Fantasy Football 2024 Draft Guide

Round 1

Best Picks

• The Detroit Lions and Amon-Ra St. Brown broke out in a big way last year, look for them to keep the momentum going.
• Saquon Barkley’s move to Philadelphia means more trips to the red zone, but how many rushing touchdowns will Jalen Hurts sneak?

Worst Picks

• The odds of Kyren Williams repeating the efficiency he showed last year are low, especially after the Rams drafted Blake Corum in the 3rd round.
• There’s so much to love about Justin Jefferson, but will J.J. McCarthy be able to get him the ball when and where he needs?

Round 2

Best Picks

• Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the most electric runners in the league already. If offseason rumors are true and he’s refined his route running, look out.
• Even though Derrick Henry may be losing a step, he can still be lethal in this Ravens offense. Double-digit rushing touchdowns incoming.

Worst Picks

• The talent is evident with Puca Nacua, but he did a lot of his damage with Cooper Kupp on the bench. A healthier Kupp demanding more targets this season could hurt Nacua’s stock.
• Davante Adams finished last season with 6 less touchdown and 372 less receiving yards than he did the year before. Can he reverse the trend and justify a 2nd round pick?

Round 3

Best Picks

• Josh Allen has been the highest scoring QB in fantasy football 3 times in the last 4 years. Despite losing his top receivers this offseason, he’s still one of the best options at the position.
• Marvin Harrison Jr. finds himself in an ideal situation in Arizona. The team moved on from Marquise Brown and Rondale Moore in the offseason.

Worst Picks

• Rachaad White had a surprisingly strong season with the Buccaneers last year despite averaging 3.6 yards per carry. Can he repeat this year?
• Diminishing numbers in his 11th year in the league last season is a red flag for Travis Kelce.

Round 4

Best Picks

• Once OC Joe Brady took over in Buffalo last year, James Cook saw an uptick in carries and proved that he could be their featured back.
• C.J. Stroud was absolutely amazing in his rookie season, but Lamar Jackson has been performing at an elite level for a long time. This early in the draft consistency is more important than upside.

Worst Picks

• De’Von Achane burst onto the scene last season. His eye-popping speed led to some incredible stat lines, but he also spent significant time on the IR. Will he stay healthy this year?
• Nico Collins was amazing last season but newcomer Stefon Diggs could take away significant targets.

Round 5

Best Picks

• Teammates Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are neck and neck in projections, but Aiyuk seems the safer pick due to Deebo’s playstyle and injury history.
• Kyler Murray and Trey McBride really found their rhythm towards the end of last season.

Worst Picks

• No disrespect to Deebo Samuel, but as referenced earlier, his playstyle leads to questions about his durability.
• A closer look at Kenneth Walker III’s metrics from last season are a cause for concern. ’23 2nd round pick Zach Charbonnet is also a looming threat for more carries.

Round 6

Best Picks

• Joe Burrow’s stock has taken a hit after he missed 7 games last season. If he stays healthy he is one of the top options at his position.
• Former Packer Aaron Jones averaged 4.6 yard per carry last season showing he’s still got it.

Worst Picks

• Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle only had 4 receiving touchdowns last season and signed an extension this offseason making him one of the top-5 highest paid receivers in the league. Will the financial security make him complacent?
• DJ Moore and Justin Fields showed amazing chemistry last season. The addition of Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze on top of the fact that rookie QB Caleb Williams is taking over makes it tough to project how Moore will fare. Buyer beware.

Round 7

Best Picks

• Malik Nabers is far and away the best receiver on the Giants. Rookie receivers have had great success in the NFL recently, expect Nabers to continue the trend.
• Dalton Kincaid could very well be Josh Allen’s go-to guy this year. Look for a spike in production.

Worst Picks

• Last season was a major step back for Rhamondre Stevenson, averaging a full yard per carry less than the year before.
• Former Jaguar Calvin Ridley had the worst catch rate among the top 40 targeted receivers last season at 55.9%. His move to Tennessee doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

Round 8

Best Picks

• His maturity may be a question mark but George Pickens’ talent is undeniable. The departures of Kenny Pickett and Diontae Johnson in the offseason bode well for his progression.
• Amari Cooper is as consistent as they come and constantly overlooked. He’s a fringe WR2.

Worst Picks

• If Kyle Pitts doesn’t break out with Kirk Cousins as his quarterback then just may never do it.
• Touchdown magnet Mike Evans left only 2 receiving touchdowns for teammate Chris Godwin last season. Is there enough opportunity in Tampa Bay for both receivers to thrive?

Round 9

Best Picks

• Najee Harris is a better running back than he gets credit for. The additions of Arthur Smith and Russell Wilson will help him take the next step.
• Zamir White should have plenty of opportunity to establish himself as the lead guy in Las Vegas.

Worst Picks

• Father time is undefeated as DeAndre Hopkins enters his 12th season in the NFL.
• A possible suspension looms for Rashee Rice stemming from an arrest in March.

Round 10

Best Picks

• The Commanders taking Jayden Daniels at #2 overall was the best thing to happen to Terry McLaurin in his career so far.
• Zack Moss was surprisingly effective in relief of Jonathan Taylor last year in Indianapolis. He steps into a featured role in Cincinnati with the departure of Joe Mixon.

Worst Picks

• Things couldn’t have gone much worse for #1 overall pick Bryce Young in Carolina last year. The addition of Diontae Johnson should help, but there’s still a long way to go.
• There are serious concerns about how Nick Chubb will look returning from his catastrophic knee injury.

Round 11

Best Picks

• Trevor Lawrence and Christian Kirk have shown amazing chemistry together, Kirk is the top option in Jacksonville.
• If you decided to wait on taking a QB, Aaron Rodgers is a sneaky, high-upside pick here.

Worst Picks

• Jordan Addison caught a surprising 10 touchdowns in his rookie year last season. A lot of those came when Justin Jefferson was on the bench injured. Throw in a rookie quarterback this year and regression seems imminent.
• After missing 11 games in his first two seasons, boom or bust receiver Christian Watson finds himself in a crowded receivers room in Green Bay.

Round 12

Best Picks

• Ladd McConkey has an opportunity to establish himself as WR1 in LA.
• Jaxon Smith-Njigba went from a crowded receiver room at OSU to a similar situation with the Seahawks. Will he overtake Tyler Lockett as WR2 in Seattle this year?

Worst Picks

• It’s easy to fall in love with Xavier Worthy’s record-setting speed, but he has a lot to prove.
• Tyler Lockett had his worst season statistically since ’17. JSN’s continued emergence is cause for concern.

Round 13

Best Picks

• As mentioned earlier, there are serious concerns about Nick Chubb’s return from injury. Jerome Ford held his own in relief last year and could have an extended run as the starter depending on how Chubb progresses.
• The Steelers defense features the best edge rushing duo in the league. The offseason addition of Patrick Queen and a healthy Minkah Fitzpatrick has them stout on all levels.

Worst Picks

• Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins both went from Baltimore to LA in the off-season, but the question of who gets more carries remains.
• Jim Harbaugh has been busy since joining the Chargers. Justin Herbert has plenty of talent, but he also lost his top two receivers in the off-season.

Round 14

Best Picks

• It’s a make or break year for the 12th overall pick in ‘22. Jameson Williams is set to take the next step.
• Kyren William’s grip on the starting role may not be as tight as many think. Blake Corum is worth a roster spot this late.

Worst Picks

• As mentioned earlier, the carry distribution between Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins remains a question.
• Pat Freiermuth’s progression took a significant step back last year. Maybe the change at quarterback will get him back on track.

Round 15

Best Picks

• Bengals running back Chase Brown flashed in his limited opportunities last year. Joe Mixon’s departure opens the door for more carries.
• Is a change of scenery what was needed for former first round pick Jerry Jeudy to unlock his potential?

Worst Picks

• Tyler Allgeier received a head-scratching amount of carries in comparison to teammate Bijan Robinson under coach Arthur Smith. Expect major regression with Raheem Morris in town.
• Darnell Mooney hasn’t been relevant in fantasy football since ’21. Will his offseason move to Atlanta get him back on track?

Round 16

Best Picks

• There is still hope that Trevor Lawrence can justify the Jaguars taking him #1 overall in ’21.
• The Eagles defense is too talented to not be impactful in fantasy football.

Worst Picks

• This is likely Deshaun Watson’s last opportunity in Cleveland to show that he’s still the same player he was in Houston.
• Gabe Davis was a bit of a disappointment in Buffalo after he exploded for 201 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns in the Divisional Round against the Chiefs in ’21. Without Josh Allen as his quarterback it’s hard to envision things changing.

Week 13 Fantasy Football Recap

Week 13 concludes this evening after the Steelers travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals and it was a big week scoring-wise.

The Kansas City offense featuring Alex Smith, Travis Kelce, and Tyreek Hill all had monster games but once again rookie running-back Kareem Hunt was not invited to the scoring party.

New Orleans notorious running back tandem of Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara ran wild against the Panthers and the surprising duo of New York Jets quarterback Josh McCown and wide receiver Robby Anderson continued their stretch of great play.

This week we’ll highlight some waiver additions, help you cut the cord on some early season stars and take a look at some promising matchups for next week. Lets get into it.

Waiver-Wire Additions:

• Kenny Stills WR Miami Dolphins: Available in 63% of ESPN leagues. Stills caught five passes this week for 98 yards and has appeared to supplant DaVante Parker as the teams #2 passing option. The encouraging stat from this week was Still’s 13 targets which represents a big emphasis by Miami to involve him in the offense.

 

• Nelson Agholor WR Philadelphia Eagles: Available in 48% of ESPN leagues. Agholor came down with his 7th touchdown reception this year which places him in a three way tie for the team lead with Alshon Jeffery and Zach Ertz. His 141 yards receiving on Sunday represent a career high for the third year receiver out of USC.

 

• Alex Collins RB Baltimore Ravens: Available in 26% of ESPN leagues. Collins collected his third and fourth touchdowns during his last 3 games played this Sunday. The volume was there because of his teams big lead, which hasn’t been the case often this year with the Ravens, however, as long as he’s cashing in on his goal-line carries he should be a weekly starter in your league.

Consider Dropping:

• Emmanuel Sanders WR Denver Broncos: Sanders has had one productive game during the last seven weeks. The QB carousel in Denver has killed his value and if another promising WR is available in your league, don’t be afraid of severing ties with Sanders.

 

• DeVante Parker WR Miami Dolphins. Parker has been bottled up for one catch in each of his last two games. As I mentioned earlier, Kenny Stills seems to have taken his place in the pecking order. Its time to wave goodbye to Parker.

 

• James White RB New England Patriots: The unpredictable mystery that is New England’s running back committee has shown one constant over the last three weeks. And that is that James White has not been a priority. Rex Burkheads emergence has coincided directly with White’s lack of touches. There is still value in the backfield for the Patriots, but it wont come from White.

Start ‘Em:

• Josh Gordon WR Cleveland Browns vs. Green Bay: The rust came off quickly with the troubled WR from Baylor as he put up 4 catches for 85 yards versus the Chargers. Gordon flashed the skills that made him the leagues top receiver back in 2013. Gordon saw a team-high 11 targets and faces off against the Packers next week who are allowing the 4th most points to receivers this year. If Gordon can make it through the week without getting in trouble, lock him in your lineup.

 

• Marvin Jones WR Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay: Jones has been one of the best and most consistent receivers over the second half of this season. He has the luxury of playing against Tampa Bay next week who have surrendered the most points to opposing wide receivers this season.

Sit ‘Em

• Kenyan Drake RB Miami Dolphins vs. New England Patriots: Drake made the most of his carries this week against a once formidable Denver defense. The problem is that the increase in volume came because pass-catching specialist Damien Williams was unable to suit up for the game. Regardless of whether Williams will play next week or not, the Dolphins will likely find themselves trailing most of the game against the Patriots next week which does not bode well for Drake.

 

• Christian McCaffery RB Carolina Panthers vs. Minnesota: McCaffery has played well over his last four games. He is still an afterthought in the run game but he has carved out a nice role within the team with his ability to catch passes out of the backfield. He faces one of the best defenses in the league next week against Minnesota. The Vikings bottled up DeVonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman of the Falcons this week and most other running backs to play the Vikings have faced the same fate. McCaffery is a good player but I don’t like his chances this week.