The 2024 fantasy football season has come and gone. It was an excellent season for rookies and young talents at receiver, while the older players dominated at running back. Every season, there are diamonds in the rough late in drafts that win leagues. Here are the 2024 Fantasy football steals of the draft.
Fantasy Football 2024 Steals Of the Draft
Quarterback
Baker Mayfield
In 2023, Baker Mayfield had a surprise resurgence with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After several seasons hopping between teams, he found a home in Tampa. Fantasy-wise, he finished as the QB10 overall. Coming into this season, not many expected Mayfield to continue his play from last season.
Not only did he continue it, but he exceeded his level from last season. Mayfield threw for a career-high 4,500 yards and increased his passing touchdown total to 41, up from 28 in 2023. He did throw more interceptions, but he also set career highs in rushing yards and touchdowns.
Mayfield finished as the QB5 in total points despite having an ADP of QB21 and 158 overall. Many likely drafted him as a backup quarterback, but he ended up outperforming players such as Brock Purdy, Dak Prescott, and Kyler Murray, who were drafted well before him in most leagues.
Honorable Mention: Justin Herbert
Running Back
Chase Brown
Outside of a few flops, there weren’t too many surprises at the running back position. The biggest steal has to be Chase Brown, who finished as the RB10 despite being drafted as the RB36 on average. The Bengals did not have a clear lead back for most of the season, with Brown splitting carries with Zack Moss.
Moss’ injury opened the door for Brown to become a workhorse. Brown did not see less than 80% of the snaps in a game after Moss’ injury, and even before it, the backfield touches were shifting toward him. Brown’s 54 receptions were fifth among running backs despite the time split with Moss, and he scored 11 touchdowns.
Being part of the explosive Bengals offense benefitted him, but there’s no doubt that Brown will fly up draft boards in 2025.
Honorable Mention: Chuba Hubbard
Wide Receiver
Brian Thomas Jr.
The deepest position in fantasy is undoubtedly wide receiver. There are so many top receivers in the NFL now that many leagues have shifted to playing three wide receivers rather than the traditional two. A few players can make a case to be the biggest steal, but the choice has to be Brian Thomas Jr.
Thomas was selected in the first round in real life but wasn’t receiving too much hype for fantasy. Thomas had an ADP of WR48 behind names like Marquise Brown and Christian Watson. However, despite injuries to himself and Trevor Lawrence, Thomas finished as the WR4. Unlike other rookies such as Ladd McConkey or Rome Odunze, Thomas didn’t need a ramp-up period to produce.
Thomas was a solid contributor all season but exploded during the final few weeks. He was the overall WR1 during the fantasy playoffs, even with backup Mac Jones at quarterback. Thomas is an unbelievable talent and will be a fantasy star for years to come.
Honorable Mention: Terry McLaurin
Tight End
Brock Bowers
Most tight ends were disappointing this season. The “big five” was supposed to be Sam LaPorta, Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, Trey McBride, and Dalton Kincaid. Of those five, only McBride lived up to expectations. However, one tight end outperformed all of them and was much further down draft boards, Brock Bowers.
Bowers was the most significant of all the 2024 Fantasy Football steals of the draft, regardless of position. He was drafted as the TE11 and the 95th player overall on average, yet he outscored every single tight end in the league. He blew away all expectations, breaking the rookie record for receptions in a season and only falling four receptions short of the record for most receptions in a season for a tight end.
Bowers will be a late first/early second-round pick in redraft leagues next season, and he’s far and away the TE1 in dynasty formats.
Honorable Mention: David Njoku
Main Photo: [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union] – USA Today Sports
