The 2024 NFL Draft is finally upon us, and prospects are now rookies with NFL cities to call home. Follow along for real-time analysis of the opening round’s impact on fantasy football plans for the upcoming season and beyond.
Fantasy draft season may not be close to hitting its crescendo, but hardcore gamers have been selecting players prior to the conclusion of the collegiate bowl season. It’s time to let the real fun begin!
Also see: Day 2 | Day 3
Round 1 fantasy football reaction
1) QB Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
An electric playmaker whose game tape is filled with soul-crushing moments for the opposition, Williams is positioned well to hit the ground running as a pro. Chicago loaded up the roster with proven weapons in recent years, boasting the likes of DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, D’Andre Swift, and Cole Kmet. The USC star will be in a West Coast-derived system that has seen quarterbacks play at a high level in recent years, and the divisional also is on the weaker side defensively. Williams will have QB1 performances this year thanks to his legs and trademark passing heroics. Expect to pay a fairly high price tag in fantasy drafts, though.
2) QB Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Elite athleticism from the quarterback position is what you can expect from Daniels in this spread system, run by former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury. We’ve seen just what Kyler Murray was capable of in that offense, and this one is is arguably a better situation. The playmakers around Daniels are an upgrade with Brian Robinson Jr. Austin Ekeler, Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, and Zach Ertz headlining that list. Rookie quarterbacks tend to struggle in fantasy, but he’s a natural runner who is a quality deep-ball passer with experience in a premium program. Daniels has borderline QB1 utility each and every week because of rushing bonus points.
3) QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Like both of the quarterbacks chosen ahead of him, this North Carolina product is mobile and has a lively arm. Maye enters the AFC East’s quarterback-rich competition as the presumed Week 1 backup to Jacoby Brissett, though nothing is set in stone when you select a passer third overall. The Patriots have a feeble cast of weapons at the moment, which will undoubtedly get addressed during the draft. For now, the stout quarterback, who reminds a little of Buffalo’s Josh Allen, is built to withstand the cold and take the punishing hits. The ceiling here is sky high, but it’s probably going to take a few years before it all comes together. At best, Maye is a late-season matchup play to cover a bye week or injury, but he has top-10 QB upside in the long run.
4) WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals
At 6-foot-3, 209 pounds, Harrison has the tools to be a Week 1 fantasy contributor as the No. 1 target for quarterback Kyler Murray. Arizona was in dire straits at the position, and now the son of one of the games best receivers gets to carry on the family legacy. Harrison racked up at least 1,200 yards and 14 scores in each of the last two seasons for Ohio State, largely thanks to his smooth moment traits and exceptional hands. His route skills are impeccable. It will be awfully surprising if Harrison isn’t at least a No. 2 fantasy receiver in 2024.
6) WR Malik Nabers, New York Giants
Absurdly explosive and competitive, Nabers immediately becomes the top target for Daniel Jones in this lackluster passing game. Much like Harrison in Arizona, we’re looking at a rookie receiver who is poised to make a Day 1 contribution in fantasy. He has school records galore from his time at LSU — a program known for producing top-level NFL wideouts. There’s a lot to like here from a 6-foot, 199-pounder who plays much bigger than the measurables would indicate. Nabers is a capable No. 3 receiver fantasy this year, and the only thing holding him back from achieving a higher status out of the gates is Jones himself.
8) QB Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
The surprise through seven picks was no trades occurring, but the Falcons pitched an epic curveball with the Penix selection. He has arguably the best arm in the draft class but will be asked to sit for several years behind Kirk Cousins, Atlanta’s four-year, $180 million acquisition this offseason. It’s a little bewildering, but the brass clearly wants to establish a succession plan, and taking Penix in Round 1 gives them a fifth-year option should Cousins actually play all four years. Unless Captain Kirk suffers another major injury, we won’t be seeing Penix for years to come.
9) WR Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears
The Bears double dipped on the offensive side of the ball with their first two selections, pairing Odunze with quarterback Caleb Williams. The Bears have built up the offense in the last couple of years with the likes of DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, D’Andre Swift and now Odunze to go with tight end Cole Kmet. Odunze is the real deal on and off the field, so the Bears are looking forward while also improving in the short term. This is an ideal situation for the rookie receiver to learn the ropes with little pressure while situating himself for a leading role in 2025. Yet, he’s merely a late-round curiosity in fantasy this season without an injury taking out Allen or Moore.
10) QB J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
The Vikes traded up one spot with the New York Jets to select University of Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. He’s a game manager with moxie who has the requisite talent that wasn’t always on display in a run-heavy system. No one can argue he’s not a winner, though. Some physical limitations exist, but McCarthy enters an offense loaded with talent to help take off the stress of being the new face of the franchise. It’s unclear if veteran Sam Darnold will start early on, but it’s only a matter of time before we see the former Wolverine under center if that’s the case. For now, McCarthy isn’t a draftable option in Year 1 as anything more than a late-round gamble. Over the long run, we’re looking at a guy who will consistently flirt with top-12 weekly fantasy numbers.
12) QB Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Extremely experienced, accurate, and underrated in terms of arm talent, Denver gets a quarterback who will step in on Day 1. He reminds of the Drew Brees mold that worked so well under Sean Payton in New Orleans — quick-hitting, timing-based throws who can uncork when needed. Denver has some questions to answer in the personnel department, but there’s a lot of draft left to bring in more help at a deep receiver position. The wire also still has a few names of note lingering about, including Michael Thomas. In Year 1, Nix isn’t draftable for 2024 use, but he has respectable future beyond this season.
13) TE Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
Many people forecasted the Raiders taking a quarterback here, but few evaluators expected six of the first dozen selections to be a signal caller. The lack of players left may have driven the choice of Bowers, but it seems to confirm Aidan O’Connell will indeed get a shot at being the starter in a competition with Gardner Minshew. The star Georgia tight end joins a quality cast of weapons for the young quarterback, and this selection puts two-TE sets consistently in play. Bowers is an excellent playmaker who lines up everywhere and is capable of taking over games. Rookie tight ends rarely shine, however, so don’t be expecting the production Detroit’s Sam LaPorta gave us in 2023. Bowers will share work with TE Michael Mayer but more importantly Davante Adams‘ ball-hogging ways. Bowers is a late-round gamble in deeper leagues who could emerge if a receiver injury factors in.
23) WR Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
The second LSU receiver chosen thus far, Thomas led FBS action with 17 receiving scores. He’s a dedicated competitor who was blazing fast at the combine (4.33-second 40). Thomas is phenomenal in 50/50 situations, and there’s a big body (6-foot-2 7/8, 209 pounds) for cornerbacks to contend with. Calvin Ridley left for Tennessee, and the offense gets younger as well as more explosive. He joins Gabe Davis, Christian Kirk and Evan Engram as the primary targets for Trevor Lawrence in an overall passing game that profiles as dangerous as any. Thomas is a risk-reward No. 4 in fantasy drafts this year, and he could emerge as a weekly matchup consideration by midseason. This rookie checks all of the boxes for a long-term success story in all league formats.
28) WR Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs
It’s easy to get excited about the fastest 40 time ever recorded at the NFL Scouting Combine, but Worthy deserves more credit than just being a burner. While undersized at a trim 165 pounds, he’s tough as nails and displayed improved mitts in 2023. There also is special teams value here, and Worthy will give the Chiefs the closest thing to Tyreek Hill‘s big-play ability since Cheetah was traded. Worthy probably won’t see a ton of targets in 2023, and that may not even matter given his style of play. However, there’s a high likelihood KC will be without Rashee Rice at some point due to suspension. The offense still runs through Travis Kelce, and Marquise Brown is now in the fray, so Worthy will have to earn his looks. Gamers will have to spend up to land Patrick Mahomes‘ newest toy. Think a WR4 floor with No. 2 upside if Rice misses extensive action.
31) WR Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers
Was this selection a foreshadowing of a Brandon Aiyuk trade? Let’s assume it is, the Niners get a fast, sure-handed receiver whose game is built on competitiveness in the open field. He is a lethal slot option, and it’s not going to be a huge drop-off from one former first-rounder to the next. Should Aiyuk stick around one more season, San Fran gets a chance to ease Pearsall into the offense by picking strategic spots to get the most of out of his unique skill set. In the first scenario, Pearsall is a viable WR4 selection in fantasy drafts this season. We’ll watch this situation closely.
32) WR Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers
A rare combination of size (6-foot-3, 221 pounds) and speed (4.39 seconds), few players are naturally as daunting of a matchup. Legette is somewhat raw with one year of legit experience, but Carolina gets its version of A.J. Brown with a little Deebo Samuel mixed in. The goal was to put more weapons around Bryce Young, and Legette joins an upgraded receivers room with Diontae Johnson also coming to town via an offseason trade. Jonathan Mingo flashed last year, and Adam Thielen is a safety blanket as this group’s elder statesman. Be cautious here, but Legette’s upside is undeniable. The real issue is how many chances will he get in 2024. This is another situation we’ll closely follow during the coming weeks and months before making a firm valuation. Those in keeper leagues should expect potential WR1 upside in the next few seasons.
