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Eric Karabell, ESPN senior writer
Future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be noted in the record books as having thrown one pass in his first season with the New York Jets. 1 pass. Reasonable people might debate whether Rodgers, one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, finished his season as QB1 in his age 39 season, but there's no way to know. Rodgers ruptured his left Achilles tendon four plays into his 19th NFL season and, like you and me, barely scored any fantasy points. I hope you stayed healthy.
Of course, Rodgers is 40 now, but he seems ready to return to some prominence in the NFL. And he has been very visible in the NFL, including recently. In the 2022 season, his final with the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers wasn't a top-10 quarterback in fantasy scoring, but not by much. He wasn't bad. He just wasn't the typical Aaron Rodgers who finished in the top five of fantasy quarterbacks seven times in 2020 and 2021 (NFL MVP both years!) during his legendary career that is still not over.
Injuries often get in the way of positive, noteworthy storylines, but Rodgers embodied this theme more than anyone in 2023, ending his season just minutes after his Jets debut. Whether it was injury or simply a poor performance, all eyes will be on Rodgers as we focus on NFL players looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2023 season to their previous statistical glories and expectations. Just as we thought at this time a year ago, his performance should be intriguing and fantasy relevant.
After all, Rodgers passed for 3,695 yards and 26 touchdowns in his final season with the Packers, despite a surprising lack of great playmakers to target after Davante Adams left the team. Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson is an exciting playmaker who tallied over 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first two NFL seasons, despite poor quarterback play (to say the least). The Jets coveted Rodgers and were hoping the four-time league MVP could perform in the Super Bowl. Maybe that still could happen. He and Wilson could be one of the best QB/WR duos in the league.
Rodgers wasn't selected early in most fantasy drafts because investors would be wise to focus early on running backs and wide receivers. They should. Quarterback is a deep fantasy position in the standard format. Still, there was no shortage of running backs, wide receivers, non-Rodgers quarterbacks and tight ends who statistically underperformed during the 2023 season.
Here is a list of candidates who will be returning for the 2024 season. Expectations were high a year ago, but fair or not, they may be lower today. Let's go through them position by position.
Quarterback
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals: Burrow finished in the top five in fantasy at his position with over 9,000 passing yards and 69 touchdowns in his second and third NFL seasons. He was hampered early last season by a right calf strain and then finally put up big numbers a month later before a wrist injury ended his season in Week 11. He might not be available at a discount in the draft, but he could be worth it.
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers: Herbert played through a fractured middle finger on his non-throwing left hand early in the season and performed well for three months, but broke his right index finger in Week 14 and never recovered. Losing a reliable quarterback to injury was an unfortunate trend in 2023. Unlike Burrow, Herbert finds plenty of new faces on the offensive line, with Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler leaving Los Angeles and Jim Harbaugh taking over as head coach.
Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons: Cousins got off to a great start, closing in on career highs in passing yards and touchdown passes, before tearing his right Achilles tendon in Week 8. Now with the Falcons after six seasons with the Vikings, Cousins has plenty of playmakers around him. But unlike Burrow and Herbert, Cousins must overcome a debilitating lower leg injury he suffered a few months after Rodgers was stretchered off. But we've never bet against Cousins in the past and it's likely he'll exceed expectations again. And if he doesn't, there's a reason why top-10 pick Michael Pennis Jr. is there.
Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts: The No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Richardson started in Week 1 and looked like a fantasy star when he was seen. He scored four touchdowns in his first three games but missed Week 2 due to a concussion. He ended his season with a serious shoulder injury in Week 5, leaving fantasy managers to wonder if he would stay healthy and be on the field. Richardson has elite size and speed for a quarterback, but there are questions about his passing accuracy and now his durability.
Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns: Watson makes this list after struggling last season in his long-awaited Browns debut in Week 11 after a lengthy suspension. High hopes were placed on Watson in his first full season in Cleveland that didn't come to fruition. Watson only played in six games again, this time with a season-ending shoulder injury that could hinder him in the future and his stats look nothing like they did with the Houston Texans. Fantasy managers may not be so quick to invest in him after three lackluster seasons.
Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers: Wilson had a dismal two-year stint with the Broncos, but the Steelers were keen to add him to their roster. Like Watson, Wilson never looked like a QB1 option over the past three seasons, including his final stint with the Seattle Seahawks, and it remains to be seen how much Steelers coach Mike Tomlin wants to throw the ball. Oh, and the Steelers did acquire former Bears first-round draft pick Justin Fields to make things more interesting.
Daniel Jones, New York Giants: Jones is ranked in the top 10 of fantasy quarterbacks during the 2022 season thanks to his 707 rushing yards and seven touchdowns (no, really, really!). Last season was a nightmare, as Jones had a poor September, dealt with a neck injury, and suffered a torn right ACL in Week 9. Jones is expected to start when healthy thanks to his exorbitant contract, but fantasy managers should be wary.
Run back
Nick Chubb, Browns: Chubb finished in the top 10 in rushing yards for five straight seasons, but he tore his left anterior cruciate ligament (LAL) and meniscus in Week 2, ending his season early and raising questions about whether he'll be ready to play this season. Many are questioning whether Chubb will be able to return to his previous level.
Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders: Ekeler was one of the league's leading fantasy running backs in 2021 and 2022 with the Chargers, scoring 38 touchdowns. His 2023 campaign was disappointing for other reasons. Ekeler injured his ankle in Week 1 (26.4 fantasy points), missed three games and only scored double-digit fantasy points seven times after that. The Commanders will likely have him focus on catching the ball.
Josh Jacobs, Packers: Jacobs, who led the league in rushing yards with 1,653 in 2022, had less than half that number of rushing yards in just 13 games next season with the Raiders. Jacobs had a ton of rushing yards in 2022, but predictably dropped off last season. The Packers may be looking to get Jacobs back to rushing yards again, but the draft of Marshawn Lloyd could make things interesting.
Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings: The former Packers star was dealt to Green Bay's NFC North rival after an injury-plagued season in which he averaged just 12.3 fantasy points, well below his positive 2022 campaign. Jones is older than Jacobs and is unlikely to put up the same amount of points, but fantasy managers fondly remember him for his consistency and ability to find the end zone.
Jonathan Taylor, Colts: Taylor rushed for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2021. He has rushed for 1,602 yards and 11 touchdowns in 21 games since then, but has been plagued by recurring ankle injuries and a thumb injury that led him to request a trade in July 2023. Taylor will likely enter his fifth year in the NFL healthy and motivated to return to statistical excellence.
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots: Stevenson was a viable RB2 option entering the 2022 season after catching 69 passes for more than 1,400 yards, but struggled like many other Patriots players last season — he didn't have a game with more than 100 rushing yards and missed the final five games with an ankle injury — while remaining at the top of the team's depth chart.
Wide Receiver
Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams: Like Taylor with the Colts, Kupp was one of the top fantasy picks entering 2022, but things have changed since then. Kupp had 1,947 yards receiving and 16 touchdowns in 2021. Since then, he has had 1,549 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns. Unlike Taylor, Kupp no longer leads a team's depth chart, and Puka Nacua has surprisingly become the star.
Tee Higgins, Bengals: Higgins was on track to have 1,000 yards receiving in both 2021 and 2022 seasons, with fantasy managers enjoying high WR2 grades, but things were different last season. It started with a contract dispute, followed by multiple injuries and overall inefficiency during a frustrating season. Higgins caught just 42 passes in 12 games, and the draft selection of Jermaine Burton could complicate things.
Mike Williams, Jets: Williams, a longtime Chargers player who had his best season in 2021, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last season in Week 3. Now with the Jets, he's in a great position to succeed alongside Aaron Rodgers and Garrett Wilson, but his history of inconsistent performance and staying healthy shouldn't be forgotten.
Marquise Brown, Kansas City Chiefs: Brown only had one season as a WR2 in his first five NFL seasons, but things are looking up now that he's won back-to-back Super Bowls with Patrick Mahomes. Brown missed eight games with a lower leg injury over his two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. If healthy, the 2024 season could be his best yet.
Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars: Kirk is underrated and was a solid WR2 in 2022, topping 1,000 yards receiving for the first time and scoring eight touchdowns. He had a strong season last year before suffering a season-ending groin injury in Week 13. With Calvin Ridley gone, Kirk is once again at the top of the depth chart. The Jaguars spent their first-round pick on Louisiana State's Brian Thomas Jr., and he and Kirk should work well together.
Tight End
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens: Andrews was on pace to fall short of his impressive 2021 numbers when his regular season ended with an ankle injury in Week 11. He was in questionable physical condition when he returned for the team's playoff run. Andrews averaged 13.5 fantasy points per game, a mark surpassed by only three other tight ends. Expectations remain high this season.
