Who are the players who will stir the drink that is fantasy football 2024? Here is a candidate for each NFL team who fantasy managers will likely be talking about early and often this season.
Arizona: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR
How could it not be MHJ? Harrison Jr. is an instant alpha, and the market agrees. He is already being selected as WR9 overall in redraft leagues, and even higher in dynasty. By the end of the year, the question may be, “How was he available that low?” MHJ is the highest-drafted rookie we have ever seen at the WR position, by multiple rounds. He’s the fantasy football version of the “Chosen One.” If he hits big, he could become the new dynasty WR1 overall.
Atlanta: Kyle Pitts, TE
Pitts remains one of the more polarizing players in fantasy football. The Pitts backers will point out his 1,000+ receiving yard rookie season and his youthful age (23). They might also tout the removal of the roadblocks at both QB and head coach (Arthur Smith) over the past two seasons, in addition to his clear path to being Atlanta’s No. 2 pass catcher. The naysayers will point out what an utter disappointment Pitts has been as an ADP landmine the past two seasons. Any way you cut it, there will be victory laps. If Atlanta’s offense breaks out, Pitts could be the arbitrage pivot to Bijan Robinson and Drake London.
Baltimore: Zay Flowers, WR
It may seem like an odd choice with locked-in fantasy mainstays like Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Mark Andrews to choose from, but Flowers could be the key to supercharging the Ravens offense. Henry will receive more volume than previous Ravens RBs, but he will also open up big-play opportunities for pass catchers. Flowers led Baltimore WRs in catches with 77, lapping the competition by 40+ receptions. A 100-catch campaign is within his range of outcomes.
Buffalo: Keon Coleman, WR
The Bills have the second most vacated targets in the league. The highest-pedigreed Bills WR by a wide margin is Coleman, the rookie second-round draft pick. Coleman’s ascension will be one of the main storylines to monitor in Buffalo this year. Outside of TE Dalton Kincaid, his main target competition is veteran Curtis Samuel and third-year WR Khalil Shakir. The Bills showed confidence in Coleman by what they did not do post-draft — bring in veteran WR target competition. There is a lot of pressure on Coleman to perform right away — the Bills offense will depend on it.
Carolina: Diontae Johnson, WR
There have been nothing but positive drumbeats about Johnson’s outsized role, not only as the team’s leading receiver but as the focal point of the Carolina offense. Jonathon Brooks will miss at least the first month of the season, and the Panthers offense will revolve around Johnson. He had three seasons in his career with at least 144 targets. Look for him to return to that range this year with a big bounce-back season.
Chicago: Rome Odunze, WR
Despite target competition from DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, Odunze could be one of the best ADP values at the WR position in fantasy football. Everything about his profile screams alpha/WR1. The notion that a player of Odunze’s ilk could be boxed out by target competition could be proven false early in the season.
Cincinnati: Tee Higgins, WR
Higgins is set to play this season on the franchise tag. After struggling through 2023 with hamstring injuries, Higgins is finally healthy. His ADP has been significantly less expensive than last offseason, but he looks poised for a possible career year. Higgins could have an extra usage boost if the Ja’Marr Chase contract saga lingers.
Cleveland: David Njoku, TE
Njoku was a league winner down the stretch last season, providing TE1 overall-type numbers. The market has valued Njoku as a TE1, but a low-end one. There are questions about his role being as prominent with Deshaun Watson behind center. If Njoku’s usage stays the same, he could be the biggest ADP steal at the TE position.
Dallas: CeeDee Lamb, WR
It has been nine years since a WR cracked the 200 target line (Julio Jones in 2015), and only three players in history have ever exceeded this rare total. He is the Dallas Cowboys’ offense. Lamb will not only be chasing a second consecutive WR1 overall season, but he will also be chasing history.
Denver: Javonte Williams, RB
Williams looks poised for a career year in Denver. Unlike fellow 2021 NFL Draft RBs Najee Harris and Travis Etienne, Williams has never had an RB1 season. Now fully healthy and lighter than in previous years, Williams could be ready for liftoff. He should benefit from a RB-friendly scheme under new OC Joe Lombardi.
Detroit: Jameson Williams, WR
Williams has been praised by the Lions coaching staff and looks poised for a Year 3 breakout. The former top 10 pick will finally have a full-time role in one of the league’s best offenses. If he can earn somewhere in the range of 100 targets, it will be impossible to keep him out of fantasy lineups.
Green Bay: Jayden Reed, WR
Reed ended the 2023 season on an absolute tear, finishing as WR10 overall in PPR scoring from Week 10 on, stepping up as a featured playmaker. The explosive rookie was utilized on manufactured touches as a runner and receiver. His ADP never caught up to his end-of-season production this preseason, with concerns about Reed’s snap share weighing heavily on drafters’ minds. He could prove to be a massive bargain at his ADP.
Houston: Stefon Diggs, WR
After multiple years of being a locked-in first-round pick in fantasy drafts, Diggs settled into Rounds 4-5 this year. That price could prove to be far too low. The Houston offense should be prolific, and Diggs has a chance to lead the WR room in targets.
Indianapolis: Anthony Richardson, QB
The Colts have several intriguing players on offense, but it begins and ends with Richardson. He could be a “must-see TV” type of player this year. The 22-year-old is a dark horse candidate to finish as the QB1 overall. His rushing yardage and TD numbers could be through the roof.
Jacksonville: Brian Thomas Jr., WR
BTJ is being fast-tracked for WR1 duties in the Jacksonville offense. Over the past two seasons, Trevor Lawrence has supported the WR12 (Christian Kirk, 2022) and the WR18 (Calvin Ridley, 2023), all while Evan Engram finished as a Top 5 TE in those seasons.
Kansas City: Rashee Rice, WR
Rice’s August ADP rose steadily as the belief that he’ll avoid a suspension in 2024 grew stronger. From Week 12 on in 2023, Rice averaged 18.5 PPG. Drafters holding discounted shares of Rice could have an advantage in their leagues.
Las Vegas: Brock Bowers, TE
Drafters bet on Bowers as a low-end TE1, but his role and production could be far more significant than that. Head Coach Antonio Pierce told ESPN, “He’s a tight end because that’s what he’s labeled as, but he can play all over the field… He’s even more special with the ball in his hands.” Bowers could have some electric spike weeks despite the presence of Davante Adams.
LA Chargers: Ladd McConkey, WR
The Chargers had the most vacated targets of any team in the league. There is a massive gap not only for a target leader to emerge, but also for an offensive focal point. Enter McConkey. He will quickly become Justin Herbert’s go-to guy.
LA Rams: Cooper Kupp, WR
It feels like Kupp has one more smash season left in him. His ADP has converged with Puka Nacua’s this month, as more and more drafters drove up the cost for the 31-year-old. If Kupp can deliver 80 percent of his 2021 and 2022 production, then he is one of the best values in fantasy.
Miami: De’Von Achane, RB
Achane was one of the most exciting players in football last season. A dominant force on a per-touch basis, he burst onto the scene with a 51-point outburst against Denver — the most by any RB last season. He added four more games with 21 points or more and led the NFL in runs of 40+ yards. Achane’s early-season usage and production will be one of the major talking points in fantasy football.
Minnesota: Justin Jefferson, WR
Jefferson’s fantasy hopes are attached to Sam Darnold’s arm. But does it even matter? If anyone is going to be QB-proof, it is Jefferson. He has been one of the best players in fantasy for his entire career. The narrative could quickly turn from “Jefferson is being held back by Darnold,” to “How was Justin Jefferson available in the middle of Round 1?”
New England: Drake Maye, QB
New England fans are officially on Maye watch. When will he get his opportunity to start? Maye’s combination of a big arm and mobility has some squinting to see Josh Allen potential. It will be hard to keep him on the bench for too long.
New Orleans: Taysom Hill, TE (or something else entirely)
Chris Olave is the obvious choice, but I am fascinated by Hill’s potential weekly involvement in Klint Kubiak’s offense. Both Kubiak and Dennis Allen have had nothing but praise for Hill this offseason and have talked about him becoming a player with weekly involvement. It is not out of the question for Hill to lead New Orleans in rushing TDs this season — with TE eligibility in many formats.
NY Giants: Malik Nabers, WR
If not for Marvin Harrison Jr., Nabers would be the highest selected rookie WR in fantasy ADP ever. No player has had more fantasy buzz this summer than Nabers. He could be the Giants’ next Offensive Rookie of the Year, following in the footsteps of Saquon Barkley and Odell Beckham Jr.
NY Jets: Garrett Wilson, WR
Wilson has had to endure seven different starting QBs during his two-year NFL career. He has quickly developed into one of the league’s highest target earners, trailing only CeeDee Lamb, Davante Adams, and Tyreek Hill last season. No player in the league will benefit more from a QB upgrade this season, with Wilson set to break through in a major way in terms of fantasy scoring.
Philadelphia: Saquon Barkley, RB
Barkley will play alongside the best QB he has ever played with in Jalen Hurts, and run behind the best offensive line of his career. There are many mouths to feed in Philadelphia, but Barkley being the best ADP value among all Eagles is in the range of outcomes. He could set a career high in rushing TDs this season.
Pittsburgh: George Pickens, WR
Pickens is the unquestioned WR1 in Pittsburgh and should benefit from Russell Wilson behind center. He led the NFL in yards per reception last season and showed a glimpse of his spike-week ability with a late 35-point outburst in Week 16. Can Pickens see the target volume needed under new OC Arthur Smith?
San Francisco: Brandon Aiyuk, WR
The Aiyuk contract saga came to a close. All eyes will now be on the $120 million dollar man. Aiyuk averaged 15.6 PPG on only 105 targets last season and finished with a career-high 1,342 receiving yards. Even a slight uptick in target volume should result in Aiyuk’s first WR1 finish of his career.
Seattle: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR
JSN was a major disappointment as a rookie but now looks set for a Year 2 breakout. He should benefit from a more pass-happy and uptempo attack under OC Ryan Grubb. Drafters were less enthusiastic about Year 2 JSN than they were on him as a rookie. He could quickly look like an ADP steal.
Tampa Bay: Mike Evans, WR
With one more 1,000-yard receiving season, Evans will tie Jerry Rice for the most all time. Last season, Evans tied for the NFL lead with 13 TD grabs and earned a 25% target share in his first season playing with Baker Mayfield. The Mayfield-to-Evans connection was prolific and consistent — expect more of the same under new OC Liam Coen.
Tennessee: Will Levis, QB
No franchise had more of a cultural shift offensively than the Titans. They will pass — a lot —under new head coach Brian Callahan. Will Levis will have every opportunity to put up big passing numbers in a Bengals-like attack. There is a chance for him to take a significant leap in fantasy production. Is he Tennessee’s franchise QB? We will find out soon.
Washington: Jayden Daniels, QB
The most exciting signal caller in Washington since rookie year Robert Griffin III. Daniels is not only deemed to be the franchise savior, but could also prove to be the best value of any QB this season at ADP. Daniels could legitimately lead all QBs in rushing yards this season.
(Top photo of Zay Flowers: Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
