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Who is the No. 1 Pick in 2024 Fantasy Football?

2025 Fantasy Football Early-Round Best Ball Busts, Overvalued

Lance Fernandez discusses the NFL player worthy of being the No. 1 pick in fantasy football redraft leagues for the 2024 season. This player could be the star of your squad.

With the 2024 NFL season fast approaching, all teams are ramping up their preparations by refining their final rosters for Week 1. Therefore, it’s also time for fantasy football enthusiasts to concretize their strategies for their upcoming redrafts.

Fantasy owners with the top overall pick in their league feel additional pressure to make the proper selection. Since you are choosing first, you should get the player who could potentially generate the most points weekly.

However, injuries and roster changes can alter fantasy football rankings, leading to possible revisions in the draft board. Despite all the developments during the homestretch of training camp, there’s still a clear-cut choice for the top pick in 2024 fantasy drafts.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Why Christian McCaffrey Is Still The Top Fantasy Football Pick For 2024

There’s some concern regarding the calf injury he’s dealing with throughout the offseason. While his condition makes his return indefinite, the San Francisco 49ers believe that McCaffrey will return to full strength in time for their season opener against the New York Jets at home.

When he’s in game shape, it’s hard to argue against Christian McCaffrey’s credentials as the top overall pick for the 2024 fantasy football season. No disrespect to CeeDee Lamb, the projected best wide receiver this season, but the former Stanford standout provides more avenues for gathering fantasy points.

McCaffrey won last season’s Offensive Player of the Year Award after tallying 2,023 yards from scrimmage and 21 touchdowns. That number further breaks down to a league-leading 1,459 rushing yards, 564 receiving yards, and 14 rushing touchdowns.

The 49ers offense might have other weapons like Deebo Samuel Sr., George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk. However, McCaffrey remains the focal point of Kyle Shanahan’s scheme as quarterback Brock Purdy facilitates.

Conversely, Lamb isn’t injured, but due to his contract situation, he remains a non-participant for the Dallas Cowboys. He could miss some games despite the impending fines if the stalemate continues.

Even with Lamb’s contract extension, McCaffrey remains the top pick in 2024 fantasy football. While there’s no question about the wideout’s talent, the Cowboys’ questionable run game might work against him, as defenses will keep an extra body near him.



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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Kris Murray

Will Play Against the Clippers
Robert Williams III

Available on Friday Night
Austin Reaves

Facing Multiweek Absence With Calf Issue
Anthony Edwards

Listed as Questionable Against Brooklyn
Keegan Murray

Out at Least One Week With Calf Strain
Jock Landale

to Miss Bucks Game With Calf Issue
Jordan Poole

Cleared to Play Friday vs. Suns
Joel Embiid

Set to Suit Up Against Bulls
George Kittle

Questionable to Face the Bears in Week 17
Cedric Coward

Active On Friday Against Milwaukee
Ja Morant

Available On Friday Night Against Milwaukee
Maxx Crosby

Done for the Season
VJ Edgecombe

Available on Friday
Dominick Barlow

Will Suit Up Against Chicago
Collin Murray-Boyles

Good to Go Versus Washington
Scottie Barnes

Upgraded to Available Against Washington
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Cleared to Play on Friday
Jordan Goodwin

Available For Friday Night Against New Orleans
Pelle Larsson

Back on Friday Night
Gary Trent Jr.

Ruled Out For Friday Night Against Memphis
Bam Adebayo

Will Miss Friday's Game Versus Atlanta
Justin Champagnie

Downgraded To Questionable For Friday Night
Scottie Barnes

Now Downgraded To Questionable For Friday
Calvin Austin III

Ruled Out with Hamstring Injury for Week 17
Harold Fannin Jr.

Expected to Play on Sunday
Jordan Love

Ruled Out with Concussion for Saturday's Contest
George Kittle

"Likely a Game-Time Decision" on Sunday Night
A.J. Brown

Returns to Practice on Friday
Josh Allen

Trending Toward Playing Vs. Philly
CFB

Michigan Targeting Kyle Whittingham as Next Head Coach
CFB

Texas Leading Rusher Quintrevion Wisner Set to Transfer
George Kittle

Remains Sidelined During Thursday's Practice
Malik Willis

Carrying Questionable Tag for Week 17 Tilt
Jordan Love

Questionable for Saturday's Contest
Lamar Jackson

Listed as Doubtful for Week 17
Amon-Ra St. Brown

to Suit Up on Christmas Day
Rome Odunze

"Increasing Unlikely to Play" in Week 17
Chris Rodriguez Jr.

Carries Questionable Tag on Thursday
David Montgomery

Expected to Play on Christmas Day
David Montgomery

Questionable to Play With Illness
Amon-Ra St. Brown

Questionable, Expected to Play on Thursday
Rashee Rice

Chiefs Place Rashee Rice on Injured Reserve
T.J. Hockenson

Ruled Out for Week 17
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Josh Johnson

to Start at QB on Thursday Against Dallas
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Connor McDavid

Finishes Battle of Alberta With Five Assists
Karel Vejmelka

Battling Upper-Body Injury
Alexandre Texier

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Against Bruins
Alexander Nikishin

Dealing With Apparent Ankle Injury
Denver Barkey

Exits Early Tuesday
Travis Sanheim

Pulled by Concussion Spotter Tuesday
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
Viktor Arvidsson

a Game-Time Decision Tuesday
Ryan Leonard

Available Tuesday
Tom Wilson

in Danger of Missing First Game of the Season
Phillip Danault

Makes Second Canadiens Debut Tuesday
Collin Graf

Available Against Golden Knights
Jack Eichel

Misses Fourth Straight Game
Vince Dunn

Won't Play Tuesday
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach
Timothy Liljegren

to Miss Second Straight Game Tuesday
Will Smith

Out Week-to-Week
Jaccob Slavin

Placed on Injured Reserve, Out Week-to-Week
Seth Jarvis

Considered Week-to-Week
Darren Raddysh

Totals Three Points in Monday's Win
Mason Marchment

Scores Twice Monday
Vince Dunn

Injured in Monday's Win
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
CFB

Byrum Brown Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Bobby Petrino Joining Bill Belichick as North Carolina's Offensive Coordinator
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox

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