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With Kirk Cousins no longer in Minnesota, the race for this year's top fantasy football wide receiver is ripe for the taking. Alex Ciulla breaks down who he thinks is most-deserving in 2024.
It feels like just yesterday we watched Patrick Mahomes get showered in confetti, lifting the Lombardi Trophy for the third time. The NFL Draft is nearly upon us, though, and the fantasy football offseason is beginning to pick up steam.
It's never too early to predict which players will sit atop the leaderboards at the end of next season, and there might not be more of an intriguing discussion than the wide receiver position.
Four players, in particular, could end 2024 as fantasy WR1, and you don't have to squint that hard to see it. Among them, however, there is a clear standout.
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Who Will Be Fantasy Football WR1 in 2024?
In 2023, Justin Jefferson was the No. 1 overall pick in most (PPR) fantasy drafts. There was a wide receiver that some were taking over him, though -- the Cincinnati Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase.
His rookie season would have merited a "greatest all-time" discussion if not for Puka Nacua's 2023. Then, in 2022, Chase finished as a top-12 wide receiver on an 87-catch, 1,046-yard line with nine touchdowns. That would be a more than respectable full-season stat total for just about any other WR -- except he did this while missing four games.
Chase again had a magnificent line in 2023, posting his first 100-catch campaign as a pro. It begs asking just how good his season could have been if not for the trials and tribulations the Bengals endured. It's imperative to recall that in the preseason, Joe Burrow suffered a calf injury that left him at less than 100%. Burrow had a poor first few weeks of play until he started to "up" his game.
During a seven-game stretch from Weeks 3-10, Chase amassed 751 yards and five TDs. On the season, that's 61% of his yards and 71% of his touchdowns. Unfortunately, Burrow tore a ligament in his wrist in Week 11. Jake Browning would take over, and the Bengals offense would never be the same.
Ja’Marr Chase has recorded his 2nd career game with 10 receptions, 150 receiving yards and 2 receiving TD.
He’s the 3rd player in NFL history to have multiple such games before turning 25, joining Amari Cooper and Isaac Bruce. pic.twitter.com/yaknHFmbhV
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 8, 2023
Fun Fact: Ja'Marr Chase is the only player in fantasy football history to have two 50-plus-point performances (56.6, 52.2).
Assuming Burrow is healthy -- and there's no reason not to -- Ja'Marr Chase knocks off Jefferson as the top wide receiver in 2024. Chase's blend of athleticism, ball skills, and freaky after-the-catch ability makes him the most viable option this year for fantasy. It doesn't hurt that he's fun to watch, and there's no denying he loves the game.
Your on-field pass with @Real10jayy__ is here 🎙️
Mic'd Up | @altafiber pic.twitter.com/uPXfHB6ryB
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) October 19, 2023
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