Fantasy Football’s Future Stars: The Top 80 Rookies to Watch in the 2024 NFL Draft
You have probably read everything you can on each prospect as the 2024 NFL Draft draws near—well, maybe not everything about what it all means for fantasy football. Every year, I examine rookies through the prism of fantasy football. These are essentially my top rookie rankings for the 2024 NFL Draft.
NOTES!
- The goal of each “profile” is to provide a general overview of the anticipated fantasy production. While not all of the comps will be perfect, many of them will complement the player’s profile. Therefore, if a rookie-pro comparison is not “perfect,” do not get too worked up about it; what matters more are the fantasy stats.
- Furthermore, not every comparison indicates that you should anticipate a 100% or speedy production. The comparisons show what can be achieved and many of them have a drawback that could be somewhat advantageous.
- Players are arranged alphabetically throughout the tiers. That is to say, just because one person is in the same tier as another, does not always mean I like them more. All drafted individuals will be impacted by the landing spot. For this reason, you ought to
For live updates on how the draft picks will affect fantasy football, tune in during the first two NFL draft evenings. On Day 3, watch updated analysis all day long. My new 2024 Fantasy Football Overall Ranks, along with my rookie-only and 2024 Fantasy Football Dynasty Rankings, will be lowered following that. NFL DRAFT ROOKIE for 2024
2024 NFL DRAFT ROOKIE RANKINGS
QUARTERBACKS
TIER 1
Caleb Williams, USC — Excellent skill, arm, runner, and pretty much everything else; tries to “win” by overplaying and exhibiting recklessness at times. Fantasy potential: Sam Howell danger, Josh Allen potential.
TIER 2
Jayden Daniels, LSU —Great deep ball, fantastic arm and legs, but dubious throws, placement, and pressure avoidance. Potential for fantasy football: Justin Fields at his finest and at his worst.
Drake Maye, UNC — Excellent pocket quarterback with escape potential, possessing an NFL-caliber arm and more; he does not innovate by making extra reads or spotting free throws like the best. Fantasy potential: Better-passing Sam Howell, Baker Mayfield down years issues.
J.J. McCarthy, Michigan — Strong under pressure, good arm and placement; needs to work on leading throws and improving anticipation. NFL version of Trevor Lawrence has strong fantasy potential, but Jake Locker has awful fantasy potential.
Michael Penix, Washington — Can fit throws into really small windows, excellent arm and speed; accuracy and anticipation could use some work. Long history of injuries, not much of a rusher. Fantasy potential: Derek Carr’s 2017 season is a cause for concern, and Matthew Stafford’s later years offer potential upside.
Spencer Rattler, South Carolina — exceptional passing ability, huge throws, sloppy passes, and irregularity. Ryan Tannehill or Geno Smith, or perhaps both, have fantasy potential. Tannehill Geno.
TIER 3
Joe Milton, Tennessee —Large/elite arm: powerful runner, incredibly rash thrower. Dak Prescott at his peak, with a backup option for the career, is a fantasy asset.
Bo Nix, Oregon — Outstanding arm that grew over his career; strong pre-snap recognition but bad post-snap recognition; about a third of his throws were behind the line of scrimmage; worried about the offense supporting him. Russell Wilson’s finest seasons or Russell Wilson 2022 have fantasy value.
Michael Pratt, Tulane — Good overall talent and touch; nonetheless, a little “too patient” and prone to missing windows, occasionally imprecise, and with a history of injuries. Fantasy potential: both NFL and college versions of Kenny Pickett (well, not too many touchdown passes).
Jordan Travis, Florida State — Good rushing speed, wonderful placement, nice arm, and play-extending abilities; nevertheless, his season was cut short by an injury, and he had difficulty coming up with new ideas before and after the catch. Kyler Murray has upside in fantasy football despite the danger of never starting in the NFL.
Dan Bruglar’s The Beast, which releases on April 10 (link added after it hits), is a must-see if you want cutting-edge analysis on every possible draft pick.)!
RUNNING BACKS
TIER 1
Braelon Allen, Wisconsin — Outstanding speed and smoothness relative to his size; maintains equilibrium during collision; little lateral movement; excellent passing ability. Fantasy potential: Some AJ Dillon and Latavius Murray risk, with Derrick Henry at his peak.
Trey Benson, Florida State — Simple, effective at filling gaps, and a tackle breaker; not very imaginative or patient. Gus Edwards has middle potential, Nick Chubb has upside (and not just because of similar career injuries), and the timeshare piece has downside in fantasy football.
Jonathon Brooks, Texas — Peaks swiftly, makes good movements; receiver is ok, lacks strength, and is prone to injury. Fantasy potential: Jaylen Warren might be just Jaylen Warren, the Jaylen Warren that everyone wants to see, or, at worst, a Justice Hill type.
MarShawn Lloyd, USC — Great speed, slipper, good receiver, good power; little college experience due to injuries; receiving game is more about projection than output. Fantasy potential: James Conner at his best, at his worst (in terms of injuries), or as a timeshare RB similar to Alexander Mattison.
TIER 2
Blake Corum, Michigan —Good all around with mid-level quickness and explosiveness, good pass blocker, and good between the tackles. Zack Moss has fantasy potential, but his timeshare lead with Tyler Allgeier’s stats is more likely due to his lack of injury upside.
Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State — Smooth, cut-and-go player with questionable passing game ability and subpar speed. Possibility to be a split piece like Jaylen Warren or put up stats akin to Dalvin Cook in fantasy football.
Ray Davis, Kentucky — Smart and patient runner who is a good pass blocker but lacks speed and receiving abilities. Jamaal Williams has fantasy potential. He is probably a time-share back, but with the right club, he might be an RB2.
Audric Estime, Notre Dame — Great power, especially between the tackles… “north/south runner” — limited in moves, lateral agility and receiving.
Fantasy potential: Khalil Herbert with more power — RB2 as a lead, RB3/4 as back-half split.
Frank Gore, Southern Mississippi — Excellent positional sense, cutting, receiving, and vision; but, it lacks the top power and quickness to consistently hit the outside. Fantasy potential: His father? No. Really. With the volume, Gore might be his father, but the real worry is more of a 40–50% touch RB.
Isaac Guerendo, Louisville —For a smaller person (6 feet, 221 pounds, 4.33 40), speed is good; it can slow in and out of cuts and hit gaps and edges. It is not the most elusive, though. Possibility of fantasy: Joe Mixon to D’Onta Foreman is the range.
Bucky Irving, Oregon — Excellent receiver with exceptional speed, deft maneuvers, and elusiveness; lacks size and might be overly eager to move. Potential for fantasy: Probably in the mold of Michael Carter, Antonio Gibson, or Jerick McKinnon.
Will Shipley, Clemson — Another strong all-around player who has concerns with blocking passes. Fantasy potential: similar to Deon Jackson.
Kimani Vidal, Troy —Strong, agile, and compact runner with excellent footwork; lacks exceptional talent and originality. Fantasy potential: AJ Dillon believes that at best, there might be some Jamaal Williams.
Jaylen Wright, Tennessee — Excellent speed, pop in his step, and great vision, yet occasionally he can fall easily due to his mediocre strength and balance. Fantasy potential: James Cook (lesser split-work version) bad, Travis Etienne good.
TIER 3
Rasheen Ali, Marshall —Quickly gains momentum and cuts to his best speed while having minimal power, being evasive, and receiving. Fantasy potential: Mike Anderson, in both his best and worst situations, probably needs the rushing offense scheme used by Shanahan.
Emani Bailey, TCU — Good vision, burst, receiver — lacking moves, decision-quickness, balance.
Fantasy potential: Last season’s Austin Ekeler, so a bit better Justice Hill.
Daijun Edwards, Georgia — Good vision and movement, one of the better receiving backs; nevertheless, he has a tendency to overthink and delay, and he speeds up the middle more than the outside, where he is more effective.
Fantasy potential: Has James Cook feel with lesser speed, so likely falls into “Tajae Spears 2023” type seasons.
Deshaun Fenwick, Oregon State — strikes holes decisively with a cut-and-go style that combines mediocre strength, speed, and agility. Tyler Allgeier has fantasy potential if the proper offense (zone blocking) is used.
Dillon Johnson, Washington — Hard runner who picks up speed and turns into a bowling ball that requires a lot of contact and is not very elusive. Fantasy potential: second half of timeshare, probably Rico Dowdle type.
Jawhar Jordan, Louisville — possesses a good burst, moves, and slices through defense; but, because of his size, he is knocked off balance and his lower half is also deficient. Possible fantasy: A different Gibson, McKinnon, etc.
Marcus Knight, Tennessee Tech — Excellent burst, balance, and footwork athleticism; little receiver display; pushes or presses rather than allowing lanes to open up.
Fantasy potential: Jerome Ford type who could be a team backup but could also be an RB2 if he leads.
Dylan Laube, New Hampshire — Nice after the catch, wideout-like routes and receiving abilities; lacks significant power, speed, and elusiveness.
Fantasy potential: J.D. McKissic role.
Kendall Milton, Georgia — decisive, leaps out of breaks, presses for additional yards after contact, does not duck enough tackles, and has a limited passing game (although he can also block).
Fantasy potential: RB4 as a fallback if things do not work out for Brian Robinson.
Jaden Shirden, Monmouth — Excellent speed, dexterity, and vision; hesitant, weak tackler who pushes for more. Fantasy potential: Could be an RB3 in a change-of-pace and receiving role, or surprise with an Alvin Kamara ceiling (without a lot of touchdowns).
Tyrone Tracy, Purdue — Transitioning receiver with outstanding speed but lacks mobility; quick decision-making in return games; too frequently, first contact brings him down. Fantasy potential: A mix of Tutu Atwell and Antonio Gibson.
WIDE RECEIVERS
TIER 1
Marvin Harrison, Ohio State —Easily makes big plays and goes downfield; dangerous everywhere, with some of the best hands ever; capable of cleaning up routes (soft at times); weak against physical corners/press and breaking tackles.
Fantasy potential: Top 10 – with DJ Moore’s statistics, this should be discussed in WR1 right away.
Malik Nabers, LSU — Fast speed, explosive plays, deep threat, ease of separation, minor route cleanout, and the ability to generate an early burst from footwork are all possible.
Fantasy potential: Top 20 with rookie WR1 value conceivable; Brandin Cooks may be Tyreek Hill’s ceiling and floor.
Rome Odunze, Washington — Though this is just nitpicking, an NFL-ready receiver who can win contested balls, get separation, and have excellent hands may find more gaps in the zone.
Fantasy potential: Bigger Garrett Wilson, which carries Top 20 upside.
TIER 2
Keon Coleman, Florida State — Contested/jump/50-50 balls are regularly won, good speed and smoothness for size, great hands — routes are unrefined, lacks top speed and separation.
Fantasy potential: Good Kenny Golladay with a better floor — Courtland Sutton past two years with 4-6 touchdowns.
Troy Franklin, Oregon — Amazing speed, frequently outpacing opponents on long, beautiful routes, and separation; problems on contested receptions due to a slender frame and decreased strength.
Fantasy potential: DeVonta Smith, but in the WR3/4 category, more akin to Torrey Smith’s productivity.
Ladd McConkey, Georgia — Enigmatic like a running back, excellent YAC, excellent routes — finds it difficult to break free from strong, manipulative corners, lacks a significant high point.
Fantasy potential:Diontae Lockett—yes, a combination of Tyler Lockett and Diontae Johnson—would rank in the Top 20, but there is a chance he would be a streaky WR4.
Adonai Mitchell, Texas —For his size, he moves quite quickly and aggressively, but he could still use some power to handle stronger opponents and contested catches.
Fantasy potential: Christian Kirk numbers but not a guarantee to hit — could end up Cedrick Wilson.
Brian Thomas, LSU — Terrific athleticism and good speed for his size, some of the best hands, tracks and moves well — needs to clean up his routes but more with technique and footwork, lets defenders get into his space.
Fantasy potential: Similar to much of Tier 2, Nico Collins ceiling has a Top 25 upside and would have Tier 1 prospects in other years.
Xavier Worthy, Texas — Maximum velocity, excellent paths, rapid twitch, and agility — irregularities (drops), light weight, and resistance to press man.
Fantasy potential: DeSean Jackson, including early-career kick returning potential.
TIER 3
Javon Baker, UCF — Nice routes, excellent tracking and movement to the ball, good separation—defenders frequently lock onto him—and inconsistent speed.
Fantasy potential: Mix of Jerry Jeudy and Darius Slayton.
Jermaine Burton, Alabama — Easy to get off line and deep, excellent routes, finds space, limited YAC, and occasionally has trouble with field placement knowledge.
Fantasy potential: Chris Godwin peak, Romeo Doubs’ first two seasons on the lower end.
Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky — Seems like a running back, especially when using YAC; he has excellent burst and hands, but he still has to work on handling tough corners and routes.
Fantasy potential: Curtis Samuel if team has him in that role, with best-case being the top Julian Edelman years.
Xavier Legette, South Carolina — Fantastic size-related speed, strong, and consistent ball wins; risky YAC — routes can get careless, especially with footwork, and he separates as he goes downfield (would prefer to see a quicker release).
Fantasy potential: Bit smaller DK Metcalf with risk of being bigger Rashid Shaheed.
Ricky Pearsall, Florida — Excellent downfield option, excellent hands and adjustments, stacks corners and fakes them with ease; nonetheless, he struggles with strong, short-to-middle coverage and weak zone defense.
Fantasy potential: Darius Slayton but more likely to hit the 700+ yard seasons than the down years.
Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington — tracking and capacity for deep field The first thing you notice is good body positioning and YAC; routes and identifying coverage pockets need to be improved; speed is okay.
Fantasy potential: Tyler Boyd numbers.
Devontez Walker, UNC — Excellent speed and acceleration, ability to run around corners and hit edges and outside, and great hands; nonetheless, routes require improvement through contact (press, at LOS, in routes).
Fantasy potential: Will Fuller — all the upside and all the downside.
Roman Wilson, Michigan — Hands, finding space, short area quickness, and good routes are all areas where his stature may be a hindrance; YAC is not what you would expect from his style.
Fantasy potential: Later career Emmanuel Sanders.
TIER 4
Jacob Cowing, Arizona — YAC has speed but not power (struggles to break tackles) and great speed and burst that cut through defense. Going to struggle due to size and small window.
Fantasy potential: Even thinner Wan’Dale Robinson.
Cornelius Johnson, Michigan — Robust receiver who scores heavily, wins contested catches, and is unfazed by contact. His routes are untidy, and he has good straight line speed but is not as quick in short spaces.
Fantasy potential: JuJu Smith-Schuster big-slot type.
Luke McCaffrey, Rice — Great routes, accurate cuts, decent YAC, transitioned from QB; press or strong guy will stymie him; speed variation is little (could burst out of breaks more).
Fantasy potential: Many make the Julian Edelman comparison (because previously a QB), but also Doubs-like on the downside.
Jalen McMillan, Washington — Routes that are above average, first speed, awareness — not much of a second gear, contested catches should be taken seriously.
Fantasy potential: Sterling Shepard numbers and concerns.
Brenden Rice, USC — Good size and strength; he makes good use of it; he works coverage; his quarterback is not the fastest or most elusive, so he does not constantly break away from speedier covering.
Fantasy potential: The 2023 version of DeAndre Hopkins upside with 2023 Jeudy concern.
Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Georgia — Some of the best hand-eye coordination, excellent high points, and space finding in the zone; press coverage is difficult due to a lack of top speed and explosion out of cuts.
Fantasy potential: Mid-range Allen Robinson (not peak or basement versions).
Ainias Smith, Texas A&M —Excellent elusiveness in both YAC and routes, capacity for backfield carries and kick returns, and intelligent player—clearly, height and strength are more important considerations than deep speed or route accuracy.
Fantasy potential: Short Trey Palmer but could end up with 600-700 total yards.
Jamari Thrash, Louisville — Excellent at short-to-intermediate games and the middle of the field; smaller and less spaced out, mediocre speed and quickness. Adapts well to the quarterback and in routes.
Fantasy potential: John Metchie, as an NFL team’s No. 3 receiver.
Johnny Wilson, Florida State — Amazing size (6 feet 6 inches, 231 pounds), excellent route running and quickness for his stature, and obviously strong — he does not always attack the target and finds it difficult to re-compose when he slows down (against coverage or during certain pauses).
Fantasy potential: Best case Mike Evans but more likely numbers like George Pickens’ rookie season.
OTHERS: LIKELY DEVELOPMENTAL DEPTH
(MORE COVERAGE IF SURPRISING DRAFT SPOT OR OPPORTUNITY)
- Jalen Coker, Holy Cross — Big slot with zone exploiting potential and short range speed. not having enough downfield speed.
- Anthony Gould, Oregon State — Smaller receiver with steady hands who could return kicks, but his speed is uncertain.
- Jha’Quan Jackson, Tulane — Terrific speed and route breaks, gets separation, but lacks strength to win in contested situations.
- Bub Means, Pittsburgh — Chain mover who gains an advantage in contested circumstances via body placement and size, but who does not gain much separation.
- Malik Washington, UVA — Lacking in stature and speed, but good burst and evasive in his routes (accurate as well).
- Tahj Washington, USC — Wan’Dale Robinson added explosiveness and a little bit of outside play to his game.
- Xavier Weaver, Colorado — Excellent speed and short burst to split with YAC upside, but may strengthen and increase field awareness.
- Jordan Whittington, Texas — Reconverted running back with strong routes and the ability to gain yardage after catches; inconsistent and prone to being taken out of his routes by opponents.
- Isaiah Williams, Illinois — Very nimble and quick, good downfield mobility, but probably a slot and return player.
TIGHT ENDS
TIER 1
Brock Bowers, Georgia — Elite. Can line up anywhere, runs amazing routes, effortlessly finds space, YAC creator — route breaking can be more exact, strength only non-terrific feature.
Fantasy potential: Top 5 is possible as a rookie. Could be the next Mark Andrews or what we expected of Kyle Pitts. Feels like worst-case would be Dallas Goedert.
TIER 2
Erick All, Iowa — Good routes, outstanding hands and receiver, strong blocker — lacks big-play potential; separation is primarily based on technique rather than speed.
Fantasy potential: Tyler Higbee.
Jaheim Bell, Florida State — Good receiver with exceptional quickness and separation ability; occasionally runs rudimentary routes, lacks power as a blocker.
Fantasy potential: David Njoku, but the limited strength and blocking could limit Bell to reduced snaps and Jared Cook-ness.
Dallin Holker, Colorado State — Nice tight end with a huge window for the quarterback, nice blocker with a lower level of quickness, speed, and athleticism.
Fantasy potential: Pat Freiermuth, but also potentially no more than Anthony Firkser.
Theo Johnson, Penn State — Consistently separates and finds space; excellent blocking; inconsistent routes; lacks a rapid burst or acceleration.
Fantasy potential: Jason Witten type.
Trey Knox, South Carolina — Converted wide receiver, top in speed, agility, and quickness; limited routes; given his talent, he should have had a higher yards per carry.
Fantasy potential: Could turn into David Njoku, with Ricky Seals-Jones downside.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas — Excellent hands, the epitome of a quarterback safety blanket, and quickness — challenges as a blocker, especially against speed rushers, can intensify in contact and routes.
Fantasy potential: George Kittle upside.
Ben Sinnott, Kansas State — Excellent hands and placement, good speed for the position (played fullback), and a lack of precision in his routes, which let defenders get into his space before the catch.
Fantasy potential: Could be Jake Ferguson — Darren Waller dream ceiling.
Brevyn Spann-Ford, Minnesota — Problems with size and speed matchup, excellent hands but poor routes; he should utilize his power more to clear space.
Fantasy potential: T.J. Hockenson if he addresses strength and routes issues, with Dawson Knox “downside.”
Cade Stover, Ohio State — Good hands, tight/clean routes, and YAC — insufficient speed to hold off corners or safety measures, insufficient blocking.
Fantasy potential: The range is from Dallas Goedert to Noah Fant.
Jared Wiley, TCU — Strong and athletic, good at attacking the ball and after the catch; has to improve on his transition from receiver to runner in pass coverage.
Fantasy potential: Could be Greg Olsen, could be Will Dissly.
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