Your fantasy football draft day companion is here!
Drafting a fantasy football team this weekend? The Huddle has you covered for everything needed to dominate in the final weekend before the 2024 NFL season begins.
Week 1 is merely days away, but there’s still time to draft a winner, and this being The Huddle’s 28th season online is a testament to our dedication to making you a champion!
Let’s not waste any more time and get right into what you must know ahead of the big draft weekend.
Fantasy football player news
Gamers can stay on top of the latest transactions, injury news, and more by following our Huddle newsfeed.
Fantasy football draft-day rules to live by
These rules are in no particular order, and they apply to all levels of experience among fantasy owners. Just as important as the “what you should do” to create a winner in fantasy drafting, avoiding simple pitfalls is a must.
1) Living in the past: Assuming successes and failures from last year automatically will carry over to this year’s results is a quick trip to Loserville. Each year is brand new and requires a reset of the old memory bank.
2) Stay sober: While it may seem silly, don’t let one draft of hard boozing affect an entire season of fantasy football. Party it up after the draft and celebrate your soon-to-be championship roster.
3) No one likes a homer: Well, except for that Homer. Heavily drafting players from your favorite team tends to lead to an entire season of hangover-filled mornings. This also includes taking a specific player over a better option just because that player is on your favorite team. Be objective.
Check out HC Green’s five favorite draft targets for 2024.
With the preseason over, it’s time to look at five players we’d like to see on our fantasy football rosters for 2024. For clarity, these are not premium picks or studs per se. Rather, they’re players who could be available after those top-tier guys come off the board that we feel could deliver significant value.
A quick look at fantasy football sleepers, busts, values, and much more!
A fantasy football publication recently asked for positional picks from several key categories, such as sleepers, busts, risky players, value buys, and breakout candidates. Out of respect to the service, we’ll avoid using its name in this space.
This is the companion piece to the 12-team version. The difference between a 10-team and 12-team league is that those two fewer players per position make a big difference the further you get in your draft.
A 10-team league means positional quality lasts longer. Everyone has a “good” team, so you need less depth and more difference-makers. Simply enough, to reach your championship you have to own elite players in their position. Depth matters less – there’s always something on the waiver wire. You are much better off building an optimal starting lineup first and foremost and not playing games with loading up on wideouts or running backs before you’ve reached that best possible lineup.
To follow are the first three-rounds for 10-team fantasy football leagues. They use either standard performance scoring, performance plus a point per reception, or “2QB/Super Flex” leagues where you can start two of any position. Those three formats cover almost all leagues.
The names are less important than the positions because each draft slot has its unique situation. Just as important are your future picks and what you need after three rounds. Rankings can change daily so these may not exactly match rankings.
Reception-point league
This style of scoring boosts the value of wide receivers and elite tight ends and slightly devalues quarterbacks relative to other positions. Running backs are popular in any scoring scenario but the added reception point means the position becomes deeper with third-down backs able to offer “start-able” fantasy value. The consistency of an above-average running back is also a very valuable contributor to the weekly fantasy score.
With a reception point and only ten teams, your roster should look very strong after three picks. All positions are deep in this format so think about “star power.”
Team 1: RB C. McCaffrey, WR Davante Adams, TE Sam LaPorta The first pick of the draft is also the first pick of the third round – that is always an advantage as talent drains in your draft. McCaffrey is the consensus best pick this year and he’s been as productive and consistent as any player while healthy. That 2-3 turn could be RB10 or WR11 so they opted for Adams at wideout and then took LaPorta which combines as the best running back, best tight end, and a lower-end WR1. Will need at least one running back and wideout in the next three picks but can go anywhere. Team 2: WR Tyreek Hill, WR DK Metcalf, RB James Cook Starting with the best wideout is strong in this format, and then doubled up with Metcalf for two Top-10 wideouts. Opted to take Cook as their RB1 and can ignore wideout for many rounds since they likely need just one more to complete their starting requirement. Knowing that running back won’t be a strength, should consider quarterback or tight end immediately to net an advantage and scoop on running backs while paying attention to how late they can still get acceptable quality at their WR3. Team 3: WR Ja’Marr Chase, RB De’Von Achane, WR Nico Collins This is an upside sort of plan, taking two wideouts and sandwiching their RB1 of Achane who is boom-or-bust. Will need address RB2 and even RB3 early given the chance of Achane getting hurt. This is a solid start in the format if they all deliver. Team 4: RB Breece Hall, RB Isiah Pacheco, WR Mike Evans Pretty standard at this spot to shore up the backfield first with two of the Top-8 and then start to work on wideouts which are deeper in quality. Should consider quarterback and even tight end soon, while seeding their WR2 and WR3 along the way. Team 5: RB Bijan Robinson, WR Brandon Aiyuk, QB Josh Allen Middle-round drafters have it tough in the way that there is always a lot of picks between every turn and runs can develop right after they pick. Robinson at RB1 is a healthy choice and Aiyuk was as the ninth wideout was a way to avoid a hole in wideouts. Taking Allen always feels really early (and it is) but he’s been no worse than the No. 2 quarterback for the last four years. Filling one each for the highest-scoring positions means it can be best value for the rest of the draft. Team 6: WR A. St. Brown, WR Garrett Wilson, RB Kyren Williams Another middle-of-the-draft pick opts to go WR-WR to start with two of the Top-8 wideouts – always a strength in this scoring. Switched to Kyren Williams for RB1. Even in a 10-team league, getting two running backs from the first five rounds is usually best. Should take their RB2 in the next round or so but can value pick from any position other than wideout that only needs one more decent starter from the deepest position. Team 7: WR CeeDee Lamb, RB Jonathan Taylor, RB Josh Jacobs This is actually a solid plan. Snap up a difference-making wideout, then double on running backs for two of the Top-11 in that position. Must have WR2 in the next two picks to maintain quality, but can consider quarterback soon as well. Solid start and can wait on running backs for a while. Team 8: RB Saquon Barkley, WR Puka Nacua, WR Drake London This is the reverse of Team 7, where they started with Barkley as the fourth back taken, and then doubled on wideouts to net the WR7 and WR14. That makes a strong set of wideouts though it is the deepest position. Can explore running backs very soon but also consider quarterback and tight end since only need one more starting wideout. Team 9: WR A.J. Brown, WR Justin Jefferson, RB Derrick Henry Nearing the end of the first round, very common to double up wideouts and have the WR5 and WR6 – that’s an advantage. Henry at RB1 prevents any weakness and selects again in just two picks. Could reach a great running back like Joe Mixon or Rhamondre Stevenson for their fourth pick for a solid set of starters but needs to consider an earlier quarterback or tight end to gain an advantage somewhere instead of chasing runs. Team 10: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, RB Travis Etienne, QB Jalen Hurts Final pick of Round 1 often will double on either wideout or running backs, and they opted wideout which netted the RB5 and RB6. Went with Hurts as the second quarterback selected for a nice advantage but will need to strongly consider wideouts for at least the next two picks if not three.
Performance scoring league
Performance scoring without reception points means that running backs are at a premium, and quarterbacks are a bit more valuable. Wide receivers and tight ends are devalued but still usually provide four starters on a fantasy football team. Most teams will look to get two running backs in their first three picks, and it’s hard to argue against that logic.
Unlike other scoring formats that offer greater parity in fantasy scoring between positions, this one still covets running backs. There could be up to 18 or 20 backs taken over the first three rounds even in this smaller league size.
Team 1: RB Breece Hall, WR CeeDee Lamb, QB Josh Allen This format makes running backs very valuable and that means while Team 1 got the best running back, the best fifteen are gone by their second pick. Armed with the top back, they abandon the RB-train and get the WR5 and QB1 of the draft. That’s a very strong start but will need to go with at least one more back at their 4-5 wrap-around, even though the value will be low by then. Likely Tony Pollard or Devin Singletary at best. Team 2: RB Christian McCaffrey, RB R. Stevenson, WR Puka Nacua After McCaffrey, still went with Stevenson to lock up the backfield. Opted to get the sixth wideout to ensure a no liability at WR1. Can take best available regardless of position for many rounds with that RB-RB start. Team 3: RB Bijan Robinson, RB Josh Jacobs, WR Justin Jefferson Same plan as Team 2, RB-RB and then a Top-5 wideout. Nothing splashy with this safe route and the deeper the RB-RB starts in Round 1 means the better back for their RB2. Can pick for value and not need for the next several critical rounds. Team 4: RB Saquon Barkley, WR A.J. Brown, RB Najee Harris Leaving the RB2 until their third round netted the fourth-best wideout and still found acceptable value at running back though the quality/risk is on the decline. Team 5: RB Jonathan Taylor, RB Kenneth Walker III, QB Jalen Hurts For a mid-round drafter, this plan works admirably in most cases. Takes the standard RB-RB and then opts for the QB2 on the board for an advantage in a high-scoring position. Wideouts will be a disadvantage but their scoring is significantly less in this format. Need to get at least two wideouts over the next four rounds if not three. Smaller league size does make wideouts deeper. Team 6: WR Tyreek Hill, RB Joe Mixon, RB Rachaad White Starting out with wideout, even the best one, made the next rounds picks feel like need-picks with running backs and it is somewhat reasonable given that the fourth round is a major step down in quality. Free to value pick the next several rounds and an early quarterback would look good on this roster. Team 7: RB Jahmyr Gibbs, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, RB D’Andre Swift This plan looks solid enough, using Round 2 for a Top-3 wideout and scraping up Swift at RB2. Free to roam the draft board and the strength with their WR1 means they can look at other positions even for three or four rounds if desired. The depth of quality for receivers always last with the smaller league and scoring format. Team 8: RB Travis Etienne, RB Isiah Pacheco, WR DK Metcalf More of the same with a very safe and effective start. While he ends up with the seventh-best running back to start, he reached the eleventh-best back in Pacheco to wrap up their backfield. Metcalf was the WR8 from the draft board, so there’s safety in making him the WR1 for the team. Free to choose from here on out. Team 9: WR Ja’Marr Chase, RB Kyren Williams, TE Sam LaPorta Drafting at the end of the first round in any sort of league always prompts strategic selections to avoid just following runs and building an average team. Starting with Chase as the second wideout of the draft is a value even in this scoring, and Kyren Williams may be a lower-end RB1 but not a disadvantage. Taking LaPorta in this scoring format doesn’t feel as great, but looking for an advantage in other positions can help make up ground. Probably needs to take running backs in two of the next three rounds. Team 10: RB Derrick Henry, RB De’Von Achane, WR Nico Collins This scoring makes the final pick of Round 1 more valuable than any other scoring format because one position – running back – still reigns supreme for the first few rounds and Team 10 owns two Top-8 running backs. Reached Collins for his WR1 and he’s still just the ninth-wideout selected. Can value pick every round now and should consider quarterback in the next few rounds while an advantage still exists in available players.
QB-heavy/Super-Flex league
This league starts two quarterbacks. That pushes value in other positions deeper into the draft since quarterbacks take up far more of the early picks. Each 2QB or super-flex league can use different scoring and other aspects that impact player value, so consider the nuances of your league.
This assumes super-flex, where two quarterbacks may be started. Some leagues may see six or seven quarterbacks in the first round and five or six more in the second round.
It is also assumed that there are reception points. That is by far the most common in that type of league. It is also notable that a team can win without automatically starting two quarterbacks, even when allowed. Virtually no one drafts with that in mind.
In a smaller 10-team league with additional valuable players from the quarterback boost, almost every fantasy team looks great so taking elite players is paramount to winning – get your starters before worrying about depth.
Team 1: QB Josh Allen, QB Brock Purdy, WR Justin Jefferson The smaller league size helps make this plan for the first pick work well, since quarterbacks are very valuable and that second pick still reached the twelfth quarterback. That’s a nice 1-2 punch paired with Allen. Opted for Jefferson as a Top-5 wideout. Will need to address running back likely with the next two picks but the core is set with those quarterbacks. Team 2: QB Jalen Hurts, RB Saquon Barkley, WR A.J. Brown This plan takes the second-best quarterback but then could not resist owning a Top-4 running back and a Top-5 receiver. That’s nice firepower at quarterback, running back and wideout – the three best-scoring positions. That 4-5 turn coming up almost has to take a quarterback and by then it’ll be Bryce Young or Derek Carr quality. But there won’t be a way to cover a bye week if a quarterback is delayed any further. Team 3: QB Patrick Mahomes, WR CeeDee Lamb, QB Jayden Daniels Solid plan takes the two quarterbacks wrapping around Lamb for an advantage at wideout. Daniels is a riskier pick, but also with much upside which is balanced by starting with the rock-solid Mahomes. The core is established and two running backs need to be considered over the next three picks. Team 4: QB Lamar Jackson, RB Bijan Robinson, QB Tua Tagovailoa Same plan as Team 3, only with Robinson at RB1. The later that first-round pick, the better options for QB2 are in the third round. Can go anywhere now and should consider at least one wideout in the next two picks. Team 5: QB C.J. Stroud, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, QB Trevor Lawrence Again – taking two quarterbacks in the first three picks is always reasonable and the results just get better the later that the drafter goes in the first round. Running backs for the next two picks would be prudent, unless an irresistible wideout falls. Team 6: RB Christian McCaffrey, QB Kyler Murray, RB Jahmyr Gibbs After five straight quarterbacks, the available pool hits a lower tier and taking McCaffrey for their RB1 is a true advantage. Going with Murray at QB1 in Round 2 was sort of a need pick but taking Gibbs for RB2 forces the next two picks to be quarterback and then wideout before a liability happens. Team 7: QB Anthony Richardson, QB Jared Goff, WR Puka Nacua Standard opening of QB-QB nets two Top-10 quarterbacks for an advantage and leaning into Nacua as the WR6 drafted is solid given the reception point. Running backs have to follow in two of the next three rounds but this is a safe and usually favorable opening. Team 8: WR Tyreek Hill, WR Ja’Marr Chase, QB Caleb Williams Opting for WR-WR makes sense in a reception-point format but that only left the rookie Williams as the QB16 selected. If next pick is quarterback, and not a bad consideration, likely lands Deshaun Watson, Justin Herbert, or Kirk Cousins which isn’t that painful considering Team 8 owns the two best wideouts. Round 5, Round 6, and Round 7 should all strongly consider running back. Team 9: RB Breece Hall, QB Jordan Love, QB Baker Mayfield Taking that second quarterback in the third round is getting much thinner after this late pick in Round 1. Hall is a great RB1 and Jordan Love prevents any hole at quarterback. Taking Mayfield for his QB2 is certainly the safest play and drafter goes again in just two more picks. Should consider wideout there but could also go for a top tight end to gain an advantage at one position at least. Team 10: QB Dak Prescott, QB Joe Burrow, RB Travis Etienne Certainly feels good getting two of the Top-8 quarterbacks and in the smaller league size, could still get a Top-8 wideout with their fourth pick and be free to value pick in every round.
Taking a look at three rookies with the best chance of breaking out for fantasy football in 2024.
Though summer break is upon us, fantasy football managers know the quest for a championship never rests.
Getting value and hitting on some draft picks that break out relative to average draft position (ADP) is what it’s all about. Those selections truly make a difference, and focusing on rookies can be an easy way to get there.
We won’t be looking at the bigger names in this rookie class like Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers or Jonathon Brooks. But there are still plenty of rookies who have the chance to become staples in fantasy lineups.
Here’s a look at three rookie breakout candidates to keep an eye on going into the 2024 season:
A pick-by-pick review of The Huddle’s team in a prominent industry league.
The Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association (FSGA) organizes several industry expert leagues, with the 14-team “Champions League,” hosted by RTSports.com, being the crown jewel.
I had the honor of competing in the premier grouping for a decade, making the postseason six of my last eight years, including a close loss in the finals. Understanding the necessity to take calculated risks on draft day is among the reasons for my consistency. Being afraid to take a chance or reach for a player — especially in this 14-team variant filled with excellent drafters — is a fast-track to being demoted from the league. Yeah, demoted. The bottom four teams get relegated to the next league down the chain.
Thus, there is a need to take bold actions at a level unprecedented in arguably any other professional draft. In short, I much rather take a chance reaching for some players I covet than playing it too safe. Of course, there’s a nuanced blend of risk to work into a roster design, but it all comes down to making intelligent gambles.
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All of the FSGA leagues are performance-based PPR formats, and drafting a live league this early in the summer makes for a fun tightrope walk in some regards. Drafting in late June forces gamers to make a larger number of educated guesses on appropriate value of unsettled situations. These leagues do not allow trades, so the draft’s importance is paramount.
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My aggressive nature didn’t work out in 2022, and I was relegated to the National Conference draft. Last year’s bid to return to the Champions League was off to a hot start, going 6-0 before the wheels came off and I stumbled to an 8-6 finish. A fresh start puts me right back into the same position, so let’s look at the foundation I get to work with in 2024.
1:08) WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions: I probably would have taken my chances with Justin Jefferson and all that is Minnesota’s QB situation had he made it one more pick, but I’m in no way upset with Brown. He’s a PPR machine in an offense that will continue to feed him on all three downs.
2:07) RB Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers: While Jacobs comes with some durability concerns, he’s a workhorse who can contribute in the passing game and is the unquestioned starter in an offense that remains committed to the run. I expect a refreshed Jacobs looking to rebound from a down year.
3:08) WR Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams: Round 3 feels maybe a tad early, but it’s a 14-team PPR format. I’m banking on a return to health and one more top-flight season from the veteran. Puka Nacua‘s emergence surely is a concern, but his numbers weren’t all that impressive when Kupp was on the field a year ago.
4:07) TE Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills: This could be the most pivotal pick of my draft. Kincaid will challenge for TE1 overall in 2024. Round 4 is earlier than I prefer to address the position, and it my prove to cost me dearly at running back. It cost me Rhamondre Stevenson, Alvin Kamara, Aaron Jones and Zamir White as my RB2. I can live with that risk-reward decision.
5:08) RB Zack Moss, Cincinnati Bengals: After missing out on that aforementioned quartet of No. 2 running backs, I turned to Moss – one of my favorite contenders for a breakout season. He has limited talent behind him and flashed in prior stops. Cincinnati will feed him enough touches to post RB3 numbers as long as he’s remotely decent, but midrange No. 2 returns are in play.
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6:07) RB Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers: Many owners prefer Jaylen Warren over Harris, and it’s tough to argue against it, yet I opted for Harris instead. I briefly considered Austin Ekeler here, but Pittsburgh hiring Arthur Smith to run the offense solidified my decision to err on the side of caution after risking my RB2 spot on Moss. Even with Warren’s strong play, Harris managed an RB2 finish in 2024 and is entering a contract year.
7:08) QB Jared Goff, Detroit Lions: I was set on taking Brock Purdy but lost out on him by a couple of picks. It led me to stacking Goff with St. Brown. The Lions return just about everyone of note from last year’s prolific offensive showing, and the drop-off to the next QB on my list was significant.
8:07) WR Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos: After going top-heavy at WR, I waited until the midpoint to address the position again. Sutton was the final receiver on the board with whom I had any real comfort in selecting as my third, and he isn’t without concerns. Nevertheless, someone has to catch the ball in Denver, even if it’s from a rookie quarterback.
9:08) WR Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers: A polarizing selection, Johnston gets a fresh start to showcase his skills after a disappointing rookie campaign. The new offensive design isn’t exactly conducive to a pass-heavy script, though the former first-rounder has a legit quarterback and a largely unproven cast of receivers to battle for the top spot.
10:07) RB Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals: This one is purely a handcuff selection. Let’s say I’m wrong about Moss breaking out … that creates a fine opportunity for Brown to exploit. The 2024 fifth-round selection displayed some chops as a rookie, albeit in extremely limited work (58 touches), and Brown has little behind him in the way of competition.
11:08) WR Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears: Meh. Mooney’s best days are behind him in all likelihood, though he can muster a few flex fill-in performances with Kirk Cousins at the helm. There’s a small chance for a regular role if Drake London were to get injured, and another Kyle Pitts letdown isn’t unfathomable.
12:07) RB Dylan Laube, Las Vegas Raiders: Laube injects youth into my offense and offers a pass-catching option not found ahead of him on the depth chart in Vegas. He has turned heads in OTAs and makes for a fine flier this late in a 14-teamer.
13:08) QB Will Levis, Tennessee Titans: Levis has all the physical tools to excel. One of my favorite sleepers, the second-year pro has upgraded receivers and a quarterback-friendly offense being installed. Both running backs and the primary tight end can make splash plays in the passing game, too. Levis’ upside is too good to pass up.
14:07) QB Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Here’s where things get a little funky! Levis shares a bye week with my starter, Goff. Had it been a late-season bye I wouldn’t have batted an eye, but the Week 5 hiatus makes things a little precarious, hence the selection of a third QB. Mayfield, who faces Atlanta in Week 5, gives me added insurance if Levis struggles early on and/or Goff gets hurt. The takeaway here is embracing flexibility with your draft plans can lead you down unforeseen but profitable paths.
15:08) D/ST Miami Dolphins, Miami Dolphins: Despite lingering injuries and notable personnel losses across on three levels, Miami is a decent pick after waiting on the position in a 14-team draft in which owners started drafting DTs in the 12th and had seven off the board by Round 14. The early-season schedule is acceptable.
16:07) PK Greg Zuerlein, New York Jets: The last kicker off the board, Zuerlein is entirely expendable if he struggles early in the year. New York should be much more capable on offense with a healthy Aaron Rodgers. The big-legged booter offers distance value and is automatic inside 40 yards.
Here are three sleepers to target at the tight end position in fantasy football for the 2024 season.
With summer break just around the corner, fantasy football managers will be thrust into drafts before they even know it.
Finding sleepers is the name of the game when it comes to overachieving in fantasy football, and it’s never too early to start looking for those potential game-changers.
The tight end position is a tricky beast to understand. For most leagues, the elite tight ends truly make a difference. Going into 2024, there’s a bucket of four tight ends who could likely be considered elite options.
That would be Travis Kelce, Sam LaPorta, Mark Andrews and Trey McBride. The rest of the position is mostly a crapshoot where managers are hoping for some respectable yardage and some touchdown receptions here and there.
But finding a tight end sleeper can make a difference. Those who drafted LaPorta or McBride late in 2023 were rewarded with a high-end starter nearly every week. Their tight end position went from an unknown to a game-changer.
Here’s a look at three tight end sleepers to keep an eye on going into the 2024 season:
Which players may have added financial incentive this season?
While simply entering a contract year is not a guarantee of increased fantasy football production, us gamers look to unearth any extra motivation that may help real-life players put put our fake squads over the top.
The key when evaluating such data is to treat it as another piece of the puzzle and not get too caught up in this extra info. The salary cap increased as usual this year after a dip during the height of the pandemic. We’ve seen a fair amount of one-year deals again, in addition to the usual expiring long-term pacts, creating a deep class of free agents at wide receiver, and running back shows a few promising names as well.
Notes: All players listed below will be unrestricted and restricted free agents as of March 2025, focusing on those who have made a dent in fantasy in recent years or could be in position to matter. The listed age reflects how old the player will be upon the opening free agency. The list focuses on players potential fantasy relevance.
Is it too early to pick up on trends in fantasy football mock drafts?
It is mid-May, and fantasy football drafts are gaining steam. A recent industry mock is the source for this recap. Out of respect for the hosts of this draft, no reference will be made to its identity so the content remains fresh on their end, nor will the entire draft results be published here.
The blurbs about my team below were provided to the draft host and will appear in a magazine as part of a larger evaluation of the draft. Before getting into my individual picks (we didn’t have to select kickers or defensive teams), here are a few general observations from a 12-team, PPR draft.
Drafting in the middle of Round 1 wasn’t a detriment. The placement afforded the ability to build either two strong running backs, a blend of prominent RBs and receivers, or loading up on a pair of wideouts. Flexibility is key, and it’s tough to go wrong picking fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh in 2024.
It’s not too often, even in an experts league, no quarterbacks come off the board in the first three rounds. Personally, I love to see it, and that’s how gamers should draft … in an ideal world. I suspect the delay in addressing the position is a byproduct of gamers being burned by the rash of QB injuries in 2023.
Eight of the first 24 picks were running backs in this PPR format, which isn’t a huge surprise, but the notable takeaway here is this draft went all the way until the 32nd pick before a different position came off the board.
Six of the 19 total quarterbacks who were drafted came in Rounds 4 and 5 alone, which shows the ability to wait on the position if you don’t buy into a top-heavy position.
Five TEs going in the first six rounds is normal, though the eight who went over the following four rounds are mostly interchangeable. Much like with quarterback, gamers should make a predraft decision about whether they prefer to invest early or wait, and a good deal of these trends are due to the RB and WR selection spree atop the draft.
The positional breakdown is as follows: 19 QBs, 60 RBs, 79 WRs, and 18 TEs.
Here’s a snapshot of the first 10 rounds broken down by number of positional picks:
We were asked to write 35 words per pick to give a little insight as to our draft thoughts:
RB Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons: I considered Ja’Marr Chase, but Robinson has RB1 overall upside and will anchor my roster. The do-all Texas product no longer will be hampered by the silly utilization games played by former head coach Arthur Smith.
WR Stefon Diggs, Houston Texans: I’m banking on one last big season from the well-seasoned veteran with a final huge payday at stake. Houston didn’t acquire him to be a decoy. This loaded offense can support multiple top-flight fantasy targets.
RB Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers: If he can stay healthy, Jacobs has RB1 written all over him in Green Bay. The Packers paid a hefty sum for his services, and the versatile veteran will command the lion’s share of this backfield’s touches.
WR Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns: There’s no question that I am skeptical about Cooper staying healthy and Deshaun Watson rebounding, but the only real-life WR1 remaining I considered was Zay Flowers. My strong RB corps leaves me comfortable with Cooper as my WR2.
QB Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles: I wasn’t inclined to land a QB here, but the value of Hurts in Round 5 was far too tantalizing to ignore. Between a stacked receiving corps and his rushing talents, Hurts will challenge for QB1 overall.
RB Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders: I’m comfortable with Ekeler as a third back, and he has upside in PPR since Brian Robinson Jr. is more of a two-downer. Being reasonable, the former Charger is probably a matchup play instead of a lock.
WR Marquise Brown, Kansas City Chiefs: As my third receiver, Hollywood catching passes from Patrick Mahomes is exciting and will make up for a lack of volume. Rashee Rice could miss games — perhaps the entire year — giving Brown serious upside.
WR DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans: Despite crossing my fingers in hopes of Christian Watson coming back to me, Nuk is a WR4 with viable weekly lineup consideration – a nice consolation. I’m expecting enough work to go around in this revamped offense.
TE T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings: I gambled on Jake Ferguson lasting, missing out by a few picks. While Hockenson might rest early, rookie QBs tend to lean on TEs, and this selection had a playoff push in mind.
RB Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons: Expecting a lesser role than last year’s 209 utilizations, the sole purpose here was to insure my Round 1 selection of Bijan Robinson. Nothing more, nothing less.
TE Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans: T.J. Hockenson was a strategic gamble two rounds ago, and Schultz will be a stop-gap if he misses action as well as an insurance policy should the former Detroit Lion not regain form in 2024.
WR Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons: A late-round flier who could rebound after falling on hard times the last two years, Mooney gets a QB upgrade and a friendlier system. He has even more value if TE Kyle Pitts doesn’t pan out again.
RB Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rookie RBs who are an injury away from a No. 1 role always enter my late-round draft plans. Irving even could muster enough action for a fill-in role if Tampa chooses to scale back Rachaad White‘s workload.
QB Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars: Even though the retooled receiving corps isn’t as appealing on paper, volume alone puts Lawrence into the top-12 conversation. A likely QB1 as my backup in Round 14? Sign me up!
Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Bonus draft recap!
As part of the magazine mock draft participation agreement, we also took part in a non-PPR version. Here’s my team review for that one:
1) RB Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts: I briefly considered Saquon Barkley, but Taylor’s fantasy scoring and TD upside is greater in non-PPR. There’s top-3 potential from the former rushing champ.
2) RB Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers: I was hoping for Derrick Henry here, but Jacobs is a quality consolation prize. He should threaten RB1 status as my No. 2 in a Green Bay offense that will ride its new bell cow.
3) WR Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: While he’s not a value buy this year, and regression is a real risk, double-digit TD potential remains high. Evans is a so-so WR1.
4) QB Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles: I really wanted Cooper Kupp here, but Hurts’ rushing TD upside was far too tempting in non-PPR. This is much earlier than I tend to draft a QB, and the scoring system made the difference here.
5) WR George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers: He’s one of my favorites for a true breakout season, and I’ll be surprised Pickens doesn’t finish as a borderline WR1. There’s some concern with Russell Wilson and Arthur Smith, however, but talent usually wins out.
6) RB Zack Moss, Cincinnati Bengals: I’m higher on him than most, but there’s legit 10-TD potential in sight as my third back. Moss has flashed starting-caliber ability at times in his career, and he now gets a chance to run away with the gig.
7) TE Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons: Was this a reach? Maybe. If Pitts cannot ascend in 2024, all hope is lost for his future. I’m optimistic that Kirk Cousins and a better offensive system will work wonders.
8) WR Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos: Denver is lacking receiving options, and rookie QB Bo Nix has the collegiate experience to hit the ground running. He should be good for WR3 or flex utility more often than not.
9) WR Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers: There’s tremendous upside in Watson if the hammy can hold up for more than 30 minutes. That said, he could get lost in the mix some weeks if the deep receiving corps plays to its potential.
10) RB Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks: We saw enough from the former as a rookie to suggest he’ll be involved in this new offense. As my RB4, Charbonnet is a decent flier for RB2 returns if Kenneth Walker goes down.
11) WR Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers: Let’s face it, Johnston was abysmal in 2023, but LA needs a WR to step up, and why not him? He has the QB and offensive line to create damage with limited targets.
12) QB Jared Goff, Detroit Lions: Aside from a bye week, Goff probably won’t see my lineup, but he’s awesome insurance for Hurts.
13) TE Juwan Johnson, New Orleans Saints: Mike Gesicki was a consideration, but Johnson has a clearer path to scoring fantasy points. If Pitts is solid, Johnson won’t crack my lineup often anyway.
Time to throw away those long-held beliefs about certain teams that should offer a vastly difference offensive product for 2024.
The natural tendency is to expect a player’s fantasy value to repeat the next year. It’s certainly the most recent data to consider, and that is why fantasy drafts look a lot like the results from the previous season.
Where fantasy value remains less obvious is when a player’s situation changes around him. How he fits into a offensive scheme and combines with his teammates have a great bearing on his success – or lack of it.
Let’s take a look at the three NFL teams that will clash with the conventional wisdom from last year and deserve a longer look heading into 2024.
Where they come from: The three last years were under HC Arthur Smith who also called plays. He was the Titans offensive coordinator for the two previous seasons (2019-2020). During his final season there was when Derrick Henry rushed for 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns. His mark in Atlanta was that they never relied heavily on any player, despite selecting the top running back, wideout, and tight end from their respective draft years.
After Matt Ryan left in 2022, the last two seasons saw the Falcons remain Bottom-5 in passing and not manage more than 17 passing touchdowns either year. The Falcons ranked in the Top-2 in rushing attempts over that span though divided up the carries and even showed favor to Cordarrelle Patterson who was an aging and marginal wide receiver turned running back. Last year, the Falcons ranked No. 32 – dead last – in every wide receiver statistic and included only four scores by the position.
The Falcons did rank No. 1 in receiving yards for tight ends (1,380) and No. 5 in completions (114) to the position. But that came with a near-even split between Kyle Pitts (53-667-3) and Jonnu Smith (50-582-3). The best running back from the draft class was Bijan Robinson who was limited to only 214 carries, while Tyler Allgeier handled 186. While HC Arthur Smith had access to an elite tight end, wide receiver, and running back, he insisted on sharing the load to the great dismay of the fantasy community (and arguably the Atlanta fanbase after posting three straight 7-10 records).
Bottom line – they ran a ton but wouldn’t rely heavily on the uber-talented Robinson, threw a lot to tight ends but only half went to the highest-drafted tight end in NFL history, and Drake London still hasn’t topped 910 yards after two seasons despite being the 1.08 pick of 2022 as the top wideout. The offensive scheme never placed any of the offensive players in a position where elite stats were possible.
2024 changes: There are a few player differences this year, and a dramatic shift from the Falcons that we’ve known for the last three seasons. The Falcons parted ways with HC Arthur Smith and brought in Raheem Morris, who had been the defensive coordinator for the Rams. He brings a very accomplished resume that is limited to defensive coaching.
Zac Robinson was tabbed as the offensive coordinator after entering the coaching ranks in 2019 with the Rams, where he coached the quarterbacks and wide receivers for the last five seasons. He learned under HC Sean McVay and been involved exclusively with the passing offense. While mostly an unknown as a coordinator, he comes over with experience in exactly what the weakness that the Falcons had. And Atlanta brought in a new quarterback and four veteran wide receivers while signing two undrafted rookies. This will be a new passing offense by every measure.
Players with new positive situations
RB Bijan Robinson – It is inconceivable that the new offense will split carries between Robinson and Allgeier, unlike 2023 when Allgeier had double-digit carries in half of his games. Robinson only ran for 100 yards twice as a rookie – that’s due for a healthy increase and the presence of a better passing offense can only help to take pressure off the backfield.
TE Kyle Pitts – He posted 68-1026-1 as a rookie playing with the aging Matt Ryan. These last two seasons were disappointments, but the passing offense was one of the worst. He returned from a torn MCL in 2022 and played all 17 games but split catches with Jonnu Smith – who is gone. This is Pitts’ best situation since his rookie year.
WR Drake London – Granted – Kirk Cousins has played with Justin Jefferson, but before that he made 1,000-yard receivers out of Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. He almost had two last year. London totals just three 100-yard games in his career, but that’s also sure to increase, along with his first 1,000-yard season.
WR Darnell Mooney – Lands in Atlanta after four seasons in Chicago. He’s been a sub-500 yard receiver for two years while the Bears’ passing offense struggled, but he posted 81 catches for 1,055 yards and four scores in 2021 when Justin Fields was a rookie. He may lack consistency with three other stars on the offense, but he should see an increase from the passing offense that Zac Robinson is importing from the Rams.
Players with new negative situations
QB Kirk Cousins – This may be unfair, and Cousins could certainly maintain his typical 4,000-yard ways for the last many years. He’ll play behind a better O-line as well. The only concern is that he’ll no longer have pass-sponge Justin Jefferson around and the Falcons oddly drafted Michael Penix Jr. despite the wheelbarrow of cash they gave Cousins. The Falcons should have an effective rushing game as well. His worst is still worthy of a fantasy start, and concerns may cause him to drop too far. But he’s not likely to see dramatic increases from his standards and may take a dip.
Where they come from: HC Brandon Staley came from a defensive background and used Joe Lombardi as the offensive coordinator. They had moved on from Philip Rivers when they drafted Justin Herbert in 2020. In Staley’s first season there, Herbert passed for 5,014 yards and 38 touchdowns while both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams posted 1,100 receiving yards and Austin Ekeler was the No. 2 fantasy back with 1,558 total yards and 20 touchdowns.
Both starting wideouts struggled with injuries in 2022, and Herbert dropped to 4,739 yards and 25 touchdowns but remained a Top-10 fantasy quarterback. Austin Ekeler carried the team with 1,637 total yards and 18 scores as the No. 1 fantasy back. But the offense was mostly limited to two wideouts and Ekeler. Lombardi moved on to Denver last year while Kellen Moore came on board to run the offense after great success in Dallas.
Last year, the Chargers offense dropped to No. 32 in rushing yards (1,135) and even fell to only No. 27 in running back receiving yards after two years of being Top-2. Austin Ekeler had contemplated a holdout but played, albeit at a far lesser level than he had, going from No. 1 to only No. 24 as a fantasy wideout. Mike Williams was lost after only three games, but Keenan Allen turned in 108 catches for 1,243 yards and the only Charger fantasy player of any note.
Their pick of Quentin Johnson as the second wideout drafted for 2023 was a flop and Herbert played most of the second half of the season with a fractured left middle finger, plus later fractured his right index finger in Week 14 that ended his year. It was a lost season due mostly to injuries and the dramatic cliff-dive in production by Ekeler. But Herbert was always a Top-10 passer when he played and finished as high as the No. 3 fantasy quarterback in 2021. And this was the No. 3 passing offense each year when the players were healthy.
2024 changes: This is another team that is going to change their identity in a big way. The Chargers have been a passing machine under Justin Herbert and sported two great wideouts in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams – both gone.
Now they head into 2024 without a tight end of any note, and the wideouts were hardly productive last year – Quentin Johnston (38-581-2), Joshua Palmer (38-431-2), and DJ Chark (35-525-5 Carolina). Ladd McConkey is the 2.02 pick by the Chargers this year as the ninth-overall wideout drafted. He carries great potential if only because he is not one of the other mediocre receivers from last year.
The Chargers’ pass-happy ways are over. New head coach Jim Harbaugh left Michigan to take over and employed Greg Roman as the offensive coordinator. Roman spent 2019-2022 with the Ravens, honing a formidable rushing attack that used a committee approach. In 2023, Lamar Jackson threw for a career-high 3,678 yards. He never managed more than 3,127 while playing under Roman.
Harbaugh brought along Roman to install that run game and remake the offense. His Raven offenses were heavily influenced by Lamar Jackson, and that lessened the rushing from the backfield. Backfield workloads will be higher given that Justin Herbert is a pocket passer and not a runner. He typically ran 50 times per year – about three times per game on average.
Basically, Roman is replicating his offense from Baltimore only without a rushing quarterback. The “run sets up the pass” has been quoted many times and the backfield in intended to be rush-heavy. And it will use the same backs as the Ravens had under Roman.
Players with new positive situations
RB J.K. Dobbins – After four seasons of constantly breaking down in Baltimore, Dobbins assumes the RB1 role for the Chargers. He knows the offense. His rookie year (2020) saw him with a 6.0 YPC average and nine scores. His right leg then abandoned him for the last three seasons, missing 2021 with a torn ACL in the preseason, limiting him to only eight games in 2022, and then tearing his Achilles in Week 1 and missing the rest of that year. Despite that, he is installed as the starting running back in the same scheme for the Chargers. Returning from a torn Achilles is often slow if not incomplete, so he has a tremendous opportunity considering his lack of success for three years. Do you feel lucky? He hasn’t in a long time.
RB Gus Edwards – After five seasons with the Ravens being the reliable utility truck of the backfield, Edward also follows Roman to the Chargers, where he again reprises the role as the team RB2 that is most likely to serve as the RB1 at some point when Dobbins goes down again. He’s never been better than 810 rushing yards, but more than doubled his touchdown record with 13 last year when the Ravens let him take the goal line plunges that Lamar Jackson had once dominated. He tore his ACL in 2022, but appeared little affected by it the next year.
WR Josh Palmer – The third-round pick of 2021 hasn’t topped 770 yards or four touchdowns in a season, but loss of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams thrusts him into a WR1 for at least the start of the year. Yes, the offense will likely throw fewer passes so there is a ceiling he’ll bump into, but he’s also the first read for Justin Herbert when he throws. That Baltimore-style offense rarely uses running backs as receivers and there’s no tight end of any note to steal passes. It’s a safe bet that the Chargers’ receivers will see a decline this year – except for the top two who should dominate the targets.
WR Quentin Johnston – The Chargers knew Allen and Williams were aging and likely to leave when they spent their 1.21 pick on Johnston in the 2023 NFL draft. Johnston was a disappointment with only 38 catches for 431 yards and two scores and he had the chance last year with Mike Williams missing the season. But the situation is more favorable this year with a chance to return to the form he had at TCU and he’ll start out as the WR2 meaning a higher volume of targets. He has a better situation but he must show up more in the preseason this time.
WR Ladd McConkey – The rookie was just the ninth-overall wideout taken in a receiver-rich draft and if he remains as the WR3, his fantasy value won’t be high in this new offense. But the ex-Georgia star merits a fantasy pick to see where he ends up by the end of the summer. Again – he’s the only unproven wideout on the depth chart and that’s a plus in this case.
Players with new negative situations
QB Justin Herbert – He was a Top-8 fantasy quarterback for his first three seasons and passed for 5,000 yards in 2021. But he faces three downgrades that cannot be ignored. He lost his two starting wideouts from the last four years, the Chargers adopt a new run-first scheme that decreases passes and he returns from a fractured index finger on his throwing hand that ended his season in Week 14 last year. There is a chance that he could fall too far in fantasy drafts because he is very talented and reportedly will be healed from his surgery of last year. But his situation is undeniably less favorable than any other year he has played.
Where they come from: HC Mike Vrabel spent six years with the Titans, reaching the playoffs three times and even made it to the Conference Championship in 2019 when they lost to the Chiefs. Vrabel’s background was entirely on defense, so the offense has been handled by four different offensive coordinators including Arthur Smith, Todd Smith and most recently Tim Kelly.
This offense was conservative with the pass and always Top-10 in rushing attempts, and even ranked No. 1 in the metric in 2020 and 2021 thanks to feeding Derrick Henry. It has been Bottom-3 in pass attempts for all but one year under Vrabel (No. 26 – 2021). They ranked dead last – No. 32 – in passing attempts last year and only No. 31 in passing scores (12). DeAndre Hopkins (75-1057-7) remained the No. 22 fantasy wideout but there was virtually no fantasy value of any note from any other receiver.
Will Levis was their 2.02 pick last year as the fourth overall quarterback drafted. He became the starter in Week 8 and even managed 327 passing yards in Week 14 in Miami. But the Titans always had one of the weakest passing offenses in the NFL under Vrabel, and relied heavily on Derrick Henry controlling games. DeAndre Hopkins joined them in 2023 and managed to remain healthy for the first time in three seasons, but his yards and scores dwarfed all other Titans. The Titans had no 1,000-yard receivers for two straight seasons after A.J. Brown was allowed to leave.
2024 changes: Yet another team that looks to reverse their established identity from last year with a few new players, losing their previous star, and changing coaches and offensive schemes. First, they brought in HC Brian Callahan who spent the previous four seasons running the offense in Cincinnati, where Joe Burrow has been a Top-8 fantasy quarterback when healthy. The Bengals ranked No. 4 in pass completions last season and yet No. 31 in rushing attempts for the last two years. This is a complete reversal of the Titans’ ways.
There is an offensive line that declined the last few years, but they immediately attended to it in the NFL draft with their 1.07 pick going to the best offensive tackle. DeAndre Hopkins was the lone receiver of any note in 2023 but is now joined by Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd for their best trio in many years. The Battleship Tennessee has completely changed course and will be gaining speed.
Players with new positive situations
QB Will Levis – He enters his second season suddenly directing a pass-first offense, and with new weaponry to use. He only averaged 31 passes per game as a starter and never threw more than 39 times. That will change.
WR Tyler Boyd – He may still be a No. 3 wideout for the Titans as well, but they’ll need to throw the ball and he already knows the offense and continues to play under OC Brian Callahan. He loses Joe Burrow, but the situation is no worse in Tennessee and could end up as a nice value pick in drafts.
WR DeAndre Hopkins – He already posted 1,057 yards in his first season as a Titan and the offense will be more pass-heavy and Will Levis more experienced. There are other receivers that may lessen his looks, but he will no longer be the only wideout that worried defenses.
Players with new negative situations
RB Tony Pollard – After seemingly a better option than Ezekiel Elliott as the No. 2 in Dallas, Pollard was far less effective as the No. 1 back last year. That allowed the Cowboys to let him leave and join the Titans where the scheme may not be that different, but the offensive line will be. Tyjae Spears will see involvement and Pollard’s big chance at glory flopped last season. He should continue to see receptions which will help.
WR Calvin Ridley – He may succeed here. But his big return to the playing field last year wasn’t as great as hoped, barely clipping 1,000 yards while playing with Trevor Lawrence (who also fell short of expectations). Ridley even had the benefit of being the only Jacksonville wideout that remained healthy for more than 11 games. He’ll need to get on the same page with Will Levis in a new offensive scheme. His future is brighter later on than this transition year.
