Mike Fanelli | Thu, Nov 28th 2024, 6:11am EST

8 Fantasy Football Players We’re Thankful For (2024)

It’s Week 13, which means the 2024 NFL season is a little over two-thirds over. More importantly, it is Thanksgiving week.

Fantasy players have plenty to be thankful for this year. There have been several surprise players this season. Furthermore, there have been a few superstars we should thank for being great at football.

So when you sit down for Thanksgiving dinner, don’t curse at your uncle for sniping you on Jaxon Smith-Njigba or make fun of your cousin for using a first-round pick on Patrick Mahomes. Instead, stuff your face full of food, watch football, and be thankful if you have these eight players on your fantasy football team.

Fantasy Football Players We’re Thankful For

Baker Mayfield (QB – TB)

Despite Mayfield having a solid 2023 fantasy football season, many had little interest in drafting the veteran in 1QB leagues. However, the former Oklahoma star has been a must-start quarterback almost every week. He is the QB5 for the year, averaging 20.9 fantasy points despite Chris Godwin and Mike Evans missing significant time with injuries. Mayfield has scored at least 18 fantasy points in nine of 11 contests. The veteran has more games with four touchdowns (two) than contests without a passing score (one).

Jayden Daniels (QB -WAS)

While the rookie quarterback has cooled off after a hot start, Daniels has been a league-winner for fantasy players. Despite getting drafted as a low-end QB1, the former LSU star is the QB4 for the year, averaging 19.5 fantasy points per game. He started his career as a force on the ground, totaling 88 rushing yards and two touchdowns in Week 1. However, Daniels has remained productive despite having only two games with over 50 rushing yards or a touchdown over the past seven weeks.

Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR)

The Panthers drafted Jonathon Brooks in April as their running back of the future. However, Hubbard has played so well that the team gave him a massive contract extension a few weeks ago. More importantly, he has become a plug-and-play RB1 for fantasy players. The veteran is the RB11 for the year, averaging 14.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The former Oklahoma State star has found the end zone in seven of the past nine games after failing to score over the first two contests.

J.K. Dobbins (RB – LAC)

Unfortunately, Dobbins left the Week 12 loss to the Baltimore Ravens with a knee injury. However, the veteran is the RB15 for the year, averaging 13.8 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The former Ohio State star has scored 17 or more fantasy points in half of the games before last week’s matchup. Dobbins has had three games with over 95 rushing yards, including back-to-back contests to start the year. He also has scored two rushing touchdowns in two of his past four games.

Malik Nabers (WR – NYG)

New York hasn’t had the 2024 season the fans wanted. However, Nabers has been a bright spot for the Giants and fantasy players. The rookie is the WR14 for the year, averaging 13.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game despite missing multiple games with a concussion. Unfortunately, his production has slipped lately, scoring fewer than 9.5 fantasy points in back-to-back games. However, Nabers was outstanding before suffering the concussion, totaling 17.1 or more fantasy points in three of his first four performances.

Darnell Mooney (WR – ATL)

Many questioned the Falcons for giving Mooney a massive contract in free agency in the offseason. However, the veteran wide receiver has proven the team right. He has 48 receptions on 81 targets for 711 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 11 games, already setting a career-high in touchdowns. More importantly, Mooney has been a massive steal for fantasy players as a late-round draft pick. He is the WR13 for the year, averaging 11.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, only 1.1 fewer than Drake London.

George Kittle (TE – SF)

While many put Kittle on their do-not-draft list this year because of his age, the veteran tight end has been outstanding. He is the TE1 for the season, averaging 15.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, a career-high. Furthermore, Kittle’s 15.2 fantasy points per game average is 11.8% higher than his previous best mark during the 2018 season (13.4). The star tight end is on pace for a career-high 13 receiving touchdowns, scoring at least once in all but one game since Week 1.

Brock Bowers (TE – LV)

Last year, Sam LaPorta finished his rookie season as the TE1, averaging 11.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. While many thought we wouldn’t see a rookie tight end put up similar numbers again anytime soon, Bowers proved them wrong. The former Georgia star is the TE2, averaging 11.8 fantasy points per game. He has scored 13 or more fantasy points in half of the games since Week 1. Furthermore, Bowers is on pace to break Puka Nacua’s rookie receptions record (114 vs. 105).

Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.

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