Xavier Worthy, Brian Thomas Jr., Xavier Legette - 2024 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Outlooks

July 8, 2024

Fantasy football outlooks for rookie wide receivers Xavier Worthy, Brian Thomas Jr., and Xavier Legette in 2024. Which wide receiver should fantasy managers target in 2024 fantasy drafts?

The 2024 NFL Draft class was loaded with wide receiver talent, and Xavier Worthy, Brian Thomas Jr., and Xavier Legette all have qualities that make them intriguing for fantasy football. It can be tricky to know what to expect from players in their debut season, and it's even tougher to know when to draft them.

Worthy landed with the best quarterback in the NFL, Thomas held his own while sharing a field with Malik Nabers in college, and Legette has an incredible athletic profile similar to D.K. Metcalf.

Let's dive into each of their 2024 fantasy football outlooks below!

Xavier Worthy 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook

Former Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy was taken 28th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2024 NFL Draft. Any receiver who gets to play with Patrick Mahomes is automatically intriguing, let alone one who the team deems worthy of a first-round pick. And especially one who set the NFL Combine record for the 40-yard dash at 4.21 seconds. Worthy is more than a strict burner as well, posting low drop rates around 5-6% outside of 2022 when he played through a broken hand (and a change at QB). Worthy gives them another shot at filling Tyreek Hill's sprinter shoes, ideally without the inconsistency of Marquez Valdes-Scantling or Mecole Hardman Jr.

Quinn Ewers to Xavier Worthy. 44 yards. Touchdown Texas.

Dot. pic.twitter.com/JlgAKKrnSa

— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_OTF) September 10, 2023

Kansas City doesn't typically give rookies starting run out of the gate, but Rashee Rice may also be facing a suspension, which would vacate valuable playing time early next to Marquise Brown and Travis Kelce. The big-play threat mixed with Patrick Mahomes' arm makes Worthy enticing in best ball as a fourth or fifth wideout, while Rice's status will determine his seasonal redraft outlook.

Brian Thomas Jr. 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook

Brian Thomas Jr. landed in a potentially great spot with the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 23 in the 2024 NFL Draft. The team doesn't have a clear-cut alpha WR1 in their offense and QB Trevor Lawrence still has plenty of untapped superstar potential. The problem out of the gate? The Jaguars offense is currently very crowded for targets with RB Travis Etienne, WR Christian Kirk, WR Gabe Davis, and TE Evan Engram.

Thomas blew the doors off of college football last fall playing opposite of star WR Malik Nabers. Thomas finished with 60 receptions for 1,079 yards and 15 TDs. He is an athletic freak who showed out at the NFL Combine and has the potential to dominate opposing DBs, however, Thomas is still developing as a route runner and mostly won in college on go-routes. He is a solid long-term dynasty asset, but expectations should be tempered in Year 1.

Xavier Legette 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook

The Carolina Panthers selected South Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette with the 32nd overall draft pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Despite the majority of pre-draft predictions having Legette go in round two and beyond, the 23-year-old snuck into the first round and went to the team that showed constant interest in him ahead of the draft. Legette did not have a great start to his college career -- as he dealt with several significant injuries and played a ton of special teams during his first four seasons. However, what put him on the radar was Legette's 2024 performance.

The South Carolina native finished the season with a team-high 71 receptions for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns. His athletic testing further attracted the eyes of scouts. Legette clocked in at a 4.39 40-yard-dash, with a 1.54 10-yard split, 40-inch vertical jump, and 10-foot-6 broad jump. Factoring in the several additions to Carolina's offense, newly hired head coach Dave Canales will look to elevate the team around 2023 first-overall pick Bryce Young.

🗣️ "Touchdown, Carolina! Touchdown, Xavier Legette!"

Xavier Legette proved once again last night why he's an X-factor for @GamecockFB 🤙 pic.twitter.com/wPqlWGQw4r

— Gamecocks Plus (@GamecocksPlus) September 24, 2023

While route-running specialists Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen will without a doubt earn a large chunk of Young's targets this season, Legette has the highest ceiling from the corp. The rookie receiver is well worth a late-round shot in all formats.

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