The excitement of the 2024 NFL Draft isn’t over yet! It’s time for NFL draft grades for fantasy football. If you haven’t seen this piece from past years, each player gets two grades. The first draft grade is redraft-only value (2024). The second is the player’s dynasty grade/potential.
The draft grades are weighted in tiers of sorts. A’s are your stars — players who can or will become a “one” at their position (RB1, TE1, etc.). For B’s, we’re talking about second and some third-tier starters in all leagues. When we get to C’s, those are fringe starters, maybe some boom/bust plays, etc. And D’s are waiver wire players with maybe some Best Ball or rare bye week, matchup play potential.
You can find my fantasy football winners, losers and analysis of the skill picks here: LINK
2024 NFL Draft Grades
Arizona
- Marvin Harrison, WR: A/A+
- Trey Benson, RB: C+/B+
- Tip Reiman, TE: D/C
- Tejhaun Palmer, WR: D-/C
OVERVIEW: Harrison is an immediate WR1… Benson can ease the burden on James Conner and be an RB3 with Top 20 upside if Conner were to get hurt… Reiman is buried… Palmer is a longshot.
Atlanta
- Michael Penix, QB: F/B
- Jase McClellan, RB: D-/C-
- Casey Washington, WR: F/C-
OVERVIEW: Penix is years from starting, and even then, lack of mobility limits his fantasy upside… McClellan would have to get past Tyler Allgeier for value… Washington can be a reliable receiver type in future years, if he sticks.
Baltimore
- Devontez Walker, WR: D/C+
- Rasheen Ali, RB: C-/B-
- Devin Leary, QB: F/C
OVERVIEW: Walker would peak as a Will Fuller type, but likely not until 2025… Ali has a chance to timeshare and back up Derrick Henry if Keaton Mitchell isn’t 100%… Leary is an NFL lottery ticket, if that.
Buffalo
OVERVIEW: Coleman has risk, but also the upside to be the Bills’ No. 1 and, at worst, a Top 40 WR… Davis should immediately step in as the No. 2 to James Cook.
Carolina
OVERVIEW: Legette can separate unlike the Panthers wideouts not named Diontae Johnson, which gives him a chance to start… Brooks was the best pure RB talent pre-injury and could have a Cam Akers rookie season finish… Sanders has George Kittle potential, which could hit as early as 2025.
Chicago
OVERVIEW: Williams is a fringe QB1 and should hit the Top 10 if he runs a bit more instead of attempting “hero throws”… Odunze is a future Top 25 option but similar to Jaxon Smith-Njigba last year, he’s the No. 3 and needs to wait for 2025 (or injury).
Cincinnati
- Jermaine Burton, WR: C-/B+
- Erick All, TE: D/B
- Tanner McLachlan, TE: F/B-
OVERVIEW: Burton has non-football concerns but if he hits, the talent is there to be Top 30 if Tee Higgins is gone next year… similar to the Packers last year, All would have the inside track for value but don’t discount McLachlan making it not so easy on All to win out.
Cleveland
OVERVIEW: Thrash adjusts well in routes and to his QB, but he has an uphill battle to be fantasy relevant on a run-heavy team behind Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, David Njoku and Elijah Moore — plus 2023 draftee Cedric Tillman.
Dallas
OVERVIEW: The “3S” mix (size, speed, strength) makes Flournoy intriguing for the Cowboys to develop into Top 40 potential in 2-3 years.
Denver
- Bo Nix, QB: C+/B
- Troy Franklin, WR: C-/B
- Audric Estime, RB: D+/C+
- Devaughn Vele, WR: F/D+
OVERVIEW: Nix has the ability to be a rookie starter… Franklin slid, and I comped him to Torrey Smith, which shows his volatility even if he’s starting… Estime has the power to complement Javonte Williams and challenge Samaje Perine… Vele has nice speed for his size but is purely a lottery ticket (for the Broncos).
Detroit
Green Bay
OVERVIEW: Lloyd has Top 20 talent, and while he should pass AJ Dillon, Josh Jacobs relegates him to a high-end backup… Pratt might never hit in the NFL outside of being a backup.
Houston
- Cade Stover, TE: D-/B-
- Jawhar Jordan, RB: D+/C
OVERVIEW: While Stover is behind Dalton Schultz, he has future Top 15 ability… Jordan is a Jerick McKinnon type, putting him in play as a rookie to complement Joe Mixon better than Dameon Pierce, but also limits his ceiling to an RB3.
Indianapolis
OVERVIEW: Mitchell has Christian Kirk-ness to his game, so becoming the immediate No. 2 is in play… Gould is smaller with good hands — a No. 3 at best but with return game value.
Jacksonville
- Brian Thomas, WR: B-/A-
- Kellan Robinson, RB: D-/D+
OVERVIEW: Thomas can replicate Calvin Ridley’s 2023 season… Robinson is likely a depth piece and return-game weapon.
Kansas City
OVERVIEW: Worthy is enticing, but even though Rashee Rice is likely to be suspended, Marquise Brown is around to be a thorn in Worthy’s upside for 2024 — that said, there is clear Top 15 potential… Wiley is in play to replace Travis Kelce when he retires, which could be next year.
Las Vegas
OVERVIEW: Bowers is good enough to push for the second-most receiving value behind Davante Adams — yes, battling even Jakobi Meyers — but there is risk here… Laube can be a J.D. McKissic but needs to pass up Alexander Mattison to have that RB3 value behind Zamir White.
Los Angeles Chargers
- Ladd McConkey, WR: B-/A-
- Kimani Vidal, RB: D/C
- Brenden Rice, WR: D-/C-
- Cornelius Johnson, WR: D-/C-
OVERVIEW: McConkey has the opening to be Justin Herbert’s favorite receiver… Vidal has AJ Dillon/Jamaal Williams feels and could get there if J.K. Dobbins isn’t 100% himself and/or Gus Edwards falters… Rice and Johnson add depth to a room with the opening to push for a Top 3 role come 2025.
Los Angeles Rams
OVERVIEW: Corum steps in as the Kyren Williams backup and given Williams’ size concerns, Corum has RB1 potential if Williams were to miss time… Whittington is a converted RB with good YAC and developmental WR for the Rams.
Miami
- Jaylen Wright, RB: C-/A-
- Malik Washington, WR: D-/C-
- Tahj Washington, WR: D-/C-
OVERVIEW: Wright brings more speed and could replace Raheem Mostert in 2025 (or for injury) and bring Top 20 value… both Washingtons have elusiveness and explosiveness, though probably relegated to being a No. 3 for whoever wins out.
Minnesota
OVERVIEW: Only Caleb Williams has a better QB landing spot, which puts McCarthy in position to be a solid QB2, though his skill/outlook carries risk of struggling in the NFL.
New England
OVERVIEW: Maye is a better Sam Howell with fewer turnovers, but the Patriots may bring him along slowly… Polk and Baker have the talent to be top three options for the Patriots as early as 2025… Milton has an arm, and then some, but is wildly inaccurate and a pure lottery/flier pick.
New Orleans
- Spencer Rattler, QB: F/B+
- Bub Means, WR: D+/C-
OVERVIEW: Rattler is a no-risk pick for the Saints with hopes that his skill translates and develops into a quality Top 20 option… Means doesn’t have the strongest WR room to fight through but is more of a chain-mover.
New York Giants
- Malik Nabers, WR: B/A
- Theo Johnson, TE: C-/B+
- Tyrone Tracy, RB: C-/B
OVERVIEW: Nabers would have WR1 upside on most teams and is a WR2 with the Giants… Johnson will contend with Daniel Bellinger… Tracy is in play to be the backup to Devin Singletary and could even push for the lead by 2025.
New York Jets
- Malachi Corley, WR: C-/B
- Braelon Allen, RB: C-/B+
- Jordan Travis, QB: F/B
- Isaiah Davis, RB: D-/C+
OVERVIEW: Corely is behind Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams, but given Williams’ injury history, getting time and Top 40 value is possible… Allen is Derrick Henry light and has Top 20 upside if Breece Hall were to get hurt, but both he and Davis (in Jaylen Warren mold) are likely to split the limited share behind Hall… Travis has the talent to be an NFL starter.
Philadelphia
- Will Shipley, RB: D-/B-
- Ainias Smith, WR: F/C-
- Johnny Wilson, WR: F/C-
OVERVIEW: Shipley will be in play to be the next man up if Saquon Barkley misses time… Smith and Wilson are different types and fighting for no more than WR5 value behind the trio in front of them (Dallas Goedert included) outside of injury.
Pittsburgh
OVERVIEW: The door is open for Wilson to be the No. 2 receiver from Day 1, and Mike Tomlin said he was a big fan — Top 40 value in play as a rookie.
San Francisco
- Ricky Pearsall, WR: D+/B+
- Isaac Guerendo, RB: D+/A-
- Jacob Cowing, WR: D/C+
OVERVIEW: Pearsall can be a WR3, and then some, if Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel are gone in 2025… Guerendo was made for this team and can push for the backup role, which means Top 15 potential with a Christian McCaffrey injury… Cowing is buried until one (or both) of Aiyuk and Samuel is gone.
Seattle
OVERVIEW: Barner is a tough tight end with short-to-intermediate reliability but mid-TE2 is likely his ceiling.
Tampa Bay
OVERVIEW: McMillan is a smart receiver with Sterling Shepard potential if he gets to a top-two role… Irving is Jerick McKinnon likely and Antonio Gibson at his best… Culp is a development tight end flier.
Tennessee
- Jha’Quan Jackson, WR: F/C
OVERVIEW: Jackson has terrific speed and breaks and could be a WR4/5 in the future once DeAndre Hopkins is done (but as the No. 3 receiver, which would need Will Levis to develop too).
Washington
OVERVIEW: Daniels is an immediate QB1 with a Top 5 ceiling given his rushing potential… Sinnott has the talent to be the answer at tight end and a fringe TE1… McCaffrey will push Jahan Dotson for the No. 2 role, and if Dotson doesn’t rebound, McCaffrey being in the Top 40 isn’t out of the question.
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
