Fantasy Football Roundtable: Jayden Daniels, Cooper Kupp, Chase Brown & More (2024)

The NFL preseason ramps up this week, and we’re only a few weeks away from the heart of fantasy draft season. FantasyPros analysts Derek Brown, Andrew Erickson, Pat Fitzmaurice and Mike Maher continue a series of preseason roundtables by discussing QB strategy, players they’re second-guessing and offense that could be sneaky sources of fantasy goodness. And check out last week’s fantasy football roundtable for even more expert advice.

What’s your QB draft strategy this year in 1QB leagues? Are there one or two particular quarterbacks in whom you expect to invest heavily?

Mobile QBs in fast-paced offenses

Derek Brown: The name of the game is to pounce on Anthony Richardson at his current ADP or wait for Jayden Daniels in nearly every draft.

There are plenty of other quarterbacks that I love — for example, Kyler Murray, Jordan Love and Trevor Lawrence at their current draft cost — but Richardson and Daniels are my guys this year. Their combination of passing acumen and rushing upside while also being paired with playcallers who will push the play volume is the chef’s kiss.

Patience Pays Off

Pat Fitzmaurice: In 10-team leagues, there’s merit to drafting a top QB because it’s easy to address the RB and WR positions in a satisfactory way. But in leagues with 12 or more teams, I’m leveraging the depth at the position and usually drafting a QB outside the top 10 in ADP.

Jayden Daniels has been a favorite target. His running ability gives him not only a high ceiling but also a sturdy floor (barring injury, of course).

I’m also into Tua Tagovailoa even though he’s a pariah in some quarters of the fantasy community. Tua led the NFL in passing yardage last season, has a phenomenal WR duo in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and might be thrust into a lot of O.K. Corral game scripts this year due to a depleted defense that lost some key players in free agency along with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who left for the Eagles.

Andrew Erickson: I love the late-round QB approach this season. I think there are a plethora of viable targets who are selected from Round 10 on, including Jayden Daniels, Tua Tagovailoa, Caleb Williams and Trevor Lawrence.

Read the Room

Mike Maher: It feels like this is going to be a really interesting year for QBs, and I find myself taking a wait-and-see approach to my drafts. Is that a cop-out answer? Maybe. But it’s the truth in 2024.

The QB position feels deep this year. And more importantly, it seems that many fantasy managers have the same thought: You can wait on QB and roll the dice on someone like Jordan Love, Jayden Daniels, Tua Tagovailoa, Trevor Lawrence or Caleb Williams late in your draft with the hope that they could produce as a top-5 QB in fantasy. And they’re not wrong. That is a legitimate possibility. I’ve taken the same approach in some of my drafts.

But with so many people feeling that way, it also means that the elite QBs like Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson are sometimes falling further than they should in drafts. If I happen to be in one of those drafts, I would think long and hard about pulling the trigger early on an auto-start QB so I don’t have to worry about the position.

Name a player you’re bullish on for 2024 but also harbor some doubts about. In other words, which of the guys you like leaves you most concerned that you’re making the wrong call?

Chase Brown (RB – CIN)

Andrew Erickson: I feel great about Chase Brown. He’s checking off all the boxes of a year-two RB poised to make a massive leap. But the issue with his ceiling and potential RBBC status with Zack Moss comes down to pass protection. The coaching staff needs to trust him so that he can truly be a three-down workhorse.

Pat Fitzmaurice: I’ll parrot Erickson here. I’ve been banging the Chase Brown drum like Neil Peart all offseason, and early reports from training camp seem to be validating the enthusiasm. Brown has reportedly been getting more first-team reps than Zack Moss has. But the division of labor in the Bengals’ backfield is far from settled.

Although I suspect he’s a better player than Moss, Brown didn’t get enough touches last year for us to draw any definitive conclusions about how good he is. And as Erickson mentioned, shaky pass protection could potentially keep Brown off the field.

Drake London (WR – ATL)

Mike Maher: I am absolutely all in on Drake London in 2024. That is a slightly cheap take right now, considering his ECR has crept up to 21 overall, but he is about as make-or-break as they get right now.

Drafting London in the second round feels rich, but everyone is apparently seeing the same upside I am. I prefer to grab him in the late secnd or early third at the turn if I can wait that long, and I’m probably too nervous to go any higher than that. BUT: new QB, new offensive system, no Arthur Smith, clear path to targets. There is so much to like that it makes me overlook my concerns about draft capital and the potential that we’re drafting him at his ceiling.

Have I filibustered enough? I love London this year, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned about how high you have to draft him if you want him.

Jermaine Burton (WR – CIN)

Derek Brown: I have loved Jermaine Burton since draft prospect season. Off-the-field issues caused a first-round talent to tumble in the NFL Draft, but I also have to admit I might have dismissed Andrei Iosivas‘ ability and the possibility that he can win the WR3 role.

Burton has the talent to seize the role, but Iosivas is the incumbent and produced when called upon last season. In Weeks 16 and 18, Iosivas played at least 70% of snaps while drawing a 21.4% target share, a 35.5% air-yard share, and a 19.2% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). I’ve bumped up Iosivas in my ranks while lowering Burton. As we continue to charge through training camp season, hopefully, we get more clarity about this camp battle.

Name a player you’re down on for 2024, but you’re second-guessing yourself about him? Who could make you look foolish by having a good year?

Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR – ARI)

Mike Maher: I’ve talked recently about how I’m concerned we’re drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. at his ceiling. 15 overall for a rookie WR just feels steep to me. The best case scenario is that you’re right and his value ends up being somewhere around there, right? But it’s probably just as likely that even the smallest slip-up derails his production as it is he has the rookie breakout many are predicting. A slow start, a late-season rookie wall, a rough stretch adjusting to the NFL — all would be understandable, and any would torpedo the return on your second round investment.

I could absolutely look foolish if Harrison is as NFL-ready as many believe and gobbles up targets from Kyler Murray. I just worry about the risk at his current ADP and am willing to be wrong here.

Josh Jacobs (RB – GB)

Derek Brown: My disdain for Josh Jacobs‘ ADP has been well-documented. If he stays healthy and pays off his current ADP, I’ll be looking foolish this year, but I still stand resolute that MarShawn Lloyd can carve out a role this year (even if Jacobs is healthy) that could leave Jacobs’ stans fuming.

It has to be stated that Jacobs is also dealing with a groin issue now while attending to a hamstring problem earlier in the offseason. If Jacobs manages to stay healthy and hold off Lloyd, I’ll look silly.

Cooper Kupp (WR – LAR)

Andrew Erickson: The sentiment surrounding the aging and injury-riddled Cooper Kupp is that he’s healthy now and therefore he will be a WR1. His ADP continues to rise, and I want no business taking the risk on a player that we are drafting based on what he did back in 2021. Seems more like hope.

There are so many ascending younger WRs I’d rather bet on in the range Kupp goes. But if he does stay healthy, well, Kupp is going to make me look real bad.

Zamir White (RB – LV)

Pat Fitzmaurice: I suspect that Zamir White is going to be a one-dimensional, early-down grinder for a Raiders offense that could have trouble sustaining drives and scoring touchdowns. But White is a tough, physical inside runner with undeniable upside. It’s possible he finishes among the league leaders in carries and approaches double-digit touchdowns.

Is there an offense that you believe could be an underrated source of fantasy value?

Washington Commanders

Derek Brown: The Commanders’ offense is being slept on massively. We know that with Kliff Kingsbury, they will run a TON of plays. No one in this offense is pricey in drafts. No one.

I want to remain above consensus all draft season on Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin, Brian Robinson Jr., Luke McCaffrey and Ben Sinnott.

Pat Fitzmaurice: I’m with DBro on Washington. Kingsbury will have that offense playing at a brisk pace. The Commanders have been bogged down by bad quarterbacking for years, but No. 2 overall pick and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels brings an element of excitement the Washington faithful hasn’t enjoyed since the all-too-brief Robert Griffin III era.

Daniels’ extraordinary running ability gives him top-10 upside at QB and could spike the rushing efficiency of RB Brian Robinson in much the same way that RG3’s running ability paved the way for Alfred Morris to post unexpectedly big numbers. Daniels could also raise the ceiling for Terry McLaurin and the Commanders’ other pass catchers.

McLaurin has topped 1,000 receiving yards in four straight years but hasn’t scored more than five TDs in any of those seasons. With Daniels at the controls, LSU WRs Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas combined for 31 TD catches in 13 games last year.

Carolina Panthers

Mike Maher: This might be about as deep of a cut as there is, but I think the Panthers are going to surprise people this year. I’m still a Bryce Young believer despite what we saw in 2023, and I think Dave Canales is going to turn the offense around pretty much immediately.

The Panthers improved the offensive line and now have depth at the skill positions too: Diontae Johnson, Xavier Legette, Adam Thielen, Terrace Marshall Jr., Jonathan Mingo, Chuba Hubbard, Jonathon Brooks and even Miles Sanders. They have pieces to work with, and this offense could be better than people think, at least in terms of individual contributions.

For example, Diontae Johnson is going off the board around 75th overall in drafts right now. He could see 150 targets in 2024 if he stays healthy. And if Canales really can unlock this offense, those 150 targets could be a lot more valuable than consensus is predicting right now.

Cleveland Browns

Andrew Erickson: I think Cleveland’s passing game has a lot of untapped potential. Until Nick Chubb is fully healthy again, it’s easy to see the Browns “relying” more on the passing game with the number of weapons they have offensively. I mean, it’s the least Deshaun Watson can do after the Browns gave him a fully guaranteed contract.

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Busts Fantasy Draft Advice Featured Pros NFL Sleepers Anthony Richardson Jayden Daniels Kyler Murray Jordan Love Trevor Lawrence Tua Tagovailoa Tyreek Hill Jaylen Waddle Caleb Williams Josh Allen Jalen Hurts Patrick Mahomes Lamar Jackson Chase Brown Zack Moss Drake London Jermaine Burton Andrei Iosivas Marvin Harrison Jr. Josh Jacobs MarShawn Lloyd Cooper Kupp Zamir White Terry McLaurin Brian Robinson Jr. Luke McCaffrey Ben Sinnott Robert Griffin Malik Nabers Brian Thomas Bryce Young Diontae Johnson Xavier Legette Adam Thielen Terrace Marshall Jr. Jonathan Mingo Chuba Hubbard Miles Sanders Nick Chubb Deshaun Watson