Several factors go into building a winning fantasy football team. One of those factors is identifying which players will let your team down and bust. Another is knowing which players have league-winning upside, especially in the later rounds. To help you build an elite fantasy football roster, I will identify the most likely bust candidate and potential league winner for every NFL team.
Today, I give my fantasy football draft bust and league-winner candidates from the NFC East teams – the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders.
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Fantasy Football Draft Busts & League Winners: NFC East
Potential Bust Candidates
Brandin Cooks (DAL): ADP 117.2 | WR57
Cooks was the WR36, averaging 9.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. However, his fantasy production was significantly tied to finding the end zone. Cooks had eight receiving touchdowns last season, the second-most of his career and his highest total since his second year in the NFL. Meanwhile, the veteran had 54 receptions on 81 targets for 657 receiving yards, his lowest totals since his injury-plagued 2019 season, despite playing on an elite passing offense. Fantasy players shouldn’t expect him to have similar luck in the touchdown department in 2024.
Devin Singletary (NYG): ADP 111.7 | RB34
The veteran running back is coming off the best year of his career in 2023, totaling 216 rushing attempts for 898 yards and four touchdowns. Yet, Singletary was only the RB31, averaging nine half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, he averaged a career-low 4.2 yards per rushing attempt despite playing behind a solid offensive line. By comparison, the Giants had PFF’s third-worst run-blocking offensive line last season. Meanwhile, Tyrone Tracy Jr. shined during mini-camp and could take touches away from Singletary, especially in the passing game.
Dallas Goedert (PHI): ADP 114.4 | TE12
While Goedert remains a solid starting-caliber NFL tight end, fantasy players should avoid drafting him as their TE1. He averaged 7.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game last year, his lowest average since his rookie season. Furthermore, Goedert had three receiving touchdowns, making it the third time in the past four years that he had three or fewer scores. The Eagles’ passing attack flows through A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, leaving the tight end fighting for targets. Moreover, his role on offense will decline with Saquon Barkley in town.
Austin Ekeler (WAS): ADP 129.7 | RB40
Adding Ekeler was an outstanding move for Washington, as he is a solid pass protector and a reliable receiver out of the backfield. However, Brian Robinson Jr. will be the lead back and the goal line specialist in 2024. Ekeler has had back-to-back seasons with a 2.99 or lower yards after contact per attempt average after averaging at least 3.01 or more yards each of his first five years in the NFL (per PFF). While some believe the backfield will be a 50-50 split, Robinson should be the featured guy.
Potential League Winners
Dak Prescott (DAL): ADP 96.4 | QB9
The star quarterback was a league winner in 2023 despite a slow start. Prescott was the QB21 over the first five weeks, averaging only 12.6 fantasy points per game. By comparison, he was the QB1, averaging 24 fantasy points per game after the Cowboys’ Week 7 bye. Prescott led the NFL with 36 passing touchdowns while finishing third in yards (4,516). More importantly, the veteran averaged 36.4 pass attempts per game after the bye week. Prescott has overall QB1 upside and is criminally underrated as an early ninth-round pick.
Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG): ADP 167.3 | WR74
Robinson’s fantasy value got a massive boost following Darren Waller’s retirement. Daniel Jones loves to target the middle part of the field, which will help the slot receiver. The former Kentucky star had a 26% target per route run rate and a 20.2% first-read target share in the five games he played with Jones last year (per Fantasy Points Data). Furthermore, Robinson had six or more targets in 45% of his games last season. He should be the clear-cut No. 2 receiving option behind Malik Nabers.
Will Shipley (PHI): ADP 213.2 | RB67
Philadelphia surprised many this offseason when they signed Saquon Barkley to a massive contract in free agency. Unfortunately, the superstar running back has dealt with numerous injuries in his career, missing 25.3% of the games, including three contests last year. Therefore, Shipley could have significant upside if Barkley misses time in 2024. The rookie running back had 11 or more rushing touchdowns in two of his three college seasons. Furthermore, he can make plays in the passing game, totaling 85 receptions for 602 receiving yards at Clemson.
Luke McCaffrey (WAS): ADP 185.3 | WR81
While the hottest rumor in the NFL is about Brandon Aiyuk wanting to play with Jayden Daniels, fantasy players should target McCaffrey late in their drafts. The rookie is still learning the wide receiver position after starting his college career as a quarterback. Yet, he ranked second in the draft class among wide receivers in contested catches last season (17), finishing only behind Rome Odunze (per PFF). While McCaffrey won’t replace Terry McLaurin as the No. 1 receiver, don’t be surprised if he pushes Jahan Dotson for snaps and targets.
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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.
