Best Fantasy Football Landing Spots For 2024 Rookie Wide Receivers

With the NFL Draft quickly approaching, the ramifications of where some of these players get selected will have a significant impact on their fantasy football value. In dynasty leagues, fantasy managers may not worry about landing spots as much because once you draft them in that kind of league, you have them for their entire career if you want. Due to this, dynasty managers recognize environments can change, but talent is talent. However, for redraft leagues, a player’s environment and landing spot have a giant impact on their ranking.

For this article, we’ll identify some of the best landing spots for rookie receivers for the 2024 fantasy football season. While you may prefer Rome Odunze over Malik Nabers or vice versa in the long term, their 2024 fantasy football value could be decided by circumstances outside their control. This comes down to four areas: team offense, target competition, playing time availability, and quarterback play. Of these four, target competition is the most important, assuming the offense and quarterback are at least passable. There will be negative points for landing spots with offenses and quarterbacks below a 5/10.

We’ll focus on the receivers most likely to be drafted in rounds 1-2. The reason for this is that it’s most likely every team drafts at least one receiver, but most receivers drafted in rounds 3-7 fail to make an impact as rookies, much less achieve fantasy football relevance. We’ll be ranking all 32 teams. Let’s get started. If you want to take advantage of all of our great premium tools, please use promo code, "BOOM" to receive a 10% discount. 

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Best Landing Spots

1. Arizona Cardinals

• Team Offense: 6/10
• Quarterback: 8/10
• Playing Time Availability: 10/10
• Target Competition: 20/20
• Overall: 9.0/10 – This landing spot doesn’t get much better. The Cardinals have a very good quarterback in Kyler Murray and virtually no target competition. The only real competition comes from tight end Trey McBride. 2023 third-round pick Michael Wilson is the only receiver on the depth looking at regular snaps in 2024. Any early-drafted receiver is primed for a starter's level of snaps and routes this season. For fantasy purposes, their defense also looks well below average, indicating the Cardinals’ offense could be forced to air it out frequently.

2. New York Jets

• Team Offense: 6/10
• Quarterback: 7/10
• Playing Time Availability: 10/10
• Target Competition: 16/20
• Overall: 8.0/10 – This is a fantastic landing spot for a rookie receiver. The depth chart behind Garrett Wilson is empty. It's either Allen Lazard, who found himself as a healthy scratch at times last season, or Xavier Gipson, who was a rookie last season. Both are former undrafted free agents, which means a rookie would have a good shot at regular playing time and a fantasy-relevant share of targets. The problem with this landing spot is the Jets do not have a second-round pick due to the trade for Aaron Rodgers. Their first-round pick is almost guaranteed to be an offensive line, so fantasy managers need to question if the rookie they select is good enough to take advantage of their premium opportunity with the Jets.

3. Buffalo Bills

• Team Offense: 9/10
• Quarterback: 9/10
• Playing Time Availability: 7/10
• Target Competition: 14/20
• Overall: 8.0/10 – It's hard to think of too many better landing spots for a rookie receiver than Buffalo. Josh Allen is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Their offense is routinely in the top 10 in pass attempts, yards, and touchdowns. Stefon Diggs will be back in Buffalo, but it's fairly wide open afterward. Khalil Shakir showed some flashes in his second season, but there's no one else. Tight end Dalton Kincaid did the same in his rookie season. Shakir is likely locked in as the team's starting slot receiver in 2024, but he may not be good enough to hold back a first-round receiver. There's a lot of potential for a rookie in Buffalo.

4. Los Angeles Chargers

• Team Offense: 7/10
• Quarterback: 9/10
• Playing Time Availability: 7/10
• Target Competition: 15/20
• Overall: 7.5/10 – There are very few spots better than the Chargers for a rookie receiver. Mike Williams is certainly getting cut, which leaves their receiver depth chart with Keenan Allen, Joshua Palmer, and Quentin Johnston. Johnston busted so hard as a rookie that it’s hard to envision him bouncing back meaningfully. Palmer is a dependable No. 3, but whoever lands here should have a great chance of becoming the No. 2 receiver. Justin Herbert is amazing, but fantasy managers shouldn’t expect anywhere close to the same number of pass attempts as we’ve been used to seeing from this offense based on the coaching changes.

5. Kansas City Chiefs

• Team Offense: 10/10
• Quarterback: 10/10
• Playing Time Availability: 10/10
• Target Competition: 5/20
• Overall: 7.0/10 – This is a good landing spot because of Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. There would be considerable upside here if Rashee Rice and/or Travis Kelce were to miss time. However, it’s hard to imagine any receiver Kansas City can realistically draft, rising higher than No. 3 on the team’s target hierarchy. Because of that, the ceiling is capped to some extent. Kansas City's depth is severely lacking at receiver, which means any receiver drafted in the first two rounds is virtually guaranteed a starting role and plenty of snaps and playing time.

6. Carolina Panthers

• Team Offense: 2/10
• Quarterback: 3/10
• Playing Time Availability: 10/20
• Target Competition: 20/20
• Overall: 7.0/10 – The Panthers' offense could be dreadful again. Bryce Young is coming off of one of the worst rookie seasons for a first-round quarterback in recent memory. However, they hired Dave Canales, who has helped revitalize Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield's career. Hopefully, he can work his magic on Young too. As of right now, the Carolina depth chart at receiver is putrid. Any early-drafted rookie receiver would walk into a starting role and most likely the No. 2 target-earner right away behind only Adam Thielen. Due to Thielen's age, the rookie could easily work his way into that No. 1 role. It's also possible Carolina looks to add a legit receiver in free agency, potentially Mike Evans or Calvin Ridley. Still, there's plenty of upside in Carolina. While Young disappointed in a big way, there's a reason he went No. 1 overall, and with any luck, Canales will be able to pull those traits out and elevate this offense.

7. Dallas Cowboys

• Team Offense: 9/10
• Quarterback: 8/10
• Playing Time Availability: 4/10
• Target Competition: 13/20
• Overall: 7.0/10 – Dallas isn't often talked about as a good landing spot for a rookie receiver, largely because they seem to have bigger needs along their offensive, but there's a chance that Michael Gallup is cut this offseason. Brandin Cooks is coming off his worst since 2019, his worst season since his rookie year, and will turn 31 years old early in the 2024 NFL season. He's also coming off back-to-back seasons with 700 or fewer yards. Jake Ferguson is good but not a great tight end. While any rookie is unlikely to completely cut these guys out of the offense, there's a pathway to a rookie being the No. 2 target some weeks and a No. 3 target in others. However, that role in a pass-heavy and very efficient Dallas offense has a lot of appeal. This landing spot would look much better if we knew Gallup would be cut. If not, playing time could be an issue with CeeDee Lamb, Cooks, and Gallup on the roster. If Gallup is cut, a rookie would have a great shot at being a regular player. Over the past five years, Dallas has had a top-five offense whenever Dak Prescott has been under center, presenting a lot of upside if Gallup is cut and/or Cooks' downward trajectory continues.

8. New England Patriots

• Team Offense: 2/10
• Quarterback: 3/10
• Playing Time Availability: 10/10
• Target Competition: 20/20
• Overall: 7.0/10 – The Patriots have a top-three pick in this year's NFL Draft, putting them in a position to select Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye. However, there has been talk about the Patriots being willing to trade down. Their offense lacks talent at all four positional groups: quarterback, running back, offensive line, and pass-catchers. The theory behind trading down is that their offense is not capable of supporting a rookie quarterback at this time, and the additional picks would help round out the roster. If they pick Maye or Williams, their quarterback score would go to a 5/10 and increase the overall score to a 7.5/10, but if they bypass quarterback and target a rookie later in the draft or a bridge quarterback, depending on who that is, their quarterback score could drop to a 1/10, dropping their overall score to a 6.5/10. The best pass-catcher on the roster is Demario Douglas, giving any receiver selected in the first two rounds an avenue to clear No. 1 status in the New England offense.

9. Tennessee Titans

• Team Offense: 4/10
• Quarterback: 4/10
• Playing Time Availability: 10/10
• Target Competition: 15/20
• Overall: 6.5/10 – Much of this depends on what happens to DeAndre Hopkins. This landing spot is not very appealing if he’s not cut or traded. Hopkins had a 28.6% target share last season, the 12th-highest among receivers. While he’s getting older, he was still an alpha last season. While Hopkins is locked in as the No. 1 receiver, the depth chart behind him is barren. Any early-drafted receiver will have a clear pathway to being the Titans' No. 2 receiver and ample routes and snaps. This offense should be expected to finish in the bottom 10 in almost every metric. Will Levis didn’t show enough last season to support two fantasy-relevant pass-catchers. Due to Hopkins’ age, it’s possible if they elect to pick a receiver at No. 7 could leapfrog him. However, if they first elect to address the position in the second round, he will unlikely garner a big enough target share to become fantasy-relevant as a rookie.

10. Washington Commanders

• Team Offense: 4/10
• Quarterback: 5/10
• Playing Time Availability: 8/10
• Target Competition: 16/20
• Overall: 6.5/10 – Logan Thomas will be 33 years old and is a cut casualty candidate. Jahan Dotson has been disappointing in his first two seasons in the NFL and has yet to have 50 receptions or 525 yards in a single season. Curtis Samuel is a free agent. Depending on what Washington does in free agency, this could be a sneaky-good landing spot for a rookie. Dotson hasn't done enough to say that a rookie couldn't leap-frog him on the target hierarchy. Given their depth chart, any rookie would operate as the No. 3 receiver, granting them regular playing time. Becoming the No. 2 receiver over Dotson is also a reasonable possibility. Surely, Thomas, even if he's on the roster, is a player a good rookie could bypass. Washington has the No. 2 pick in this year's NFL Draft and will be able to select Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye. In my opinion, Maye is the preferred option; he seems to be a bit more polished as a passer. Washington's new offensive coordinator is Kliff Kingsbury, who has run an up-tempo offense in the past to somewhat lackluster results.

11. Detroit Lions

• Team Offense: 8/10
• Quarterback: 7/10
• Playing Time Availability: 10/10
• Target Competition: 8/20
• Overall: 6.5/10 – Josh Reynolds is a free agent like Donovan Peoples-Jones and Kalif Raymond. The only receiver behind Amon-Ra St. Brown is Jameson Williams, who hasn't done much thus far. The state of their depth chart gives an early-drafted receiver a good chance to be a top-three receiver for the Lions. That would grant them regular playing time, which is a good thing. The problem comes in with target competition. St. Brown is an elite target-earner, and Sam LaPorta is one of the best tight ends in the NFL. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs is also likely to be more involved in the passing game in his second season. Given just how potent their offense is, the strong play from Jared Goff, and the fairly easy pathway to regular playing time, this is an appealing landing spot for a rookie receiver.

 

Decent Landing Spots

12. Chicago Bears

• Team Offense: 5/10
• Quarterback: 5/10
• Playing Time Availability: 10/10
• Target Competition: 10/20
• Overall: 6.0/10 – The Bears seem destined to select Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in this year's NFL Draft. He's viewed as an elite prospect and should improve their passing offense from what they received from Justin Fields. It's certainly possible I'm undervaluing Williams and what this offense could look like with a more consistent passing attack. Darnell Mooney is a free agent, which leaves 2023 fourth-round pick Tyler Scott as the only competition at receiver behind star D.J. Moore. Any rookie receiver drafted early should slide right into Chicago's starting lineup. They'll compete with Moore and tight end, Cole Kmet for targets. Moore is an alpha receiver, but Kmet could be bypassed on the target hierarchy. Even if they cannot do that, any rookie receiver has a clear pathway to being Chicago's No. 3 target earner. The potential to leap-frog Kmet makes this an appealing landing spot. Williams' potential upside means we may be underestimating how good this spot might be.

13. New Orleans Saints

• Team Offense: 5/10
• Quarterback: 4/10
• Playing Time Availability: 7/10
• Target Competition: 15/20
• Overall: 6.0/10 – The Saints aren't a great offense, but they're solid enough. They should be expected to finish around league average. Derek Carr isn't all that good either, but he's solid enough. He had 3,878 yards and 25 touchdowns last season. He leaves a lot to be desired as a real-life quarterback, but for fantasy football, he's good enough to keep his pass-catchers afloat. However, he's not quite good enough to elevate his pass-catchers to reach their ceiling. There isn't much target competition in New Orleans. There's Chris Olave, and that's about it. Michael Thomas is done. Rashid Shaheed is a downfield option who doesn't earn targets at a high rate. Shaheed has not posted a 15% target share in his first two seasons. There is a pretty clear pathway to a rookie becoming the No. 2 receiver behind Olave, which makes this a solid landing spot.

14. Atlanta Falcons

• Team Offense: 5/10
• Quarterback: 4/10
• Playing Time Availability: 10/10
• Target Competition: 13/20
• Overall: 6.0/10 – The biggest unknown here is the quarterback. If they were to land Kirk Cousins in free agency, their quarterback score would jump to 8/10, and their overall score would be 7.0/10. If they land Justin Fields via trade, their quarterback score would become a 6/10, and their overall score would increase to 6.5/10. If they elect to go with a rookie, their quarterback score would drop to 3/10, and their overall score would fall to 5.5/10. Drake London has displayed traits of a true No. 1 receiver, and while Kyle Pitts has struggled the past two seasons, largely due to a torn MCL in 2022, he still displayed a high upside as a rookie, finishing with more than 1,000 yards. The No. 2 receiver is currently Josh Ali, meaning any receiver would be almost guaranteed a starter's allotment of snaps and routes.

15. Cleveland Browns

• Team Offense: 5/10
• Quarterback: 5/10
• Playing Time Availability: 7/10
• Target Competition: 13/20
• Overall: 6.0/10 – There are plenty of questions about Cleveland's offense, largely due to the play of quarterback Deshaun Watson. Kevin Stefanski is a tremendous coach, so there's reason to be hopeful. Watson struggled last season, but he struggled with injuries, most notably his throwing shoulder. At this point, there's little reason to think we'll ever see the old Watson return, but that doesn't mean he can't be average, maybe even above average. The Cleveland depth chart at receiver is questionable behind Amari Cooper. Elijah Moore failed to impress in his first season in Cleveland, and David Bell hasn't done much in two seasons after being drafted in the third round. Any early-selected receiver would have the opportunity to become a full-time starter. Behind Cooper and David Njoku, who settles as Cleveland's No. 3 target-earner is up for grabs. That presents some upside for any rookie.

16. Baltimore Ravens

• Team Offense: 8/10
• Quarterback: 8/10
• Playing Time Availability: 5/10
• Target Competition: 10/20
• Overall: 6.0/10 – This is a very strong offense with excellent quarterback play. However, the passing volume in Baltimore is an issue as is the playing time availability. The team has Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Nelson Agholor in the fold for 2024. Mark Andrews will be healthy by the start of the season and the strong play of Isaiah Likely could lead to more 12-personnel. Any early-drafted receiver would have a good opportunity to become the team's No. 3 receiver, but that may only mean a 50% snap share. The target competition is another issue because Flowers and Andrews will be the primary No. 1 and No. 2 target options for Lamar Jackson. With the limited passing volume, the team's No. 3 target-earner may struggle to be a consistent fantasy player. Bateman could also be an issue here, as he's a former first-round pick who has struggled with injuries. Still, if he's healthy, he could also provide additional competition for targets.

17. New York Giants

• Team Offense: 2/10
• Quarterback: 3/10
• Playing Time Availability: 6/10
• Target Competition: 16/20
• Overall: 5.5/10 – For Nabers or Odunze, since they’d become the No. 1 target on the team, the landing spot increases to 6.5/10. For a second-round pick, it's 4.5/10. We’re splitting the difference due to what the target competition would look for for these two different rookies. Nabers or Odunze are likely good enough to become the No. 1 target as a rookie. A second-round pick, however, could struggle to separate themselves from a group of pass-catchers that includes Darren Waller, Darius Slayton, Wan'Dale Robinson, and Jalin Hyatt. While none are studs, the collective group is good enough to limit a lesser player's upside, playing time, and target-earning potential. There’s a good chance that at the end of 2024, the Giants will have a bottom-three offense with a bottom-five quarterback play. Unless whichever rookie is getting peppered, it’s hard to imagine a high fantasy ceiling in year one.

18. Cincinnati Bengals

• Team Offense: 9/10
• Quarterback: 9/10
• Playing Time Availability: 6/10
• Target Competition: 3/20
• Overall: 5.5/10 – The team has already franchised Tee Higgins, meaning he'll be back in Cincinnati in 2024, barring a trade, which is a possibility. If that were to happen, the target competition would shoot up to 17/20, and the playing time availability would become a 10/10. This would become one of the best landing spots, settling in with a final score of 9.0/10. Assuming Higgins is back in Cincinnati, the rookie will be the team's No. 3 receiver. Tyler Boyd is a free agent and will not be back. Given how much the Bengals pass, an early-drafted receiver should play a decent amount in 11-personnel. The bigger problem is getting targets behind a good receiver in Higgins and elite target-earner Ja'Marr Chase.

 

Bad Landing Spots

19. Houston Texans

• Team Offense: 7/10
• Quarterback: 8/10
• Playing Time Availability: 5/10
• Target Competition: 6/20
• Overall: 5.0/10 – This Texans' offense will only improve. Their offensive line struggled significantly with injuries in 2023, but assuming they have better injury luck this season, their offense should improve due to that alone. Factoring in growth from C.J. Stroud and Tank Dell will only help. The team also retained offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, giving this offense more continuity. That should also help the entire offense. Houston rosters two of the better receivers in the league with Nico Collins and Dell. Their tight end, Dalton Schultz, is a free agent, but if he's re-signed, this would be a crowded group of pass-catchers. If Schultz were to sign elsewhere, there's a pathway to a rookie walking into the No. 3 role in a pass-heavy offense with a budding superstar at quarterback. However, the team still has Xavier Hutchinson and John Metchie III, two younger players who likely have the upper hand for that No. 3 role. Metchie is a former second-round pick.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars

• Team Offense: 7/10
• Quarterback: 7/10
• Playing Time Availability: 2/10
• Target Competition: 4/20
• Overall: 4.5/10 – The Jaguars are a little more difficult to evaluate because of Calvin Ridley's free agency status. If Ridley is allowed to sign somewhere else and they don't immediately replace him via free agency, this landing spot will look much better. Currently, the Jaguars front office has stated their No. 1 priority this offseason is bringing back Josh Allen and Ridley. Based on that, we assume Ridley is likely back in Jacksonville this season. With that in mind, Jacksonville has three solid pass-catchers in Ridley, Christian Kirk, and Evan Engram. That trio will make it difficult for any rookie to command enough targets to become a difference-maker for fantasy football in 2024. Zay Jones is also under contract for 2024, and if he's back with Ridley, it'll be tough for a rookie to get onto the field. If Jones were to be cut or if Riley is re-signed, this landing spot would look much better, but as it stands right now, it's pretty iffy.

21. Denver Broncos

• Team Offense: 4/10
• Quarterback: 3/10
• Playing Time Availability: 3/10
• Target Competition: 13/20
• Overall: 4.5/10 – Denver is not an ideal fantasy football landing spot for a rookie receiver. Not unless Denver makes significant changes to their receiver room. Right now, we'll assume that Tim Patrick is cut, but that still leaves Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and Marvin Mims Jr. on the roster. Sutton or Jeudy may be traded or cut before the start of the season, but as it stands now, the depth chart could make it difficult for a rookie receiver to break through. While neither Sutton, Jeudy, or Mims are elite, they're good enough to potentially cut into a rookie's playing time and target share. On top of that, the quarterback position is a complete unknown. Russell Wilson will be cut, leaving the team trudging forward with a rookie quarterback. If Sutton or Jeudy were to be cut or traded, this landing spot would increase to a 5.5/10.

22. Miami Dolphins

• Team Offense: 9/10
• Quarterback: 7/10
• Playing Time Availability: 6/10
• Target Competition: 1/20
• Overall: 4.5/10 – Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are both No. 1 receivers. Hill is an elite No. 1, while Waddle isn't quite on that level. Still, these two players are elite target-earners, and they'll garner a 50% market share of Miami's passing offense. With that much volume tied up in two players, there's virtually no way for any rookie receiver to become fantasy-relevant in Miami without an injury to one of Hill or Waddle. Miami doesn't have a clear No. 3 receiver, and they use 11-personnel a lot, so there's a pathway to a rookie being on the field quite a bit.

23. Los Angeles Rams

• Team Offense: 8/10
• Quarterback: 8/10
• Playing Time Availability: 1/10
• Target Competition: 3/20
• Overall: 4.0/10 – The Rams have the talent on offense to have a top-10 scoring offense in 2024. Matthew Stafford is a very good quarterback capable of throwing for 4,000+ yards and 25+ touchdowns. These elements create upside. Just look at Puka Nacua last season. The difference between last year and this year is the target competition. In 2023, Nacua was competing with just Cooper Kupp for targets. In 2024, a hypothetical rookie will be competing with Kupp and Nacua. These two receivers could command close to 50% of the market share for the Rams. That'll make it virtually impossible for any rookie receiver to become fantasy-relevant as long as they're healthy. Even getting on the field could be an issue, with Tutu Atwell and Demarcus Robinson set to return in 2024.

24. Indianapolis Colts

• Team Offense: 7/10
• Quarterback: 5/10
• Playing Time Availability: 2/10
• Target Competition: 4/20
• Overall: 4.0/10 – Michael Pittman Jr. is technically a free agent, but it seems like a foregone conclusion that he'll be back in Indy, one way or another. He'll either get re-signed or franchised. The Colts have plenty of cap space to do either one. Assuming Pittman is back in the fold, Indianapolis has a true alpha receiver on the roster. Rookie Josh Downs was also a positive contributor in year one. He should be expected to improve going into his second season. Alec Pierce is not a target hot, but he's a downfield threat and a good blocker. Those qualities will keep him on the field even if he's earning targets at a high rate. With him, Pittman, and Downs all on the roster for 2024, it'll be tough for a rookie to see regular snaps.

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Team Offense: 6/10
• Quarterback: 6/10
• Playing Time Availability: 9/10 without Mike Evans and 3/10 with him
• Target Competition: 16/20 without Mike Evans and 8/20 with him
• Overall – If Evans is not back in Tampa Bay, this becomes an incredible landing spot and would have a 7.5/10 score. If Evans returns, the landing spot falls to a 4.0/10. Reports have indicated Tampa Bay and Evans are not close, but it's hard to imagine a scenario where these two sides don't figure something out. The Tampa offense and Baker Mayfield are slightly above average and good enough to support two fantasy-relevant pass-catchers. The Buccaneers lack pass-catchers behind Chris Godwin and Evans, so if Evans is gone, any receiver drafted in the first two rounds would have a big opportunity to become Mayfield's No. 2 target in their passing attack.

26. Philadelphia Eagles

• Team Offense: 8/10
• Quarterback: 7/10
• Playing Time Availability: 6/10
• Target Competition: 0/20
• Overall: 4.0/10 – Jalen Hurts is a fantastic fantasy football quarterback, but he has some limitations as a passer. The Philadelphia offense has also generally been well-balanced between the pass and the run. That limits the passing volume for the team's pass-catcher. That isn't a big deal for receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. They're so good they'll get theirs, but Dallas Goedert can sometimes feel the pinch of the limited volume as the team's No. 3 option. Any rookie receiver would become a fourth-option, requiring an injury to Brown or Smith for them to have a chance at fantasy relevance. Since the Eagles do not currently have a real No. 3 receiver on the team, a rookie could take a regular number of snaps as the third receiver in the 11-personnel. Between Philadelphia's offense, above-average quarterback play, and reasonable path to immediate playing time, an injury to Brown or Smith could create potential upside for a rookie.

27. San Francisco 49ers

• Team Offense: 10/10
• Quarterback: 8/10
• Playing Time Availability: 1/10
• Target Competition: 0/20
• Overall: 4.0/10 – San Francisco has one of the best offenses in the NFL. Brock Purdy played like an MVP. That didn't happen because of Kyle Shanahan, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle. Did it help? Absolutely, but it wasn't enough to elevate Jimmy Garoppolo to MVP status or even into the realm of "very good." Purdy deserves much more respect for how he played. Aiyuk could be traded, but that seems unlikely, given their Super Bowl or bust mindset. With Samuel, Aiyuk, and Kittle all set to be back in San Francisco, the target competition will make it impossible for any rookie receiver to break through and earn a share of the targets that would allow them to become fantasy-relevant. Their No. 3 receiver, Jauan Jennings, will be back in 2024 and Kyle Shanahan has spoken highly of his run-blocking, a trait that will keep him on the field, even without a big role in the passing game.

28. Minnesota Vikings

• Team Offense: 8/10
• Quarterback: 8/10
• Playing Time Availability: 2/10
• Target Competition: 0/20
• Overall: 3.5/10 – The team offense and quarterback scores assume Kirk Cousins is back in Minnesota. If he's not, depending on how they'd fill his spot, both scores could decrease dramatically, worsening what is already a bad landing spot for a rookie. With Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and K.J. Osborn all set to return in 2024, any rookie receiver would have a tough time getting on the field regularly. Combining the elite play of Jefferson, an excellent rookie season from Addison, and T.J. Hockenson at tight end, the target competition is just about as bad as it gets.

29. Seattle Seahawks

• Team Offense: 6/10
• Quarterback: 6/10
• Playing Time Availability: 1/10
• Target Competition: 4/20
• Overall: 3.5/10 – This offense should be better than last year. They have two good running backs and two solid offensive tackles. They also have D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. It's hard to imagine a rookie receiver breaking through, but it's possible Lockett could be cut or traded. Despite that being a possibility, the most likely scenario is Lockett in Seattle for one more season. That trio of receivers will make it impossible to get onto the field without an injury. Those three receivers impede any rookie from getting enough targets to be fantasy-relevant. Geno Smith had a monster 2022 season but returned to Earth last year. With Metcalf and JSN locked up long-term, it's highly unlikely Seattle will draft a receiver early.

30. Green Bay Packers

• Team Offense: 8/10
• Quarterback: 8/10
• Playing Time Availability: 0/10
• Target Competition: 2/20
• Overall: 3.5/10 – The Packers will have a top-10 offense this year. Jordan Love looks poised to join the upper tier of signal-callers this season. This should be an electric offense led by one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL. However, the Packers boast one of the best youngest groups of pass-catchers in the NFL. They have Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Christian Watson, and tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft. Forget earning targets among this group; it's hard to envision how a rookie gets on the field. With how deep the Packers are at pass-catchers, there's virtually no shot they take a receiver early.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers

• Team Offense: 4/10
• Quarterback: 2/10
• Playing Time Availability: 5/10
• Target Competition: 4/20
• Overall: 3.0/10 – The passing offense was terrible last season. The rumors about them targeting Russell Wilson or Justin Fields do not create much optimism, considering both former teams struggled to throw the football consistently. Their depth right chart means Kenny Pickett will be back under center, which would be the worst-case scenario for the pass-catchers in Pittsburgh. With Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and Pat Freiermuth set to reprise their roles in 2024, any rookie receiver would have difficulty becoming more than the team's No. 3 target earner. Given the potential quarterback situation, there's no upside in that role and no guarantee any rookie receiver would even move past Freiermuth on the team's target hierarchy.

32. Las Vegas Raiders

• Team Offense: 3/10
• Quarterback: 3/10
• Playing Time Availability: 4/10
• Target Competition: 1/20
• Overall: 2.0/10 – There might be no worse spot for a rookie receiver. The Raiders will incorporate a new head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterback. Given their draft spot, the Raiders will unlikely get the No. 1 or 2 quarterback prospects in this year's draft. The offense will likely struggle with a new offensive system and rookie quarterback. On top of that, they'd be competing for targets against superstar Davante Adams and underrated No. 2 receiver Jakobi Meyers. There is a path to a rookie becoming the No. 3 receiver, but there's no chance of moving higher than that on the depth chart without an injury.

 

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