The Best Skill Players Going into 2024
Quarterback
- Patrick Mahomes
- Lamar Jackson
- Josh Allen
- Joe Burrow
- Dak Prescott
- CJ Stroud
- Jalen Hurts
- Jordan Love
- Brock Purdy
- Matthew Stafford
- Justin Herbert
- Jared Goff
Honorable Mention
Aaron Rodgers
Patrick Mahomes is number one, duh. Lamar Jackson is another easy choice, coming off an MVP season and an appearance in the AFC title game. Things get murky after that. Josh Allen and Joe Burrow are almost interchangeable. Allen gets the nod despite being turnover-prone because of Burrow’s sudden propensity to injury. Prescott, Stroud, Hurts, and Love are very good quarterbacks who are on the cusp of greatness. Stroud and Love, specifically, could move up into the elite tier this season. Justin Herbert has top-10 talent but has not reached top-10 expectations, placing him just outside of it.
Running back
- Christian McCaffrey
- Breece Hall
- Bijan Robinson
- Saquon Barkley
- Johnathan Taylor
- James Connor
- Jahmyr Gibbs
- Derrick Henry
- Kyren Williams
- Aaron Jones
- David Montgomery
- Travis Etienne
- D’Andre Swift
- Isaiah Pacheco
- Raheem Mostert
Honorable Mentions
Josh Jacobs, James Cook, De’Von Achane
Christian McCaffrey is an easy pick as the best running back going into 2024. Don’t be surprised, however, if Breece Hall challenges McCaffrey’s throne this season. Hall has an astounding combination of elite speed, tackle-breaking, pass-catching, and size. Not too many backs can check off all four. Hall should also find more running room with an improved offensive line and Aaron Rodgers returning to the lineup. Bijan Robinson, Saquon Barkley, Jonathan Taylor, and James Connor are similarly talented running backs. Jahmyr Gibbs is a game-breaker but doesn’t have the size of the aforementioned four.
Derrick Henry is the best running back of his era and still has juice in the tank. Henry is in an ideal role to become elite again in 2024. Detroit’s David Montgomery is a powerful back behind an elite offensive line but he doesn’t offer much as a pass-catcher. Aaron Jones is a sneaky pick for a resurgence. He finished the 2023 season with five consecutive 100-yard rushing games on over 5.0 yards per carry. The remaining backs are all talented and in ideal situations to thrive in the 2024 season, just not to the degree of those ranked ahead.
Wide Receivers
- Tyreek Hill
- Justin Jefferson
- CeeDee Lamb
- Davante Adams
- Ja’Marr Chase
- Puka Nacua
- Amon-Ra St.Brown
- AJ Brown
- DJ Moore
- Mike Evans
- Garrett Wilson
- Stefon Diggs
- Keenan Allen
- Nico Collins
- Amari Cooper
- Deebo Samuel
- Brandon Aiyuk
- Chris Olave
- Terry McLaurin
- DK Metcalf
Honorable Mentions
Cooper Kupp, Christian Kirk, DeVonta Smith, Tank Dell, Jaylen Waddle
A handful of players have an argument for the top spot but Tyreek Hill gets the nod. Hill is the most electrifying player in football. He was on pace for 2,000 yards before injuries rained on his parade. Justin Jefferson is arguably the most complete wide receiver in the NFL. Jefferson is elite at every major metric for a wide receiver. CeeDee Lamb is coming off a monster season in 2023 and is primed for another in 2024.
Puka Nacua had a historic rookie season. Wide receivers often see a sophomore jump, so Nacua could conceivably be even better in 2024. Moving outside of the top ten, Stefon Diggs slides in at twelfth. Diggs had another strong season in 2023, but he declined a bit towards the end. His new team, the Texans, is pass-happy with an incredible talent in CJ Stroud. Diggs’s previous high ceiling could be lowered with the presence of Nico Collins and Tank Dell.
Amari Cooper was explosive down the stretch in 2023. He and quarterback Joe Flacco had a special connection. Unfortunately, Flacco is gone and Deshaun Watson will step back in as the starter. Watson has been an expensive disappointment thus far for the Browns. Cooper is talented but was held back by Watson’s rustiness during the 2023 season. The last two spots are occupied by Terry McLaurin and DK Metcalf. McLaurin is a deep threat who can be boom or bust but has mostly succeeded without a top quarterback. This speaks to his talent. Hopefully rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels can maximize the speedster’s abilities. Lastly, Metcalf has the tools to be an elite receiver but the route-running and consistency aren’t there. It doesn’t help that Geno Smith regressed in 2023.
Tight End
- Travis Kelce
- Sam LaPorta
- George Kittle
- TJ Hockenson
- Evan Engram
- Mark Andrews
- Trey McBride
- David Njoku
- Dalton Kincaid
- Kyle Pitts
- Jake Ferguson
- Cole Kmet
Honorable Mentions
Taysom Hill, Dallas Goedert, Darren Waller, Chigoziem Okonkwo
Travis Kelce has been the undisputed best tight end in football for years now. Kelce has more competition than ever before going into the 2024 season. Injuries, age, and long seasons have made Kelce lose a step but I think there’s enough left in the tank to rank him first. In a “down” season in which he missed two games, Kelce still finished with 93 catches for 984 yards. That’s more yardage than Sam LaPorta, TJ Hockenson, Evan Engram, and Trey McBride.
Sam LaPorta is ranked 2nd going into 2024. He is coming off one of the best seasons ever by a rookie tight end. LaPorta had 86 catches for 889 yards and an eye-popping 10 touchdowns. Evan Engram saw an insane level of volume in 2023, to a total of 114 catches but managed less than 1000 yards. With the departure of wide receiver Calvin Ridley, Engram could continue to vulture a large target share again in 2024. Engram averaged less than 9 yards per reception, so even with a large target share, his ceiling could be limited.
Both Trey McBride and David Njoku exploded towards the end of the 2023 season. Carrying that momentum into 2024 will raise their rankings. Kyle Pitts has a competent quarterback for the first time in his career. This is a prime opportunity to showcase the potential that made Pitts the highest-drafted tight end in NFL history. Cole Kmet comes in last. Kmet had a strong season but will have competition for targets with incoming wide receivers Keenan Allen and rookie Rome Odunze joining incumbent, DJ Moore.
Main Image: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
