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Joey Pollizze predicts the first two rounds of 2024 fantasy football drafts. This is how 2024 fantasy football drafts should go this season.
Fantasy football drafts are right around the corner, which means it's time to start thinking about those first few rounds. The first round is always the most exciting part of drafts because the player you choose here will lead your team throughout the year.
That's why fantasy managers really focus on that pick early in drafts. However, complimenting that first-round pick with a superstar player in the second round is just as important. Managers who took Austin Ekeler and Patrick Mahomes in the first two rounds last year likely didn't have the best fantasy year.
So, let's look at the top 24 picks in 2024 fantasy football drafts. This is how the first two rounds should go in fantasy football drafts this season.
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1.01 - RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
Despite currently battling a strained calf, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey should still be the first overall pick in fantasy drafts. He scored over 100 PPR points more than the RB2 last year (Breece Hall), and he is the clear RB1 in drafts this season. It's hard to pass on a player who just totaled 339 touches for 2,023 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2023.
"If we had a game, I would play." - #49ers RB Christian McCaffrey
He is being held out for precautionary reasons and says he’ll be ready for WK1
🎥: @SiriusXMNFL #FTTB #NFL pic.twitter.com/YGDPOwm9iS— 49ers & NFL News 24/7 (@49ersSportsTalk) August 9, 2024
McCaffrey is the focal point in San Francisco's offense while seeing 80 to 85% of the team's offensive snaps every game.The strained calf shouldn't worry fantasy managers because he should be good to go by Week 1.
1.02 - WR CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
After McCaffrey, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb should be the next player off the board with the second overall pick. Lamb finished as the WR1 last year while averaging 23.7 PPR fantasy points. He also scored the second most fantasy points among all position players (403.2 PPR points) in 2023, and another strong season should be in store for the All-Pro wideout.
Lamb has caught at least 100 passes in back-to-back seasons and just totaled a career-high 1,749 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023. Being the WR1 on an elite Cowboys offense should help him finish as a top fantasy wideout again.
1.03 - WR Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill has been one of the most consistent fantasy players over the past few years, and that's why he should be the third overall pick in this year's fantasy drafts. Hill has finished as the WR2 in PPR formats in three of the past four seasons, including last year.
The speedy playmaker averaged 23.5 PPR fantasy points per game in 2023 while scoring the fourth most fantasy points among all players (376.4). Hill is a safe pick early in drafts and a player who fantasy managers should be excited to grab at the 1.03.
1.04 - WR Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase finds himself going early in the first round of most drafts this year, and I have him going as the fourth overall pick on this list. Things have worked against Chase finishing as a top-5 fantasy wideout over the past two years, including a hip injury he suffered in 2022 and Joe Burrow's season-ending wrist injury last year. But the wideout still finished as the top 12 wide receiver in both years.
If those two can stay healthy this season, don't be surprised if the Pro Bowl wideout finishes with a career year in 2024. Back in his rookie campaign, when both Burrow and Chase played 16 games together, the former LSU product finished as a WR5 in PPR formats behind a 1,455-yard, 13-touchdown season.
1.05 - WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the safer picks at this point in drafts. He finished as the WR3 last year while averaging 20.7 PPR fantasy points per game. The 24-year-old is the clear WR1 in Detroit's offense, where he has amassed 225 catches for 2,676 yards and 16 touchdowns over the past two years. Take him with confidence at the 1.05 due to his heavy involvement in the passing game.
1.06 - RB Breece Hall, New York Jets
Hall should be the next player selected in fantasy drafts at sixth overall. The 23-year-old just finished as the RB2 in 2023 despite being limited in the few first weeks following a torn ACL. He also won a lot of fantasy leagues last year after averaging 33.2 PPR fantasy points in the final three weeks of the season. With Aaron Rodgers under center, look for the Jets running back to see fewer stacked boxes as well. That should help him post consistent fantasy numbers in 2024.
1.07 - RB Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
A tough decision fantasy managers will have to make in drafts this year is choosing between Hall and Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson. With the Jets running back getting selected at the 1.06, though, Robinson should come off the board directly after him.
Bijan Robinson is ridiculous 😳 @Bijan5Robinson
📺: #GBvsATL on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/FhXtx7w3wW pic.twitter.com/9H7xPJt9a1— NFL (@NFL) September 17, 2023
The explosive running back was held back a bit by Arthur Smith's play calling last year, but with Smith's departure this offseason, Robinson should be in store for a strong fantasy season. As a rookie, he finished as the RB9 while totaling 1,463 yards from scrimmage. Given his potential in both the running (4.6 yards per carry) and passing game (86 targets) last year, he should finish as a top-three fantasy back in 2024.
1.08 - WR Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson might be the best playmaker in the league, but his quarterback brings down his fantasy value just a bit. With Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy as his quarterback, Jefferson does not have the fantasy ceiling as some of the other players going before him on this list, such as Chase, St. Brown, Hall, and Robinson.
Still, Jefferson should see enough volume to finish as a top-5 fantasy wide receiver in 2024. In the final four weeks of the 2023 season, the All-Pro wideout averaged 22.1 PPR fantasy points with Nick Mullens as his quarterback. So, expect him to put up consistent fantasy numbers again this season, regardless of the team's quarterback play.
1.09- WR A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
After the first eight picks, there is a tier drop from Jefferson to Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown. But Brown is still a fantastic selection with the ninth overall pick. He has finished as a top-6 fantasy wideout in two straight seasons while totaling at least 1,400 yards in both 2022 and 2023. Being the WR1 on this Philadelphia offense should propel him to another strong fantasy finish.
1.10 - RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
Workload will always be a concern for Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, especially with David Montgomery still in the picture. However, that shouldn't affect his fantasy value too much in 2024. As a rookie, Gibbs averaged 5.2 yards per carry and totaled 234 touches for 1,261 yards and 11 touchdowns. Montgomery might take a few touches away from the young back, but his potential in the receiving game makes him a great pick at the 1.10. It's worth noting Gibbs suffered a hamstring strain early this week, but he should be just fine for Week 1.
1.11 - WR Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
Quarterback play has been a big reason why New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson hasn't blossomed into a fantasy star yet. There is a great chance that will happen in 2024, though, with Rodgers as his quarterback. Wilson will be Rodgers' WR1 this season, and that should help him reach new heights in fantasy this year. His upside is too big to pass on at this point in drafts, so fantasy managers should take him with the 11th overall pick.
1.12 - RB Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
It has been a rough couple of years for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. He has missed 13 games over the past two seasons, which has hurt his fantasy value. But he is fully healthy entering the 2024 season, making him a great target at 12th overall. Taylor has no competition for touches in Indianapolis' backfield, and he should see a heavy workload this season. The last time he played a full season was back in 2021 when he rushed for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns.
2.01 - RB Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley finds himself on a new team this season after leaving the New York Giants in free agency. His arrival in Philadelphia immediately boosts his fantasy value, as he'll be running behind one of the best offensive lines in football.
Some fantasy managers might be afraid of quarterback Jalen Hurts stealing some touchdowns at the goal line, but Barkley will still get his fair share of touchdown opportunities. Being a part of this Eagles offense gives the Pro Bowl running back a high floor and ceiling entering the fantasy season.
2.02 - WR Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
I am lower than most on Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua in fantasy this year. The offense will run through Cooper Kupp, and Nacua only averaged 15.7 PPR fantasy points in games Kupp was on the field. Still, the second-year wideout is a solid pick at the 2.02. He is on a pass-heavy offense with a veteran quarterback in Matthew Stafford. That should allow him to finish with above-average fantasy numbers this year.
2.03 - RB Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
Many think Los Angeles Rams rookie running back Blake Corum will significantly eat into Kyren Williams' workload. While Corum will definitely be involved in some capacity in his first year, this is Williams' backfield again. Given what he did last year, it would be a shock to see the team go away from him in 2024. He averaged 5.02 yards per carry while averaging 21.3 PPR fantasy points per game.
.@Kyrenwilliams23 coming by! 💨 pic.twitter.com/8G9Si3euSY
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) July 25, 2024
2.04 - WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals
It's always risky taking a rookie this early in drafts. However, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is one of the safer rookies in fantasy in recent years. Harrison will immediately enter Arizona's offense as the team's WR1 and has a quarterback in Kyler Murray who has supported top fantasy wide receivers in the past. At 2.04, this is a great spot for the rookie in fantasy drafts.
2.05 - WR Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins has supported a fantasy WR1 in four of the past six seasons, including two WR1s during the 2018 season. As a result, Falcons wide receiver Drake London is a solid pick in the middle of the second round. He should be Cousins' favorite target in the passing game, and that makes him too hard to pass on at the 2.05. London has every opportunity to post big fantasy numbers in 2024.
2.06 - RB Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. continues to be undervalued in fantasy drafts this year. Part of that could be due to Tank Bigsby's added involvement in Year 2 or the fact that he averaged just 13.2 PPR fantasy points over the final nine weeks of the season. Nonetheless, Etienne should still see plenty of chances both on the ground and through the air in 2024, making him a nice target at the 2.06.
2.07 - WR Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams will have a high fantasy floor again this season, but his ceiling might be capped due to the team's quarterback play. Gardner Minshew II or Aidan O'Connell will be throwing passes to Adams in 2024, which isn't the best news for his fantasy value. However, expect the veteran wideout to see over 170 targets for the third straight year in this Las Vegas offense.
2.08- WR Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave is another player who will have his fantasy ceiling capped due to quarterback play. That has surely been the case over his first two NFL seasons, as he has failed to finish in the top 15 at the wide receiver position in both years. However, his fantasy floor makes him a solid pick at the 2.08 in drafts. He scored in double figures in PPR formats in 12 of 16 games last year.
Big year inbound for Chris Olave 🚀 pic.twitter.com/0HFcenk5Uz
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) August 11, 2024
2.09 - RB De'Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane is one of the riskier picks in the second round of drafts this year. He missed multiple games due to injuries last season and played over 50% of the Dolphins' offensive snaps in four of 11 games. However, it's hard to pass on a player with this type of upside late in the second round. He averaged 7.8 yards per carry as a rookie and scored over 20 PPR fantasy points in five contests.
2.10 - RB Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry couldn't land in a better situation this offseason. He goes to a Ravens offense that ran the ball at the highest mark in 2023 (49.92%) and scored 26 touchdowns on the ground. Given that Gus Edwards—who is now with the Los Angeles Chargers—scored 13 touchdowns in 2023, Henry could be in store for a 15-plus touchdown season. As a result, take the veteran running back late in the second round.
2.11 - QB Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen should be the first signal-caller off the board in drafts this season. He has finished as the overall QB1 in three of the past four seasons. The only year he didn't was in 2022 when he finished as the QB2 behind Mahomes. Allen scored the most fantasy points of all players last year (410.6) and averaged 24.2 PPR fantasy points per game. That makes him a great target late in the second round.
2.12 - RB Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
Fantasy managers can go a lot of different ways to close out the second round. Sam LaPorta and Brandon Aiyuk were potential choices at this spot, but Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs felt like the best selection here to pair with McCaffrey. Jacobs should see most of the running back touches in Green Bay's offense and is one of the last few workhorse backs left at this point in drafts.
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