Attacking All 16 Rounds of Your Fantasy Football Draft in 2024

Every single Fantasy Football draft is different. I want to open up this article emphasizing that. We often see mock drafts in Fantasy Football or content focused on who to target at what pick and at what round. More often than not, we go into these Fantasy Football drafts thinking X will happen when in reality it is not even Y it is Z. You may be in two home leagues with the same settings where Patrick Mahomes goes in the second round of one, and the sixth round of another. We can generalize what typically happens round to round but we often are surprised by what actually happens on draft day.

This article intends to prepare you for each round of your Fantasy Football draft this year. I am going to eliminate the shell shock of the unexpected happening in each round, by outlining my target #1, #2, and #3 that I would want to draft through 16 rounds. I will also let you know who is a player I am fading in each round. So through 16 rounds of Fantasy Football drafting, I am overcommunicating with you in four different ways. Quick definitions:

• Target #1: This would be my ideal pick in that specific round. Of the players listed, this is my highest priority
• Target #2: See above, but if target #1 is off the board OR you positionally do not need that player
• Target #3: See target #2’s definition, but if both target #1 and target #2 are off the board
• Fade: I am avoiding this player in the specific round I am talking about. This does not always mean the player will necessarily be bad, but I think their draft cost is too high for what I project them to produce

Please understand that I am simply outlining the best and worst values of each round, without knowing what your roster build actually is. Example: In a single quarterback league, if you drafted a quarterback in one round and then I list a quarterback as the best value two rounds later you probably do not have to grab him and can pivot to target #2. This article can serve as a cheat sheet for draft day, so I hope you enjoy it.

Each round will list the players being drafted in that round based on the current Average Draft Position (ADP). Rank is the ADP number. Example: Rank 10 = 10th overall player being drafted.

Attacking 16 Rounds of Fantasy Football Drafting in 2024

Round 1

• Target #1: Ja’Marr Chase is my 1.01 this year, which is extremely spicy but I believe it. Chase has the highest ceiling in terms of receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and the Fantasy Points that follow of any wide receiver in the NFL with a healthy Joe Burrow
• Target #2: Christian McCaffrey is an amazing talent in an amazing situation. CMC was over 100 points ahead of every running back for Fantasy Football last season. Monitor that calf strain, but I believe he will be fine to be his normal self in 2024.
• Target #3: CeeDee Lamb aka the WR1 for Fantasy Football last year has the same exact sort of outcome for 2024 since nothing has changed in Dallas to impact Lamb. The Dak Prescott connection is real and that was evident by the numbers last year
• Fade: Jahmyr Gibbs is explosive, he is efficient, and he had a great rookie season for Fantasy Football. I cannot draft him at this cost though, with the David Montgomery committee he is still in along with the current injury concern. Regardless if Gibbs is healthy, I have other running backs above him in my rankings that would mean the top 12 draft capital just does not make sense.

Round 2

• Target #1: Garrett Wilson is finally primed for his big breakout for Fantasy Football. Wilson has been the focal point of the Jets’ passing game the last two seasons but by mediocre quarterbacks. We finally can see Aaron Rodgers healthy, who will make Wilson his new Davante Adams. 
• Target #2: Marvin Harrison Jr is an elite prospect, with elite draft capital, with elite opportunity as a rookie. This is the next Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase type of wide receiver who earns the first-round draft capital and has massive Fantasy impacts as a rookie.
• Target #3: Derrick Henry has a resume filled with rushing-yard and touchdown upside. Landing this off-season in the NFL’s most run-heavy offense from last season, was a Fantasy Football dream. Even if Henry loses a step, he can score 15+ total touchdowns in this Baltimore offense.
• Fade: De’Von Achane had some major spike weeks in 2023 as a rookie and was arguably the most efficient player in the NFL last season. Health was an issue, and so is the fact that Raheem Mostert had a big season and was brought back for 2024. Jaylen Wright is a prospect I liked, and the rookie could be the Mostert replacement at some point but still create a committee with Achane. Health concerns + committee make Achane a fade at this cost.

Round 3

• Target #1: Drake London is another candidate primed for a breakout in 2024. London has dealt with a low passing Atalanta offense, with poor quarterback play his opening two seasons. A new coaching staff along with Kirk Cousins can change that in 2024
• Target #2: Patrick Mahomes is my QB1 for Fantasy Football in 2024 after I faded him (rightfully so) last season. Mahomes has been Fantasy dominant in the past, and we have the league’s best quarterback with double the weapons he had last season. 2024 could be scary. This is the deepest set of weapons in Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown, and Isiah Pacheco he has ever had.
• Target #3: Brandon Aiyuk has some major question marks surrounding him for 2024. Will he be a 49er, and if not what team will he be traded to? I personally think San Fran makes sure Aiyuk stays after he had a season filled with upside that impacted Fantasy Football plenty.
• Fade: Nico Collins was a wide receiver I often plugged as a sleeper the last few seasons. I labeled him as that prior to 2023, and he had a massive season. My issue is Collins’ targets per game last season may not be super high. The team did not have Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell missed time in 2023. I am projecting Nico to be good, but for Diggs to earn the most targets and Dell to still be extremely utilized which makes Collins’ capital too high.

Round 4

• Target #1: Jaylen Waddle is one of my favorite bounce-backs for 2024 as a player who has shown us plenty of upside in the past but had a banged up 2023 season that held him back. Waddle’s 2022 season is an example of what could be in 2024, with Tua Tagovailoa showing so much promise through the air as the league’s leader in passing last year.
• Target #2: DJ Moore’s importance to Chicago was made clear this off-season with a big extension. Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze present a new target competition, but Moore was excellent last season in Chicago and will continue as their WR1. I love me some Caleb Williams as well.
• Target #3: Trey McBride is my TE1 this season after seeing the upside he brought to the Fantasy Football world in his window as the starter last season. I have always been a big believer in McBride’s pass-catching talent, and the rate that he was scoring 20+ Fantasy Points last season felt like a major difference-maker. 1-2 punch for Kyler Murray with MHJ this year.
• Fade: DeVonta Smith is a great talent and has made plenty of Fantasy Football impacts in his career. Fourth-round draft capital in an offense that does not have the highest of passing volume, as the second target, feels steep to me. I think I would rather have other wide receivers later who are their team’s WR1.

Round 5

• Target #1: Dalton Kincaid could be Josh Allen’s #1 target this season, which would have massive Fantasy Football implications. We witnessed some true Fantasy Football upside last season from Kincaid as a first-round rookie, and that can become much more consistent due to the loss of Stefon Diggs and the uncertainty of the wide receiver room in Buffalo.
• Target #2: Malik Nabers drew excellent draft capital out of the New York Giants this year, and his LSU profile screams “elite playmaker”. Even if the situation is rough in New York, Nabers will be hyper-targeted which will give him plenty of opportunity to make things happen with the ball in his hands
• Target #3: Zay Flowers finished the final five games of the regular season hot for the Ravens last year as a first-round rookie, then went on to absolutely ball out in the NFL Playoffs. Flowers’ importance to the Ravens is extremely clear, and he can build on his connection with Lamar Jackson in 2024.
• Fade: Tee Higgins has displayed plenty of Fantasy Football upside throughout his career when healthy, and a connection to Joe Burrow. I am not sure he has done enough to solidify fifth-round draft capital though, as a team’s WR2 with plenty of guys being drafted after him with higher ceilings and target potential in 2024.

Round 6

• Target #1: Kyler Murray has been a top-four quarterback in Fantasy PPG twice, had a season of 800+ rushing yards under his belt, is healthy, and gets the combo of Marvin Harrison Jr. + Trey McBride along with compliment pieces. Major upside for the position in the sixth.
• Target #2: Kyle Pitts has a 1,000-yard season under his belt as a rookie, and is in a much-improved situation with the Falcons. A change in coaching staff and the addition of Kirk Cousins will mean more volume and more quality volume. Pitts will have the athleticism, skillset, and volume to be a TE1 overall candidate this season.
• Target #3: D’Andre Swift has had flashes through his career of a true playmaking, dual-threat running back. We have just not seen it all be pieced together. I truly think that landing in the fastest-growing NFL offense could mean we finally see all of the upside metrics into one season for Swift.
• Fade: Zamir White had a minimal sample size of four games last season, which I will credit he performed well in, but people are extrapolating too much. I was never a big fan of White as a prospect, as a talent, and do not like the Raiders situation so I feel White is being over-drafted because of last year’s tiny sample size of games.

Round 7

• Target #1: Jayden Reed had a stellar rookie season last year for the Packers, leading the team in most statistics and by far being the best Fantasy Football asset to roster. Many believe the Green Bay wide receiver room is unclear, but I feel Reed has the most to offer and brings the versatility of a guy who can line up out wide, in the slot, run the ball, score touchdowns, and do a ton after the catch.
• Target #2: Najee Harris overall had a down 2023 season, but actually performed well in Weeks 11-18 following the offensive-coordinator change in Pittsburgh. During the Fantasy Football playoffs, Najee was actually a monster. Three straight seasons of over 1,000 yards rushing paired with him being on a contract year and the Steelers both upgrading the offensive-line and quarterback room are major pluses.
• Target #3: Jake Ferguson should operate as the #2 target in Dallas again this season, which was a huge reason he had such a great 2023 season. Ferguson received so many looks in the red zone during the regular season but could not connect for touchdown upside, but scored three touchdowns in one playoff game this year, which could foreshadow that category leaping in 2024.
• Fade: Jonathon Brooks is a player I love for Dynasty, but dislike for Redraft. Brooks is just 21, and tore his ACL in November, which he is still recovering from. I do not see any reason Carolina rushes their future star into work this season and chances his future being impacted.

Round 8

• Target #1: Diontae Johnson has historically been a true target earner, which is evident through his Pittsburgh numbers for years. Bryce Young supported Adam Thielen to Fantasy Football relevance in 2023 and can do the same in an improved Carolina offense for 2024.
• Target #2: Austin Ekeler had a down 2023 season due to injuries, and now apparently is terrible at football. Those two things seem to go hand-in-hand when it comes to the emotion of Fantasy Football. I do not think we ever see a top-three season out of Ekeler for Fantasy Football like he has given us in the past, but I do believe he will bounce back in Washington this season. The Commanders know exactly what Ekeler is, so them going out and adding him to the roster means he will be utilized plenty in the passing game as a 1-2 combo with Brian Robinson Jr.
• Target #3: Javonte Williams was a guy that everyone seemed to love after his rookie season in 2021, then he tore his ACL in 2022 and did not light the world on fire in his 2023 recovery season so now apparently he is bad at football. I think Javonte is the locked RB1 for Denver and has shown us the potential DNA of a workhorse running back. Now that Williams is healthy, he can show us a full season of what we liked out of him as a rookie.
• Fade: Nick Chubb has always been a guy I targeted for Fantasy Football as one of the best pure runners in the NFL. Following that gruesome knee injury last season that required two surgeries, it is difficult for me to really think he will be back to himself the season after. I think there is a real chance Chubb misses the opening few weeks of the NFL and is not himself in 2024. I hope I am wrong!

Round 9

• Target #1: Ladd McConkey is an extremely athletic slot wide receiver who is competent in getting open and making the plays. I truly believe the second-round rookie can lead the Chargers in targets this season with all of Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Austin Ekeler, and Gerald Everett gone. Being attached to Justin Herbert and target volume from Herbert sounds like a great thing for Fantasy Football.
• Target #2: Jaxon Smith-Njigba nearly earned 100 targets with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett last season as a first-round rookie. JSN also finished 21st in yards after the catch, showing his playmaking ability. I am a big believer in the JSN talent, and think that his sophomore season will mean a jump in targets which will mean a jump in Fantasy Football production for the guy who once out-performed both Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave at Ohio State.
• Target #3: Jayden Daniels is the epitome of a dual-threat quarterback when looking at his LSU numbers both through the air and on the ground. The former Heisman Trophy winner deserved the second overall draft capital he received from Washington in 2024, is a near lock for 500+ rushing yards, and has a true chance to make a major Fantasy impact as a rookie. Daniels has top 10 Fantasy upside in round nine.
• Fade: Dallas Goedert has had plenty of Fantasy relevance in the past, but I fear he continues to become less and less important to this Eagles offense. Jalen Hurts, AJ Brown, Saquon Barkley (new), and DeVonta Smith for me will play much bigger roles for Philadelphia in 2024

Round 10

• Target #1: Caleb Williams is one of the best quarterback prospects we may have ever seen, who did not have the most supporting system in the world but still was massively productive. Williams is a true playmaker with sneaky mobility, as this year’s 2024 NFL Draft first selection. Landing in a system with DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet, D’Andre Swift, and Gerald Everett is scary.
• Target #2: Jerome Ford piggybacks off of my hesitation with Nick Chubb mentioned earlier. If Chubb misses time or has a slow season, we can see Ford yet again fall into plenty of volume that will give managers depth for the running back position which is difficult to have each year. Ford was a top 25 back in Fantasy PPG last season, in the 10th round.
• Target #3: Jameson Williams had an explosive profile as a prospect, drew first-round capital from Detroit, but has failed to live up to expectations due to injuries and suspension. The Lions are a great offense to have a role in, and this could finally be the year we see more explosive plays out of the deep threat that brings high upside FLEX value in 2024.
• Fade: TJ Hockenson when healthy is arguably a top-five tight end in the NFL and for Fantasy Football. Hockenson tore his ACL late last season though, which draws major questions to when he will be ready to go this season and at what capacity. The questions surround the quarterback room in Minnesota following the news JJ McCarthy’s season is over due to his meniscus surgery is another factor in itself.

Round 11

• Target #1: Brian Thomas Jr. was selected by the Jaguars in the first round of 2024, after leading College Football in receiving touchdowns in his 2023 breakout season with Malik Nabers as a teammate. Thomas reportedly looks good in camp and should bring plenty of receiving yard and touchdown upside to Trevor Lawrence who has operated with a handful of solid compliment pieces but no true alpha.
• Target #2: Curtis Samuel reunites with the Bills’ Offensive Coordinator Joe Brady with whom he had his best season to date back in 2020 with the Carolina Panthers. That season Samuel was not just productive through the air but on the ground as well as a true gadget wide receiver. Following the Stefon Diggs departure, the wide receiver room in Buffalo is wide open, and Samuel can earn 90+ targets for a fifth straight full season in a row. Samuel’s gadget use can translate well to Fantasy Football.
• Target #3: Trey Benson was selected by the Cardinals in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and has the traits of a future workhorse running back. Benson should operate as the James Conner handcuff, but will have a ton of upside in the event Conner were to miss any time.
• Fade: Dalton Schultz has a nice connection to CJ Stroud last season and was extended this off-season, but I do not think he is a tight end to trust for Fantasy Football. I want my tight ends to earn targets consistently, but I am not sure that will be the case with the trio of Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins, and Tank Dell.

Round 12

• Target #1: Kirk Cousins was on absolute fire last season before his Achilles tear to a near MVP level. Cousins has historically been an underrated Fantasy scorer with plenty of passing upside. The trio of Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson is a great pivot in Atlanta that can mean top 12 upside
• Target #2: Pat Freiermuth had a down 2023, but the entire Steelers offense felt a bit disappointed through the air. With Diontae Johnson now in Carolina, George Pickens defaults to the WR1 and Muth has a true chance to be the #2 target with improvements to the quarterback room and offensive line. Take a look at Muth’s 2022 season and how he weighed in various categories vs the tight end position and picture 2024 being potentially better
• Target #3: Mike Williams has a season under his belt with very productive receiving numbers and Fantasy Football scoring, and has been an upside play through time. Last season MikeWill was on fire the first three weeks before his ACL tear. Williams may still be recovering from that injury but the timing of the tear gave him plenty of recovery time. An attachment to Aaron Rodgers in 2024 as the WR2 can mean again being an upside FLEX play.
• Fade: Cole Kmet needed 90+ targets in two of his last three seasons to be Fantasy relevant, and knowing that DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze likely kick him out of that 90-target range makes him rough to trust consistently.

Round 13

• Target #1: Jerry Jeudy lands in Cleveland via trade this off-season, with a true chance to turn his career around. Injuries, passing volume, and quarterback play have combined to be factors that hold back the former first-round talent. In 2022, Jeudy finished 19th in Fantasy PPG and hit well vs the position across several categories that imply that he is #good. Operating as Deshaun Watson’s WR2 can mean Fantasy relevance if he is his 2022 self and Watson gives us a flashback of his Texan days.
• Target #2: Joshua Palmer has had plenty of spike weeks for Fantasy when given the opportunity. Palmer finished 18th in both yards per target and yards per reception this past season, and is the only wide receiver on the roster who has an established connection with Justin Herbert. I project the passing game to go through Palmer and rookie Ladd McConkey. 
• Target #3: Chuba Hubbard totaled 270+ touches last season and over 1,000 scrimmage yards after beating out Miles Sanders for the RB1 role in Carolina. I talked earlier about why I felt Jonathon Brooks was a fade this season as a future star recovering from an ACL injury at a young age which correlates with Hubbard.
• Fade: Brandin Cooks suffered an injury this week, which I am not overreacting to but aligns with his decline. I have always been a huge Cooks fan but his failure to emerge in a wide-open Dallas opportunity last year feels like he will still be third in the pecking order at best in 2024.

Round 14

• Target #1: Deshaun Watson has been a top-five Fantasy quarterback in PPG across his three full seasons. Watson was once regarded as a premier Fantasy dual-threat quarterback option, and the numbers support that. Even in his small window last season he was Fantasy impactful in three of his five full games. Joe Flacco’s success in the Cleveland system last season is encouraging, and I think Watson will bounce back
• Target #2: Luke Musgrave showed flashes of earning targets, a connection with Jordan Love, efficiency metrics, and receiving yard upside as a rookie. Although the wide receiver room seems confusing and Tucker Kraft was very serviceable as a rookie last season in place of Musgrave, I feel the tight end has an established role in Green Bay.
• Target #3: Antonio Gibson has a history of reception and touchdown upside through time, with three seasons as a top 30 and two seasons as a top 20 running back in Fantasy PPG. I believe Gibson can be utilized as the pass-catching compliment to Rhamondre Stevenson in a Patriots offense that has questions about their receiving options and might run a lot of plays through their two running backs.
• Fade: Gabe Davis was thought of as an upside wide receiver to FLEX in the past, but burned so many Fantasy managers with a handful of zero Fantasy Point weeks in Buffalo last season. There is more competition for targets in Jacksonville than there was in Buffalo, with a lesser quarterback. I also believe if Brian Thomas Jr. emerges he wipes Davis’ importance.

Round 15

• Target #1: Rashid Shaheed is a big-play wide receiver who had plenty of big plays in 2023, with efficiency in his yardage categories. In year three Shaheed can take a step forward as the WR2 in New Orleans which gives the big-play wide receiver more opportunities to make big plays.
• Target #2: Jahan Dotson had some negative reports come out today, that indicated Washington has no idea who their WR2 is. We all thought Dotson was a lock. I am calling smoke here. I really liked Dotson’s prospect profile and rookie season production, and last year will not completely wipe that out for me even if it was a disappointing year. Jayden Daniels is a guy I am very high on so if Dotson’s role is sticky it could mean FLEX value.
• Target #3: Dontayvion Wicks has been everyone’s Fantasy darling this off-season. In all honesty, I am not sold he is the first, second, or third target in this offense but he continues to impress in camp and pre-season games so knowing that the wide receiver room is wide open I do not mind tossing the dart.
• Fade: Isaiah Likely is another overhyped Fantasy darling due to his small window of games filling in for Mark Andrews when injured. Andrews being off the field has been the only time Likely has had relevance. In a perfectly healthy world, I do not see Likely having the role people wish for. Even if he does earn the target #3 role in 2024, I am not sure with Lamar Jackson still running, Derrick Henry going to make an obvious impact, and the duo of Zay Flowers and Andrews that Likely can be utilized in Fantasy. Why draft a handcuff tight end in Redraft?

Round 16

• Target #1: Ja’Lynn Polk had an impressive final season at Washington in 2023, even with Rome Odunze on the field with him. Polk drew second-round draft capital from New England, which was the move they made right after drafting Drake Maye in the first. I truly believe Polk is the only wide receiver on the roster who can profile as this team’s WR1, which would mean weekly target volume for a guy who can bring some Fantasy upside if he adapts well to it. Polk is a true “my guy” this season all the way in Round 16.
• Target #2: Will Levis teased us last year with one huge game before disappointing in the rest. The Titans have set up Levis to be successful in his sophomore season as the starter, adding Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd to DeAndre Hopkins in the wide receiver room, Tony Pollard to Tyjae Spears (two pass-catching running backs) to the backfield, and offensive lineman. Levis can be a quarterback streamer this year. ‘
• Target #3: Darnell Mooney has a season of over 1,000 receiving yards back in Chicago, and lands in Atlanta this off-season to fill the role as their field-stretching WR2. Cousins can air it out, so Mooney can be utilized as a FLEX option even with the young playmakers in that system.
• Fade: Geno Smith has a great 2022 season, and a really rough 2023. I would not be shocked if he is on a short leash with Sam Howell now on the roster. Smith has some really nice weapons but I am not sure he is a guy that you NEED to roster right away and can be further evaluated later as a waiver wire streamer.

Do you agree with Nick’s plan in this fantasy football draft? Share your thoughts in the comments below and then make sure to check out our 2024 Fantasy Football Draft Kit for more great rankings and analysis.