Five Unanswered Fantasy Football Questions for 2024 - Anthony Richardson, Malik Nabersm, De'Von Achane, more

Will Anthony Richardson stay healthy for the entire 2024 season? That is just one of the five questions fantasy football managers wish they knew before their 2024 draft.

The best part about fantasy football is choosing your team on draft day. Sitting down with all of your fellow fantasy players in person is what makes drafting so fun for most fantasy managers. Even drafting from home is just as exciting because you still get to pick your favorite players throughout every round.

On top of that excitement, though, is some stress. Every fantasy manager wants to draft the best team and win the championship. However, most of the players you are selecting have some risk attached to them. That's what makes the fantasy season so thrilling. No one knows what's going to happen. 

So, here are five questions about the 2024 fantasy football season you wish you knew the answer to today. These five questions are why some players have the ADP they do.

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Can Sam Darnold Support A WR1? 

The biggest fantasy loser of the offseason might be Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Jefferson had Kirk Cousins as his quarterback for the past few years, but with him leaving this offseason, the team will roll with Sam Darnold in 2024.

With J.J. McCarthy undergoing season-ending knee surgery, Darnold should start most, if not all, of the season under center. That brings some question marks surrounding Jefferson and his fantasy value this year.

There's no doubt the 25-year-old is one of the best wide receivers in the league. He has the most receiving yards of any player in their first four years in NFL history (5,899) and has finished as a top-5 fantasy wide receiver in half-PPR formats in three of four seasons.

Justin Jefferson in 4 starts WITHOUT Kirk Cousins at QB last year:

7/84 on 10 targets
6/141/1 on 10 targets
5/59 on 10 targets
12/192/1 on 14 targets

20.6 fantasy PPG.

Pace of 127/2023/8 on 187 targets.

DO NOT FADE THIS MAN. pic.twitter.com/ScDzbHsRc9

— David J. Gautieri (@GuruFantasyWrld) August 13, 2024

However, does Darnold significantly bring down his value? The former third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft hasn't exactly looked sharp in his first six years in the league, throwing 63 touchdowns to 56 interceptions. He also has a career completion percentage of just 59.7%.

That's why managers don't know what to do with Jefferson in the first round of fantasy drafts this year. 

Will Anthony Richardson Stay Healthy For The Entire Year?

If fantasy managers knew that Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson was going to play all 17 games this season, he likely would be going around Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts in fantasy drafts. But his health is a big reason why the young signal-caller finds himself going in the fifth round of drafts. 

Richardson showed a ton of promise in his rookie season, averaging 23.1 fantasy points in his first three games. However, the former Florida product failed to stay healthy and underwent season-ending shoulder surgery after Week 5. He also missed Week 3 with a concussion. 

If nobody else will say it, we will.

Anthony Richardson has MAJOR upside in 2024 Fantasy Football. pic.twitter.com/3EM0Oa16oz

— Fantasy Gazette (@FantasyGazette_) August 16, 2024

As a result, there is some concern with drafting Richardson. He only played in two full games last year and suffered multiple injuries in three weeks. The Colts quarterback does have one of the highest fantasy ceilings, given his rushing upside. But staying healthy and playing the full season could be a big hurdle for him. 

How Involved Will De'Von Achane Be In Year 2?

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane had one of the wildest rookie seasons in recent memory. He averaged 7.77 yards per carry while totaling 800 rush yards on just 103 attempts. Achane also finished as the RB24 and averaged a whopping 17.3 PPR fantasy points per game. 

But is all that sustainable for a running back who missed multiple games last year and is part of a crowded running back room? It remains to be seen, which is why some fantasy managers are hesitant to take the 22-year-old in the second round. 

Achane was one of the most electric running backs last season, scoring over 20 PPR fantasy points in five of 11 games. However, he also averaged just 12.4 PPR fantasy points in the last five weeks. With Raheem Mostert still in the picture and rookie Jaylen Wright showing great things in the preseason, the young back might not play more than 50% of the team's snaps in 2024. 

Will Malik Nabers See Enough Catchable Balls To Be A Fantasy WR2?

Half of the fantasy community is in on New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, and the other half is out on the rookie playmaker. If you are out on Nabers, chances are it's because of his quarterback. Having Daniel Jones as his quarterback certainly isn't great news for his fantasy value.

We have seen talented young wide receivers being held back in fantasy before because of their quarterback. Garrett Wilson has yet to finish higher than the WR21 in PPR formats, and Drake London has finished outside the top 30 amongst wide receivers in back-to-back NFL seasons. Will Nabers be added to this list in 2024? 

Daniel Jones is in mid-season form

pic.twitter.com/8WssuGPvIp

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) August 17, 2024

There's no doubt the former LSU star is talented and could have had a WR1 ceiling in fantasy if he landed in a better spot. Just look at Marvin Harrison Jr. However, there is a path where Nabers can finish as a high-end WR2 in 2024. Jones just needs to give the rookie catchable balls. 

Who Is The Texans WR1? 

The Houston Texans have one of the best wide receiver trios in the league in Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell. But which of these wide receivers will lead the team as the WR1? The Texans traded for Diggs this offseason, while Collins and Dell have already established a strong connection with quarterback C.J. Stroud from last year.

Now, it doesn't matter a whole lot who winds up being the Texans WR1 in 2024. All three wideouts will likely be heavily involved. However, whichever wide receiver does wind up leading the team in targets and catches could be a value pick in fantasy drafts. 

Most fantasy managers believe Collins will be Houston's top wideout this season. He has the highest ADP among all three wideouts and just averaged 17.4 PPR fantasy points per game in 2023.

Diggs, though, could come in and immediately be Stroud's favorite target. Dell also averaged 23.7 PPR fantasy points from Week 9 to Week 12 before suffering a season-ending leg injury.

If we knew the answer to this question right now, it would make drafting a whole lot easier.

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