The 2024 NFL Draft begins this Thursday, meaning dynasty rookie drafts are right around the corner. From quarterbacks to wide receivers to tight ends, below is everything dynasty managers need to know about first-round prospects.
What to Know for Dynasty in the 2024 NFL Draft
First Round Quarterbacks
After two offseasons of being labeled the top prospect in his class, Caleb Williams expects to hear his name called first on Thursday night. Williams is as good a quarterback prospect as you’ll find. He makes precise throws from any angle or platform and is plenty agile to escape pressure and make plays. The only knock against Williams is his eagerness to make big plays, and he’ll benefit from simplifying his game. In all likeliness, Williams is heading to the Chicago Bears where he should have no problem producing immediately.
For as long as Williams has been the projected top pick, Drake Maye projects to go directly behind him. Maye is a massive quarterback with an even bigger arm who’s remarkably swift on his feet. His big-play ability is apparent, as he can push the ball downfield, use his legs to scramble, or “throw open” a receiver. Like Williams, if Maye can clean up some minor errors in his game, he has tremendous upside. His landing spot is unknown, though it’s unlikely he’s available after the top three picks.
After winning the Heisman Trophy last season, Jayden Daniels has crept up in draft rankings. Mock drafts now have Daniels neck-and-neck with Maye to be the second-overall selection. Regardless of how true that is, Daniels has the highest fantasy football upside in this class. Concerns about his slender build and poor field vision are afterthoughts when drafting for fantasy football. Daniels ran for more yards last season than Williams, Maye, McCarthy, Nix, and Penix combined. This rushing ability gives Daniels untouched upside for fantasy football wherever he ends up.
National Championship-winning quarterback J.J. McCarthy has also seen his draft stock rise since the start of the season. McCarthy went from being a late first-round pick to rarely being available outside the top ten in mock drafts. His best traits are simple but effective, which explains why NFL teams are seemingly in love with McCarthy. He consistently makes correct reads, keeps his offense on schedule, and delivers accurate passes inside and out of the pocket. With that said, McCarthy isn’t a blue-chip dynasty asset unless he lands in a perfect spot, like Minnesota. He’s talented but hardly put up exceptional numbers in college, let alone in the NFL.
Fringe First-Round Quarterbacks
Consensus says Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr. are the fifth and sixth-ranked quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft, though it’s uncertain when they’ll be drafted. Typically, they project as mid-first or early second-round picks to a team like Denver or Las Vegas. Landing spots will be crucial for both prospects, as they relied on talented supporting casts at Oregon and Washington.
First-Round Wide Receivers
Marvin Harrison Jr. didn’t bother participating at the NFL Combine or Ohio State’s Pro Day, and it didn’t change anything. He’s the top wide receiver in a loaded class, and it’s not hard to figure out why. After recording 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore, he did it again with a worse quarterback. Football is easy for Harrison Jr., who’s roughly 6’4″ but can move like a smaller receiver. He’s a top-five wideout in dynasty rankings before stepping on the field.
Malik Nabers is the only receiver to legitimately challenge Harrison Jr. for the top spot. While Nabers isn’t as physically imposing as Harrison Jr., he makes up for it with unreal athleticism. Nabers ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at LSU’s Pro Day, and that speed shows up on tape. He’s quick off the line of scrimmage and can blow by defenders deep, though he controls his speed well enough to be explosive on shallow and intermediate routes. It won’t be long before Nabers is a weekly option with high upside when setting fantasy lineups.
A big-bodied receiver with back-to-back seasons of elite production and impressive tape would be the top receiver in most drafts. That’s Rome Odunze, but thanks to high-end talent in the 2024 NFL Draft, he’s the consensus WR3. Odunze does everything well, including route running, making contested catches, and racking up yards after the catch. Drafting Odunze outside the top five picks will feel like stealing for dynasty managers.
There’s a sizable gap between the big three and Brian Thomas Jr., but he remains a consensus first-round prospect. Thomas Jr. is a fairly simple wide receiver to evaluate. He’s big, runs fast, and has reliable hands, making him a lethal deep threat. Beyond that, there are question marks regarding his ability to shake defenders and get open on shorter routes. Thomas Jr. must master these skills to be worth a first-round pick in the NFL Draft or dynasty drafts.
Fringe First-Round Wide Receivers
With the depth of receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft, a handful are worth mentioning here. To keep it simple, we’ll narrow it down to four prospects, beginning with a tandem. Xavier Worthy from Texas and Troy Franklin from Oregon are impressive and terrifying for similar reasons. Defenders can’t blink when they’re responsible for covering Worthy or Franklin. Both players are lightning-fast and will burn coverages if anyone is misaligned. However, they’re very light and struggle to navigate press coverage. A creative offensive coordinator who knows how to use speed will be crucial for Worthy and Franklin’s NFL success.
One of my favorite prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft is fellow Texas wideout Adonai Mitchell. Nothing on Mitchell’s stat sheet is impressive, but he warrants a closer look. Mitchell’s tape displays a 6’2″, 205lb receiver who can separate at all three levels. Running a 4.34-second 40-yard dash proves the notion that he can win deep, which is crucial for perimeter receivers. It’s hard to imagine Mitchell going outside of the top 50 picks, and the potential of becoming the top receiver for an NFL team is visible.
From everyone’s favorite “sleeper” receiver to an early draft pick, Ladd McConkey is turning heads. McConkey missed plentiful time this season with an injury, so it took time for draft hype to arrive. Now that people have time to dive in, they recognize McConkey’s ability. He isn’t the strongest or fastest prospect, but his movements are quick and sudden, which is arguably more important. McConkey will be a reliable target for an NFL offense, assuming he’s in good health.
First-Round Tight End
Brock Bowers is the only tight-end worth knowing entering round one of the 2024 NFL Draft. Injury was the only thing stopping Bowers in college. He burst onto the scene with over 900 yards as a freshman and sustained elite production at Georgia. Bowers can move like a wide receiver and will be a matchup nightmare for linebackers. He’s arguably the most valuable tight end in dynasty already, and for good reason.
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