5 QB fantasy busts to avoid in 2024 season ft. Justin Herbert

Quarterbacks often represent the highest-scoring position in fantasy football. This puts them among the most important players on draft day, as a failure to have a productive option may result in missing out on a ton of fantasy points.

When analyzing values for each quarterback, managers must take many factors into consideration. Players with a strong history of success don't necessarily have bright outlooks entering a new season due to varying situations around them, including their age and supporting cast.

Here are five quarterbacks to avoid when drafting a team for the upcoming 2024 fantasy football season.

QB fades in 2024 fantasy football

Derek Carr

#1 Derek Carr

Derek Carr switched teams for the first time last year, joining the New Orleans Saints after previously spending his entire career with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Despite recording his second-most passing attempts in the past five years, he recorded his second-lowest scoring total across the same time frame. His lack of rushing upside and consistent mediocrity makes it hard to imagine a big step forward.

#2 Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers has been an elite fantasy football quarterback during his career, finishing among the top three players in his position in eight different seasons.

The issue is that he is now over 40 and is coming off a major injury. Even in his last season with the Green Bay Packers, he recorded his worst season-long finish in any year that wasn't shortened by an injury. While he likely improves the New York Jets significantly, Rodgers is not an attractive option in fantasy drafts.

#3 Justin Herbert

Justin Herbert has been an elite option in all of his seasons as a starter, but his outlook will take a major hit this year. The Los Angeles Chargers moved on from his top three offensive weapons in Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler and Mike Williams and also made a change for their head coach.

Jim Harbaugh is known for using a run-heavy style of offense, so several factors make Herbert a clear fade this season.

#4 Deshaun Watson

Deshaun Watson recorded three consecutive finishes among the top five fantasy quarterbacks with the Houston Texans prior to being traded to the Cleveland Browns.

In two seasons with his new teams, he has appeared in just 12 games and thrown for 14 touchdowns with nine interceptions. His days of being an elite option appear to be over and he will be extremely difficult to trust in starting lineups at all.

#5 Geno Smith

Geno Smith finished outside of the top two quarterbacks in his only two years as a starter for the New York Jets. He then spent the next seven years as a backup before a major breakout season in his opportunity to be a starter with the Seattle Seahawks.

He finished as the overall QB8, but followed that up with a QB25 finish last year, so he may have been a one-season wonder. He is too risky to trust during safe season.