The 2024 NFL Kickoff Game will see the Kansas City Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens on September 5th. With just over a month until football officially resumes, managers are beginning to prepare for their 2024 fantasy football draft. Twelve players have caught 100+ passes in 2023, the most ever, and with the rise in popularity of PPR leagues, high-volume pass-catching receivers are more valuable than ever. Adam Thielen caught 103 passes for the Panthers last year, his first 1,000-yard season since 2018, but can the soon-to-be 34-year-old still make an impact and move up the fantasy football rankings for 2024?
Our reliable 2024 fantasy football rankings can help you predict whether a player like Thielen should regress and get the most value out of every pick in your upcoming draft. They can also help you identify potential 2024 fantasy football sleepers, 2024 fantasy football breakouts and 2024 fantasy football busts — all of which you need to know before the draft begins. Before you develop your 2024 fantasy football draft strategy, be sure to check out SportsLine's proven 2024 fantasy football rankings and cheat sheet from their computer model.
Last year, the model accurately predicted that Buccaneers running back Rachad White was significantly underrated. White was an average seventh-round pick in 12-team PPR leagues, but he emerged as Tampa Bay's primary ball carrier, providing more value than expected and ranking fourth at his position. White rushed for 990 yards and six touchdowns and added 549 yards and three scores on 64 catches as a receiver. Anyone who followed the model's advice would have landed a weekly starting running back in the middle rounds.
The same model has a proven track record of providing fantasy football tips, identifying AJ Brown as a sleeper in 2020 and accurately predicting Jonathan Taylor's phenomenal season in 2021. Additionally, they have predicted past fantasy football sleepers such as Derrick Henry in 2019, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara in 2018, and Davante Adams in 2017. Those who bet on these players have gone on to win league titles.
The model is run by the same people who create the projections for the three major fantasy sites, and it beat out human experts last season when there was a huge difference in rankings. Our 2024 Fantasy Football PPR Rankings and 2024 Fantasy Football Standard Projections are updated multiple times each day, so you'll always get the best fantasy football advice.
Now, SportsLine has simulated the entire NFL season 10,000 times and released its latest 2024 fantasy football rankings, with plenty of sleepers, breakouts and busts: Visit SportsLine now to see them.
Top Sleepers for Fantasy Football in 2024
One of the model's predicted fantasy football sleepers for 2024 is Browns running back Nick Chubb. The four-time Pro Bowl selection suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 of last season, and his absence caused him to drop significantly in the fantasy football running back rankings for 2024. However, Chubb has reportedly completed his rehab ahead of schedule, and managers expect Chubb to return to the field as soon as Week 1.
Chubb had 170 yards on 28 carries in the two games he played last season, bringing his career averages to 5.3 yards per attempt on 1,238 rushes and 48 touchdowns. If Chubb is healthy entering the season, he could help boost Cleveland's potent rushing attack and add significant fantasy value. To see more 2024 fantasy football sleepers, click here.
Top fantasy football breakouts for 2024
One of the model's predicted fantasy football breakouts for 2024 is Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. His father was a Hall of Famer with 1,102 catches for 14,580 yards and 128 touchdowns, and Harrison is set to embark on a similar path that the Cardinals hope will see him continue on. He's bigger than his father at 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds, and despite his size, he has exceptional body control.
In his final two seasons at Ohio State, Harrison caught 144 passes for 2,474 yards and 28 touchdowns, plus a rushing touchdown. With Kyler Murray finally healthy and Harrison joining as Arizona's new No. 1 receiver, the passing game could thrive, and our model ranks Harrison as a top-10 fantasy football wide receiver for his rookie season. Read more about 2024 fantasy football breakouts here.
Top fantasy football blunders for 2024
As for players to avoid, the model lists Lions quarterback Jared Goff as one of the big fantasy football busts for 2024. The former No. 1 overall pick was coming off his best season with the Lions, ranking second in the NFL in passing yards (4,575) and fourth in touchdown passes (30). That led to a four-year, $212 million extension, but Detroit is the division champion and will have a much tougher schedule in 2024 after Goff's big wins against weak teams in 2023.
Last year, he only scored seven touchdowns in six games against playoff contenders, and he will likely face more playoff contenders this year. Additionally, the Lions lost starting wide receiver Josh Reynolds in free agency, and the team will likely turn to emerging running back Jameel Gibbs, who was third among running backs in average yards per attempt with 5.2. This will take the ball out of Goff's hands. Thus, while Goff is ranked sixth at the QB position in our 2024 fantasy football ADP, SportsLine's model has him outside the top 10 quarterbacks in our 2024 fantasy football rankings by position. Click here to see more 2024 fantasy football duds
How to Find Proven Fantasy Football Rankings for 2024
SportsLine is also very high on a surprise quarterback who no one thought would be selected in the middle of fantasy football drafts in 2024. This quarterback is listed as a shocking top 10 prospect, ahead of stars like Trevor Lawrence and Aaron Rodgers. Find out who these quarterbacks are, plus each player's 2023 fantasy football rankings, only at SportsLine.
So which sleepers, breakouts and busts should you target and fade in fantasy football in 2024, and which QB will shock the NFL with a top-10 performance? Visit SportsLine now to find out the answers with a cheat sheet for every 2024 fantasy football position from the model that labeled Deebo Samuel a bust last year.
