As the 2024 NFL draft plays out, our ESPN Fantasy Football trio of Liz Loza, Matt Bowen and Mike Clay will provide analysis of each skill position player selected in the first three rounds, as well as a first look at their projections for their rookie season.
Will top quarterbacks Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make noise in their maiden voyage through the league like C.J. Stroud did last season? Will Marvin Harrison Jr. make the biggest impression of this deep wide receiver class, or will Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze put up better numbers in Year 1? Could Brock Bowers match the impact Sam LaPorta had last season?
Where these players land is a critical factor in answering these questions. Check back throughout the first two nights of the NFL draft to see what Liz, Matt and Mike think of this year’s rookie class. There’s no better time than now to start thinking about the 2024 fantasy football season.
Round 1
Mike Clay’s 2024 projection: 324 of 497, 3,391 yards, 20 TD, 13 INT;
62 carries, 312 yards, 3 TD (15 games)
A natural creator with the ability to produce difference-making plays, Williams has the dual-threat traits to log viable fantasy numbers as a rookie. Keeping him on schedule as a pocket thrower will be a priority in Chicago, but with a proven group of veteran pass-catchers, led by DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, Williams has the highest ceiling of any quarterback in 2024 class. He should be drafted as a high-end QB2, providing immediate returns in superflex formats. — Bowen
Mike Clay’s 2024 projection: 320 of 515, 3,447 yards, 15 TD, 14 INT;
106 carries, 578 yards, 5 TD (15 games)
Not dissimilar in playing style to Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, Daniels’ throwing traits are a keen fit for Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. Expect the Commanders’ new offensive coordinator to employ plenty of spread passing elements, which should help the 23-year-old’s transition to the pros. With Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson leading the receiving corps as well as a solid run game available to establish a rhythm, Daniels slides into a sneaky-productive situation. Add in his elite rushing instincts, and the rookie could potentially thrive as a QB2 in superflex formats as early as Year 1. — Loza
Mike Clay’s 2024 projection: 325 of 511, 3,361 yards, 16 TD, 13 INT;
66 carries, 330 yards, 2 TD (15 games)
With a 6-foot-4, 223-pound frame, Maye has the physical tools to create fantasy production in his rookie season. He’s a high-velocity thrower who can attack all three levels of the field, and he has the ability to post rushing totals on designed carries and scramble attempts. The Patriots signed veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett this offseason, so a camp battle looms this summer. If Maye wins the starting job, however, he brings value to superflex formats as an upside QB2. — Bowen
Mike Clay’s 2024 projection: 82 receptions, 1,115 yards, 5 TD (15 games)
A polished playmaker with a Hall of Fame father, Harrison is arguably the most pro-ready player in this year’s draft class, regardless of position. Kyler Murray might not be the most consistent passer in the NFL, but he has proven capable of supporting a top-15 fantasy producer at the position (DeAndre Hopkins was a top-15 WR in fantasy points per game in all three of his seasons as a Cardinal). Harrison should easily emerge as Murray’s primary option, likely flirting with double-digit targets on a weekly basis and making him a priority rookie in redraft and dynasty formats. — Loza
Mike Clay’s 2024 projection: 75 receptions, 982 yards, 5 TD (15 games)
Nabers is an explosive receiver in the route tree. He can stretch defenses vertically from slot or boundary alignments, with the physical catch-and-run traits to create in open grass. In New York under Brian Daboll, Nabers will be schemed as a three-level, big-play target. The Giants will need to see a higher level of play from quarterback Daniel Jones this season, but there’s no question about Nabers’ ability to elevate the pass game. He’s should be drafted as a WR3, with the potential to produce lower-end WR2 numbers as a rookie. — Bowen
Mike Clay’s 2024 projection: 42 of 65, 451 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT; 6 carries, 21 yards, 0 TD (2 starts)
Penix is a rhythm pocket passer who is accurate at the second and third levels of the field. He can also drive the ball with velocity. Penix has the pocket mobility to reset his throwing window or to attack the edges, which fits in a pro offense. With the Falcons signing Kirk Cousins this offseason, Penix’s fantasy value is limited to dynasty formats only. . — Bowen
Mike Clay’s 2024 projection: 55 receptions, 739 yards, 4 TD (15 games)
A former track standout with a 6-foot-3 and 212-pound frame, Odunze has the size and speed to win on the outside at the next level. Utilizing route savvy and a catch radius in the 97th percentile, the Washington product figures to round out the Bears’ receiving corps, working opposite DJ Moore and as a complement to Keenan Allen in the slot. Given the crowded WR room and noting the presence of a rookie QB, Odunze is likely to start slow but could flirt with 60 grabs by the close of his first pro campaign. — Loza
