A total of five former Wisconsin Badgers cracked ProFootballFocus’ 2024 Fantasy Football Top 400 PPR Rankings on Wednesday.
The list includes Indianapolis Colts’ running back Jonathan Taylor (No. 11), Dallas Cowboys’ tight end Jake Ferguson (No. 73), New York Jets running back Braelon Allen (No. 170), Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Russell Wilson (No. 190) and Houston Texans’ running back Dare Ogunbowale (No. 395).
While most prototypical fantasy football leagues solely feature offensive playmakers, other outlets offer the option to include defensive players in users’ rotations. If that was the universal case, former Wisconsin game-breakers such as T.J. Watt, T.J. Edwards and Leo Chenal would likely crack the list.
Taylor, who boasts the highest projection, enters the 2024 slate as PFF’s No. 4 fantasy football running back behind only the San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey, Atlanta Falcons’ Bijan Robinson and New York Jets’ Breece Hall.
The decorated college running back did rush for over 1,800 yards in 2021. If he remains on the turf, he could leapfrog both Robinson and Hall in production this season. McCaffrey, a unicorn at the position, may be the only untouchable running back in terms of usage and value to any team across the league.
19. WR Marvin Harrison Jr
44. WR Malik Nabers
76. WR Ladd McConkeyPFF’s 2024 Fantasy Football Top 400 PPR Rankings⬇️https://t.co/UN8fQVUL5Z
— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 14, 2024
Ferguson enters his third season with the Cowboys fresh off his Pro Bowl output in 2023. PFF ranks him as tight end No. 8, and he should serve as Dallas’ second pass-catching option this year.
The most intriguing player on the list, however, is Allen. Wisconsin fans witnessed flashes of greatness during his collegiate tenure, and he boasts the build of a bruiser near the end zone. He will play second fiddle to Hall, but his tenacity could pave the way for more than just TD opportunities as the season progresses.