Each year, we at ESPN Fantasy endeavor to help with your fantasy football draft prep, including sleepers lists and cheat sheets. Below, you will get the best of both worlds, as ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter offers up his personal list of early-, mid- and late-round targets in 2024 fantasy leagues.
Below are some players I feel pretty strongly about this season. Obviously, these aren’t the only ones I think will excel in 2024, but I believe these players have a real chance to outperform their current draft values. If given a choice at certain junctures in the draft, or in tiebreaker situations, these are players who will receive strong consideration.
I am in one 12-team league, in which some of these players will not need to be drafted, and one 16-team league, in which some of them might be more valuable. But again, these are players I believe hold strong value relative to their ADPs and are poised to have productive seasons.
I hope this list proves helpful. Good luck this season!
Quarterback
NFL teams cannot consistently win without elite quarterbacks, but fantasy teams can. Fantasy managers don’t have to use a high draft pick on an elite quarterback such as Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson to have a championship-caliber season. That is why, as much as I respect the league’s top quarterbacks, they are not recommended for the first few rounds. Once Round 4 rolls around, I am willing to consider a certain special talent.
Early rounds
Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts: Any QB who is as much a rushing threat as a passing one becomes a stellar fantasy option.
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Schefter makes a splash with the first QB off the board
Adam Schefter fires up the room after selecting Anthony Richardson as the first quarterback in the draft.
Middle rounds
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans: There might not be a rookie quarterback who has ever played better than Stroud did last season. Now, add in Stefon Diggs and Joe Mixon.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys: A pass-friendly offense has already correlated to big fantasy production for Prescott, and it shouldn’t be any different this season.
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals: One year after Murray returned to fantasy relevance, the Cardinals added arguably the draft’s best wide receiver in Marvin Harrison Jr.
Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders: Capable of putting up running and throwing numbers in an offense that is expected to feature his skills.
Late rounds
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars: He posted solid fantasy numbers last season and now has enough weapons to improve upon that production.
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions: He might not be thought of as an elite NFL quarterback, but his fantasy numbers are as consistent as they come.
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints: Put up fantasy-friendly numbers late last season, despite dealing with multiple injuries. Now that he’s healthy, his numbers also should be healthier.
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos: Sean Payton admired Nix long before he drafted him, and Nix didn’t do anything this summer to diminish that feeling.
Running back
There are some elite early targets, but there are also starting running backs available with ADPs around or higher than 100. It would be ideal to pluck one starting RB early, address other needs, then find another starter later.
Early rounds
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers: The only question is his health. If he stays healthy, he can duplicate what he did last season as fantasy’s No. 1 player on a points-per-game basis.
Breece Hall, New York Jets: One Jets official predicted this summer that Hall would account for 2,500 total yards.
Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons: This could be the type of season fantasy players expected out of Robinson last season.
Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions: He often looked like the most explosive and electric running back in football last season.
Middle rounds
Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Consistently underrated and consistently overproduces.
Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks: Seattle wants to use Walker as a receiver to complement the running production he already provides.
James Cook, Buffalo Bills: People forget how run-dominant Buffalo became after Joe Brady took over as the offensive coordinator, and Cook is the lead back.
Brian Robinson Jr., Commanders: Though the team signed former Chargers standout Austin Ekeler in free agency, Robinson figures to be the back that comes out on top in fantasy.
Late rounds
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans: Spears flashed last season, and without Derrick Henry, he has a chance to be even better this season.
Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals: Brown’s own teammates have been touting his talents throughout the summer.
Gus Edwards, Los Angeles Chargers: He is expected to be a significant weapon in the red zone, especially around the goal line.
Rico Dowdle, Cowboys: Could easily emerge as the most productive back out of Dallas’ backfield.
Ray Davis, Bills: Looking like the clear insurance pick for managers who roster Bills running back James Cook.
Will Shipley, Philadelphia Eagles: Similar to Davis above, Shipley is solid insurance for managers who roster Eagles running back Saquon Barkley.
Audric Estime and Blake Watson, Broncos: Someone has to emerge in the Broncos’ backfield, and here are two rookies who have flashed potential.
Wide receiver
The passing age in the NFL has yielded a plethora of standout receivers. There are many good ones, early and late, but if a fantasy manager can find this year’s Puka Nacua, that would be fantasy gold.
Early rounds
Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals: His spot on this list is 100% contingent upon him getting a new deal from the Bengals. If there’s no new deal, Chase becomes risky.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions: Target machine who is as tough and dependable as they come.
Garrett Wilson, Jets: Was poised last season to show everyone the elite receiver he is … until the fourth play of Week 1, when Aaron Rodgers tore an Achilles. If Rodgers stays healthy, Wilson will be a star.
Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals: One of the top receiving prospects to come out of college in recent years. Harrison was born to do this.
Nico Collins, Texans: Stroud called Houston’s offense a five-headed monster. If it is, Collins plays the lead in it.
Chris Olave, Saints: The Saints’ offense should be elevated by the arrival of offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, and if the offense is better, Olave will surely be as well.
Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins: Waddle would be a No. 1 receiver on most any other team. He just happens to be teamed with the NFL’s most explosive player, Tyreek Hill.
Malik Nabers, New York Giants: Some NFL personnel departments, including the Giants’, rated him as a better receiving prospect than Harrison.
DeVonta Smith, Eagles: A.J. Brown gets a lot of attention in Philadelphia, but Smith still rightfully gets plenty of targets.
Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams: This is the best he has looked since his triple crown season.
Tank Dell, Texans: Stroud has told people he believes Dell is one of the league’s top receivers.
Middle rounds
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers: As a rookie, Reed flashed enormous potential. There’s no reason he shouldn’t be better in Year 2.
Christian Watson, Packers: Health is the only issue preventing Watson from being the Packers’ big-time, big-play threat.
Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens: In his second season, Flowers should be the No. 1 target in the Ravens’ offense.
Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears: He has already built a rapport with rookie QB Caleb Williams that will connect them for years.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks: Showed how productive he could be during his rookie season and should continue to shine.
Later rounds
Rashid Shaheed, Saints: A speed merchant capable of consistently producing big plays.
Josh Downs, Colts: Before he suffered a high ankle sprain this summer, Downs was poised to produce, and he likely still will once he is healthy.
Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch, Cardinals: Someone in the Cardinals’ offense outside of Harrison and Trey McBride is going to produce. Here are two solid options.
Jalen McMillan, Buccaneers: It looks as if the Bucs have found a receiver for the future who is ready to contribute in his rookie season.
Andrei Iosivas, Bengals: With the unsettled contract situations in Cincinnati, Iosivas stands to be a big benefactor.
Luke McCaffrey, Commanders: Washington needs more receiving help.
Tight end
Similar to running back, there are some standouts up high and some values on the back end. Tight end has been hard to fill in recent fantasy seasons, but the position appears to have some real depth this season.
Early rounds
Sam LaPorta, Lions: Flashed superstar potential as a rookie, when the Lions featured him.
Middle rounds
Trey McBride, Cardinals: There were times last season when he played like a baby Gronk.
Dalton Kincaid, Bills: Without Stefon Diggs in Buffalo, Kincaid could develop into Josh Allen’s No. 1 target.
Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders: The Raiders have big plans for their first-round pick.
Later rounds
Isaiah Likely, Ravens: Likely could be the No. 1 tight end on many teams; things are just tougher in Baltimore with Mark Andrews around. But the Ravens know how talented he is.
Tyler Conklin, Jets: On a team looking for additional receiving options, Conklin can be a security blanket for Aaron Rodgers.
Greg Dulcich, Broncos: The Christian Watson of tight ends. If he’s healthy, he will be a factor.
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Titans: It will be interesting to see if new Titans head coach Brian Callahan can get the most out of his talented tight end.
Juwan Johnson, Saints: He produced more last season than people realized, but he now needs to get past an offseason foot injury.
Theo Johnson, Giants: The Giants believe Johnson can be a factor in his rookie season.
