Tier 10 (Continued)
81. Ladd McConkey (WR, LAC) – The Chargers passed on Malik Nabers early in the draft and chose to draft Ladd McConkey instead a round later. McConkey has the route-running chops to be a true breakout candidate for the Bolts this season. His profile has some concerns, though. Never the lead target of the Georgia offense (Brock Bowers), McConkey wasn’t able to notch a thousand-yard season in his collegiate career. He also dealt with injuries on and off, an issue he found himself dealing with early again in training camp. McConkey looks like he could be an excellent NFL player while providing modest fantasy value in his rookie campaign.
82. Rome Odunze (WR, CHI) – It feels weird to say that Rome Odunze was the WR3 of this year’s draft class, but he was. In a class that gave us Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers, Odunze somehow became an incredible consolation prize for the Chicago Bears. Odunze is an elite route runner who dominates in contested catch situations. He can win at every level of the field and has a fair shot to take over WR2 duties from Keenan Allen before the season ends. That being said, it looks to be more of a slow burn for Odunze, who will have to earn that playing time behind two of the league’s best pass catchers.
83. Jayden Daniels (QB, WAS) – Jayden Daniels has all but claimed the starting job for the Commanders. He improved every year in college, both as a passer and a rusher. For fantasy football, the rushing is the reason he will be in the QB1 conversation all season long. The goal for Daniels in year one would be to be something reminiscent of what Justin Fields was during his time with the Bears. I know that sounds bad, but for fantasy, it was borderline elite. While he is not quite the athlete of Justin Fields, if he can post similar passing numbers (197 yards/game) and slightly less rushing production (~50 yards/game), he should clear most fantasy managers’ expectations and definitely bring value for his round 8/9 ADP.
84. Jared Goff (QB, DET) – Jared Goff has found the perfect system for him to succeed. Surrounded by the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Jahmyr Gibbs, Goff was able to accomplish the rare feat of ranking in the top ten in yards per pass attempt while having a bottom-three average depth of target. He gets his supporting cast back in 2024 and looks on track to flirt with QB1 numbers. The Lions’ defense should fare better with additions to their secondary during the offseason, and that is the only major thing that could lower Goff’s floor. Similar to Brock Purdy, Goff isn’t likely to see the same efficiency numbers, but he has the weapons and the skillset to stay on the fringes of QB1 territory.
85. Brock Purdy (QB, SF) – Last season, Brock Purdy proved to everyone that he is here to stay. He was a top-15 quarterback 11 times during the regular season, and 10 of those were top-10 finishes. With a 70% completion rate last season and a nearly 3:1 touchdown touchdown-to-interception ratio, Purdy is due for some regression, and the potential loss of Brandon Aiyuk would significantly impact his production in 2024. That being said, Purdy provides a high floor option if you wait a little too long at the position.
86. Tyjae Spears (RB, TEN) – Tyjae Spears was one of my favorite breakout candidates for the coming season before the Titans brought in Tony Pollard. Spears is the most talented of the two backs, but both seem to have a limited ceiling as they head towards a 50/50 split. The Titans also brought in a number of veteran pass catchers in an attempt to surround Will Levis with weapons. The old run first, run second scheme we are used to in Tennessee is not what fantasy managers should be expecting in 2024. Unless one of Spears or Pollard goes down with an injury, they are more FLEX options than reliable RB2s this season.
87. Rashee Rice (WR, KC) – If it wasn’t for Rashee Rice’s looming suspension, he would find himself in the mid-20s at the position. Unfortunately, we do have to worry about his off-the-field issues, and with that uncertainty, the rookie breakout for Patrick Mahomes is an afterthought. Currently, Rice is around WR36, and he still feels like he may be too high. If he were to fall a round in ADP or we were to get more clarity on his suspension, I would be more comfortable pulling the trigger. He also has new competition for targets in rookie Xavier Worthy and veteran Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.
88. Brian Robinson Jr. (RB, WAS) – Brian Robinson Jr. is one of the more interesting players to draft this season. On the one hand, the Commanders brought in veteran superstar Austin Ekeler, but on the other, Ekeler is 29 and has dealt with injury, leaving many wondering what he has left in the tank. Robinson is the favorite to lead the team’s early down work but he did struggle with fumbling last season, fumbling six times on 178 carries. He was able to increase his efficiency from his rookie year, though, and proved to be helpful through the air as well. Kliff Kingsbury is the new OC in Washington, and he is bringing with him what has historically been one of the fastest pace-of-play systems in the NFL. In addition, a rookie signal caller in Jayden Daniels and Robinson has the potential to have a breakout season in 2024. If there is one name on this list that I would mark as a name on the rise, it’s Robinson, so make sure to check his ranking on the next update.
89. Christian Watson (WR, GB) – Christian Watson is an old-school X receiver at his best. He can beat defenders with this strength and athleticism and makes some highlight plays that litter your social media feeds. The issue is Watson can’t stay healthy. This offseason, he shared that he has a discrepancy in the weight of his legs, which has led to his multiple soft tissue injuries. As they work to remedy this, Watson remains limited. If he can put his injuries behind him and develop a more complete route tree, Watson could be in the top-15 conversation, but until then, there are too many other options for Jordan Love to utilize for me to buy in on Watson.
90. Justin Herbert (QB, LAC) – There is no getting around it: Justin Herbert is frustrating for fantasy football. Last season, he was on an absolute tear to start the year, posting five QB5 finishes or better by week six. It all fell apart from there as Herbert dealt with injury. This offseason was less than kind to Herbert as he lost his top three receiving weapons. Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman’s run-heavy approach should also reduce Herbert’s passing volume. The one thing that could keep him relevant for fantasy football is his usage in the run game. Herbert is a more than proficient runner but has yet to be asked to do that too much over his career. 2024 could see him eclipse the 350 rushing-yard mark, and that alone could help float him into the top 15 at his position.
Tier 11
91. Calvin Ridley (WR, TEN) – Turning into something of a journeyman, Calvin Ridley starts his Titans career. He was inconsistent, to say the least, last season with some game-altering drops. Ridley appeared to be off-schedule with Lawrence for more weeks than not. Now he joins a Titans offense with a much worse option at quarterback in Will Levis and a team that is not likely to get into scoring territory very often. He has a low ceiling and a low floor, as things stand now.
92. Jaylen Warren (RB, PIT) – Jaylen Warren is an absolute bulldozer with a surprising amount of explosiveness. He ran well last season and made a significant impact as a receiver out of the backfield. Many are calling for Warren to take over the lead-back duties, but I am not there yet. Warren can still be useful for fantasy managers, even with only 40% of the workload, as long as he continues to lead the backfield as a receiver. The Steelers invested heavily in their offensive line during the draft, and Arthur Smith’s run-first scheme coming to town also bodes well for both Harris and Warren.
93. Marquise Brown (WR, KC) – Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is not who we thought he was. Brown is a solid role player in the NFL, which renders him useless in most fantasy football leagues. This season, he should benefit early season from a Rice suspension, but that utility is more than likely gone by week four.
94. George Kittle (TE, SF) – George Kittle had one of the best seasons of his career in 2023. He was a top-ten tight-end 12 times, 10 of which he was the TE5 or better. The Brandon Aiyuk trade talks have seemed to stall, but if Aiyuk does get traded, Kittle could be heading for his fourth 1,000-yard season.
95. Brian Thomas Jr. (WR, JAC) – Brian Thomas Jr. scored 17 touchdowns in his final year at LSU. He should immediately fill in as the Jaguars X receiver, and he has decent route-running ability. The Jaguars were desperate for a more reliable option in the red zone last season, and Thomas should be able to help right away. He is far from a sure thing, but as far as upside and opportunity go, he has it in bunches.
96. David Njoku (TE, CLE) – David Njoku finally had his breakout season in 2023. He racked up nearly 900 receiving yards and six touchdowns and set career highs in every pass-catching category. This year, you can expect much of the same from Njoku. The only reason he falls to nine is because the tight end position as a whole is heading toward a massive 2024 season.
97. Pat Freiermuth (TE, PIT) – Pat Freiermuth battled some injuries in his career, but the talent is evident. While I am not buying Freiermuth’s breakout season, he is a value at his ADP. Don’t forget that just a year ago, “Muth” was able to eclipse 700 receiving yards in 2022. I expect a return to TE1 territory this season. He gets an added bump if Fields takes over the starting gig.
98. Raheem Mostert (RB, MIA) – Raheem Mostert is 32 years old. He shares a backfield with De’Von Achane. The Dolphins added Jaylen Wright in the NFL draft. He is due for massive regression in the touchdown department. That’s the bad. The good news is that he is the perfect fit for the Mike McDaniels system and is the leader in the running back room. While Mostert’s best is behind him, he should see between 180-200 touches and should have the edge on Achane when it comes to goal-line carries. Right now, I have him sitting at just shy of 1,000 total yards and eight touchdowns.
99. DeAndre Hopkins (WR, TEN) – DeAndre Hopkins is currently banged up, but at 32 years old, he does not have much ceiling to work with. Will Levis’ leadership of this offense is less than ideal, as he may struggle to produce a single top-40 wide receiver. Even when Hop is healthy, there is a fair chance he will slot behind Calvin Ridley for targets.
100. Brock Bowers (TE, LV) – The Raiders stunned many by selecting Brock Bowers in the NFL draft. Bowers is one of the best tight-end prospects of all time coming out of Georgia. He shouldn’t be asked to block much and might be the best player on this team, not named Davante Adams. The only thing holding him back from a Sam LaPorta-type breakout in year one is his quarterbacks.