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Dave Ventresca predicts the top-3 finishers at each position for 2024 fantasy football leagues. Fantasy gamers should consider drafting these players for their team.
When it comes to playing fantasy football, prognostication is extremely important. Yes, we as fantasy players are not correct as often as we'd like to think, but this is part of the game. As Hyman Roth once said in "The Godfather Part II," "This is the business we've chosen!"
However, it's still an important exercise to try and rank players as best we can. It helps guide us through the draft process and if done correctly, can help identify potential values throughout the draft. Besides all that, there are big-time bragging rights on the line when you go back to your buddies and boast about how you correctly predicted fantasy football's top players.
Make sure you follow RotoBaller on X and check out RotoBaller.com for all your fantasy football needs. Let's take a shot at predicting the top-3 finishers at each position for 2024 fantasy football leagues.
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Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings
1.) Jalen Hurts - Philadelphia Eagles
After posting an overall QB2 finish in 2023, Hurts is once again among the first quarterbacks being taken off draft boards. It’s understandable as he set a career-high 15 rushing touchdowns and was also the QB2 in fantasy points per game (PPG).
Jalen Hurts into the endzone for the Touchdown to cut the Chiefs lead to 3
Can the #Eagles comeback? https://t.co/KDzcq2YvNc#FlyEaglesFly | #PHIvsKC
— BetUS Pro Football (@BetUSProFB) November 21, 2023
Hurts has a new offensive coordinator in 2024. Former Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers play-caller Kellen Moore comes to Philadelphia to try and fix the offense after an epic collapse to end 2023. Moore’s offenses have traditionally been very pass-heavy and have averaged 614 pass attempts per year. That would far and away be a career high for Hurts. It’s unlikely that he throws the ball that much, but it’s a good bet that Hurts throws more than we’ve ever seen. Pair that with his rushing upside and Hurts has a strong case to finish as the overall QB1 in 2024.
2.) Josh Allen - Buffalo Bills
Like Hurts, Allen also has a new offensive coordinator for the 2024 season. Although, unlike Hurts, Buffalo’s new offensive coordinator might be bad news for the passing game. After Joe Brady took over for the fired Ken Dorsey last year, Allen averaged fewer pass attempts, yards, and passing touchdowns per game under Brady than he did compared to Dorsey. Brady now takes over as play-caller on a full-time basis in 2024. If the trends from 2023 continue, then we can expect to see Allen’s passing volume decline.
Allen’s wide receiver room also took a hit after the team parted ways with Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis this offseason. Allen still has a solid floor thanks to his rushing output. However, the new play-caller and lack of elite receivers could prevent him from another overall QB1 finish.
3.) Patrick Mahomes - Kansas City Chiefs
Mahomes was one of fantasy football’s biggest busts in 2023. After being selected as one of the first quarterbacks in drafts, Mahomes finished as the overall QB8 and QB12 in PPG. It was not what gamers were expecting and selecting him so early put managers at an immediate disadvantage.
With the additions of Marquise Brown and rookie Xavier Worthy, the Kansas City passing game is primed to bounce back. Fantasy managers would be wise to buy the dip on Mahomes and his FFPC ADP of 41st overall. It’s not often you get a discount on a quarterback with his kind of upside and the odds are good he will be going higher in 2025 drafts.
Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings
1.) Christian McCaffrey - San Francisco 49ers
McCaffrey enjoyed another fine season in 2023. He surpassed 2,000 scrimmage yards and scored a whopping 21 total touchdowns en route to another overall RB1 finish.
49ers QB from the NFC Championship game Christian McCaffrey runs for a 65 Yard Touchdown
pic.twitter.com/4QtPeae8bm— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) September 10, 2023
He does enter his age-28 season in 2024, but it’s hard to put too much stock in this. McCaffrey hasn’t shown any signs of decline and is still the best pass-catching back in the league. Gamers can pencil him in as the RB1 and not look back.
UPDATE: McCaffrey is dealing with a calf injury that will keep him out for a few weeks, but it should not threaten his standing as the overall RB1.
2.) Bijan Robinson - Atlanta Falcons
After a disappointing rookie season, gamers are already expecting big things from Robinson in Year 2. The Falcons gave Arthur Smith the boot and hired former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris as their new head coach. The new regime has made it clear they intend to make Robinson the focal point of the offense, and that’s music to fantasy managers' ears.
Robinson finished as the RB9 last year, and it’s a good bet he will surpass that finish this season. He should see 300+ touches and finish among the top backs. Robinson is a fine pick in the middle of Round 1 and is a great consolation prize if you miss out on McCaffrey. Draft Robinson, enjoy the Year 2 breakout and reap the rewards.
3.) Breece Hall - New York Jets
Hall finished as the RB2 last year despite playing with a horrific offensive line and Zach Wilson at quarterback. It will be exciting to see how he fares with an improved offensive line and a returning Aaron Rodgers. If Hall maintains his pass-catching role from 2023, then he can make a run at dethroning McCaffrey for the RB1 crown.
Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings
1.) Tyreek Hill - Miami Dolphins
Among receivers with 200 routes run, Hill finished first in yards per route run (YPRR), targets per route run (TPRR), and target share, per Fantasy Points Data Suite. His 23.5 PPR points per game were second to CeeDee Lamb’s 23.7, and Hill actually finished higher than Lamb in PPG in both half and non-PPR leagues. He is Miami’s unquestioned WR1 and is always primed for a big year.
TYREEK HILL. HUGE TOUCHDOWN.
📺: #CARvsMIA on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/B4mQvLOt8O pic.twitter.com/Uis2fkF3el— NFL (@NFL) October 15, 2023
Hill has made it known he wants to be the league's first 2,000-yard receiver. Miami seemed to be on a mission last year to make it happen before Hill suffered an ankle injury. Expect him to make another run at the 2K mark as well as the overall WR1 crown.
2.) CeeDee Lamb - Dallas Cowboys
2023 was the true Lamb breakout we had all been waiting to see. He posted a 135-1,749-12 line en route to an overall WR1 finish. With the Cowboys failing to adequately upgrade the running back position and lacking a true WR2, Lamb is poised for another monster season.
Lamb is reportedly contemplating a holdout during training camp to secure a new contract. However, gamers should not worry about this development too much. After Lamb’s 2023, a new contract is certainly coming down the pipeline. He remains one of fantasy’s elite receivers and should be among the first three picks in drafts this summer.
3.) Ja’Marr Chase - Cincinnati Bengals
Since finishing as the WR5 as a rookie, Chase has failed to crack the top five each of the last two years. Make no mistake, though, he remains just as talented as he was three years ago.
#Bengals Ja'Marr Chase 63-yard catch and run.pic.twitter.com/mGOilRJN2T
— BSGsports (@BSGsportsmedia) October 8, 2023
With Joe Burrow returning from injury and Chase angling for a new contract, 2024 may finally be the year we see Chase explode.
Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings
1.) Sam LaPorta - Detroit Lions
LaPorta is coming off an all-world rookie season where he finished as the TE1. It was quite the performance and gamers are eager to see what he can do as a follow-up. The sophomore tight end has an FFPC ADP of 17.44 and is being taken as the TE1 off draft boards. It's understandable as his situation in Detroit remains virtually unchanged. LaPorta is a fine selection in all formats and will once again challenge for the TE1 spot.
2.) Trey McBride - Arizona Cardinals
After a disappointing rookie season, McBride enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign.
Trey McBride remains a bright spot for the Arizona Cardinals.
TOUCHDOWN FOR #85 pic.twitter.com/6emFdPq1vh
— PHNX Cardinals (@PHNX_Cardinals) January 1, 2023
McBride’s per-route data was quite strong. Per Fantasy Points Data Suite, his 27% TPRR and 2.15 YPRR were both better than LaPorta’s. McBride faces stiff target competition with the arrival of Marvin Harrison Jr., but there is still enough room in this offense for McBride to flourish. Expect him to finish among the top tight ends in 2024.
3.) Travis Kelce - Kansas City Chiefs
2023 wasn’t Kelce’s best season. He saw a decline in efficiency and averaged a career-low 10.6 yards per reception. His snap share also declined for the sixth straight year, and Kansas City has already indicated it will continue doing so in 2024 to preserve Kelce for the postseason. We should expect as much as he enters his age-35 season.
Kelce will still be among the top tight ends, but the decline in efficiency paired with a reduction in snaps will make it harder for Kelce to finish as the TE1. Still, he’s tied to Patrick Mahomes, and it’s hard to recommend avoiding the player who’s finished as the TE1 in six of the last eight years.
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