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Fantasy football 2024 rankings, NFL rookie QB picks: Top Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix predictions
By CBS Sports Staff,
2 days ago
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Broncos head coach Sean Payton has spent most of the offseason gushing about rookie quarterback Bo Nix, so it came as little surprise when he was named the starter last week. The No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft threw for 15,351 yards and 113 touchdowns during a five-year career at Auburn and Oregon. Then, he wowed Payton with his accuracy during Oregon pro day and private workouts with Denver's staff the following day. Now, Fantasy football 2024 managers will try to gauge if Payton's confidence in Nix can translate into immediate success on the field. Figuring out how to handle 2024 Fantasy football rookie quarterbacks during a year in which six were drafted in the first 12 picks is a must.
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 No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has no shortage of weapons with veteran receivers D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen forming one of the best WR duos in the NFL. Williams also didn't need to wait long to get reinforcement from the NFL Draft when the Bears selected wide receiver Rome Odunze with the No. 9 overall pick.
Williams is considered one of the top quarterback prospects to enter the NFL Draft in recent memory after winning the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore and following that up with 3,633 passing yards and 30 touchdowns over 12 games last season. Williams is being thought of as the savior in Chicago. Although he's dealt with the pressure that comes with his natural talent throughout his life, the additional attention of receiving a bulk of the air time on HBO's "Hard Knocks" adds even more expectations. It's unknown how he'll deal with the pressure and adversity on an NFL field. 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. The Heisman Trophy winner from LSU was the most dynamic dual-threat option in this draft class and the Commanders made the decision to build their franchise around Daniels after selecting him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Last season, the Commanders threw the ball a league-leading 66.1% of the time and while Dan Quinn's new coaching staff isn't likely to be nearly as pass-reliant, Daniels should have ample opportunity to showcase his playmaking ability. He threw for 3,812 yards and 40 touchdowns with four interceptions while also rushing for 1,134 yards and 10 more scores on the ground in his final season at LSU, and that running ability could anchor his Fantasy value in 2024. 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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