Fantasy Football Draft Advice: A.J. Brown, Puka Nacua, Garrett Wilson

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 some of Derek Brown’s favorite early-round fantasy football draft picks to target.

2024 Fantasy Football Draft Advice

A.J. Brown (WR – PHI): Brown has cemented his status as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL after he arrived in Philly with back-to-back WR8 finishes in fantasy points per game. The Eagles’ offense went off the rails last year with pitiful play calling, but with Kellen Moore in town, that hopefully gets rectified. There’s no reason Brown can produce top-ten numbers at the wide receiver position again in 2024 with top-three status in his range of outcomes. Brown remains in the prime of his career after ranking eighth in yards per route run and seventh in first downs per route run last season (per Fantasy Points Data).

Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ): Assuming Wilson stays healthy in 2024 (which I do), his ascension into the WR1 ranks is a foregone conclusion. Last year, he had no problem drawing the volume that will help him be a top 12 option, ranking ninth in target share (27.1%), first in air-yard share (45.8%), and fifth in first-read share (36.8%). The problem was obvious last year when there was no Aaron Rodgers. The quarterback play was abysmal. Last season, the Jets ranked 30th in adjusted completion rate and 27th in catchable target rate. With Rodgers back in the huddle, Wilson is an easy WR1 with top-five upside.

Puka Nacua (WR – LAR): Everyone HURRY! Get it. Grab it. Got it? Good. Pop the tops on those Puka Juice 40s; it’s time to CHUG! Nacua had a rookie season for the ages, finishing as the WR6 in fantasy points per game. He set rookie records for receptions and receiving yards. Even after Cooper Kupp returned, he led the duo in target share (25.4%), air-yard share (32.7%), YPRR (2.61, and fantasy points per game (WR12). Nacua could access another level in his sophomore campaign if Matthew Stafford stays healthy and Kupp’s powers diminish just a tiny bit more. Nacua could finish as a top-three option at the position this season if everything breaks his way.