This is an early first-round ranking of players for 10-team PPR fantasy football leagues. Each player listed will have a case for why managers should draft him at this spot. There will be a subsequent argument on why managers should skip him. The purpose is to give fantasy managers a well-rounded analysis of first-round players.
The Top 10 Players In Fantasy Football For 2024
1. Christian McCaffrey
Case For Drafting Him
Christian McCaffrey is a safe choice for the best fantasy football player for the 2024 season. The 49ers have a stacked team that should return their core in 2024. The playmakers will keep defenses from stacking the run, so McCaffrey should continue to find running lanes. Couple this with head coach Kyle Shanahan’s scheme and play calling, and McCaffrey should continue his torrid run as a 49er.
Case For Skipping Him
McCaffrey hasn’t missed a game because of injury since 2021. Variance says that he is due to miss time. Even if he does stay healthy, McCaffrey is coming off a season with 339 touches. He isn’t the biggest back, so his voluminous workload could eventually cause physical decline.
Running backs can spontaneously fall off and McCaffrey has had a ton of touches in his career. At some point, McCaffrey won’t be atop the list of elite fantasy football players. This caution could keep him from being taken first overall.
2. Breece Hall
Case For Drafting Him
Breece Hall has a case as the most talented running back in the league. Hall has a rare combination of great size, speed, pass-catching, and tackle-breaking. There are very few other backs who are elite at all four. Breece Hall is one of them. Hall would be first in this fantasy ranking if it were a guarantee that Aaron Rodgers would return to form. He is an elite rusher who is also dynamic as a pass-catcher, making him a candidate for Fantasy Football Player of the Year.
Case For Skipping Him
The Jets’ offensive line struggled in run blocking. They had games where they were incapable of creating running lanes for Hall. Also, Aaron Rodgers is 40 and is coming off an Achilles injury. Rodgers got injured on the fourth snap of the first game, so the Jets have no idea how Rodgers will play for them. Rodgers’ last season in Green Bay was one of his worst, so it’s fair to question how well he will play for the Jets. Running back’s production is sometimes tethered to their quarterback’s play, so there could be trepidation about drafting Hall this high without knowing if Rodgers will return to elite form.
3. Tyreek Hill
Case For Drafting Him
Tyreek Hill is the most dangerous player in the NFL. He’s the best player on a dynamic offense. The Dolphins are possibly the fastest team in league history, so Hill will always find space. Mike McDaniel is a creative offensive mind who consistently gets the electric Hill the ball. Hill has the potential to win weeks by himself, making him a great player to draft third.
Case For Skipping him
The Dolphins’ offense took the league by storm in 2023 but the league is now on notice. Defensive coordinators are brilliant, especially once they have film. Defenses will look at what the Dolphins did last season and likely will dedicate the offseason to countering it. It’s difficult to make the playoffs in back-to-back years, so the Dolphins’ offense may take a step back. Hill is a sublime player with a high floor, but the Dolphins’ offense getting figured out could taper his fantasy football production.
4. Puka Nacua
Case For Drafting Him
Puka Nacua is coming off one of the best seasons by a rookie wide receiver in league history. Receivers often jump in year two, so it’s unbelievable to imagine Nacua getting even better. The Rams are likely going to adjust the offense to Nacua as their primary wide receiver. Cooper Kupp has declined but is still good enough to keep defenses from doubling Nacua. Sean McVay is one of the brightest offensive minds in football, so Nacua will be schemed open. This, on top of his immense talent at doing so himself makes him a great fantasy player to draft fourth.
Case For Skipping Him
Justin Jefferson has a case for the best wide receiver in the league and Ja’Marr Chase isn’t too far behind. Both players are better than Nacua at the moment. Fantasy managers may want more established wide receivers if they are drafting this high.
5. Justin Jefferson
Case For Drafting Him
Justin Jefferson was the preemptive first-overall pick in many 2023 mock drafts. Injuries kept Jefferson from fulfilling the hype but the all-world wide receiver was unstoppable when he played. In 10 games, Jefferson managed to reach 1,074 yards on 68 catches for an explosive 15.8 yards per catch. That would be 116 catches for over 1800 yards if stratified for the entire season. That level of production argues for Jefferson being the best fantasy player in football. Jefferson is an insane talent and has amazing fantasy value at pick five.
Case For Skipping Him
Kirk Cousins has left the Vikings for the Falcons. The Vikings will likely be introducing a young unproven quarterback in his place (or Sam Darnold, which is probably worse). Sudden uncertainty at quarterback should give fantasy managers pause at taking Jefferson fifth. Jefferson is in an amazing individual talent but question marks at quarterback could hold him back from reaching his high ceiling.
6. CeeDee Lamb
Case For Drafting Him
CeeDee Lamb was a fantasy monster in 2023. Lamb became a superstar in the second half of 2022, but he found an even higher level in 2023. He is a dominant player who will be a fixture high on these player rankings. Dak Prescott has improved as a quarterback which will only improve Lamb’s fantasy football production.
Case For Skipping Him
Defenses likely will key in on Lamb in 2024. Lamb had his way with defenses last season and coordinators may try to make other receivers beat them. That’s not to suggest that he won’t be productive, but he may not see as many one-on-one matchups in 2024. Coinciding with this point is that the other wide receivers on the Cowboys were inconsistent. Brandin Cooks took time to get going, but he eventually had some big games. Cooks is better suited, however, as a third wide receiver in this offense. Another season with a mediocre second wide receiver would allow defenses to double Lamb, dampening his fantasy outlook.
7. Kyren Williams
Case For Drafting Him
Kyren Williams is one of the few workhorse running backs left in the NFL. Sean McVay likes to use his running backs and Williams has thrived, averaging 5 yards per carry and nearly 100 yards rushing per game in 2023. Williams also scored 15 total touchdowns in only 12 games. He should have a first-round grade on most rankings. Williams is a stellar back with a creative offensive mind at head coach who will get him the ball. This makes Williams a great first-round pick and one of the safer players in fantasy football.
Case For Skipping Him
Williams isn’t the biggest back, so injuries always have to be a concern. He isn’t as fast as Breece Hall, Bijan Robinson, or Jahmyr Gibbs, so Williams won’t get the big plays that they are capable of. He will instead have to rely on volume to get his yardage. Williams fantasy output can be limited if the Rams get behind in games.
8. Ja’Marr Chase
Case For Drafting Him
Ja/Marr Chase is incredibly talented and has been one of the best players in fantasy football for a couple of years now. Joe Burrow had a frustrating season last year and will likely look to re-solidify himself as a premier quarterback. Chase will likely be the beneficiary of this bounce-back. Chase is a safe pick to take eighth overall.
Case For Skipping Him
Burrow is coming off of a season-ending wrist injury. He came into last season banged up and the Bengals struggled in response. Burrow is an elite talent but injuries suddenly have to be a concern. Burrow’s health – or lack thereof – could impact Chase’s fantasy outlook. First round picks need to be potential league winners and Burrow’s health could prevent Chase from becoming that.
9. Bijan Robinson
Case For Drafting Him
Bijan Robinson has the potential to be the number one player in fantasy football. Kirk Cousins will be 36 and coming off Achilles surgery when next season starts. On paper, Cousins is an improvement but there are still question marks on how he will perform. Bijan has breathtaking talent and is an elite dual-threat back that is perfect for PPR leagues. Former head coach, Arthur Smith, would inexplicably keep the ball from Robinson. It would behoove present coach, Raheem Morris, to avoid Smith’s mistakes. An upgrade at quarterback and a coach that will give him the ball, has Bijan securely as the ninth best player in fantasy football.
Case For skipping him
As mentioned, Kirk Cousins is 36 and coming off a serious injury. Running back’s production can be held back by subpar quarterback play. Robinson’s fantasy production was stymied last year by Desmond Ridder. Cousins is an improvement on paper, but there is no guarantee that he will return to form. Managers may pass on Robinson in favor of a player with more solidified quarterback play.
10. Amon-Ra St. Brown
Case For Drafting Him
Amon-Ra St. Brown is a catch machine on a well-oiled offense. The Lions have one of the best running games in the NFL, so St. Brown will get a good number of one-on-one matchups. He’s a gifted receiver who can play anywhere on the field. He is an ideal wide receiver for PPR leagues. St. Brown is a smooth possession receiver in a good offense who will get a ton of targets. St. Brown is a prototypical wide receiver to roster in PPR leagues. His being in an ideal situation pushes him into the first round and makes him one of the top fantasy football players in the league.
Case For Skipping Him
St. Brown is a very good wide receiver who has a high floor, however, he doesn’t have as high of ceiling as other elite wide receivers. Any player taken in the first round should be a potential league winner. St. Brown doesn’t have the astronomical games like his peers, Justin Jefferson, Tyreek Hill, and Ja’Marr Chase have. Fantasy managers looking for a higher ceiling may pass on him at 10th in drafts.
Main Photo: Joe Camporeale – USA Today Sports
