Everyone in the fantasy football world is knee-deep in dynasty rookie drafts. Yet, it’s never too early to prepare for redraft season.
Sometimes, fantasy football rookies end up being league winners. Other times, they end up being a waste of a draft pick. Unfortunately, trying to project fantasy football rookies is easier said than done. However, let’s look at who I think will be the top-scoring fantasy football rookies for every position in half-PPR scoring.
- 2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2024 Best Ball Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- Free Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
Fantasy Football Rookies: Predicting Highest Scoring
Here are the fantasy football rookies I expect to be the highest scoring at each position in 2024.
Quarterback
- 1st – Caleb Williams (QB – CHI)
- 2nd – Jayden Daniels (QB – WAS)
- 3rd – J.J. McCarthy (QB – MIN)
The No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick rarely walks into a situation where he can succeed as a rookie — ask Bryce Young last year or Trevor Lawrence in 2021. However, that isn’t the case for Williams. Chicago has put together an outstanding supporting cast around their top rookie pick. The Bears added DJ Moore last offseason. Furthermore, they signed D’Andre Swift and Gerald Everett in free agency, traded for Keenan Allen and drafted Rome Odunze. Williams has top-five upside, thanks to his supporting cast.
Quarterbacks who can run are worth their weight in gold to fantasy players. Last year, Anthony Richardson nearly averaged 10 fantasy points per game with only his legs despite leaving multiple games early. Daniels is a better runner and a significantly better passer than Richardson. He had over 1,100 rushing yards last season and double-digit rushing scores in back-to-back years at LSU. Meanwhile, Kliff Kingsbury turned Kyler Murray into a fantasy star as a rookie. Don’t be surprised if he does the same with Daniels.
McCarthy might not start Week 1, as Minnesota has Sam Darnold on the roster. However, it won’t be long until the former Michigan star is under center for the Vikings. While Caleb Williams has the best-supporting cast of any rookie, McCarthy is right behind him. Minnesota has two outstanding wide receivers — Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Meanwhile, Aaron Jones is one of the top pass-catching running backs in the NFL. If T.J. Hockenson is ready for Week 1, McCarthy could have top-12 appeal.
More Fantasy Football Draft Advice
- Erickson’s Must-Have Best Ball Draft Targets (Premium)
- Fitz’s Must-Have Best Ball Draft Targets (Premium)
- DBro’s Must-Have Best Ball Draft Targets (Premium)
- Hoppen’s Must-Have Best Ball Draft Targets (Premium)
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.