The 2024 NFL Draft was chock full of top offensive talent. A record 14 players were selected to open the picks, including 10 at skill positions. Six QBs went in the top 12, three wide receivers went in the top nine, and a tight end went at 13.
That’s a lot of top passing game prospects, which is great for fantasy football rookie outlook in 2024. Although QB and TE dried up quite a bit after the early run, more intriguing wide receivers kept coming off the board. Then came some running backs who landed in potentially productive environments.
Looking at immediate impact in redraft leagues with some consideration for dynasty value, here’s ranking the top 35 rookies to watch in fantasy for 2024
MORE 2024 NFL DRAFT: Full list of picks | Winners & losers | Draft grades for every team
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings 2024
1. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Cardinals
Harrison is an elite all-around alpha who defaults as Arizona’s new high-volume No. 1 for Kyler Murray. The team has 217 vacated targets from last season. Harrison should push for 150 as a rookie with an 80-1,200-8 line easily in reach. He’s already a borderline WR1 in the top 15.
2. Malik Nabers, WR, Giants
Nabers will clean up their mess at wide receiver, which was capped out with Darius Slayton at 50-770-4 on 79 targets last season. He should be their go-guy all over the field for Daniel Jones, but Jones and other offensive concerns keep Nabers on the WR2/3 edge in the top 30.
3. Caleb Williams, QB, Bears
Justin Fields, with his running cheat code, was QB13 in average scoring last season. That was a different scheme with DJ Moore and Cole Kmet as key targets. Now Williams gets those two plus Keenan Allen, D’Andre Swift, Gerald Everett, and fellow rookie first-rounder Rome Odunze. Williams won’t run wild like Fields, but he will do plenty on the ground to support superior passing production. Willams is an immediate top-12 QB1.
4. Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders
Daniels falls into that aforementioned cheat code with his natural explosive running ability and big-play passing. He is playing for Kliff Kingsbury, who helped Kyler Murray tie for QB11 in average scoring as a rookie in 2019. There also are weapons abound here in Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Zach Ertz, Austin Ekeler, and two fellow rookies, Luke McCaffrey and Ben Sinnott. Daniels is a short-term high-end QB2 and long-term QB1.
5. Keon Coleman, WR, Bills
The Bills have a crazy 317 vacated targets thanks to moving on from Stefon Diggs (160) and Gabe Davis (81). Coleman has a good chance to lead the team with more than 100 targets, with Dalton Kincaid and Khalil Shakir also getting significant bumps in looks from Josh Allen. Coleman should be drafted as a WR3 right away with WR1 upside in the future.
MORE NFL DRAFT 2024: Best values | Biggest reaches | Biggest steals | Best UDFAs
6. J.J. McCarthy, WR, Vikings
Kirk Cousins was the average QB7 before going down with his torn Achilles late last season. McCarthy inherits the keys to an offense that has good blocking and should be even more explosive under Kevin O’Connell. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, a soon-healthy T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones should help him post strong numbers. Draft him as a sneaky QB2 who can jump to QB1 in time.
7. Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jaguars
The Jaguars, after not re-signing Calvin Ridley, settled for Davis to help pick up 187 available targets from last season. Evan Engram is unlikely to lead the team with 143 again, but Christian Kirk also should see a big spike if healthy for the whole season. Ridley went 76-1,016-8 on 136 targets last season. Draft Thomas as a WR3 with some near-future WR2 pop.
8. Rome Odunze, WR, Bears
Odunze landed in a crowd. There are only 106 vacated targets in Chicago, with Darnell Mooney (61) accounting for more than half. Allen, Everett, and Swift were added as veterans to cut into that number, and Moore led the team with 136 last season. Draft Odunze as a WR4 at first, but given Allen’s age (32) and shaky durability, Odunze has high WR2 upside for 2025 and beyond.
9. Xavier Worthy, WR, Chiefs
Worthy was the fastest receiver ever at the NFL Combine, and the Chiefs got aggressive to get him. This was after they added veteran speedster Marquise Brown in free agency. They also are waiting on any on-field fallout for Rashee Rice. The rookie’s worth depends on how quickly he can get regular snaps and targets with Patrick Mahomes, which depends on whether Brown and Rice stay available with Travis Kelce. Draft Worthy as a WR4 with WR2 upside.
10. Ladd McConkey, WR, Chargers
The Chargers lost a league-high 395 targets, with Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler, and Gerald Everett combining for 294. McConkey figures to land in the Allen-like slot role all over the field. However, it’s important to keep in mind the new offense will cause a drop in passing rate, which was 61 percent last season. Draft McConkey as a WR4 with WR2 upside, maybe sooner than later.
11. Brock Bowers, TE, Raiders
This was a strange first-rounder considering the team used a second-rounder on promising tight end Michael Mayer last season. Vegas is also looking at more 11 personnel with new OC Luke Getsy. Should they use Bowers as more of a slot option to support Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers with little wide receiver depth, then he has a shot to produce as a rookie, but there’s also a crowd at tight end with Mayer and Harrison Bryant. Draft Bowers, but only as a TE2.
12. Adonai Mitchell, WR, Colts
The Colts should have been thrilled Mitchell fell to them in the second round, but it’s unclear where the rookie will fall into Shane Steichen’s passing offense at first. Michael Pittman Jr. will remain the No. 1, while Alec Pierce, Josh Down, and a tight end committee will also vie for targets. If Mitchell can displace Pierce early, then he’ll be worth a late WR5 pick.
13. Jonathon Brooks, RB, Panthers
The Panthers saw Chuba Hubbard finish as an RB3 in fantasy after Miles Sanders became a major free-agent bust. They made this pick to clean up that mess in the new offense, but keep in mind Dave Canales’ rushing attack in Tampa was the league’s worst in 2023. Brooks is also coming off a late torn ACL, clouding when he can be on the field to produce again. Draft him as a late RB4 stash, hoping he has at least RB2 status in 2025.
14. Trey Benson, RB, Cardinals
James Conner has consecutive RB2 finishes in fantasy, but he’s had considerable volume in his career and will turn 29 in May. Conner also has had his share of durability issues and is a free agent in 2025. Draft Benson as a premium power-back handcuff now, and enjoy when turns into an RB2 himself next year.
15. Blake Corum, RB, Rams
Corum (5-8, 205 pounds) profiles much like Kyren Williams (5-9, 195 pounds) as an undersized back with plenty of power to go with open-field juice. Williams is coming off a breakout season as an elite RB1 in fantasy. He averaged a workhorse-like 22 touches per game, but he also missed five contests. Draft Corum as a high-end handcuff.
16. Ricky Pearsall, WR, 49ers
Pearsall is difficult to take late in redraft leagues unless San Francisco moves on from either Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel. Jauan Jennings, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey make it an absolute mob in the passing game. The 49ers have just 28 vacated targets, so Pearsall is best left for dynasty leagues for when Aiyuk and/or Samuel are ex-49ers.
17. Jaylen Wright, RB, Dolphins
The Dolphins had their share of injury concerns with Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane, and Jeff Wilson Jr. last season. Mostert and Achane figure to be the 1-2 punch for Mike McDaniel again, with Wright trying to jump Wilson on the depth chart. Mostert got an extension through 2025, too, despite being 32. Attrition could bring down this backfield again, but it’s hard to draft Wright as a short-term handcuff, making him only a late dynasty pick.
18. Braelon Allen, RB, Jets
The Jets got an explosive young power back to complement Breece Hall. He’ll battle Israel Abanikanda for top backup duties. It’s fair to target Allen as the early Hall handcuff of choice, but unless Hall has more injury issues, Allen’s overall value is limited.
19. Troy Franklin, WR, Broncos
Even with the Jerry Jeudy trade to the Browns, the Broncos have only 43 vacated targets. They also are getting Tim Patrick back in the mix, added Josh Reynolds, and are set to give Marvin Mims Jr. a bigger role. The fact Franklin gets to keep working with Oregon QB Bo Nix helps in the future, but for now, he’s not draftable.
20. Xavier Legette, WR, Panthers
The Panthers have 117 vacated targets, most coming from DJ Chark and Hayden Hurst, and they traded for former Steeler Diontae Johnson. Also keep in mind that Jonathan Mingo was second to Adam Thielen last season and remains in the mix with Terrace Marshall Jr. Legette can emerge as the big-play No. 3 for Canales, but that makes him only a late dynasty pick in this shaky passing game with Bryce Young.
21. Jermaine Burton, WR, Bengals
Burton will help the Bengals make up for 259 vacated targets. They did reboot most of their tight end room and replace Joe Mixon, but Burton is a direct replacement in the slot for Tyler Boyd, who accounted for 98 of those. That was second to Ja’Marr Chase because Tee Higgins missed five games. There’s an outside shot at WR3 production as a rookie, but he has more dynasty appeal should the team move on from Higgins next year.
22. Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Patriots
Polk is trying to carve out a key role in a meh mix for Drake Maye that includes Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, K.J. Osborn, and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Polk could win a key outside job for them opposite Bourne, but also consider Hunter Henry at tight end. Polk is a dynasty stash to see how this all sorts out in the new offense
23. Roman Wilson, WR, Steelers
The Steelers have 140 vacated targets, and almost all of them come from Diontae Johnson and Allen Robinson behind George Pickens at wideout last season. For now, Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson are ahead of Wilson, with castoffs such as Quez Watkins, Marquez Callaway, and Denzel Mims in the mix. Wilson definitely has a shot to emerge as a No. 2, but this should be a run-heavy offense that uses a good chunk of 12 personnel under Arthur Smith, too. Wilson is a late-round dart throw in redraft with higher intrigue in dynasty.
24. Javon Baker, WR, Patriots
Baker will be trying to win the main slot duties in that aforementioned crowd with Polk, but he has a couple of key obstacles in traditional, diminutive dasher Demario Douglas and big inside option JuJu Smith-Schuster. Baker’s status for short- and long-term, like Polk, is TBD.
25. Brenden Rice, WR, Chargers
Jerry’s son could emerge as their big-play outside threat, but for now, Josh Palmer and Quentin Johnston occupy the starting perimeter jobs. Owners can pass in redraft, but make him a late priority in dynasty given Johnston’s potential to fade into bust status in 2024.
26. Ray Davis, RB, Bills
Davis was the right power complement to add for James Cook. He should be drafted as a premium handcuff with limited long-term upside behind Cook.
27. Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Panthers
Rookie tight ends tend not to produce much with Sam LaPorta and Dalton Kincaid being anomalies last season. Sanders will be a bit of a developmental receiving project behind Tommy Tremble.
28. Drake Maye, QB, Patriots
If the Patriots’ wide receiver corps makes you scratch your head, then you need to be meh about Maye, too. He’s not a redraft option, as there’s even a chance he sits behind Jacoby Brissett, and there’s not much to see in single-QB dynasty leagues yet given the situation.
29. Malachi Corley, WR, Jets
Corley is reminiscent of Randall Cobb, and that could bode well for him as a key slot target for Aaron Rogers. But the team has only 54 vacated targets and also added former Charger Mike Williams. Xavier Gipson and Allen Lazard are still around as threats on the inside, too. Corley is someone to watch to better complement Garrett Wilson in 2025.
30. MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Packers
Lloyd landed in a shaky spot because the team signed workhorse Josh Jacobs to replace Aaron Jones and also retained AJ Dillon. Lloyd is a promising change-of-pace, but he’s nothing to see in fantasy right now barring big injury attrition.
31. Bucky Irving, RB, Buccaneers
This was a good development pick behind Rachaad White because the team didn’t add a power back like Trey Benson. Irving might end up as the No. 2 and preferred handcuff, but for now, just pass.
32. Will Shipley, RB, Eagles
Shipley was a dynamic college player and now lands behind workhorse Saquon Barkley and will fight Kenneth Gainwell for key backup snaps. He’s much like MarShawn Lloyd in this situation.
33. Bo Nix, QB, Broncos
The Broncos still have the league’s messiest QB room. Nix won’t give rushing production, and, if he starts right away, he’ll likely be a caretaker QB for Sean Payton’s limited offense. His upside stinks as a starter compared to the other first-round QBs.
34. Audric Estime, RB, Broncos
Estime has a shot here because Javonte Williams didn’t blow away Sean Payton last year. Samaje Perine is a valuable veteran, but he’s best suited for passing game situations. Still, it’s a committee situation in a bad offense, so no for now.
35. Michael Penix Jr., QB, Falcons
Penix won’t see the field in 2024 unless Kirk Cousins’ recovery from a torn Achilles leads to more anomalous injury-related availability concerns for him. But with Cousins at 36 coming off that tear in a loaded new-look offense, Penix can emerge as a hot young sleeper QB as early as 2025.
