Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft was as wild and crazy as it was hyped up to be, and multiple franchises hope to have dramatically impacted the futures of their franchise with their additions. Due to the heavy concentration of offensive skill players at the top of the action, this year’s draft also went a long way in shaping the upcoming fantasy football season.
Of the 32 players selected in the first round, a record 23 were offensive players and 14 were from fantasy positions with six QBs, seven WRs and one TE coming off the board. There was a time not that long ago where fantasy players could mostly discard or overlook rookies, but the last few seasons that has radically changed. Rookie receivers have been able to make a splash, and last year C.J. Stroud and Sam LaPorta showed that it’s possible to make an instant impact at QB and TE as well.
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Fantasy Football Draft Season Is Coming
As you get ready for your upcoming fantasy football season. Be sure to stay tuned to FantasyLabs for all the rankings, sleepers and content you need to find success in a variety of formats. If you love the process of drafting your fantasy football team but don’t love the season-long management, Best Ball is the perfect format for you. In this format, entrants draft a team of players in a snake draft on best ball sites like Underdog and Drafters.
Throughout the season, there are no waivers, substitutions, or trades. Each week your top scorers at each position automatically are moved into your starting lineup. It’s a “set it and forget it” style of play that gives you plenty of enjoyment all season long if you get the right players on your squad.
As in all formats, getting players at the right value is critical to success. The ADP (average draft position) of players is key to monitor throughout the draft season, and where they’re normally going depends on if a player is a good sleeper or a reach at that point in the draft.
After seeing where the top players landed on the first round of this year’s draft, here are my three top sleepers who I think will outperform their expected value in 2024.
QB J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings
The top-12 picks of this year’s draft were extremely QB heavy with six signal-callers selected. While some of the most talented quarterbacks landed on rebuilding teams, McCarthy ended up in a great spot with a strong supporting cast in place and a great system and coach to work with.
One of the keys to any rookie’s success is opportunity, and McCarthy should have a clear path to playing time after the departure of Kirk Cousins. The Vikings added Sam Darnold to the mix on a one-year deal, but he’s just a bridge to get to McCarthy.
Last year with Michigan, McCarthy completed 72.3% of his passes for 2,991 yards, 22 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions while rushing for 202 yards and 3 touchdowns. His accuracy and ability to take care of the ball should translate well to the NFL, and his style will gel perfectly in coach Kevin O’Connell’s system. O’Connell has been one of the most pass-heavy play callers in the NFL over the last few seasons, regardless of his QB.
He will also be working with some of the most proven skill players of any rookie QB. Justin Jefferson is an elite receiver and Jordan Addison had a strong rookie year with over 900 yards and 10 touchdowns. T.J. Hockenson is one of the top tight-end safety valves over the middle, and Aaron Jones has proven to be an excellent dual-threat out of the backfield, providing plenty of run-after-catch potential on screens and other RB routes O’Connell loves to draw up.
It’s easy to see him becoming a top-20 QB with the upside to be top 10 if things break his way. If you can get him in your draft after 20 to 25 QBs are off the board, he should be an awesome sleeper value.
WR Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars
Thomas is a great blend of value and upside, and his early ADP looks like he’ll be an excellent value outside the top 50 wide receivers. Some rookie receivers will face major quarterback questions (Malik Nabors), and on the other end of the spectrum, some will be overvalued due to the great offense they’re joining (Xavier Worthy). In the middle ground, Thomas landed in a great spot to grow along with Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars offense.
Thomas will step into the void left by the offseason departure of Calvin Ridley to the Titans. He’s coming off an impressive season with LSU in which he led the nation with 17 touchdowns and totaled 1,177 yards on 68 catches. He will have to compete with newly-signed Gabe Davis as well as returning receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones for targets, but Thomas is obviously a big part of their future plans, so he should have a significnat role right away.
During his time in college, Thomas shone as a deep threat, and he led this year’s WR class in yards per route run on 20-plus-yard throws. Trevor Lawrence throws a great deep ball and should be able to connect with his new receiver on a regular basis.
Since both DraftKings and Drafters use PPR and Underdog uses 0.5 PPR, I value Thomas slightly higher play on Underdog where yardage is more of the focus than receptions. He should have a few games this year where big plays vault him into your starting lineup. It’s best to draft him at an ADP where he is a depth option rather than a weekly starter, but I love getting his upside as a fourth or even fifth WR in 10-team leagues.
WR Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers keyed in on Legette throughout the draft process and moved back into the first round to take him at no. 32 overall. The Panthers had a huge need at reciever and will hope that Legette grows alongside last year’s top pick Bryce Young.
Young still has Adam Thielen to rely on as well but Legette could quickly become his top receiver. Legette has elite top speed and great athleticism but is still just developing at the position. He came to South Carolina as a QB but converted to WR and had a breakout season in 2023, catching 71 passes for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Panthers trade-up from No. 33 to No. 32 is significant because it gives them a fifth-year option on Legette, who is clearly going to be a big part of their future. How quickly he and Young can grow is the question, but by the end of the season, Legette could be a top-30 receiver. He has the tools and will get the opportunities, so don’t miss him as a great source of WR sleeper upside.
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