Fantasy football 2024 rankings, NFL rookie QB picks: Strong Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix predictions
By CBS Sports Staff,
2024-08-15
Caleb Williams was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but does that mean he should be the first of the 2024 Fantasy football rookie quarterbacks taken in your Fantasy football 2024 drafts? Williams (Bears) was the first of three straight quarterbacks taken at the top of the 2024 NFL Draft, followed by Jayden Daniels (Commanders) and Drake Maye (Patriots). Williams and Daniels are both officially starting Week 1, while Maye will sit, so which of these 2024 Fantasy football rookies should you have the most confidence in?
Last year, the model accurately predicted that Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs would carry significantly more value than expected during his rookie season. The result: Gibbs rushed for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns while also catching 52 passes for 316 yards and a score. Gibbs was coming off the board in the middle of the fourth round on average but finished as a top-10 running back in CBS Sports PPR leagues.
The same model has a proven track record providing Fantasy football tips, identifying A.J. Brown as a sleeper in 2020 and nailing Jonathan Taylor's monstrous season in 2021. Additionally, it's called past Fantasy football sleepers like Derrick Henry in 2019, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara in 2018, and Davante Adams in 2017. Anybody who banked on players like those made a run at their league title.
The model is powered by the same people who generated projections for all three major Fantasy sites, and it beat human experts last season when there was a big difference in ranking. The projections update multiple times daily, so you're always getting the best Fantasy football advice.
Now, SportsLine has simulated the entire NFL season 10,000 times and released its latest Fantasy football cheat sheets 2024 and draft advice, along with its top rookie Fantasy QB picks. Head to SportsLine now to see them .
2024 Caleb Williams Fantasy football projection
The model has locked in its 2024 Fantasy football prediction for Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. The 2022 Heisman Trophy winner displayed the playmaking ability during the preseason that led to him entering the NFL as one of the most hyped prospects in recent memory. There are some lingering concerns with Chicago's offensive line, but Williams' dual-threat ability and his knack for escaping pressure will make him an intriguing fantasy quarterback option right away.
The Bears surrounded Williams with an impressive group of targets in wide receivers DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze, and tight end Cole Kmet. The 22-year-old rookie is set to enter Week 1 as the betting favorite to win this year's NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. If he can adequately adjust to playing in cold weather, Williams has a legitimate chance to outperform his current fantasy ADP (94.4). See the full Fantasy football QB rankings here.
2024 Jayden Daniels Fantasy football projection
The model has also released its projection for Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. He is the first Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback to not be selected with the No. 1 overall pick when entering the NFL Draft since Lamar Jackson. The comparisons between Daniels and Jackson won't stop there as the two are dual-threat options more known for their legs than their arms. But they both showcased the ability to throw in college, including Daniels throwing for 3,812 yards with 40 touchdowns last season.
Jackson won the MVP in his first season as a starter, but that came in his second season. Daniels is thrust into the starting position Week 1, so he'll have to learn the NFL as he goes. Daniels has incredible upside, but is he ready to be a Fantasy football starting quarterback to begin the 2024 NFL season? Or could a few-week learning curve set him back and leave you wishing for a veteran in your 2024 Fantasy football lineups? See where every quarterback lands in the rankings here .
2024 Bo Nix Fantasy football projection
The model has also revealed Fantasy predictions for Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix. Viewed as a fringe first-round pick entering the 2024 NFL Draft, Nix was surprisingly taken by the quarterback-needy Broncos at No. 12 overall. Nix had an up-and-down three-year run at Auburn from 2019-21, but found a groove after transferring to Oregon in 2022. He completed 74.9% of his passes for 8,101 yards, 74 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions for the Ducks.
Nix was clearly the best quarterback for the Broncos in the preseason, outplaying veterans Jarret Stidham and Zach Wilson. Head coach Sean Payton named Nix the starter on Aug. 22, setting him up to be the first Broncos rookie to start the opener at quarterback since John Elway in 1983. With a questionable supporting cast, Nix will have to prove his Fantasy relevancy as he's going off the board around pick No. 169, according to the latest 2024 Fantasy football ADP. See full Fantasy football QB tiers here .
2024 Drake Maye Fantasy football projection
The model has also revealed Fantasy predictions for New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. New England missed out on the top two quarterbacks in the draft, but Maye was still an elite option available with the third pick. He finished his college career at North Carolina with 62 passing touchdowns and 16 interceptions, posting a top-five Pro Football Focus passing grade during his first year as a starter (2022).
Maye averaged nearly 56 rushing yards per game in his two seasons as a starter, giving him a high Fantasy ceiling in an age where versatility is key. However, he is not locked into the starting job in New England, as veteran Jacoby Brissett is also on the roster. Furthermore, Maye has a mediocre supporting cast around him, so he will be asked to do a lot on his own if he earns the starting role. See full Fantasy football rankings 2024 here .
How to find proven 2024 Fantasy football rankings, advice
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