Stacking QBs in the NFL is about as important as it gets. When it comes to college football, though, it isn’t something that is stressed. This is because of the number of dual-threat QBs and how important it is to have value on the ground to be a top QB. There are certainly offenses that can produce strictly through the air thanks to the high volume of passing attempts, but largely, if you want to draft a top 24 QB, then you’re going to be drafting 1 that has some level of upside on the ground.
When looking at this year’s best ball drafts, it became pretty clear to me that there are three QBs that really jump out as options to stack at cheap costs. All three of these QBs could finish as a top 24 QB, and just one will give us anything of value on the ground. One of the biggest reasons why I like these options is that there is a non-zero chance that one of their WRs will finish the year as the team’s WR1 and has an ADP of essentially free. Let’s get to it…
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
When you look at last year’s Colorado team, the receivers were extremely productive until they weren’t. Colorado started off hot then the poor offensive line play combined with Sanders getting banged up killed the offense. Don’t let this get in the way of you remembering that the top three receivers saw heavy snaps and targets in 2023. While there have been some changes, there’s no reason to believe that they won’t do the same in 2024.
If Colorado can play like they did against TCU, Nebraska, and Colorado State in 2023, then we can see major production here. Three receivers (and a running back) ended with 110+ receiving yards against TCU. Against Nebraska, the top receiver (Xavier Weaver) produced an absurd stat line of 10/170/1 while another target (Jimmy Horn Jr.) caught eight passes. Finally, against the CSU Rams, the top two targets produced stat lines of 9/98/1 and 7/66/1.
Sanders is a pass-only type QB with three or four receivers, all with value in drafts right now. Lajohntay Wester is being drafted the earliest right now with Travis Hunter creeping up in drafts. Then you have Will Sheppard from Vandy and Jimmy Horn Jr. coming in mid to later rounds. With the offense being pretty pass-happy (7 of 11 games with 40+ passing attempts in 2023), it’s hard not to love one of these four targets at their ADP. Ultimately, this is a heavy-volume offense with talented players who will see the majority of the targets as long as they stay healthy.
Miller Moss, USC
Moss is the presumed starter going into the 2024 season, and under Lincoln Riley, that means big-time production through the air. Wouldn’t betting that the USC offense throws for 3,500+ yards in 2024 be one of the safer bets you can make? As my colleague Jared Palmgren has discussed in the past, Moss isn’t being drafted like his coach is Lincoln Riley. There is some value that can be squeezed out of his QB17-22 range he’s being drafted at right now.
When you look at the USC receivers, this is when things get sticky. There are a lot of guys and almost all of them are essentially free. Like Colorado, we’re just not sure who will be the main guys out wide. Unlike Colorado, though, the targets will be spread out enough to warrant mid-20s round ADP being accurate. Zachariah Branch is the highest-drafted player here, routinely being picked in the single digits. But it’s Duce Robinson who is the leading returning receiver when it comes to yards (351). Ja’Kobi Lane, Kyron Hudson, and Makai Lemon are all in play here as well and are, not surprisingly, the cheapest of the bunch.
This USC offense is going to score points and continue to be successful through the air. If you take Moss, it is 100% worth taking a flier on one of these late guys, at the very least, considering what we saw the late-round USC receivers do in 2023:
Tahj Washington: 59/1,062/8
Brenden Rice: 45/791/12
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
Coming off the great spring game, it’s no surprise that Nussmeier is a strong stack candidate. He was perfect on the day, completing all seven of his attempts and found Kyren Lacy and Zavion Thomas deep for long touchdowns. It’s been said in the past, but it’s worth mentioning again here. If you take away Jayden Daniels’ rushing production last season, he would have still been a top 30 QB. Nussmeier has zero rushing upside, so a stat like that is very reassuring, considering how good of a passer he is.
This receiving group is very similar to USC in that there is (finally) a consensus top target (Lacy) and then a bunch of intriguing names that you can basically get for free. CJ Daniels has been usurped by Lacy as the top guy after being seen on the second-team offense in the spring game. I still like him as an option due to his production in the past and his raw talent. Zavion Thomas comes in from Mississippi State and saw first-team reps in the spring game. Chris Hilton has some intrigue to him as well as a once highly touted recruit.
If Nussmeier tickles your fancy, then you’d be crazy not to land one of these LSU receivers.
