Fantasy football season is fast approaching, and nearly 30 million people are getting ready to draft a team to win their league. A lot has changed in the landscape of the NFL over the offseason, shifting fantasy rankings across the board. Heading into 2024, I’ve compiled a list of players you need to be drafting to win your league. Some of these players are being severely underrated heading into this season, so you’ll have the chance to draft them for great value.
5. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals QB
Kyler Murray’s NFL career has been a rollercoaster to this point. At times, he’s looked like the franchise quarterback that the Cardinals drafted him to be, but he’s struggled to find consistency. Kyler missed the first nine weeks of the 2023 season due to injury, but showed solid production in the latter half of the year. In his eight starts, he averaged 18.3 fantasy points per game. That ranked ahead of players like C.J. Stroud and Patrick Mahomes, who are both being drafted several rounds ahead of Murray this year. Kyler’s ability to pick up rushing yards by scrambling will make him a more valuable option than pocket passers like Stroud and Joe Burrow. If you choose to wait until the middle rounds of your draft to take a quarterback, Murray is your best option.
4. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills TE
The talk around the league seems to be that the Bills lack a number one receiver this season after trading away Stefon Diggs. Their top receiver may be found in the tight end room. Buffalo spent a first-round pick on Dalton Kincaid in 2023, and Kincaid showed flashes of elite play as a rookie. The tight end only caught two touchdowns last season, which significantly decreased his fantasy production, but that number should improve without Diggs taking redzone targets. I expect offensive coordinator Joe Brady to use Kincaid in the slot this year as well as his traditional tight end position, allowing him to expand his role in the Bills’ offense.
3. Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings RB
The Vikings acquired former Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones this offseason to lead their backfield. Jones struggled to stay healthy in 2023 but finished the regular season with three consecutive games of at least 100 rushing yards. He carried his successful streak into the playoffs, showing that he still has the explosiveness to be a top-tier back. With a questionable offensive line, especially on the interior, I expect quarterback Sam Darnold to throw plenty of check-down passes to Jones this season. As long has he is able to stay healthy, Aaron Jones has top-12 running back upside this year.
2. Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals RB
Unless you’re a Bengals fan, you may never have heard of Chase Brown. That’s good; your league-mates probably haven’t either. Brown saw limited work behind Joe Mixon last season but should see a significant increase in production now that Mixon is in Houston. Although Zack Moss is currently listed as the team’s starter, this should be a split backfield at the start of the season. Due to his explosiveness and pass-catching ability, I expect Brown to finish the year as the top back in a Cincinnati offense that is expected to be elite. With that potential in mind, Chase Brown is a steal at his current ADP of 105.
1. Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans WR
Even though Calvin Ridley was somewhat disappointing with Jacksonville in 2023, he still finished as the WR28 in PPR leagues. Despite being in an arguably better situation in Tennessee, he’s now being drafted as the WR35. At age 29, Ridley still has the ball skills and route-running ability to be a true number one receiver in the NFL. His only true competition for targets is an aging Deandre Hopkins who is currently battling a knee injury. This offense is expected to throw the ball downfield consistently under Brian Callahan, which should greatly benefit Ridley and his fantasy owners.
