Fantasy Football Risers: Jayden Daniels, Zamir White, Rashid Shaheed, Kyle Pitts

Similar to stocks on the Dow Jones, a player’s fantasy football draft position and perceived value can change quickly and suddenly. Astute fantasy football managers can take advantage of dips in average draft position (ADP) or avoid overvalued players by staying updated with the latest trends on their dedicated host or provider. With rookie training camps in the rearview mirror and the 2024 Hall of Fame Game right around the corner in just over a month, it is crucial to examine which players are on the rise and which are tumbling down draft boards to make informed decisions.

Here are some examples of fantasy football players currently trending up. Here are a few fantasy football draft risers.

Fantasy Football Draft Value Risers

Quarterbacks

Jayden Daniels (WAS): Trending UP
All aboard the hype train. Early rankings and ADP had Daniels criminally undervalued, with some sites pegging him as a low-end QB2. Recently, he has begun to ascend into low-end QB1 territory instead, surpassing Caleb Williams and Aaron Rodgers and approaching a tier shared by Brock Purdy and Jordan Love. There is no denying that his slender frame is cause for concern, and he won’t be able to absorb the same level of contact he did at LSU on scramble plays. He is surrounded by a bevy of proven veterans, and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury has a history of working with mobile quarterbacks. His upside is immense, and managers are finally starting to rank potential over peril in draft rooms.

Running Backs

Zamir White (LV): Trending UP
Following the departure of Josh Jacobs to Green Bay in free agency, all expectations pointed to Las Vegas addressing the running back position during the draft. Apparently, head coach Antonio Pierce never received that memo. White flashed when given an opportunity late last year, rushing for a league-high 84 times after Week 15, resulting in over 450 yards from scrimmage. With little competition for touches behind him, White enters the year as a volume-dependent RB2 option and our RB22 overall. Provided he can stay healthy and the team is competitive, the Raiders will give him plenty of opportunities to shine.

Wide Receivers

Rashid Shaheed (NO): Trending UP
Shaheed had a breakout sophomore season in New Orleans, setting new career highs in receptions (46), receiving yards (719), and touchdowns (5) – could this be a prelude of what is to come in 2024? A prior UDFA with a clear chip on his shoulder, Shaheed had the sixth-highest aDOT (14.4) at the position, and his breakaway speed resulted in a 15.6 YPR average. Shaheed will see a sharp uptick in snaps opposite Chris Olave, with Michael Thomas now out of the picture for the Saints. Fantasy managers are keeping their fingers crossed that he will be less boom-or-bust in 2024 after multiple game stretches where he disappeared off the map last year.

Tight Ends

Kyle Pitts (ATL): Trending UP
Few players in recent memory have felt more like the “Peanuts” Lucy, swiping the ball away just as Charlie Brown goes for the kick. Under former head coach Arthur Smith, egregious mismanagement left Pitts with just 90 targets last year despite playing all 17 games – and most of the targets were of poor quality from replacement-level options. Insert Raheem Morris and Kirk Cousins to save the day. Arguments can be made that no player had a more beneficial offseason than Pitts, who stands to thrive during his contract year with Atlanta. A 6’6, 250 lb. athletic marvel, he is expected to thrive under the new offensive scheme, and is a popular breakout player amongst pundits.

NFL Jayden Daniels Caleb Williams Aaron Rodgers Brock Purdy Jordan Love Zamir White Josh Jacobs Rashid Shaheed Chris Olave Michael Thomas Kyle Pitts Kirk Cousins