impressive. His yearly finishes in fantasy scoring since 2019: QB7, QB1, QB1, QB2, QB1. He's thrown for more than 4,000 yards in each of his last four seasons, averaging 4,385 passing yards and 34.3 TD passes over that span. Allen adds immense value as a runner. We probably shouldn't expect a repeat of the 15 rushing touchdowns he had this season, since his previous single-season high was nine. But Allen has averaged 596 rushing yards and 9.0 TD runs over the last five years. A spring trade that sent Stefon Diggs to the Texans brings the caliber of the Bills pass-catching into question, but even with a loss of WR firepower, Allen still has a strong case to be considered the QB1.
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2.
Jalen Hurts
PHI
Jalen Hurts finished QB2 in fantasy scoring in 2023, but there are reasons for concern heading into the 2024 season. After averaging 25.6 fantasy points per game during a banner 2022 campaign, Hurts' scoring average dropped to 21.9 FPPG in 2023. His passing yardage per game fell from 246.7 to 226.9, and his yardage per attempt slipped from 8.0 to 7.2. Hurts also had slippage in completion percentage and touchdown rate, and his passer rating plummeted from 101.5 to 89.1. On the bright side, Hurts provided ample rushing value, with 605 rushing yards and 15 TD runs, the most ever for a quarterback in a single season. The fear is that Hurts' fantasy value could take a tumble in 2024 if there's a significant drop-off in rushing touchdowns. TD runs accounted for 24.1% of Hurts' 2023 fantasy points. If Hurts is to remain a top-three fantasy quarterback, he'll probably need to boost his passing efficiency.
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3.
Lamar Jackson
BAL
Lamar Jackson has long been the best running quarterback in football -- and quite possibly the best of all time. But Jackson made enormous striders as a passer in 2023, thriving under the tutelage of first-year Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. Jackson established new career highs in passing yardage (3,678), completion percentage (67.2%) and yards per attempt (8.0). And of course, Jackson provided plenty of fantasy value as a runner, with 821 rushing yards and five TD runs. Jackson finished QB4 in fantasy scoring in 2023 despite being held out of the season finale, and he had a spectacular stretch run for his fantasy managers, averaging 27.8 fantasy points per game in Weeks 14-17. Jackson will once again take his rightful place on the top QB tier for 2024 fantasy drafts.
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4.
Patrick Mahomes II
KC
Could Patrick Mahomes be a bargain in 2024 fantasy drafts? That will be a distinct possibility if enough fantasy managers are scared off by a disappointing 2023 campaign in which Mahomes finished QB8 in fantasy scoring. Mahomes averaged 261.4 passing yards per game last season, the fewest in his six years as the Chiefs' starting quarterback. He also hit a six-year low in yards per attempt (6.9) and touchdown rate (4.0%). Mahomes is too good to have "lost it." The easy explanation is that Mahomes simply didn't have enough pass-catching firepower. Chiefs TE Travis Kelce is 34 and may have reached the slowdown phase of his career. WR Rashee Rice put up good numbers in 2023, but Rice is a non-traditional receiver who had an average depth of target of only 4.8 yards and made his living off schemed-up receptions. If Kansas City adds a couple of quality receivers -- and they already added speedster Marquise Brown in free agency -- Mahomes should be back in business. We are, after all, talking about a player who's won two MVP awards, has had two 5,000-yard passing seasons and has had a 50-TD season. Mahomes is on the shortlist of the best pure passers to ever play in the NFL. Fade him at your own peril.
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5.
C.J. Stroud
HOU
A magnificent rookie season for C.J. Stroud has fans and fantasy managers clamoring for more in 2024, and the trade that brought WR Stefon Diggs to the Texans gives the young quarterback one of the best sets of pass catchers in the league. The second overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft behind Bryce Young, Stroud was a revelation in his first NFL season, throwing for 4,108 yards and 23 touchdowns in 15 games. Stroud ranked third in the league in passing yardage per game (273.9) among QBs with at least six starts, third in yards per attempt (8.2), sixth in passer rating (101.8) and first in interception percentage (1.0%). The future looks bright for Stroud, who, in addition to Diggs, can also leverage the talents of exciting young WRs Nico Collins and Tank Dell. Stroud doesn't provide a great deal of rushing value, with only 167 rushing yards and three touchdown runs, but his proficiency as a passer will make him a coveted fantasy asset in 2024 drafts.
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6.
Anthony Richardson
IND
Injuries limited Anthony Richardson to just four games in his rookie season, but that appetizer-sized portion of Richardson left fantasy managers craving an entree-sized portion in 2024. Richardson went on injured reserve in October after sustaining a grade-3 AC joint sprain in Week 5. He also missed a game after a Week 2 concussion. But in the two full games he played, Richardson was dazzling, with 21.9 fantasy points in Week 1 and 29.6 points in Week 4, good for weekly fantasy finishes of QB4 and QB2. Richardson had three TD passes and four TD runs. He averaged 0.43 fantasy points per snap. Putting that into perspective, Josh Allen, who led all QBs in fantasy scoring, averaged 0.36 fantasy points per snap. The 6-4, 244-pound Richardson has a rare combination of size and speed that makes him one of the best running QBs in the league. And based on the small 2023 sample, he may be a more advanced passer than he was billed as in the run-up to the 2023 NFL Draft. Richardson's fantasy stock is ready to soar.
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7.
Joe Burrow
CIN
If Joe Burrow gets a full season of good health in 2024, he'll likely be one of the more valuable fantasy assets at the QB position. The 2023 season was a frustrating one for Burrow, who got off to a slow start due in part to a calf injury he sustained in training camp, then went on injured reserve in mid-November with a wrist injury. Four games into the 2023 season, with his ailing calf clearly hindering his mobility and perhaps his throwing mechanics, Burrow was QB31 in fantasy scoring averaging 8.4 fantasy points per game. Then he caught fire, averaging 296.0 yards and 2.4 TD passes over a five-game stretch from Week 5 to Week 10 in which he was QB4 in fantasy points per game. That's the Burrow we hope to see in 2024 if his health cooperates. He'll once again get to work with his longtime LSU and Bengals teammate Ja'Marr Chase, one of the finest wide receivers in the game.
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8.
Dak Prescott
DAL
After a disappointing, injury-marred season in 2022, Dak Prescott rebounded with perhaps the finest season of his career in 2023. Prescott led all NFL quarterbacks in touchdown passes (36) and completions (410) last season and finished QB3 in fantasy scoring. Although he doesn't offer a great deal of value as a runner, Prescott is one of the better pure passers in the game. In 2023, he ranked second in completion percentage (69.5%) among QBs with at least six starts, second in passer rating (105.9) and sixth in yards per attempt (7.7). Prescott benefits from playing with CeeDee Lamb, one of the best young receivers in the game.
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9.
Kyler Murray
ARI
A dangerous dual-threat quarterback, Kyler Murray will enter the 2024 season more than a year removed from the torn ACL that prematurely ended his 2022 season and delayed his first start of 2023 until Week 10. Since entering the NFL in 2019, Murray has averaged 20.9 fantasy points per game. We saw his ceiling in 2020, when Murray averaged 24.4 fantasy points per game and finished QB2 in fantasy scoring behind only Josh Allen. Murray is a decent passer, with a career completion percentage of 66.6% and a career average of 7.0 yards per pass attempt. But he is an exceptional runner who's averaged 37.7 rushing yards per game over his career and has 26 touchdown runs in 65 games. Murray's passing upside may be limited unless the Cardinals bolster a below-average WR corps in the offseason, although the 2023 emergence of TE Trey McBride as a pass catcher helps mitigate the shortage of WR firepower.
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10.
Jordan Love
GB
Jordan Love's first full season as an NFL starter raised hopes that he can be one of the better quarterbacks in the league for years to come. After an uneven start to his 2023 season, Love caught fire. Over his first nine starts, Love was averaging 223.2 passing yards per game, with 14 TD passes, 10 interceptions, a 58.7% completion rate and an average of 6.7 yards per attempt. Over his last eight starts of the 2023 regular season, Love averaged 268.8 passing yards per game, with 18 TD passes, one interception, a 70.3% completion percentage and 7.7 yards per attempt. He then went out and dissected the Cowboys in a wild-card game, completing 16-of-21 passes for 272 yards and three TDs. Love adds some value as a runner (247 rushing yards and four TD runs in 2023), and he has a gaggle of good young pass catchers. The future is bright for the Packers' heir apparent at quarterback.
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11.
Brock Purdy
SF
If there were any doubts about Brock Purdy's QB bona fides following his partial-season success in 2022, he dispelled them with an excellent performance in 2023. Purdy led all NFL quarterbacks in yards per attempt (9.6), passer rating (113.0) and QBR (72.8). He also led the league in touchdown rate (7.0%), although naysayers might suggest that such a high TD rate is destined for regression. Purdy has the benefit of an ideal ecosystem, with Kyle Shanahan as his playcaller and Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle as his pass catchers. After finishing QB7 in fantasy scoring in 2023, Purdy is destined to be a top-12 fantasy quarterback in 2024 drafts.
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12.
Tua Tagovailoa
MIA
Let's start with a bit of good news: After sustaining multiple concussions in 2022 that left doubts about his NFL future, Tua Tagovailoa made it through the 2023 season concussion-free. But after a hot start last season, Tua cooled off considerably over the second half. Over the first eight weeks of the 2023 season, Tua was QB5 in fantasy scoring, averaging 302.0 passing yards and 2.3 TD passes per game, and producing more than 20 fantasy points four times. From Week 9 on, Tua was QB20 in fantasy scoring, averaging 245.3 passing yards and 1.2 TD passes per game. The drop-off concerning, but there's still a lot to like here. Tua has a terrific WR duo in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, along with an innovative playcaller in head coach Mike McDaniel. Tua adds zero rushing value, but he's shown us a lofty ceiling as a passer. It's just a matter of whether he can perform at a high level for a full season.
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13.
Justin Herbert
LAC
Justin Herbert's 2023 season ended after 13 games due to a broken index finger on his throwing hand. Before the injury, he had been providing fantasy managers with low-end QB1 value. Herbert's yearly finishes in fantasy points per game among quarterbacks (six starts minimum): QB7, QB2, QB15, QB10. It would be nice if Herbert could get back to the production level of his first two years in the league. Over the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Herbert averaged 292.2 passing yards, 2.2 TD passes and 23.1 fantasy points per game. Over the last two seasons, he's averaged 262.4 passing yards, 1.5 TD passes and 17.7 fantasy points per game. With Herbert's exceptional arm talent and rushing upside, there's no reason he can't get back to that early-career level of production. Herbert is a solid fantasy option for 2024.
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14.
Kirk Cousins
ATL
Kirk Cousins hits free agency in 2024, so there's a good chance he'll be playing for a team other than the Vikings in 2024. But it's not a lock that Cousins will be playing at all in Week 1. He tore his Achilles on Oct. 29, and as he heads into his age-36 season, we probably shouldn't assume he'll make a hasty recovery. It will be interesting if Cousins signs with a new team and isn't able to take any full-speed reps in a new offense before the start of the season. But Cousins will be coveted in free agency because he's one of the better pure passers in the league. Before going on IR, he was averaging 291.4 passing yards and 2.3 TD passes a game. For fantasy managers, drafting Cousins to be your starting quarterback would be risky, but once he's fully healthy, this proven veteran should be able to provide solid QB2 value.
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15.
Jared Goff
DET
Fantasy managers might not ever get excited about drafting Jared Goff, but after strong seasons with the Lions in 2022 and 2023, Goff should be regarded as no worse than a solid midrange QB2. Goff finished QB7 in fantasy scoring last season, although he was only QB13 in fantasy points per game among quarterbacks who made at least six starts. Over the last two years, he's averaged 265.1 passing yards and 1.7 TD passes a game. Goff adds very little value as a runner, but his solid passing production makes him a useful fantasy asset.
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16.
Trevor Lawrence
JAC
Fantasy managers were hoping to see Trevor Lawrence take a major step forward in 2023 after a promising 2022 season. Much of Lawrence's third NFL season was a disappointment in that regard, but a strong finish raises hopes for 2024. Over the first 10 weeks of the 2023 season, Lawrence was QB19 in fantasy points per game among quarterbacks with at least four starts, averaging 235.6 passing yards and 1.0 TD passes per game. From Week 11 on, Lawrence was QB7 in fantasy points per game, averaging 270.9 passing yards and 1.7 TD passes a game. The former No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft was able to ramp up his production late in the year despite losing WR Christian Kirk to a core injury that kept him out of the last five games of the season. Lawrence has a fabulous toolkit that includes abundant arm talent and above-average rushing ability. Consistency is the missing ingredient, and maybe we'll finally get it from Lawrence in his fourth year in the league.
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17.
Caleb Williams
FA
The odds-on favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Caleb Williams figures to be a Day 1 starter for whichever team selects him. After transferring from Oklahoma to USC in 2022, Williams won the Heisman Trophy in his first season with the Trojans, throwing for 42 touchdowns and running for 10 more. Williams was slightly less spectacular in 2023 but still had a fine season for a defensively weak USC squad that asked its quarterback to carry the team all year. Williams has abundant arm talent and mobility. He's a creative quarterback who excels at making plays out of structure. Williams' supporting cast at USC wasn't great, so he probably won't be overwhelmed if he steps into an NFL offense that isn't brimming with talent. There's always a steep learning curve for rookie quarterbacks, but C.J. Stroud just reminded us that a high-quality rookie QB can be fantasy-viable right away.
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18.
Matthew Stafford
LAR
Coming up on his age-36 season, Matthew Stafford is in the twilight of his NFL career, but his performance in 2023 suggests that he still has gas left in the tank. Stafford averaged 264.3 passing yards, 1.6 TD passes and 16.9 fantasy points per game last season. He benefitted from the emergence of rookie WR Puka Nacua, and if Cooper Kupp can stay healthy, Stafford will have one of the better WR duos in the league. Stafford is interception-prone and has only slightly more mobility than the Statue of Liberty, but his talents as a passer should keep him fantasy-relevant in 2024.
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19.
Jayden Daniels
FA
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20.
Aaron Rodgers
NYJ
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21.
Deshaun Watson
CLE
Will we ever again see the early-career version of Deshaun Watson -- the one who was a top-five fantasy quarterback in each of his first three full seasons as an NFL starter? Watson has struggled to recapture the magic of his run with the Texans from 2018 to 2020. He was understandably rusty when he made his Browns debut late in the 2022 season after serving an 11-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal-conduct policy. Watson wasn't significantly better in six 2023 starts for the Browns before a shoulder injury ended his season. In each of his two abbreviated seasons with Cleveland, Watson has averaged 15.1 fantasy points per game. He's completed 59.8% of his passes over the last two years and has averaged 6.5 yards per attempt. Watson turns 29 at the beginning of the 2024 season, and it's seeming less and less likely that he'll ever recapture the electrifying form he showed when he first burst onto the NFL scene. Approach with caution.
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22.
Baker Mayfield
TB
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23.
Geno Smith
SEA
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24.
Will Levis
TEN
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25.
Derek Carr
NO
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26.
Justin Fields
PIT
Justin Fields is a dangerous dual-threat quarterback in fantasy football, but how much of a chance will he get to play in 2024? The Steelers acquired Fields from the Bears in a mid-March trade, giving up a sixth-round pick that could become a fourth-rounder depending on Fields' playing time this season. The modest compensation the Bears received -- particularly when there were other QB-needy teams that didn't make a play for Fields -- suggests that the league doesn't value the sack-prone young quarterback as much as fantasy managers may have. Fields now finds himself in the same QB room as Russell Wilson, whom the Steelers acquired earlier in the offseason, and early reports suggest that Wilson has the inside track to be the Week 1 starter. Fields has landed in QB1 range in fantasy points per game each of the last two seasons (6 starts minimum), finishing QB5 in FPPG in 2022 and QB12 in 2023. Fields' rushing production fell from 76.2 rushing yards per game and eight TD runs in 2022 to 50.5 rushing yards per game and four TD runs in 2023, but he averaged a career-high 197.1 passing yards per game last season.
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27.
Daniel Jones
NYG
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28.
Drake Maye
FA
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29.
Russell Wilson
PIT
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30.
Bryce Young
CAR
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31.
J.J. McCarthy
FA
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32.
Michael Penix Jr.
FA
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33.
Bo Nix
FA
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34.
Aidan O'Connell
LV
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35.
Kenny Pickett
PHI
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36.
Sam Darnold
MIN
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37.
Gardner Minshew II
LV
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38.
Jacoby Brissett
NE
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39.
Jarrett Stidham
DEN
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40.
Sam Howell
SEA
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41.
Mac Jones
JAC
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42.
Joe Flacco
IND
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43.
Ryan Tannehill
TEN
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44.
Drew Lock
NYG
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45.
Jameis Winston
CLE
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46.
Jimmy Garoppolo
LAR
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47.
Jake Browning
CIN
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48.
Tyler Huntley
CLE
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49.
Spencer Rattler
FA
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50.
Mason Rudolph
TEN
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51.
Mike White
MIA
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52.
Tyrod Taylor
NYJ
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53.
Taylor Heinicke
ATL
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54.
Joshua Dobbs
SF
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55.
Andy Dalton
CAR
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56.
Bailey Zappe
NE
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57.
Tyson Bagent
CHI
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58.
Desmond Ridder
ARI
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59.
Marcus Mariota
WAS
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60.
Hendon Hooker
DET
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61.
Clayton Tune
ARI
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62.
Michael Pratt
FA
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63.
Nick Mullens
MIN
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64.
Trey Lance
DAL
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65.
Carson Wentz
KC
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66.
Zach Wilson
NYJ
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67.
Easton Stick
LAC
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68.
Davis Mills
HOU
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69.
Malik Willis
TEN
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70.
Tommy DeVito
NYG
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71.
Kyle Trask
TB
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72.
Mitch Trubisky
BUF
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73.
Cooper Rush
DAL
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74.
C.J. Beathard
JAC
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75.
Case Keenum
HOU
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76.
Stetson Bennett
LAR
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77.
Trevor Siemian
NYJ
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78.
Jeff Driskel
WAS
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79.
Blaine Gabbert
KC
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80.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson
CLE
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81.
Jaren Hall
MIN
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82.
Kyle Allen
PIT
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83.
Malik Cunningham
BAL
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84.
Joe Milton III
FA
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85.
Sean Clifford
GB
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86.
Jake Haener
NO
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87.
Brett Rypien
CHI
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88.
Brian Hoyer
FA
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89.
Tanner McKee
PHI
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90.
P.J. Walker
CLE
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91.
Brandon Allen
SF
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92.
Skylar Thompson
MIA
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93.
Matt Barkley
JAC
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94.
Tim Boyle
HOU
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95.
Feleipe Franks
ATL
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96.
Jacob Eason
NYG
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97.
Jake Fromm
WAS
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98.
Sam Ehlinger
IND
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99.
John Wolford
TB
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100.
AJ McCarron
FA
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101.
Kellen Mond
IND
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102.
Logan Woodside
ATL
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103.
Nate Sudfeld
DET
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104.
Max Duggan
LAC
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105.
Will Grier
PHI
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106.
Nathan Peterman
NO
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107.
Colt McCoy
FA
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