There is a fantasy football mock draft

Matthew Berry made the official announcement of his 2024 Ride or Die on Fantasy Football Happy Hour during the Rotoworld Draft Marathon on Thursday, marking the official start of the fantasy football season. Our yearly Rotoworld Mock Draft broadcast, which brought our Rotoworld crew together with friends from Yahoo and Fantasy Life, was the highlight of the day.

Twelve of the best drafters on the planet convened for this exercise, which involved completing a 12-team, full-PPR, 15-round mock draft. Filling a starting lineup with QB, RB, WR, TE, FLEX, and six bench spots (no K or DST, sorry traditionalists) was the task assigned to each team.

I have been tasked with grading the 12 teams that were anonymously submitted to me after the drafts are now over. In an effort to let readers know where our drafters really shined and where, in my humble opinion, they could have done better, I’m going to jeopardize friendships and a positive work atmosphere in the process.

Let’s get right into these teams and see how things worked out without further ado.

Team 1 (Rotoworld’s Patrick Daugherty).

1. The first is Christian McCaffrey (SF – RB).

2. (24) DJ Moore, who is WR (Chi).

Three. 25 DK Metcalf (WR – Sea).

4. . Pit – WR) George Pickens (48).

5. . (49) Sea – Reserve Bank of Canada.

6. Christian Watson, number 72 (GB – WR).

6. (73) Dal – TE Jake Ferguson.

8. DeAndre Hopkins (Ten-WR) (96).

9. Jonathan Brooks (Car – RB) (97).

Ten. (120) J. G. Dobos (LAC – RB).

11. (121) Adonai Mitchell (Warsaw, Ind.).

12. Caleb Williams (Chi – QB) (144).

13. Tyler Conklin (NYJ – TE) (145).

14. . (2016) Jalen McMillan (TB – WR).

In 15. Dylan Laube (LV – RB) 169.

Team Overview: In a PPR league, it seems that everyone who picks outside of the 1.01 starts the draft on autopilot. After totaling 2,203 yards from scrimmage and 21 receptions in his first full season with the Niners and accumulating 67 receptions—something we love in PPR leagues—Christian McCaffery is still the right pick in this situation. With D.J, the wide receiver upside is substantial. Moore just finished a career year in which, in his first season with the Bears, he posted 96-1364-8. Moore should see great results from fielding passes from Caleb Williams. He gets along well with DdotK. Metcalf, who routinely flirts with 1,000 receiving yards, is one of the most heavily targeted receivers in the end zone (17 end zone targets in 2023) and one of the most productive receivers overall. Given that he went for 71-761-5 in his first season as a full-time starter and offers this team plenty of PPR upside at every position, Jake Ferguson is a good choice for managers who choose to fade the elite tight ends. Though I have concerns about the depth of this roster, the starters are good. Panthers rookie Jonathan Brooks (ACL) will begin his career on injured reserve, and J. KK. Dobbins’ injury history is extensive. In addition, he just recovered from an Achilles tear. Despite how good the starters are, I’m not sure if the players will be available if/when injuries mount. Fortunately, McCaffrey is capable of covering many of the difficulties a team encounters during the regular season.

Favorite Pick: Caleb Williams stacks up nicely with the other receiver for the Bears. Additionally, I anticipate that the Bears and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron will play a lot of pick-and-rolls with the No. 1st overall selection in the draft class of this year. Though I won’t get too excited about the preseason, Williams’ Mahomes-like pocket presence has been evident in the preseason, according to reports coming out of training camp. However, if he can put it all together in his rookie season, Williams is a talented player with the offensive weapons surrounding him to flirt with a QB1 fantasy season. Because you can add more positional upside to your roster by fading the quarterback position, this makes him a potentially strong value as a 12th-round pick.

The team should have selected a more receiving-oriented player in the ninth round rather than a rookie running back who is expected to miss the first few months of the season. Although I think Moore and Metcalf are off to a good start, Christian Watson plays for a Packers team that takes pride in not having a No. 1 quarterback, and George Pickens might be stuck with subpar quarterback play in an Arthur Smith offense. One recipient. DeAndre Hopkins is still a good option when healthy, but Calvin Ridley will provide more competition for his target spot and he missed camp due to a knee injury. I just wouldn’t draft Jonathan Brooks if my roster already included players like Kenneth Walker and McCaffrey.

A-minus.

Scott Pianowski of Team 2 (Yahoo).

1. (2) Tyreek Hill (Mia – WR).

2. . Twenty-three Mike Evans (TB – WR).

Three. 26-26-7 Travis Etienne Jr. (RB-Jax).

4. . (47) Zay Flowers, who is WR but Bal.

5. (50) Higgins Tee (Cin – WR).

6. . Harris, Najee (71) (Pit – RB).

7. Evan Engram, age 74 (Jax – TE).

8. . Devin Singletary (NYG-RB) (95).

9. Shakir Khalil (98) (Buf – WR).

10. . Ezekiel Elliott (Dal – RB) (119).

11. (122) Jordan Love, the quarterback from Great Britain.

12. . Trevor Lawrence (Jax – QB) (143).

13. Luke Musgrave (GB – TE) at position (146).

14. (167) Demarcus Robinson (LAR – WR).

In 15. Jordan Mason (SF – RB) (170).

Team Overview: Tyreek Hill has only produced 1,700+ receiving yards in back-to-back seasons since moving to Miami in 2022, and he has only caught 119 passes in each of those seasons. With 170-plus targets in each of his two seasons with the Fins, Hill concluded the previous campaign as the WR2 in fantasy points per game (23 points). Put differently, he’s a wise choice. Here, the wide receivers are very effective. For Mike Evans to “start his career,” he needs to record his eleventh consecutive 1,000-yard season. Meanwhile, Tee Higgins and Zay Flowers should have successful seasons as their respective teams’ wide receivers. In an attempt to take advantage of free agency the following offseason, whether it be with the Bengals or someone else, Higgins, who is on the franchise tag, might even see a “contract year” bump. With 339 total opportunities last season, Travis Etienne ranked third among running backs and is a nice fit for this “Hero RB” build. Evan Engram, a teammate, was the leader among tight ends in targets (143) and receptions (114) the previous season, which made him a valuable late-round pick in PPR leagues. This time, I’m concerned about the bench depth. In a one-quarterback league, I find myself considering a second quarterback to be a ceiling on a team’s potential growth. Getting another tight end has the same benefits. Although Luke Musgrave is a good player, he essentially acts as injury insurance in a position where most players are equal after the top four or five players. Swap out Lawrence and Musgrave for another RB or WR; this group might be competitive.

Favorite Pick: Devin Singletary might end up being a better addition to this team than Najee Harris. Most of Harris’s pass-catching effort was exploited by Jaylen Warren during the previous campaign. Currently recovering from a hamstring injury, Warren could be replaced in the regular season by Cordarrelle Patterson. Devin Singletary caught 30 passes for 139 scoreless yards and ran for 216-898-4 in his one and only season with the Texans last year. The majority of the touches in the Giants’ backfield should go to Singletary, who averaged 14 points and three fantasy points per game from Weeks 10 to 18.

Worst Pick: Fantasy managers would be completely unaware of Ezekiel Elliott this season if it weren’t for his PPR scam, which allowed him to score 10 points and 7 fantasy points per game last season. Surprisingly, Elliott ended the previous season as the 13th most targeted running back in the NFL. Zeke might be able to salvage his fantasy value this season by working as a pass-catcher, but we shouldn’t anticipate much from him in terms of production. His 3 point 7 YPC average over the past two seasons makes him appear incredibly inefficient as a runner. Zeke’s best-case scenario is presumably a touchdown-dependent role, similar to Gus Edwards in 2023. It will make up for a lack of yards if he routinely finds the end zone. On a weekly basis, he will be untrustworthy if he doesn’t. Having said that, this lineup already had three trustworthy running backs, so there was no need to take that chance.

A B-.

Jay Croucher of NBC Sports is on Team 3.

1. (3) CeeDee Lamb (WR – Dal).

2. . (22) Isiah Pacheco (KC – RB).

3. Cooper Kupp (LAR – WR) (27).

4. . (46) Lamar Jackson (quarterback for the Bengals).

5. . Joe Mixon (Hou – RB) (51).

6. . James Conner (Ari – RB) at position 70.

7. . Alvin Kamara (NO-RB) at position 75.

8. David Njoku (94) (Cle – TE).

9. 99) Rasheed Shaheed (WR – NO).

Ten. Joshua Palmer (LAC – WR) (118).

11. . (123) Josh Downs, wide receiver (Ind.

12. Dalton Schultz (Hou – TE), number 142.

13. . DeMario Douglas (NE – WR) (147).

14. (166) Tua Tagovailoa (Mia – QB).

15. . Audric Estime (171) (Den – RB).

Team Overview: Since I firmly think that one should never draft out of fear, CeeDee Lamb is fine in this situation. Lamb, who led the team in receptions last season (135) and was WR1 in fantasy points per game (24.0), is a great pick at 1.03, assuming the Cowboys can work out Lamb’s contract before the season begins. Although he is a nice player who may be drafted close to his ceiling, Isiah Pacheco, who I took a chance on including in this year’s Shy Away article, finished the previous season as the RB14 in fantasy points per game. Pacheco could readily surpass his ADP if he sees more green zone (rushes inside the five-yard line) carries than he did in 2023, but it makes sense that the Chiefs have no trouble relying on Patrick Mahomes and the passing game to complete drives. Thanks to his rushing potential, two-time MVP Lamar Jackson is undoubtedly a good choice, and David Njoku is coming off a career year in which he totaled 81-882-6. It is noteworthy, though, that Joe Flacco—who is currently with the Colts—played a major role in Njoku’s success. This team, which is heavy on running backs, might require assistance at wide receiver. This year’s WR47 in points per game was Rashid Shaheed, their wide receiver, and Cooper Kupp, who has missed 13 games due to injuries over the past two seasons, is not getting any younger. The wise decision was to finish with a wide receiver-heavy strategy, but the positional depth still seems a little thin.

Favorite Pick: Josh Downs has the potential to start every week in this lineup if he recovers from the ankle injury he sustained during training camp. Downs averaged 9 points and 2 fantasy points per game as a rookie by catching 68 passes for 771 yards and two touchdowns. Downs’ output dropped off in the second half of the season after averaging 12 points and 2 points per game during the first seven weeks. Having said that, Downs is a crafty wide receiver who continuously demonstrated his ability to create after the catch and get open while attending UNC.

Worst Pick: Based on this roster, Isiah Pacheco is most likely going to be a weekly starter. It’s okay. Using four top-75 selections at a position where you can only start three is not acceptable. Jayden Reed, a receiver selected three picks later, would have been a better choice with the seventh-round pick that was given to Alvin Kamara. You don’t draft Lamar Jackson in the fourth round to ever think about benching him, not to belabor my contempt for backup quarterbacks in a one-quarterback league. Even as a free agent in the fourteenth round, I would rather take a chance on a player with greater positional upside than a backup quarterback like Tua Tagovailoa. QBs are always available for streaming if necessary.

C is the grade.

Matthew Berry of NBC Sports is on Team 4.

1. (4) Chase Ja’Marr (Cin – WR).

2. (21) Kyren Williams (LAR – RB).

3. (28) Deebo Samuel Sr. (SF – WR).

4. (45) Jalen Hurts (Phi – QB).

5. Andrews, Mark (52) (Bal – TE).

6. Godwin, Chris (TB – WR), 69.

7. . David Montgomery, (76) (Det – RB).

8. (93) Jaylen Warren (Pit – RB).

9. No. 100: Brian Robinson Jr. (Was – RB).

Ten. [117] Jakobi Meyers (LV – WR).

11. (14) Mike Williams, wide receiver (NYJ).

12. (141) Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB – NYCG).

13. . Greg Dortch (Ari – WR) (148).

14. (165) T. J. Hockenson (Min, TE).

In 15. (172) Luke McCaffrey (was a wide receiver).

Team Overview: Once again, assuming that all contract disputes are resolved, Ja’Marr Chase is among the league’s best receivers and has consequently been a top option for fantasy football. Chase averaged 19 points per game with Joe Burrow in 10 games during the previous season, but he ended as the WR12 in fantasy points per game (16 points). Despite having a 37 percent opportunity share the previous season, Kyren Williams—who won’t be shocking the fantasy football community in 2024—is still anticipated to see a ton of volume this season, and Jalen Hurts should once again lead all quarterbacks in rushing touchdowns. Hurts continues to have the highest fantasy football ceiling of any quarterback in the league; over the past three seasons, he has finished as high as QB8.

Favorite Pick: In this case, my best and worst choices will directly compete with one another. I love the selection of Brian Robinson. Now that he is playing with rookie Jayden Daniels, who should be heavily used in Washington, I anticipate Robinson will have more space to run as Daniels slows down the defense’s reaction time and waits for him to take off on the read option. Even with the addition of Austin Ekeler, I like Robinson to lead the Commanders’ backfield in total opportunities, and he showed enough as a pass-catcher that he can be trusted in the passing game if Kliff Kingsbury doesn’t want to show his hand too much on a specific down.

Worst Pick: I believe that in 2024, David Montgomery and Brian Robinson might be able to produce fantasy content on par with one another. Even though Montgomery ran for 219-1015-13 last season, Robinson averaged 13.5 fantasy points per game, and Robinson scored four touchdowns fewer than Montgomery’s 14.9 fantasy points per game. Although I don’t mind that Montgomery was selected, I can’t help but wonder what kind of team this would have with a more potent wide receiver. All things considered, I believe this team has a lot to offer.

A- in grade.

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Team 5: Fantasy Life (Kendall Valenzuela).

1. 5 Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR-Det).

2. (20) Chris Olave (WR – NO).

Three. Malik Nabers (NYG – WR), number 29.

4. . Jacobs, Josh (GB – RB), 44.

5. . 53 Christian Kirk (WR – Jax).

6. . (68) Rachaad White (TB – RB).

6. (77) Joe Burrow, quarterback (Cin).

8. . (92) Jordan Addison, a wide receiver (Min).

9.
Tony Pollard (Ten – RB) (101).

10. . (116) Goedert in Dallas (Phi – TE).

11. (125) Jahan Dotson (previously WR).

12. . Lloyd, MarShawn (GB – RB), (140).

Thirteen. Jermaine Burton (Cin – WR) (149).

14. . 164 Kimani Vidal (LAC – RB).

15. . Javon Baker (NE – WR) (173).

Team Overview: This roster has a lot of receiving potential. Running it back with Rachaad White should only enhance this team’s already excellent receiving floor. Lynch and the other receiver, Jarrod White, are absolute target hogs who should be targeted early on in PPR leagues. Last season, White PPR-scammed his way into the hearts of fantasy managers by rushing for an additional 990 yards and six touchdowns and catching 64 passes for 549 yards and three touchdowns. With Dave Canales no longer serving as offensive coordinator, rookie Bucky Irving may steal some of White’s snaps. However, White, who led the team in routes run (451) last season, should still see a lot of pass-catching opportunities this season. Getting Dallas Goedert is as good as it gets for a team that waited until the tenth round to choose a tight end. Goedert was the TE8 and TE5 the previous two seasons, but he finished as the TE12 in fantasy points per game last season. Goedert is the type of tight end you can usually set and forget if you don’t have an elite option to rely on, even if he doesn’t turn out to be a huge value.

Favorite Pick: Malik Nabers, a rookie receiver for the Giants, might win the most targets out of all receivers this year. Nabers, who is thought to be one of the best receiver prospects in recent memory, averaged an amazing 17 points per yard while catching 89 passes for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns at LSU during the previous season. His fantasy value may be directly impacted by Daniel Jones’ ability to get him the ball, as there isn’t any strong target competition. Although that seems scary, Naber’s price means that he doesn’t have to significantly surpass his ADP in order to be profitable in this position on a wide receiver-heavy roster like this one. Should that prove insufficient to ease your concerns, bear in mind that in five games played with Nick Mullens last season, Justin Jefferson averaged 18 points and 9 points per game, even though Mullens was ranked 43rd out of 49 quarterbacks (minimum). 100 pass attempts) in the percentage of catchable passes (73 percent).

Worst Pick: Although I’ve always liked Tony Pollard, it looks like the Titans’ running back and second-year back Tyjae Spears will part ways. Not only that, but Pollard and Spears have similar back profiles. Both of them are cunning players who can be useful in passing situations, but neither one seems especially strong when it comes to the goal line. With this in mind, I prefer to go with the cheaper of the two backs. If you’re considering Pollard in drafts, you might be best off waiting for Spears, whose Yahoo ADP has him going more than a full round after Pollard.

Grade: B+.

Team 6 (Kyle Dvorchak — Rotoworld).

1. Justin Jefferson, sixth (Min – WR).

2. (19) Hou – WR Nico Collins.

Three. (30) Jaylen Waddle (WR – Mia).

4. . (43) Tank Dell (South – West).

5. 54) Patrick Mahomes, quarterback (KC).

6. George Kittle (SF – TE) (67).

7. Jayden Reed (GB – WR) is number 78.

8. Ladd McConkey (LAC – WR) (91).

9.
(102) Zamir White (RB – LV).

10. (115) Rico Dowdle (Dal – RB).

11. (126) Ty Chandler (Min – RB).

12. (139) Sea – RB Zach Charbonnet.

13. Antonio Gibson (NE – RB) is number 150.

14. (163) TB – RB Bucky Irving.

15. Roschon Johnson (174) (Chi – RB).

Overview of the Team: So this is how you Zero RB, people. Success is guaranteed when there are four receivers in a row out of the gate who are all anticipated to be in explosive offenses. George Kittle, the team’s TE7 in points per game (12 points) from the previous season, and one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Patrick Mahomes round out this already explosive lineup. Although this roster used high draft picks on backup running backs before adding receivers, it’s a much more acceptable strategy than the one I criticized earlier for wasting them on backup running backs. The Zero RB strategy is based on loading up at receivers and hoarding running backs who might run into high-volume workloads later, given how difficult it is to find replacement receivers. Zamir White doesn’t fit the typical running back mold for this build because he isn’t a pass catcher, but he is still a good choice because of his volume. Despite my discipleship of Zero RB, I am not above criticizing a badly executed attempt. Having said that, there is no cause for concern regarding this build.

Favorite Pick: Rico Dowdle’s play leaves me unsure of what to think about him. While averaging just 4.1 fantasy points per game over his 23 career games, Dowdle has rushed 96 times for 385 yards and two touchdowns. Though Dowdle might be the most effective and productive back in Dallas’ backfield this season, there isn’t much to be excited about at first glance. The 29-year-old Ezekiel Elliott most likely cannot receive that honor, even if he isn’t. Dowdle is currently listed as the RB2 on Dallas’ unofficial depth chart, but a world exists where he emerges to lead this backfield in carries. For a team that will be depending on players like Dowdle to hit, acquiring him in the tenth round could be a good value.

Worst Pick: Tank Dell and Nico Collins would have been my choice here if the Texans had not made the trade for Stefon Diggs this offseason. Alternatively, I find myself questioning if Dell will emerge as the superior choice in this fourth round. First things first, if preseason snap counts are any guide, Dell seems to be the Texans’ third wide receiver. Even though it could be argued they lacked a consistent third receiver to run out of said personnel at a higher rate, the Texans finished 16th in the league in dropbacks in 11 personnel last season, which is more concerning. Without a doubt, I’m wondering if Diggs was the top choice here prior to his explosive performance at No. 42 overall, which compelled the drafter to select Dell.

Rating: A.

Team 7: Fantasy Life’s Dwain McFarland.

1. (7) Bijan Robinson (Red-bedded Atl).

2. . Drake London (Atl – WR) (18).

Three. (31) SF-WR Brandon Aiyuk.

4. . (42) Stefon Diggs (Hou – WR).

5. (55) Anthony Richardson, a quarterback from Indiana.

6. . Xavier Worthy (KC – WR) (66).

6. Raheem Mostert (Mia – RB) (79).

8. Aaron Jones (Min – RB) (90).

9. (103) Brock Bowers, between LV and TE.

10. Samuel Curtis (Buf – WR) (114).

11. . Trey Benson (Ari – RB), number one.

12. . (138) Xavier Legette (Wheelette-class).

Thirteen. (151) Ricky Pearsall (SF – WR).

14. (162) Tim Patrick (Den – WR).

15. (175) Tank Bigsby, (RB – Jax).

Team Overview: Although there is a choice to begin this draft with the Falcons again, there is more hope now that Kirk Cousins is in town. Another positive sign is the presence of Arthur Smith in Pittsburgh. Although Bijan Robinson’s output last season occasionally seemed to disappoint fantasy managers, his lack of touchdowns as a rookie was really what held him back. With 299 total opportunities and 85 targets, Robinson placed ninth and third, respectively, among all running backs. However, he only found the end zone eight times, which is partly attributable to an offensive unit that finished 29th in red zone touchdown percentage (46.8%) and 26th in points per game. Along with poor quarterback play, these factors can also be held responsible for Drake London’s lack of output. The addition of Anthony Richardson also gives this team potentially elite upside if he hits. Richardson averaged 26.5 points per game in the two games he finished last season. Though it is a small sample size, the results were exactly what we expected from a 6-foot-4, 245-pound quarterback possessing 4point four speed and an arm like a rocket launcher. With regard to roster construction, this team checked all the boxes, and if a few things go their way, they have more than enough talent to be vying for a fantasy championship.

Favorite Pick: Brock Bowers is a solid option to buck the trend of rookie tight ends not having the highest return on investment in fantasy football. When he broke out for 56-882-13 as a freshman in the SEC in 2021 and went for 714 yards or more in each of his three seasons before filing for the draft, the former Georgia Bulldog was not overpowered. As a college player, Bowers played 52.2 percent of his snaps from the slot; as a professional, he’ll probably play a lot of slot snaps. After his sophomore year, fantasy managers were giddy about this elite prospect with a college production profile. In this ninth round of the draft, Bowers might be a great value.

Worst Pick: Aaron Jones suffered serious injuries during the previous campaign. The 30-year-old Jones played in just 11 games, going for 30-233-1 through the air and 142-656-2 on the ground. Jones turns 30 in December. A younger player at the position, such as Brian Robinson or Tyjae Spears, or a full-on pivot off the position would have been my choice, especially with Bijan Robinson and Raheem Mostert already in place. Jones has proven himself in the past, so we know what he can do when he’s performing at his best, but he needs to demonstrate that his injuries haven’t caught up with him. Jones also ranked 132nd amongst running backs in fantasy points over expectation, which is not good.

Grade: B.

Team 8 (Denny Carter — Rotoworld).

1. Eighth, Breece Hall (RB – NYJ).

2. (17) Davante Adams (LV – WR).

3. (32) DeVonta Smith (Phi – WR).

4. . (41) Travis Kelce, a TE from Kansas.

5. . (56) Diontae Johnson (WR – Car).

6. . Rome Odunze (65) (Chi – WR).

7. Jameson Williams (80) (Det – WR).

8. . Jayden Daniels (89) (QB, at the time).

9. . (104) Tyjae Spears (Ten – Row B).

10. . Dan – WR Brandin Cooks (113).

11. (128) Vehicle – Chuba Hubbard (RB).

12. (137) Khalil Herbert (RB – Chi).

13. . (152) Jaylen Wright (RB – Mia).

14. (161) Andrei Iosivas (Cin – WR).

In 15. [176] Tre Tucker (LV – WR).

Team Overview: One of my best first-round fantasy draft selections is Breece Hall. After finishing as the overall RB6 last season with Zach Wilson leading the Jets’ offense, I stated earlier this year that Christian McCaffrey is my favorite running back of all those not named McCaffrey to finish as the overall RB1. Dave Canales’ offense should see a lot of action from veteran target hog Diontae Johnson, who leads a group of wide receivers led by Davante Adams and DeVonta Smith that has a high ceiling. In addition, Travis Kelce has finished as the fantasy points per game’s TE2 or better for eight straight seasons. Last season, he led all players at his position with an average of 14 points per game. This team got off to a great start, and I really like how their eighth-round quarter brought it all together. More on that later.

Favorite Pick: At this point, the Twitter/X streets have extensively documented my concerns regarding Jayden Daniels’ ability to start for the NFL in the long run. Among the worst sack-takers in college football history, he is one of the quarterbacks selected since 2015. He’s in the same league as some bad pros thanks to his high CFB pressure-to-sack rate; one such player is Justin Fields, whose sack issues cost him three seasons in Chicago. Fortunately for fantasy managers, if the rushing floor is as good as we anticipate, Daniels, like Fields, may have elite fantasy upside. In his Heisman-winning season at LSU, Daniels rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns and should be good for at least 500 rushing yards this season. 17 quarterbacks have gained 400 yards or more in passing since 2021. Seven of those players went on to rank among the top five quarterbacks in terms of fantasy points per contest. Kyler Murray rushed for 544 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie with Kliff Kingsbury back in 2019, and Daniels is considered by many to be more of a runner than Murray. Daniels has top-five fantasy upside if he hits and could raise the floor of any fantasy roster he’s on.

Worst Pick: There’s not a pick I hate here, but given some of the receivers who went later — Romeo Doubs, Brian Thomas Jr. , Hollywood Brown, etc. , I would have preferred this team avoided Jameson Williams in the seventh round. Williams is reportedly highly motivated and “looks like a different player” in camp, but in a league where weekly start/sit decisions must be made, I prefer to avoid guys like Williams, who may be fourth in the target pecking order behind Amon-Ra St. Gibbs, Jahmyr, and Sam LaPorta Brown. If Williams starts to show the kind of play that made him a first-round pick in 2022, I would hate having to start or sit him every week. Again, I don’t hate this pick.

A+ is the grade.

Fantasy Life’s Ian Hartitz is on Team 9.

1. (9). A. A. J. Brown (WR-Phi).

2. . (16) Kevin Henry (Bal – RB).

Three. 33 De’Von Achane (Mia – RB).

4. . (40) Rice, Rashee (KC – WR).

5. . Terry McLaurin (Was – WR) at position 57.

6. . Kyle Pitts, 64 (Atl – TE).

7. . Keon Coleman (81) (Buf – WR).

8. . (88) Thomas Brian Jr. Jax – WR.

9. (105) Zack Moss (RB – Cin).

Ten. Romeo Doubs (GB – WR), number eleven.

11. (129) Jaleel McLaughlin, Den – RB.

Twelve. Tyler Allgeier (Atl – RB) (136).

13. . (153) Nick Chubb, RB (Cle).

14. . Brock Purdy (SF – QB) (160).

15. . (177) Justin Fields (QB, Pit).

Team Overview: Derrick Henry, also known as the “Big Dog,” is almost certain to have a successful rookie season with the Ravens. Henry has a strong chance of topping all running backs in touchdowns when the 2024 season finally comes to an end. A. . D. J. Brown, who recently finished with 1,400 yards for the Eagles for the second straight season and seven touchdowns, remains one of the best receivers in the league. Brown, who ended the previous season as the WR8 in fantasy points per game, pairs well with Terry McLaurin and Rashee Rice, whose ADP would be higher but for an impending suspension. This team has a lot of depth at running back, though I am concerned about De’Von Achane’s opportunity share. Brock Purdy, a 14th-round pick, is an example of the kind of elite quarterback play that is still available in 1QB leagues. In terms of fantasy points per game (21 points) last season, Purdy was the No. Fantasy points over expected (95 points) went to one quarterback in the rankings. Purdy, who completed his first full season as a starter with a passing grade of 4280-31-11, could have another successful fantasy season if Brandon Aiyuk is still with the team come Week 1.

My Pick: After Kyle Pitts’ 68-1026-1 rookie season, the phrase “this is Kyle Pitts’ year” has become all too common in fantasy football. Previous to that, No. Despite his 81-1023-5 record over the previous two seasons, the fourth overall pick is another player who stands to gain significantly from Kirk Cousins’ signing. Pitts led the league in air yards per target (11.4) and saw 90 targets in the previous campaign, which placed them 10th among tight ends. He is an explosive passing option who only needs someone to pass the ball to him. Pitts finished dead last among tight ends (min.) in 2022. 50 targets) with a catchable target rate of 57%. Despite a 23 percent improvement, his 80 percent catchable target rank was the second worst in 2023. This season, cousins will remedy that. Pitts should have a career year if the goals stay in place for him.

The worst choice would be to back any of the Bills receivers, but even though Keon Coleman is in his rookie year, I can’t get too excited about him. Throughout his three seasons in college, Coleman never gained more than 798 receiving yards, and Dalton Kincaid, Khalil Shakir, and Curtis Samuel could provide fierce target competition for him. Coleman will perform better than I anticipated if he can surprise me and grab five or six targets per game, but I prefer the veterans in front of him to take Diggs’ nine points per game (targets/gm).

A B-grade.

Group 10 (Jackson, Lawrence Jr. Rotoworld).

1. (10) Indiana – RB Jonathan Taylor.

2. Quintana Barkley (Phi – RB) (15).

3. (34) Theodore Pittman Jr. (Ind – WR).

4. . Trey McBride (Ari – TE), 39.

5. . (58) Keenan Allen (Chi – WR).

6. (63) quarterback Kyler Murray (Ari).

6. D’Andre Swift (82) (Chi – RB).

8. . (87) Sutton Courtland (Den – WR).

9.
(106) Sea WR Tyler Lockett.

10. (111) Ford, Jerome (Cle – RB).

11. (130) QB Dak Prescott (Dal).

12. (135) Michael Wilson (Ari – WR).

13. Ray Davis (Buf-RB) is number 154.

14. . (159) Bal – WR Rashod Bateman.

15. (178) Sea-based TE Noah Fant.

Team Overview: After deciding to select Michael Pittman as their WR1 in the third round, this team adopted a traditional approach right away, dominating the RB-RB start with Jonathan Taylor and Saquon Barkley. A well-known star in both real and fantasy football circles, Taylor’s and his managers’ usage at times was frustrating, and in just four of the ten games he played in the previous season, he finished as an RB1. Luckily, Zack Moss’s move to Cincinnati has relegated the talent behind him, but Anthony Richardson will still be a threat to vulture goal-line touchdowns. Jalen Hurts and the “Tush Push” pose the same touchdown threat to Barkley, but his pass-catching prowess should keep his fantasy floor elevated. After finally making his comeback from a torn ACL in Week 10, Matthew Berry’s Ride or Die, Mr. Kyler Murray averaged a respectable 21 points and 5 fantasy points per game last season. He has been a top 10 fantasy quarterback in every season save his rookie year. If both players perform well in what should be their first full season together, stacking Murray with Trey McBride—who has overall TE1 upside this season after going for 81-825-3 in 2023—will make for a nice tandem.

Our choice: An outstanding tight end has the potential to significantly improve a fantasy team. Following his official debut as the starting tight end for the Cardinals in Week 8, McBride did nothing but lead fantasy managers to consecutive victories. From Weeks 8-18, McBride was the TE4 in fantasy points per game (15.0) and was third in total targets (85) and second in receptions (66). There’s a reason this manager took McBride over the likes of Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews. It’s because the prospects of him finishing as the No. 1 tight end in fantasy are a very real thing in 2024.

Worst Pick: More receiver assistance is needed for this team. In the seventh round, they had the chance to acquire that assistance, but they chose to go with D’Andre Swift instead. On a different roster, I wouldn’t hate the selection of Swift here, but this roster becomes very fragile if one of its top three running backs goes down. Veteran receivers Courtland Sutton and Tyler Lockett are nice options, but I prefer them as depth rather than week-to-week starters. In a league where you’re forced to start a minimum of three receivers, rostering Swift forces this team to start Sutton or Lockett most weeks.

Grade: C+.

Team 11 (Cooterdoodle — Fantasy Life).

1. (11) Garrett Wilson (NYJ – WR).

2. Puka Nacua (14) (LAR – WR).

3. (35) Sam LaPorta (Det – TE).

4. . (38) James Cook (Buf – RB).

5. . (59) C. J. Stroud (Que – Hou).

6. (62) Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Sea – WR).

7. (83) Javonte Williams (Den – RB).

8. (86) Chase Brown (Cin – RB).

9.
(107) Dontayvion Wicks (GB – WR).

10. (110) Blake Corum (LAR – RB).

11. (131) Adam Thielen (Car – WR).

Twelve. (134) Jerry Jeudy (Cle – WR).

13. Wan’Dale Robinson (155) (NYG – WR).

14. Jared Goff (158) (Det – QB).

In 15. (179) Cole Kmet (Chi – TE).

The team’s affinity for talented players is evident. One of the best young receivers in the game, Garrett Wilson overcame a number of poor quarterbacks to catch 95 passes for 1,042 yards and three touchdowns. With 169 total targets in his rookie season under Nathaniel Hackett’s offense, Wilson ranked fourth in terms of expected fantasy points per game and seventh overall. Not surprisingly, given his 17 games of ineffective quarterback play, he finished as the WR237 in fantasy points over expected. With Aaron Rodgers hopefully healthy, Wilson’s fantasy points per game ranking will drop to WR34. Puka Nacua, a fifth-round pick, went for 105-1486-6 and is coming off one of the best rookie seasons ever for a wide receiver. As the No. 1 pick, Sam LaPorta is fantastic. C and one tight end off the board. A. J. As the QB7 in fantasy points per game during his rookie campaign, Stroud should be able to build on that performance. That’s without getting into the James Cook selection, which I also think is a great start for this team. Although there are certain things I would have done differently in the later rounds, this team has enough youth and talent to contend for the playoffs this year.

Favorite Pick: Although Blake Corum’s average depth profile has increased since the Rams selected him in the third round of this year’s draft, he still has a winning potential. We stash certain players because of the nature of the game we play, which is regrettable because it would probably take an injury to Kyren Williams for this potential to be fully realized. It’s important to remember that Corum was recuperating from a season-ending knee injury he sustained in 2022, even though his output declined during his final year at Michigan. Corum can have a breakout season with the Rams if he can replicate his 2021–2022 form, when he was among the best backs in the country. There’s a strong possibility Corum will dive headfirst into a thirty percent opportunity share if Kyren Williams were to ever miss time, giving him high-end RB2 upside on a weekly basis.

Worst Selection: I’m over Javonte Williams. After sustaining a devastating knee injury in 2022, Williams was able to play in 16 out of 17 games, but his average while rushing for 217 yards per carry was only 3 points per possession. Although rookie Audric Estime and second-year back Jaleel McLaughlin are prepared to take the lead if Williams continues to show inefficiency, head coach Sean Payton appears willing to give Williams one more chance at starting this season. I think Williams was a good pick and understand why he was selected in this particular position in terms of roster construction. Just a little “safer” would have been my preference. Devin Singletary is the first person that comes to mind.

An A+ is required.

Team 12 (Rotoworld / Eric Samulski).

1. (12) Jahmyr Gibbs (Det – RB).

2. (13) Theodore Harrison Jr. (Arie – WR).

Three. 36) Cooper Amari (Cle – WR).

4. . Josh Allen, 37 (Buf – QB).

5. . Calvin Ridley (Ten-WR) (60).

6. . (61) Dalton Kincaid (Buf – TE).

7. . Rhamondre Stevenson (84) (NE – RB).

8. . (85) Hollywood Brown, Wide Receiver (KC).

9. . Gus Edwards (LAC – RB), number one.

Ten. (109) Austin Ekeler (originally RB).

11. Polk Ja’Lynn (NE – WR) (132).

12. (133) Darnell Mooney (WR – Atl).

Thirteen. Gabe Davis (WR, Jax) is 156.

14. Braelon Allen (157) (NYJ – RB).

15. Xavier Gipson (180) (NYJ – WR).

Team Overview: My favorite player to have a huge season jump is Jahmyr Gibbs, even with David Montgomery still around. Throughout 182 carries last season, Gibbs amassed 945 yards of ground gain and 10 touchdowns, demonstrating his explosiveness as a passing threat (52-316-1). In addition to finishing 10th in predicted fantasy points and 15th in fantasy points over expected, he was the RB8 in fantasy points per game at the end of the previous season. Gibbs set a high standard for the 2024 season with his efficiency, which went well with his volume. Marvin Harrison Jr., rookie. is determined to show that, despite the Cardinals’ abduction of him, he is the prince that was promised. No. Thus far this year, four. After securing 144-2474-28 in his final two seasons at Ohio State, Harrison joins the league with NFL legend bloodlines and an exceptionally successful college resume. In fantasy football, Josh Allen remains a strong contender to be selected as the starting quarterback. Expectations for him going into the season are high because of his exceptional rushing upside and capacity to utilize his receivers to the fullest. Another great stack to target is Allen paired with Dalton Kincaid (73-673-2). Although this team has many positive aspects, it is risky to carry a wide receiver room with well-known receivers like Calvin Ridley and Amari Cooper, who finished as the WR18 and WR28, respectively. Hollywood Brown has to perform better than his ADP in this wide receiver room if they want more than one receiver to rank in the top 24.

Favorite Pick: I really like the value on Braelon Allen, but it will take an injury for this pick to work out. Running for 1,268 yards and 12 touchdowns (6 points per carry) as a true freshman in the Big Ten, the former Wisconsin running back was among the youngest and most effective backs in the country. Allen is one of the youngest players in NFL history at the age of 20, having not turned 21 until January. Having played in two preseason games, Allen looks to have solidified his position as the Jets’ second-string running back behind Breece Hall. In addition to catching two passes for 12 yards, he has run 14 times for 81 yards. Allen possesses the size to be a force close to the goal line and could step into a high-volume role should Hall ever miss time. It’s also said that Allen’s hands, which we obviously adore, have impressed coaches.

Worst Pick: Gus Edwards scored 40.8% of his fantasy points (or 78 out of 191) through touchdowns. Edwards ranked 34th in fantasy points per game at running back, failing to break into the top 24 despite a career-high 13 rushing touchdowns. In PPR leagues, Edwards was averaging a stunning 4 points nine fantasy points per game when he wasn’t scoring. In addition to being a difficult player to trust, he offers no receiving upside. As long as J. KK. Dobbins has no illnesses. The Ravens’ attempt to phase him out towards the end of the season also bothers me. I get it; Edwards will be playing in an offense that prioritizes running backs with Greg Roman. In start/sit leagues, he still seems too boom-or-bust for my taste.