Fantasy homework
While drafts won’t start until August, scouting the new players that could be difference makers is important now
The 2024 NFL regular season still doesn’t kick off for another 130 days. That means we have another four-plus months to go of prognosticating, changing opinions and developing pre-determined biases towards the 257 players taken in this past week’sNFL draft.
And while most fantasy football drafts won’t start until August, it doesn’t mean we can’t start doing our homework now, either. You know the saying, the early bird gets the championship worm. Or something like that.
That said, here’s a look at my top 25 ranked (fantasy) skill players taken out of the first 100 players to go in Rounds 1-3 of the NFL draft. The following rankings are adjusted below to account for PPR (point per reception) scoring in standard format leagues that start one QB and at least two RBs, two WRs, oneTE and one FLEX spot.
1. Marvin Harrison Jr./ARI: There was a lot of smoke about the Cardinals trading back to acquire picks and land either Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze. Didn’t happen. You know why? Because the man they call ‘Maserati Marv’ is a generationalWR prospect and is our top-ranked fantasy rookie for 2024. Not even close.
2. Malik Nabers/NYG: Some scouts compare him to Ja’Marr Chase. He’s THAT explosive, with a 98th percentile burst score to boot in this year’s rookie WR class. The all-time LSU leader in receptions and receiving yards will make big plays in abundance. Consistency of the QB is the only question for Nabers in year one.
3. Jonathan Brooks/ CAR: Death, taxes and the Carolina Panthers having zero legitimate RBs on the roster for 2024. Until now. Brooks could’ve been a Round 1 draft pick if it wasn’t for an ACL tear this past season, but he was cleared medically, and if all breaks right, he could be a workhorse back toting the rock20+ times per contest.
4. Jayden Daniels/ WAS: Lamar Jackson-lite? Daniels is on record saying he wants to be the greatest rushing QB in NFL history. The team might be bad, and he might struggle passing, but who cares? QB rushing yards and explosive yards equal explosive plays and fantasy points for days. I’ve got my popcorn ready. Sign meup.
5. Brian Thomas Jr./ JAX: The Jaguars lost Calvin Ridley in free agency but replaced him with an elite athlete in Thomas, who sported a 99th-percentile speed score and 98th-percentile catch radius/40-yarddash, per PlayerProfiler. By season’s end, he could be vying for the NFL’s Offensive Rookieof the Year award.
6. Xavier Worthy/KC: Size is overrated if you’re playing with Patrick Mahomes.Worthy broke the combine record for the fastest 40-yard-dash time and now lands in a picture-perfect situation with arguably the best offensive-minded coach and play-caller in NFL history. He might not lead the team in targets, but that alsomight not matter.
7. Keon Coleman/BUF: The Bills’ WR corps is depleted, and Coleman provides the size (6’3”, 213 pounds) that this team sorely needs. Competition for targets will be little to none, and he’s going to make somecircus-reel catches.
8. Caleb Williams/CHI: Name a better landing spot for a No. 1 pick to start right away. The Bears’ offense now has D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, D’Andre Swift and Cole Kmet. Talk about a supporting cast.
9. Drake Maye/NE: Garbage-time points matter for fantasy football, and while Maye might struggle and the team will lose plenty of games, he should still run plenty and throw a ton from behind to make it count for oursquads.
10. Trey Benson/ARI: James Conner will start the seasonas the workhorse, but Benson has the size and speed to take over and keep the job if and when Conner ever gets hobbled. He’s a dynasty league star in the making.
11. MarShawn Lloyd/ GB: It wasn’t the best landing spot for Lloyd, who joins a Packers backfield that, at least for 2024, should be dominated by Josh Jacobs. But the pass-down role and bigplay ability are there in spades.
12. Blake Corum/LAR: Kyren Williams is the biggest loser here. When Sean McVay gets his guys, he gets his guys. And he FEEDS his guys a ton. Williams had a phenomenal 2023 but is injury-prone. Corum comes in a similar small but sturdy frame but also has top-end speed and could be the Rams’ top RB by season’s end.
13. Jalen McMillan/ TB: Competition for targets will be inconsistent behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but Tampa should throw a ton, and McMillan has the tools to lock in the team’s big-play WR3 role immediately.
14. Jermaine Burton/ CIN: Ranked 6th in the FBS in yards after the catch, and Zac Taylor has built a winning culture, which alleviates the “he’s not coachable” concerns. Burton skyrockets up this list if Tee Higgins is traded.
15. Ladd McConkey/ LAC: Should gobble up targets in the slot from Justin Herbert, but how much will Jim Harbaugh actually want to throw the ball? Love the talent, but expect the pass volume to be low in LACin 2024.
16. Adonai Mitchell/ IND: Should immediately stepin and be Anthony Richardson’s
#2 target in IND. Elite athlete who could’ve been a top-15 pick if not for concerns about his interview process and diabetes issue.
17. Ricky Pearsall/SF: Top-three percentile athlete in burst score, agility score and catch radius. Like Burton above, Pearsall skyrockets up this list if SF ends up tradingeither Deebo Samuel orBrandon Aiyuk
18. Ja’Lynn Polk/NE: Littlecompetition for targets in NE means Polk could become Maye’s #1 target as a rookie, and if they’re constantly playing from behind, well, the passing volume between these two could be insane.
19. JJ McCarthy/MIN: Will QB whisperer Kevin O’Connell cut the rookie loose in 2024? If yes, then he’s too low on this list, especially when he’s slinging the rock to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson.
20. Roman Wilson/ PIT: A 94th percentile 40yard-dash and mean streak on the field make Wilson a picturesque Steeler. I have reservations about how much PIT will want to throw, but this kid can make playswhen they do.
21. Malachi Corley/ NYJ: Concerned about his size and ability to carve out volume — and Aaron Rodgers’health.
22. Rome Odunze/CHI: Love the talent, but volume will be a concern. He will be over-drafted and under-perform.
23. Luke McCaffrey/ WAS: Sneaky fast, but now stuck competing for targets with Terry McLaurin & company.
24. Bo Nix/DEN: I’m more concerned about Nix’s weapons in Denver than Nix himself. In Sean Payton, we trust?
25. Brock Bowers/LV: Poor landing spot for targets with Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers and Michael Mayers.
Honorable mention:
• Xavier Leggette/ CAR: Scouts compared him to Laviska Shenault. He’s a project, not a Y2 Bryce Youngsolution.
• Ben Sinnott/WAS: Could be best pure athlete in the 2024 TE rookie class, but he’s a dynasty-only stash for now.
Chris Dell is the founder of BettingPredators.com and former sports betting analyst for ESPN 97.5’s “Late Hits.” He’s also the sports editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. You can reach him via email cdell@post-gazette.com and @MaddJournalist on X.