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The 2024 NFL Combine has come and gone, and we are another step closer to the NFL Draft in late April. While most of the top players didn't participate in the on-field work, the meetings with teams all set the foundation for a potential partnership.
Plenty of elite talent is ready to make their way to the NFL this season, like Heisman winners Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, along with a plethora of wide receiver talent. While dynasty managers are looking for talent over anything else, redraft leagues need players who land in favorable situations, like Puka Nacua or Rashee Rice.
What are the best landing spots for the top fantasy football rookies? Let's take a look.
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Best Landing Spots For The Top Fantasy Football Rookies
(Rankings via Sleeper ADP)
1). Caleb Williams, QB, USC
Best Landing Spots: Bears, Commanders, Vikings
Williams is being touted as one of the premier quarterback prospects we've seen in a long time thanks to his arm talent and athletic ability. Chicago seems like the most likely landing spot, as they have the cap space and draft capital to add serious weapons alongside D.J. Moore while upgrading their offensive line.
My favorite Caleb Williams rep. Footwork, pocket presence, toughness, & arm angle/talent on display. Nasty. pic.twitter.com/HGjMm30fEn
— Kyron Samuels (@kyronsamuels) March 6, 2024
Washington would be a nice landing spot as well, as they are also rich in draft picks and cap space to help add the necessary weapons. The Vikings are a massive long shot, but Williams in Kevin O'Connell's offense with Justin Jefferson would be a dangerous combination.
2). Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
Best Landing Spots: Cardinals, Chargers
Marvin Harrison Jr. is getting tremendous hype as a generational receiver prospect, and he could go as early as No. 3 to New England. Arizona at No. 4 would be a perfect fit, as he'd be able to fit right in with Kyler Murray and Trey McBride to form a very strong passing attack.
The Chargers would likely have to move up to get Harrison along with competing for targets with Keenan Allen, but the thought of Justin Herbert with Harrison should make potential fantasy owners thrilled. He can still produce in New England thanks to his elite talent, but his ceiling would be capped.
3). Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
Best Landing Spots: Commanders, Falcons, Vikings, Raiders
Drake Maye will likely be the No. 2 or No. 3 pick in April, and there are plenty of solid situations available. Washington has the cap space and draft capital to put talent around Maye, as mentioned earlier.
Atlanta would need to trade up, but their offensive talent drafted in the last three seasons is a perfect spot for a rookie quarterback. The Vikings and Raiders also have great weapons, such as top-end receivers Justin Jefferson and Davante Adams, respectively. All three of these teams would need to move up, but the fit would be great.
4). Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
Best Landing Spots: Commanders, Falcons, Vikings, Raiders
2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels is also projected to be taken in the first three picks, and similar teams would be good fits as Maye. Many think New England could look to get Daniels at No. 3, which isn't a great immediate fit for fantasy value. The Patriots do have plenty of cap space, but it will be tough to lure any of the top free agents without paying over-market for their services.
According to @_RyanFowler_, the #Vikings have a formal meeting scheduled with LSU QB Jayden Daniels.
He’s one of the top QBs in this years draft.
📸: @PFF pic.twitter.com/sqCVkBnVcJ
— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) February 27, 2024
If any of the other teams move up, they would provide Daniels with a better chance of putting up respectable numbers from the jump. It's uncertain whether any of those teams would be willing to pay the price to move up and take Daniels.
5). Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Best Landing Spots: Chargers, Bears, Giants
Malik Nabers has the talent to be the first receiver taken; he just happens to be in the same draft class as Harrison Jr. Teaming up with Herbert would be great for his 2024 prospects and beyond, as the likely departure of Mike Williams will create plenty of targets in Los Angeles' offense.
The Bears are likely to take Williams first overall, and they have a lot of cap space to build a solid offensive line. They could instantly transform into a formidable passing attack under Shane Waldron. The Giants seem most likely at the moment, and while they were one of the worst passing offenses a year ago, he would have little to no competition for targets in an offense potentially without Saquon Barkley.
6). Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
Best Landing Spots: Chargers, Bengals, Jets, Colts
Brock Bowers is the consensus top tight end this year, and he's another pass-catcher who would greatly benefit from joining the Chargers. The Bengals could desperately use some production out of the tight end position, especially with the future of Tee Higgins in question.
While the Jets are probably going to address the offensive line, Bowers would slot in as a tremendous second option in a passing group with upside. With the Colts, Bowers would join a young team on the rise with an uber-talented young quarterback.
7). Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Best Landing Spots: Bengals, Bears, Chargers
After Harrison and Nabers, Rome Odunze is the next receiver projected to go off the board. Odunze is another player who could benefit from sliding into the Bengals offense to replace Higgins, and he could also be a nice addition to the Bears core.
Rome Odunze went OFF at the NFL combine this weekend and might fall to the Bears at #9.
Here is our scouting report on Odunze ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/Zm83PnoV1m
— BFR Podcast (@bfr_pod) March 4, 2024
The Chargers have been mentioned countless times already, but for good reason. Although Greg Roman implied they will look to improve the run game, Odunze would fit in seamlessly in Los Angeles.
8). Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
Best Landing Spots: Chiefs, Bills, Chargers
While the first seven players are all contenders to be top-10 picks, the rest of the receivers on the list are likely to be late first round or even second round. Troy Franklin is among those players, and Kansas City jumps out as a great fit for obvious reasons. Travis Kelce's role decreased last year, and Rashee Rice specialized near the line of scrimmage in Year 1.
Buffalo is likely to lose Gabriel Davis in free agency, and pairing him with Josh Allen would increase his stock without a doubt. The Chargers show up yet again, as Franklin would be a great get at pick 37 overall.
9). BrIan Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
Best Landing Spots: Chiefs, Bills, Chargers
LSU's Brian Thomas Jr. has the same best fits as Franklin for good reason. Pairing up his talent with Patrick Mahomes, Allen, or Herbert puts him as a starting option in a high-powered passing attack. Quentin Johnston struggled after landing in an ideal spot, but most of the struggles were on his end and not a product of his environment.
10.) Bo Nix, QB, Oregon
Best Landing Spots: Vikings, Raiders, Broncos
After the top-three quarterbacks, Bo Nix is among the next group of signal-callers available. Ending up with O'Connell and Jefferson would position him great for success immediately if Kirk Cousins plays elsewhere.
The Raiders have been mentioned already mostly because of the presence of Adams, but they found ways to win games despite the quarterback play they saw a year ago. Denver will be moving on from Russell Wilson, and they will likely need an inexpensive replacement due to Wilson's dead cap hit.
11). J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
Best Landing Spots: Vikings, Raiders, Broncos
To no surprise, McCarthy has the same ideal landing spots as Nix, as many believe they will be taken near each other in the range of picks 12 to 20. Minnesota runs its offense in a way that allows the quarterback to have high-percentage attempts and play within his means.
JJ McCarthy on his meeting with the Raiders pic.twitter.com/DRYbunY549
— Raiders Report Mitchell Renz (@MitchellRenz365) March 1, 2024
Denver would be the worst of the three because their weapons aren't quite as good, but they made solid strides in Year 1 under Sean Payton.
12). Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Best Landing Spots: Chiefs, Bills, Chargers
To round it out, Keon Coleman's best landing spots are three teams who have shown up a lot near the bottom of this list. Coleman is more of a big-body threat who would slide right into the role of Williams in Los Angeles to add a jump-ball threat. Kansas City would also greatly benefit from having someone who can make contested catches downfield.
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