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Fantasy Football Rankings 2024: NFL sleepers, breakouts, busts by model that nailed Deebo Samuel's hard year
By CBS Sports Staff,
4 hours ago
USATSI
Scoring touchdowns is one of the most important statistics when it comes to building winning 2024 Fantasy football rankings, which is why Chris Godwin's owners were left disappointed last year. The Buccaneers' wide receiver eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards for the third straight season, but managed to score just two touchdowns. Godwin has finished with three or fewer TD receptions the past two seasons after racking up 29 in the previous four seasons combined. However, his lack of touchdowns could make him one of the top 2024 Fantasy football sleepers. It is also important to note players who scored more touchdowns than expected during your 2024 Fantasy football draft prep. Those players are unlikely to improve if they get the same number of touches, so they could be worth avoiding in your 2024 Fantasy football picks.
Last year, the model accurately predicted that Buccaneers running back Rachaad White was being dramatically undervalued. White was coming off the board in the seventh round on average in 12-team PPR leagues, but he emerged as Tampa Bay's workhorse ball carrier and provided significantly more value than expected, finishing No. 4 at his position. White rushed for 990 yards and six touchdowns while adding 64 catches for 549 yards and three more scores as a receiver. Anybody who followed the model's advice scored an every week starting running back in the middle rounds.
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 2024 Fantasy football PPR rankings and 2024 Fantasy football standard 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 2024 Fantasy football rankings, along with plenty of sleepers, breakouts and busts. Head to SportsLine now to see them .
Top 2024 Fantasy football sleepers
One of the 2024 Fantasy football sleepers the model is predicting: Jaguars tight end Evan Engram. The former Ole Miss standout is coming off the best season of his career, hauling in 114 receptions for 963 yards and four touchdowns. He finished with at least 60 receiving yards in five of his final six games of the regular season, catching four total touchdown passes during that stretch.
Engram finished as the TE2 overall in PPR formats last year, shattering his previous single-season high for receptions. He heads into the 2024 season as quarterback Trevor Lawrence's safety blanket, which will make him a high-quality Fantasy asset even amid a revamped offense. Despite those impressive numbers from last season, Fantasy owners are still waiting until the ninth round on average to draft him. The model is expecting Engram to finish ahead of fellow tight ends like George Kittle, Kyle Pitts and Jake Ferguson, all of whom are being drafted ahead of him. See more Fantasy football sleepers 2024 here .
Top 2024 Fantasy football breakouts
One of the 2024 Fantasy football breakouts the model is predicting: Chargers receiver Josh Palmer. Entering his fourth year, Palmer is the Chargers leading returning receiver after the departures of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. When Williams was lost for the season in Week 3 of last year, Palmer stepped up and produced like a weekly Fantasy starter. During Palmer's eight games after Williams' injury, he averaged 70.5 receiving yards, which projects to 1,198 yards over 17 games.
Palmer had 100-yard receiving games in 2023 with Justin Herbert and Easton Stick under center, though having the former back helps the wideout's prospects. L.A. didn't use a first-round pick on a receiver or sign a big name in free agency, so Palmer has little competition for targets. There are plenty of passes to go around since Allen's 987 targets since 2017 are second-most in the NFL. Palmer is someone who could far exceed his 14th round Fantasy football ADP 2024. See more Fantasy football breakouts 2024 here .
Top 2024 Fantasy football busts
As for players to avoid, the model lists Steelers receiver George Pickens as one of its 2024 Fantasy football busts. The 23-year-old saw his numbers increase in 2023 and ended the season with 63 receptions for 1,140 yards, compared to 52 receptions for 801 yards the season before. However, his maturity level and work ethic continue to be factors heading into his 2024 campaign.
Additionally, his workload for this season has yet to be determined with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields added as the new QB tandem. Wilson is coming off of another down season, while Fields likes to run the ball himself when the pressure is on. Pickens has plenty of talent, but the model projects him finishing outside of the top 30 in its 2024 Fantasy football QB rankings. See more Fantasy football busts 2024 here
How to find proven 2024 Fantasy football football rankings
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