When preparing for your fantasy football drafts, knowing which players to target and others to avoid is important. The amount of information available can be overwhelming, so a great way to condense the data and determine players to draft and others to leave for your leaguemates is to use our expert consensus fantasy football rankings compared to fantasy football average draft position (ADP). In this way, you can identify players the experts are willing to reach for at ADP and others they are not drafting until much later than average. Let’s dive into a few notable fantasy football players below.
- 2024 Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- 2024 Fantasy Football Rankings
- 2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
- Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator
Wide Receivers to Draft in RB Dead Zone
Jaylen Waddle faces a different fantasy draft landscape in 2024, likely drafted later due to a less impressive previous season as the WR34 overall and WR24 in points per game. Despite recording over 1,000 receiving yards in 14 games, his scoring was limited to four touchdowns. However, his 24% target share and improved efficiency metrics indicate potential for a bounce-back season. Considered a buy-low candidate, Waddle’s draft position might not reflect his true value.
– Andrew Erickson
Smith has been entrenched as a playmaking WR2 in fantasy football over the last two seasons (WR20, WR14). Smith should run it back again this year with similar production. Last year, he was 21st in receiving yards per game and 29th in first read share while some of his deeper metrics sagged. Smith saw his FD/RR ranking drop to 39th, and his YPRR sat at only 33rd (minimum 50 targets). While this is concerning, the talent didn’t disappear for Smith. Philly’s offense was broken last year as rudimentary play calling held the entire show back from its potential. Smith and Metcalf go in the same range of drafts, and each player feels like a safe bet with some upside in 2024.
– Derek Brown
While we might have worries about the landing spot, there are two undeniable facts here. Nabers is a stone-cold baller, and he will vacuum up all the targets he can handle in 2024. During his final year at LSU, Nabers ranked third in YPRR, first in PFF receiving grade, and fourth in missed tackles forced. Nabers is the clear WR1 for New York this season, and it’s not particularly close. No Giants wide receiver managed over a 16.9% target share last year, so there’s no one standing in Nabers’ way of soaking up a 23-25% target share in his rookie season. The Giants threw the ball 518 times last year. If Nabers can earn a 25% target share and the Giants don’t pass any more than they did last season, he will theoretically see 130 targets. That would have been tied for 19th in targets among wide receivers last season. I’m willing to invest in Nabers’ talent, and I’m just praying that we get at least league-average quarterback play from Daniel Jones and company this season.
– Derek Brown
Flowers had his moments as a rookie. While he didn’t live up to the preseason hype, it wasn’t a dreadful rookie showing by any stretch, especially after Mark Andrews was out. Without Andrews, Flowers saw his first read share increase to 30.7%, and his FD/RR rate increased ever so slightly from 0.081 to 0.085. Flowers, during that stretch (eight games), earned six end zone targets, which was awesome compared to the single end zone target he saw in Weeks 1-10. With Odell Beckham Jr. gone in 2024, the Baltimore passing attack will further consolidate around Flowers and Andrews.
– Derek Brown
Amari Cooper‘s season-long stats were notable despite shifting quarterbacks, ranking 10th in yards (1,250) and second in 20-yard gains (42). His 41% air yards share also ranked 10th in the league. While he finished 17th in points/game (12.7) as the WR18 overall through 17 games, his performance with Deshaun Watson as QB offers promise. During these five games, he maintained a 23% target share, 42% air yards share, averaging nearly 100 receiving yards/game. His fantasy output was also strong, averaging 14.8 points per game (6th) and 15.7 expected points per game (15th). Even with Jerry Jeudy‘s addition, Cooper remains the WR1 for the Browns.
– Andrew Erickson
Last season was a breakout campaign for George Pickens as the WR36 in fantasy points per game. Among 81 qualifying receivers, he ranked 20th in yards per route run and 44th in first downs per route run while drawing a 20.8% target share and a 39% air-yard share (per Fantasy Points Data). While all these numbers tickle the senses, his splits without Diontae Johnson on the field last year are even more enticing. In Weeks 2-5 without Johnson, his target share climbed to 27.1%, his air-yard share stood at a whopping 50.1%, and he was the WR16 in fantasy points per game. The quarterback play of Russell Wilson (or Justin Fields), along with the run-heavy nature of Arthur Smith, could limit his ceiling, especially in the volume department, but Pickens could outpace his WR3 expectation in 2024.
– Derek Brown
Yes, Dell now has to contend with Stefon Diggs for targets, too, but we need to put respect on Dell’s name and understand that he could still fight for the team lead in targets in 2024. Last year, in the seven full games that Dell and Nico Collins played together, Dell bested him in every meaningful category. Dell led the duo in target share (22.5 vs. 22.1%), air-yard share (35.9 vs. 25.3%), weighted opportunity (59.0 vs. 50.9), and fantasy points per game (18.7 vs. 18.1). Overall last year Dell posted monster numbers in YPRR (2.40) and FD/RR (0.115) ranking 16th and 14th in these statistics. His recovery from a broken fibula will be huge, but if he is still the same guy we saw in 2023, there’s plenty of reason to invest heavily in him smashing in 2024.
– Derek Brown
Kirk will be the Jaguars’ WR1 in 2024. He was on his way to a monstrous season before getting derailed by injury. In Weeks 2-12, Krik was the WR19 in fantasy points per game, drawing a 22.6% target share and 30.5% air-yard share, producing 2.31 YPRR and 0.101 FD/RR (per Fantasy Points Data). If he had kept up that pace for the full season, he would have ranked 22nd, 17th, and 22nd in those categories. His full season counting stat pace was 138 targets, 94 receptions, and 1,278 receiving yards. With Calvin Ridley gone, Kirk’s biggest competition for targets is Evan Engram. Engram didn’t break out last year until Kirk was out, so I doubt Engram is the clear option over Kirk entering 2024. Gabriel Davis is a proven role player, and Brian Thomas Jr. is a rookie who will face growing pains in the NFL. Look for Trevor Lawrence to feed Kirk this year as one of the best values in fantasy drafts.
– Derek Brown
Terry McLaurin demonstrated his reliability as a deep threat for the Commanders in 2023, tallying 79 receptions for 1,002 yards and 4 touchdowns. His 23 catches of 20+ yards underscored his big-play ability. While ranking 32nd among wide receivers in total fantasy points and 41st in points per game, McLaurin’s 35% air yards share showcased his role as a deep threat. With over 1,500 total air yards, he ranked 13th league-wide. With Jayden Daniels now at QB, known for his great deep ball, McLaurin could see increased production, potentially breaking out of the fantasy WR2 category without commanding a WR2 draft price.
– Andrew Erickson
Chris Godwin‘s 2023 season was marked by high volume but low touchdown production, catching only 3 touchdowns despite leading the Buccaneers in receptions and receiving yards. His target share was comparable to Mike Evans‘, but he struggled to convert opportunities into fantasy points, finishing outside the top-36 wide receivers in fantasy scoring. However, with potential changes in offensive scheme and Evans potentially regressing, Godwin could see a bounce-back year, especially if he returns to a full-time slot role as suggested by new OC Liam Coen.
– Andrew Erickson
Fantasy Football Draft Rankings
Check out the consensus 2024 fantasy football draft rankings from our experts.
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