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Fantasy football rankings 2024: Sleepers, busts, breakouts from model that nailed Deebo Samuel's slow NFL year
By CBS Sports Staff,
1 day ago
USATSI
If there is a quarterback in line to have a bounce-back season, it may be Justin Herbert. The Chargers' play-caller was the QB5 heading into Week 13 despite the team's offensive woes, but an index finger injury derailed the rest of his season and left him finishing as the QB12. Herbert's arm talent makes him one of the possible 2024 Fantasy football sleepers, although he will be working with a new offense that won't have Keenan Allen or Mike Williams. Then there is new head coach Jim Harbaugh, whose preference of a run-heavy game could also cut into Herbert's 2024 Fantasy football projections. Do you have confidence in Herbert to have a bounce-back season, or are the factors working against him make him one of the 2024 Fantasy football busts?
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: Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson. The 26-year-old had 857 total yards in 12 games last season, averaging 71.4 yards per game. In a full season the year before, Stevenson had 1,461 total yards, which was 11th among NFL running backs. There's not much to love for Fantasy football value in the Patriots offense this season, but Stevenson's expected high workload and production over the last two seasons is one of them.
Stevenson has averaged 3.7 receptions per game over the last two seasons and with Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye both expected to see some time at quarterback this season, there could be a significant amount of dump-off passes to the running backs. Stevenson is the clear RB1 in New England without top wide receivers or tight ends on the roster, Stevenson's workload alone could make him a 2024 Fantasy football sleeper. The model has him ranked inside the top 20 running backs in Fantasy football and he's going outside the top 20 in 2024 Fantasy football drafts, providing value based on ADP. See more Fantasy football sleepers 2024 here .
Top 2024 Fantasy football breakouts
One of the 2024 Fantasy football breakouts the model is predicting: Dolphins running back De'Von Achane. The Texas A&M product finished his rookie campaign with 103 rushes for 800 yards and eight touchdowns, and he was RB5 in points per game. He is expected to eclipse those numbers in 2024, with head coach Mike McDaniel saying over the offseason that Achane should get a heavier workload.
Achane will still have to compete for touches with veteran back Raheem Mostert. However, Achane has a much lower ADP and is projected to be off the board much quicker in average Fantasy drafts. His youth and upside make it easy to see why the SportsLine model is high on Achane heading into the 2024 season. See more Fantasy football breakouts 2024 here .
Top 2024 Fantasy football busts
As for players to avoid, the model lists 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel as one of its 2024 Fantasy football busts. Samuel has proven to be one of the most dynamic players in the NFL, but his fantasy football production hasn't always matched up to the impact he has on games. The former South Carolina star has one career 1,000-yard receiving season (2021), and only two seasons with double digit touchdowns (2021 and 2023).
Samuel has to compete for targets and touches with the likes of Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk, which alone limits his fantasy potential. He has also missed games due to injury in four of his five NFL seasons. Samuel is currently going off the board in the third round on average with an ADP of 29.4 in CBS Sports fantasy drafts. He is being taken ahead of guys like Davante Adams, Cooper Kupp, and Nico Collins, who are all projected to finish higher than him in SportsLine's fantasy rankings. See more Fantasy football busts 2024 here
How to find proven 2024 Fantasy football football rankings
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