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With instant-impact-type gamers like Caleb Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers, the NFL’s rookie class of 2024 is extremely anticipated for soccer followers and fantasy managers.
And for good motive.
April’s NFL draft set a document with 23 offensive gamers chosen in Spherical 1, together with every of the primary 14 picks. It additionally noticed six quarterbacks taken within the first spherical.
So which first-year gamers do you have to goal in fantasy drafts? Who will outperform their common draft place? And which rookies are price maintaining a tally of in keeper and dynasty codecs for subsequent season and past?
This column is constructed on answering these questions as we navigate the season forward. Be a part of us each week as we observe the rookie performances — each good and dangerous — all through the season.
Quarterbacks
Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (Common draft place: 109.1)
Daniels has top-10 upside on the quarterback place as a rookie. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 choose within the NFL draft was the one participant in FBS historical past with over 12,000 profession passing yards and three,000 speeding yards. With a stable supporting forged, together with veteran receiver Terry McLaurin, Daniels is positioned for achievement. Daniels’ dual-threat potential provides him excessive fantasy potential for 2024 and past. Nonetheless, consider the Commanders may have new starters at heart, left guard and left sort out on an offensive line that gave up the second-most sacks final season.
Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (ADP: 122.0)
Williams is coming off an excellent collegiate profession, having thrown for over 10,000 yards. Like Daniels, the 2022 Heisman winner has speeding potential, which provides him QB1 upside. Williams’ supporting forged, that includes DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and rookie Rome Odunze, is much more spectacular than Daniels’. In accordance with ESPN Stats & Data, the No. 1 choose would be the first quarterback in NFL draft historical past chosen within the high 5 to throw to a number of gamers who had at the very least 1,200 receiving yards within the earlier season, which provides to the enchantment.
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (ADP: 167.2)
Nix would be the first rookie to start out at quarterback for the Broncos since John Elway in 1983. He is additionally the primary quarterback Sean Payton has drafted within the first two rounds of his head-coaching profession. Nix set the FBS single-season document for completion proportion (77.4%) final 12 months and is extremely skilled with 61 begins and 1,936 go makes an attempt in school. For context, Drew Brees set the NFL document for completion proportion with Payton as his coach in 2018. Nix is firmly on the QB3 radar in superflex leagues.
Drake Maye, New England Patriots (ADP: 169.9)
The No. 3 general choose begins the season as a QB3 in fantasy phrases however stays somebody to regulate in Superflex codecs. Over the previous two collegiate seasons, Maye amassed 9,076 whole yards, the second most within the FBS. He is additionally a powerful runner, with 953 speeding yards on scrambles since 2022, trailing solely Daniels. Whereas the Patriots’ offense may not be a fantasy powerhouse in 2024, Maye’s dual-threat potential makes him price monitoring, particularly given the staff’s struggling offensive line.
Operating backs
Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers (ADP: 131.3)
The Panthers positioned Brooks on the PUP/NFI listing to start out the season as he recovers from a torn ACL suffered final November whereas at Texas. That designation means he’ll be out for at the very least the primary 4 video games. He had a formidable 1,139 speeding yards (sixth in FBS) and broke or evaded 63 tackles, the second most in FBS, on the time he was injured. Brooks is the all-purpose again the Panthers desperately want, particularly after they managed solely 9 speeding makes an attempt of 20 or extra yards and 7 speeding touchdowns in 2023. He is greatest drafted as an RB4 proper now, however he has the potential to be a league winner in 2024.
Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams (ADP: 152.5)
The Rams ran the ball successfully final 12 months and drafted Corum within the third spherical to bolster their backup state of affairs behind Kyren Williams, who averaged almost 22 touches per recreation in 2023. Corum dealt with 505 speeding makes an attempt, 2,708 speeding yards and 45 speeding touchdowns throughout his closing two seasons at Michigan and is able to a heavy workload. If Williams misses time, Corum may turn out to be a powerful RB1 candidate. Within the meantime, he is firmly on the RB4 radar.
Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals (ADP: 155.2)
Benson is one among this season’s greatest insurance coverage insurance policies behind 29-year-old James Conner, who hasn’t performed a full season in his profession. Benson scored 23 speeding touchdowns throughout his closing two seasons at Florida State, tying for ninth within the FBS, and averaged a formidable 7.7 yards per carry exterior the tackles. The Cardinals averaged 5.0 yards per rush final season, second solely to the Dolphins at 5.1. With Conner set to be a free agent after this season, Benson is an upside RB4 and intriguing choice for keeper leagues.
Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ADP: 168.4)
Rachaad White stays the clear starter, however with Chase Edmonds on IR, Irving’s versatility opens a clearer path to fantasy relevance. He is confirmed as a runner with 2,238 speeding yards throughout his closing two seasons at Oregon, rating tenth within the FBS. Irving can be a powerful receiver, main all FBS operating backs with 56 receptions in 2023. Contemplate choosing Irving close to the tip of your draft or preserve him in your watch listing.
Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins (ADP: 169.1)
If Wright’s obtainable in your league, take into account stashing him now. Raheem Mostert, although dependable, is 32 years outdated and has missed three video games due to accidents prior to now two seasons. The Dolphins lead RB, De’Von Achane, missed six of 17 video games final season on account of damage. If both of them miss time, Wright might be a league winner in a Dolphins’ offense that ranked third in whole yards per recreation in 2023. Wright led Tennessee in speeding yards the previous two seasons and excels in yards after contact. He is a talented receiver out of the backfield and ran the 40-yard sprint in 4.38 seconds. There’s tons to love right here.
MarShawn Lloyd, Green Bay Packers (ADP: 170.0+)
Lloyd is coping with a hamstring damage however has averted injured reserve, in contrast to AJ Dillon, who was positioned on season-ending IR due to a neck damage. As soon as wholesome, Lloyd may have standalone worth as a backup behind starter Josh Jacobs. Within the interim, Emanuel Wilson will step in because the backup to Jacobs. Lloyd ranked close to the highest within the FBS for yards per try and yards after contact per rush in 2023 at USC. He isn’t somebody to roster proper now, however preserve him in your watch listing.
Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills (ADP: 170.0+)
Add Davis to your watch listing as a result of he is backing up James Cook, who averaged 19.6 touches and 16.4 fantasy factors from Weeks 11-18 with Joe Brady because the offensive coordinator. Davis was the primary participant in SEC historical past to have a 1,000-yard speeding season at two totally different faculties (Kentucky and Vanderbilt) and scored 21 whole touchdowns in 2023, the third most within the FBS.
Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers (ADP: 170.0+)
The Chargers have a brand new offensive coordinator in Greg Roman who is understood for his run-heavy schemes with the Baltimore Ravens. From 2019-2022, Baltimore’s offense completed within the high three within the league in speeding in every of these seasons. Preserve Vidal in your look ahead to now since he is behind Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. The rookie amassed 2,792 speeding yards throughout his closing two seasons of school, most within the FBS. The Chargers even have an offensive line that is anticipated to be one of many higher items within the league, which provides to the enchantment.
Large receivers
Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals (ADP: 25.3)
Harrison is the best drafted rookie extensive receiver in ESPN fantasy leagues over the previous 20 seasons. Because the fourth general draft choose, the fantasy WR1 is pro-ready and projected to guide the Cardinals in targets. Arizona’s extensive receivers had been thirtieth within the league in receptions (157) and receiving yards (1,790) final 12 months, however Harrison is about to show issues round. He completed his Ohio State profession with a school-record 15 video games of 100+ receiving yards.
Malik Nabers, New York Giants (ADP: 43.0)
Nabers’ quarterback state of affairs is not supreme, however he is projected to guide the Giants in targets and is the second-highest drafted receiver in ESPN leagues in the course of the previous 20 seasons, behind solely Harrison. The Giants have the fewest completions on 20+ yard passes over the previous 5 seasons whereas in distinction, Nabers had 19 such receptions final season, the second most within the FBS. He additionally ranked tenth within the FBS in yards after the catch in 2023. Nabers must be drafted as a low-end WR2.
Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs (ADP: 98.1)
The Chiefs clearly made getting Patrick Mahomes extra offensive expertise an offseason precedence, however with their huge free agent acquisition Marquise Brown sidelined, Worthy is likely to be labored into the offense quicker than anticipated. Over the previous three seasons, Worthy ranked fourth amongst all Energy 5 gamers in yards after the catch, and Mahomes’ WRs have led the NFL in YAC every of the previous three seasons. Worthy is a WR4 with immense upside.
Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears (ADP: 107.3)
Odunze is flying beneath the radar due to Harrison Jr. and Nabers. Regardless that he is competing with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, do not overlook him as a WR4 or WR5 in drafts. Odunze led the FBS with 1,640 receiving yards in his closing season at Washington. He additionally topped the FBS with 21 receptions on passes thrown 20+ yards downfield and 23 catches on vertical routes. With Allen being 32 years outdated and given his damage historical past, Odunze may see extra motion if the veteran misses time.
Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills (ADP: 112.2)
The Payments misplaced numerous targets with the departures of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis this offseason. Coleman, drafted thirty third general, is predicted to assist fill the void. Diggs and Davis mixed for 44.8% of the Payments’ receiving yards and 51.7% of their receiving touchdowns final season. Coleman is the highest-drafted Buffalo receiver since Sammy Watkins in 2014 and the Florida State product is a WR4 with upside as he has a transparent path to targets.
Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers (ADP: 115.2)
McConkey and Joshua Palmer are projected to see an identical variety of targets from Justin Herbert on a Chargers staff now with out Allen, Mike Williams or Austin Ekeler. With a coach like Jim Harbaugh and an OC who loves the operating recreation, it is onerous to see McConkey as greater than a WR4 proper now, regardless of the Chargers buying and selling as much as choose him thirty fourth general.
Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars (ADP: 121.2)
Thomas is the primary extensive receiver the Jaguars have drafted within the first spherical since Justin Blackmon in 2012. Jacksonville was productive this offseason, including vertical playmakers for Trevor Lawrence — and so they succeeded with Thomas. Final season, the Jaguars’ extensive receivers averaged simply 2.6 yards of separation on their targets, the sixth-fewest yards of separation within the league. Thomas, nevertheless, led the FBS with 17 receiving touchdowns in 2023, with 12 of these approaching passes of 20+ yards. He is presently being drafted exterior the highest 40 WRs however has the potential to exceed expectations.
Tight finish
Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders (ADP: 114.4)
Bowers could make a huge impact for the Raiders in 2024. Whereas at Georgia, Bowers was a top-three tight finish in receiving yards for all three of his school seasons, two of which ended with nationwide championships. Final season, the Raiders averaged simply 32.2 receiving yards per recreation from tight ends, the fifth-lowest within the league. They might additionally use Bowers within the slot, the place they’d the second-fewest receiving yards final season. Even with promising second-year tight finish Michael Mayer on the roster — a second-rounder in 2023 — the Raiders can discover loads of methods to get Bowers concerned. The primary-round choose will be considered as a low-end TE1.
