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Nick Mariano's must-have fantasy football draft picks for best ball formats. These are his potential league-winning picks and draft targets for 2024.
Fantasy football best ball drafts continue to build momentum as an entertaining way to play fantasy football. As the hype around drafting teams grows throughout the preseason, the appetite for more BB contests continues to grow without putting more in-season management on drafters' plates.
Best ball is a format where you draft a team and you're done. No trades, no pickups, no setting lineups. Each week, your optimal lineup is set, meaning whoever scores the most points on your team is added until you have a full lineup. Your score is added up, and whoever scores the most at the end of the season wins. That’s it.
Since this format automatically sets the highest-scoring lineup, you want to target upside. Not just seasonal upside, but those players who can have what has been dubbed as “spike weeks." It is less valuable to have a compiler that plays all 17 games with around 10 points in each versus one that produces a couple of 20-plus point weeks. Those spike weeks impact your best ball score more than a player who can consistently give you 10 points. The art of roster construction is how you absorb the "bust" weeks that inevitably come with the booms. Let's proceed.
Editor's Note: Find sleeper picks, undervalued ADPs, and draft targets to help you dominate your fantasy football drafts. Try our free who to draft tool for personalized recommendations.
Quarterback Draft Targets for Best Ball
The signal-caller strategy has rebounded back to placing a premium on top-tier talent, but there are also several midrange QBs and late-round sleepers to enjoy for 2024. We also have to provide wiggle room for team context. For instance, Jayden Daniels carries plenty of intrigue but rookies are also notoriously volatile. But if you already have Terry McLaurin then his “draftability” goes up.
In 2023, Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson were typically going between picks 20-30. The next tier of Justin Fields, Joe Burrow, and Justin Herbert finished with Underdog ADPs in the 40-50 range. Seven picks within the top 50 went to QBs, which did not pan out.
Fast forward to 2024, when Allen and Hurts are the first QBs going off the board at the end of the third round. Do they deserve a full-round drop? Allen lost his veteran perimeter WRs while Hurts lost Jason Kelce and now has a talented Saquon Barkley to contend with. Ditto Lamar Jackson with Derrick Henry. The price points are appropriate, while Patrick Mahomes gets a re-tooled WR room that shouldn’t hammer him with drops again. Mahomes is a fantastic value here.
The Chiefs led the NFL in drops and STILL won the Super Bowl 💪
The best part: the wide receiver group will be much better this year! pic.twitter.com/xE9WjL5Yor
— Farzin Vousoughian (@Farzin21) March 18, 2024
It’s difficult to side with the passer/dual threat combo of C.J. Stroud/Anthony Richardson around pick 55 when Joe Burrow/Kyler Murray awaits two rounds later, though I understand the ARich potential as folks dream of peak Cam Newton. Then it’s Dak Prescott and Jordan Love in command of potent offenses, with Love capable of a substantial step forward as Green Bay’s young WR corps grows up. Any QB through now is a sturdy QB1 to anchor a two-QB build.
After those guys, it’s a pair of exciting rookies in Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels. Williams has a revamped offense with DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet, and D'Andre Swift around him. And Daniels is coming off of a 50-TD season at LSU, where he averaged over 1,000 rushing yards in the last two years. Can he unlock Terry McLaurin? Pick 100 is a nice place to gamble.
The risk with rookies will have you leaning into an earlier QB2, with a robust group of veterans between Rounds 9-13. Ideally, your target amidst the crop is dictated by an earlier WR/TE pick that connects a stack.
The late darts here are Geno Smith and Will Levis, who both have stellar WRs around them. Smith has a more known talent range and lower upside, while Levis is more volatile with a risk-taking cannon for an arm. Beyond them, you’re hoping J.J. McCarthy has immediate chemistry with Justin Jefferson or Dave Canales can improve Bryce Young’s outlook.
Running Back Draft Targets for Best Ball
Running backs tend to be overshadowed by wide receivers in this format. The rise and efficacy of zero-WR strategies is undeniable, which can lead to easy Hero or Bully RB builds. We’ll get into all of that shortly.
Last season we had eight RBs in the first two rounds. That figure is down to six RBs as we enter June 2024. Bijan Robinson is getting plenty of steam as his elite playoff schedule gets the spotlight.
Bijan Robinson in the fantasy playoffs:
Week 15 @ LV
Week 16 vs. NYG
Week 17 @ WASDerrick Henry-esque from when the Titans had the Texans and Jaguars on their schedule back in the day
— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) May 16, 2024
Other RBs to target in the early rounds (not mentioning the top-round stud RBs) are Derrick Henry, Isiah Pacheco, Rachaad White, Aaron Jones, Jaylen Warren, Zack Moss, and James Conner.
You want to target backup running backs who could see a lot of volume should something happen to the starter. On some teams, there is a multitude of backups, and we could see a committee. But many teams with quality backups are worth investing in during the later rounds of best ball drafts.
Running back is the position that suffers the most in-season injuries or just down performances. This is why it's important to have backups on your bench. That way, if your primary RBs have a down week, your backups will be elevated to RB2 status, if not higher.
Some RBs who fit this mold, who go in Round 10 or later, are Chase Brown, Blake Corum, Ezekiel Elliott, Zach Charbonnet, MarShawn Lloyd, Kendre Miller, Tyler Allgeier, Jaleel McLaughlin, and J.K. Dobbins. Elliott stands out a bit from the group re-joining the Cowboys for his age-29 season with Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn around him. It was only two years ago when he scored 12 TDs in 15 games for Dallas. He should be more efficient than Tony Pollard was by the red zone (a low bar) and has a chance at early momentum.
Later options include Khalil Herbert, Keaton Mitchell, Braelon Allen, and Will Shipley.
Isiah Pacheco deserves a second shout as he has an uncontested backfield in a KC offense that should improve its efficiency compared to last year.
Plenty will be made of both Najee Harris (ADP: 87) and Jaylen Warren (ADP: 90) with noted run-lover Arthur Smith taking over as offensive coordinator and a much-improved offensive line. While the fantasy community clamors for Warren to get more work, Harris enters his contract year after topping 1,200 total yards with eight TDs. Both have valid paths to greatness in 2024 and drafting one around their clumped ADP feels great. Pittsburgh should remain a run-first, defense-oriented team in ‘24.
Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren with three offensive linemen in the draft #steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/s4e3qy9D5s
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) April 27, 2024
Another one-two punch to grab a piece of is Tennessee’s duo, Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears. Pollard had a down 2023 season after a serious leg injury in ‘22 but started to feel like himself in the second half of last year. And Spears found a way to shine as a rookie behind the Derrick Henry volume machine. Spears should need full PPR to stand out unless Pollard gets hurt.
Wide Receiver Draft Targets for Best Ball
Wide receivers are the belles of the (best) ball, as even a half-PPR format like Underdog has eight WRs in the first round entering June. DraftKings, a full-PPR format that also brings a bonus for clearing 100 yards in a game, also has eight WRs in the first and 14 of the top 20.
WRs tend to be cheaper on NFFC and FFPC but discrepancies always exist. Be sure you study which platform you play on to discover ADP gaps to exploit. For instance, Mike Evans is nearing the top 20 on Underdog and DraftKings but has an ADP of around 40 on NFFC and FFPC.
While drafters can take a hard stance against this trend and fill a portfolio with early QB/RB/TE builds, the objective studies done by the likes of Underdog’s Hayden Winks show that ignoring WR early on leads to worse average outcomes. We are here to provide intel that should help all builds, though!
Splitting hairs over the top WRs to target is an exercise for another day. It may feel strange to see the likes of Drake London in Round 2 but that’s the magic of Kirko Kohl’s. It is more efficient to talk about the few early WRs that stand out as avoids than wax poetic about the majority of them being great players, so keep an eye out for our Best Ball Avoids piece!
That said, do have a flexible plan with the WRs that you take. Be mindful of the bye weeks and try to line up any QB stacking or Week 17 opponent correlation. DJ Moore and DK Metcalf square off (SEA WR trio vs. CHI WR trio is a deep game-stack opportunity), while Amon-Ra St. Brown and Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel flesh out a DET-SF stack for Week 17’s Monday Night Football game. Don’t make it a rigid plan, but if you need a tiebreak then mind the matchup.
Let’s push into the middle rounds with Terry McLaurin, who is still seeking a consistent breakout year with rookie Jayden Daniels slinging the ball. Perhaps the rookie turbulence and Daniels’ rushing prowess will once again limit the F1's upside, but I’m extremely intrigued. This pick range typically brings me McLaurin or Marquise Brown, who suddenly finds himself as Patrick Mahomes’ potential No. 1 WR.
Brown and Xavier Worthy are too cheap. The Rashee Rice uncertainty has created a scenario where one (or likely two) of the KC pass-catchers will finish August’s draft season at a much higher ADP. Plant your flags early!
Another “boring veteran” who has slid too far is Chris Godwin, who has topped 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons despite a torn ACL late in 2021 (it should’ve been five if not for 2020’s thigh and finger injuries). Godwin is punished due to just six touchdowns in his last two seasons but held one of the worst gaps between actual and expected TDs in 2023. And after a drop in slot usage, 2024 should put him back in his comfort zone.
Chris Godwin slot snap rate, last three seasons:
2023: 33.5%
2022: 65.9%
2021: 61.2%Expected to return to primary slot role in 2024 under new #Bucs OC Liam Coen. Via ESPN: pic.twitter.com/vDEFdd8ap8
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) May 6, 2024
Christian Watson has an average best-ball ADP of around 90 while Romeo Doubs is typically around 110-125. Compare them to Jayden Reed’s 60-70 range and that is why I’ll have tons of Watson/Doubs and not as much Reed. Dontayvion Wicks is also getting steamed up near picks 130-140 of late, but his value is higher than that if you are fading Watson’s health. Jordan Love has shown great promise and Watson pops when healthy. If the hamstring strength re-balancing effort pans out then this is Profit Land.
Jameson Williams is a big name coming into his first full-go season after the Lions let Josh Reynolds walk. I’m hard-pressed to envision much competition coming from Kalif Raymond and Donovan Peoples-Jones. This offense will flow through the dynamic ground-game duo, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and Williams. His game-breaking speed should yield several spike weeks on a dome-oriented squad. This also works for Rashid Shaheed, who popped without Michael Thomas on the feed for a New Orleans team that didn’t add much at WR.
Fast forward around pick 150 and you’ll find several rookies of interest. Ja'Lynn Polk could pace New England’s WR corps in 2024, but my most-clicked target is Jermaine Burton. Not only is Tee Higgins’ current status up in the air, but Burton’s role as Cincy’s No. 3 is vastly underrated. Perhaps it is because Joe Burrow had a maligned 2023 campaign, or due to Tyler Boyd underwhelming with just two scores.
Rookies to take a shot on include Troy Franklin, Malachi Corley, Luke McCaffrey, Javon Baker, Devontez Walker, Jalen McMillan, and Malik Washington.
Late-round fliers include Darnell Mooney, Michael Wilson, Rashod Bateman, Odell Beckham Jr., Jalin Hyatt, and Kendrick Bourne.
Tight End Draft Targets for Best Ball
Selecting an early tight end in 2023 did not pan out, as first-round Travis Kelce had a down year while third-round Mark Andrews missed over a month. T.J. Hockenson in the fifth was paying off until he tore his ACL, missing the precious best-ball playoff weeks. Others like Kyle Pitts, Dallas Goedert, and Darren Waller flopped well inside the top 100. Meanwhile, late-round darts on Sam LaPorta, Jake Ferguson, and Trey McBride hit the bullseye.
The reaction in early 2024 Underdog Drafts has pushed Kelce into the fourth round around pick 38, making him the TE2 behind LaPorta (ADP: 30). This feels like an overreaction and I’d hop on the early price point. McBride is a good bet to be Arizona’s No. 2 receiving option behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and now he gets a fully-operational Kyler Murray. But most of all, Andrews settling around pick 50 as the TE5 is a great value. He was pacing toward a double-digit TD season with a career-best catch rate (73.8%) before a hip-drop tackle (now banned) ended his season.
Only Kyle Pitts could have yet another down year in 2023 and come out swinging with a rise in ADP. Hope springs eternal with a good passer in Kirk Cousins and the departure of Arthur Smith. George Kittle remains a “steady Eddie” who will deal with TD volatility on a crowded San Fran team. Evan Engram and Jake Ferguson are the TE8 and TE9, respectively, and feel like one’s last stand for consistent volume.
Then we tread into your typical TD-dependent, boom-bust types. The preference is getting one of those top-nine TEs before getting into your David Njoku/Brock Bowers/Dalton Schultz tier. Bowers is the most intriguing of that bunch given his draft pedigree and unknown ceiling. If you miss on them, then the most popular best-ball builds lean on three late TEs.
Sometimes this begins as early as pick ~140 with Pat Freiermuth and Cole Kmet. Whether one is taking this approach or looking for a late TE to pair with an early stud, there is one man whose situation stands out.
Tyler Conklin has quietly been a volume hound and the Jets did not bring in any high-capital competition at the position. Conklin will finally get to work with Aaron Rodgers after managing a 70% catch rate and over 10 yards per catch in a neutered NYJ passing “attack.” Increased competition for targets from the WR room should be offset by Rodgers’ efficiency.
Also, Conklin had 61 receptions and zero TDs in ‘23, while no other TE was held scoreless with more than 35 catches. That reception tally was the 11th most from a TE in 2023. Lean into TD variance, volume, and a QB upgrade in the late rounds.
Tyler Conklin's ranking amongst tight ends since 2021:
* 263 targets (7th)
* 180 receptions (8th)
* 1,875 receiving yards (10th)
* 6 touchdowns (t-31st)@UnderdogFantasy ADP: 178.1@DraftersFantasy ADP: 188.3— Zachary Krueger (@ZK_FFB) June 5, 2024
Other late-round options include Noah Fant, Chigoziem Okonkwo, Jonnu Smith, Mike Gesicki, Greg Dulcich, Colby Parkinson, Erick All Jr., and Jelani Woods. If I had to pick my favorite from the bunch, it's Smith in a high-octane Miami attack where folks have internalized that TEs are ignored because the 2023 roster lacked someone with Smith's talent.
#Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel on Miami’s use of tight ends:
“Some people think that just ‘whatever it was, it will always be’… There’s opportunities there, for sure.”
McDaniel on Jonnu Smith:
“He has become a master of YAC — not only because of speed, but because of a mindset” pic.twitter.com/o1l4yHEuf9
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) June 4, 2024
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