Fantasy football teams thrive when young players with upside play to their potential and go beyond their preseason expectations. Finding the right players with upside is essential, so this team is being assembled with players who have lots of upside for this season.
Upside comes in a lot of different ways, and each pick in the starting lineup will have an explanation about what upside the player brings. For the purpose of this article, kickers and defenses will not have upside explanations. This team was drafted in a 12-team PPR league on ESPN with the first overall pick.
2024 Fantasy Football All-Upside Team
QB: C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
C.J. Stroud performed at an exceedingly high level last year as a rookie where he finished third in the NFL with 273.9 passing yards per game. The Texans offense gave him a new weapon in Stefon Diggs, which makes the offense look even better. Stroud’s potential for this season is through the roof in Houston.
RB: Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
When you have the first overall pick, Christian McCaffrey is a player you can’t pass up. He was the best fantasy football player to have that isn’t a quarterback, and he now has the chance to finish as the best player in fantasy even ahead of some quarterbacks. McCaffrey is the best of the best at running back, making him an easy target to grab.
RB: De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
De’Von Achane is a player who has the potential to produce RB1 numbers, so getting him as an RB2 is a steal. Achane’s explosiveness in the Dolphins backfield makes him tough to stop, and he always finds ways to get to the next level. He always finds ways to pick up YAC which makes him a huge threat in 2024 behind Tua Tagovailoa.
Remember these names
🔸De’Von Achane
🔸Jonnu Smith
🔸Odell Beckham Jr
🔸Malik Washington
🔸Tanner Conner (on The Dive Bar Podcast at 4:30 Today!)
🔸Jody Fortson
🔴 Fast, sure handed, yac, tough, smart.
These guys are all capable of crushing the defenses spirit after they… pic.twitter.com/XZBYfalezE
— ThatDolphinsRealtor🏡🐬🔥 (@ThatFinsRealtor) August 4, 2024
WR: Michael Pittman, Indianapolis Colts
Michael Pittman is a great choice to have as a WR1 in fantasy, especially if you can pair him with Anthony Richardson. That was the plan for this draft, but Richardson went one pick before this team was on the clock. Pittman has been producing year after year, and 2024 could be his best one yet if Richardson stays healthy.
WR: Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Just like having Achane as your RB2, getting Deebo Samuel as a WR2 is a steal. Samuel finished as the WR7 in total points in 2023 and as the WR6 in points per game. With the Brandon Aiyuk drama that seems to never end, Samuel is the clear cut target for Brock Purdy in San Francisco.
TE: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
Brock Bowers might be considered a risky pick by some, but his upside is too much to ignore. He’s the best tight end prospect the league has seen in years, and he always finds a way to make big-time plays. Bowers might not have the best quarterbacks throwing him the ball, but he will be a safety blanket that sees a lot of targets.
Brock Bowers showin’ out 🔥
🎥: @Raiders | #RaiderNation
— Mike Dixon (@MikeDixon_VST) August 6, 2024
FLEX: Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
Rashee Rice is in an interesting spot this year in Kansas City. The Chiefs drafted Xavier Worthy and signed Hollywood Brown to give Patrick Mahomes even more weapons, and Rice also has a potential suspension still looming. It’s odd the NFL hasn’t revealed his punishment with the season being so close, but sometimes the NFL doesn’t make sense. Even if Rice is suspended or sees a lesser role this year, he’s still a good option for the flex with a lot of fantasy football upside.
K: Dustin Hopkins, Cleveland Browns
DEF: Miami Dolphins
Bench
QB: Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
RB: J.K. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers
RB: Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
RB: Jaleel McLaughlin, Denver Broncos
WR: Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers
WR: Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears
TE: Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
The running backs on the bench may not have the biggest impacts on their team, but all of them are young and have the potential to compliment the player ahead of them. Getting Ladd McConkey and Rome Odunze on the bench makes the wide receiver position even more stacked. Brock Purdy is a solid QB2 option, and Cole Kmet should only play in Week 10 during Bowers’ bye week.
Main Photo Courtesy of Kyle Terada – USA Today Sports
