After spending this offseason breaking down the 2026 NFL Draft class, looking back to 2024 feels like a lifetime ago. We had it good back then. With the first three picks being Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye, this is an excellent draft class to check in on as they enter their third season for fantasy football purposes.
As we revisit the 2024 NFL Draft class, we will see how each player is set up for the coming season, with a focus on quarterbacks and running backs. A separate article will later tackle wide receivers and tight ends. With five first-round signal-callers to break down, it’s time to buckle up your seatbelt and enjoy the ride.
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Third-Year Fantasy Football Outlooks
Quarterbacks
Caleb Williams (QB – CHI)
It’s only right that we start with the player selected first overall in 2024. Caleb Williams has likely forgotten his abysmal rookie season under Matt Eberflus. For good reason, too. Now that Ben Johnson is at the helm, this is the best version of the Bears this century. Thankfully, their success doesn’t appear to be ending anytime soon.
Last season, Caleb Williams passed for 27 touchdowns, seven interceptions and 3,924 yards. He also added three scores and nearly 400 yards on the ground. This propelled him to a QB5 finish on the season.
Not only is Williams heading into his third season, but so is teammate Rome Odunze. He also has two of the fantasy community’s favorite breakout players in Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland. Add in D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai in the backfield, and Williams has everything he needs to continue to be great for fantasy.
As per FantasyPros, the Bears have the 12th-hardest schedule for fantasy quarterbacks. It will be tough for Williams to replicate his top-five fantasy finish. However, with Johnson and company, he is a locked-in top-10 signal-caller heading into his third season.
Jayden Daniels (QB – WSH)
It really has been the tale of two seasons for Jayden Daniels. After shocking the world with an NFC Conference Championship run as a rookie, his second season was one to forget.
On the positive side, Daniels’ rookie campaign showcased a level-headed, electric playmaker who commanded an offense against the NFL’s best defenses. If we can get this version of Daniels, a top-three fantasy finish is in the cards.
Unfortunately, we also have to acknowledge last season. As a prospect, one of Daniels’ biggest flaws was his inability to take contact and his small frame. Both of these issues came up last season, when he missed 10 games.
Even in the games Daniels played, it was clear that regression was going to hit. Finishing the season with a 2-5 record as the starter, he averaged 11 fewer rushing yards and 29 fewer passing yards per game compared to his rookie season.
Who is the real Jayden Daniels? It’s likely somewhere in the middle of these two seasons. If that’s the case, he can be an elite fantasy quarterback and could finish in the top five at the position. FantasyPros ranks the Commanders’ schedule as the seventh-hardest for passers. Daniels will need to turn back the clock to his rookie season, but we know the ability is there.
Drake Maye (QB – NE)
Two of the first three quarterbacks listed have reached their respective Conference Championship games. That’s wild. Drake Maye is coming off a fringe MVP season and a Super Bowl appearance. We haven’t seen that level of breakout since Joe Burrow and the Bengals in 2020.
Many believe last year’s Patriots season was more of a facade than a fact. With an opponent win percentage of 0.390, CBS ranked it as the third-easiest schedule over the last 40 NFL seasons.
Furthermore, if you take out their opponents’ 3-14 record against the Patriots, that number moves from 0.390 to 0.407. Since 2002, there have been 782 teams; none have had a season with an opponent win percentage as low as 0.407. Not to discredit the Patriots, but the schedule must be taken into account.
Even if their schedule was a joke, Maye’s production was not. Passing for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions, it was truly an elite season from the sophomore signal-caller. He also added 104 rushing attempts for 450 yards and four scores.
With FantasyPros ranking their upcoming schedule as the 11th-hardest for fantasy quarterbacks, Maye’s rushing will be key if he wants to replicate his elite fantasy numbers. It’s likely regression will hit, pushing him down from last year’s QB2 finish into the top eight.
Michael Penix Jr. (QB – ATL)
Our first non-superstar of this list. The shocking pick at eighth overall has not aged well after his first full season as the starter. To be fair, his season was cut short after tearing his ACL again. However, what we saw in the first part of the season left a lot to be desired.
There is no doubt about it, Michael Penix Jr. has a cannon for a left arm. Unfortunately, his ability to accurately deliver the ball in the intermediate part of the field could be improved. This aligns with what we have heard from training camp so far.
After bringing in Tua Tagovailoa, the coaching staff has lauded his ability to deliver accurate balls on time. As a result, it is looking like the starting quarterback job is Tagovailoa’s to lose. Although Penix is older, he is still fairly new to the NFL. As a result, there is room for him to grow and develop.
The Falcons want Penix as their long-term option, and unless Tagovailoa pulls a 2025 Daniel Jones, he will likely get another shot. As a result, he is a worthy hold in dynasty or a potential cheap buy-low candidate.
J.J. McCarthy (QB – MIN)
To use one of my favorite quotes from SpongeBob SquarePants: “Oh brother, this guy stinks.” That might be a little harsh, but there is no denying that J.J. McCarthy’s rookie season was incredibly disappointing.
After being injured in his rookie season and creating the runway for Sam Darnold to revitalize his career, we were all intrigued when the Vikings let Darnold walk. Clearly, they saw something in McCarthy that gave them confidence to move on from the eventual Super Bowl-winning quarterback.
Maybe they did see something, or maybe they needed to see an optometrist. They added Kyler Murray, who has already claimed the starting spot. To make matters worse, all quotes from McCarthy about Murray have been relatively immature and toxic. So far, he does not appear to have the on-field skills or off-field leadership to be an NFL quarterback.
It’s hard to say it’s over after one full season, but it does not look great. Michael Penix Jr. has a better chance at getting another starting opportunity (without help from injuries) than McCarthy.
Bo Nix (QB – DEN)
Bo Nix and Josh Allen are the only two quarterbacks to score over 300 fantasy points in each of the last two seasons. That’s a great start to Nix’s “young” career. I put “young” in quotes because he is 26 and entering his third season. Either way, the pairing with Sean Payton and company has been perfect for the third-year signal-caller.
Last season, the Broncos were arguably a broken ankle away from playing in the Super Bowl. With an elite defensive unit and a dynamic offense, this team is primed to make another deep playoff run.
Speaking of runs, Nix has been surprisingly effective running the ball. With 92 and 83 attempts in his first two seasons, respectively, he has a very steady fantasy floor.
Add in their big offseason acquisition in Jaylen Waddle, and the Broncos are arguably one of the most complete teams in the league. Barring any hindrance from his injury, Nix is primed to make it three straight seasons of at least 300 fantasy points.
Running Backs
Jonathon Brooks (RB – CAR)
Nine carries for 22 yards and three receptions for 23 yards are Jonathon Brooks’ career stats heading into his third season in the NFL. It’s hard not to feel for the young running back. After tearing his ACL in his final college season, he subsequently tore it again in his third NFL game.
The 46th pick in the 2024 Draft is truly a mystery for fantasy purposes. The good news is that he is finally healthy and participating in offseason drills.
We also saw Dave Canales create a juicy rushing attack, with flashes from both Rico Dowdle and Sherwood Park’s own Chuba Hubbard. With Dowdle now reunited with Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh, we could see another 1-2 tandem backfield.
If that is the case, Brooks carries a lot of potential. Although Hubbard is an explosive back who has improved in each season, he is not insurmountable.
Brooks was drafted to take over this backfield as a well-rounded running back prospect. Who knows how similar he will be after two significant knee injuries, but there is a chance he returns as good as ever. It’s not often a player’s third year seems “make or break” for their career. However, if Brooks doesn’t show something, he could become the NFL’s next “what if” story.
Blake Corum (RB – LAR)
The 2024 class was not strong at running back. With Jonathon Brooks being the first back off the board at pick 46, the next back was Trey Benson at pick 66, and then Blake Corum at pick 83. The fact that I am choosing not to discuss Benson is all you need to know about his career. On the other hand, Corum came onto the fantasy scene in his second year.
Firmly playing as the 1B RB to Kyren Williams‘ 1A RB role, Corum has proven to be a decent NFL back. With double-digit carries in four of their last five regular-season games, it was clear Sean McVay wants to use both backs. Going into this season, a 60-40 split in favor of Williams is expected.
As a result, Corum is one of the few handcuffs with weekly FLEX appeal. When you are attached to one of the best offenses in the league, double-digit touches on any given week could be great for fantasy.
We saw this from Week 13 to Week 16, where Corum scored five touchdowns across four games. Corum may never be a fantasy superstar, but he is a valuable RB3/FLEX for any redraft or dynasty team.
Bucky Irving (RB – TB)
Who would have thought that the best back in the class by far was the sixth one selected on draft day? Taken with the 125th pick by the Buccaneers, Bucky Irving’s hard-nosed running for a back his size won over fantasy managers. It’s not often a smaller back can thrive between the tackles by utilizing his vision and contact balance.
Unfortunately, Irving’s rookie season seems like a lifetime ago. With his second season being muddied with injuries and mental well-being issues, he enters his third season as a true fantasy question mark.
This offseason, the Buccaneers gave Kenneth Gainwell a substantial contract and also brought back Sean Tucker. Gainwell is a better pass-catcher than Rachaad White and is expected to be used heavily in the passing game.
As for Tucker, we saw him vulture goal-line carries from Irving at the end of last season. If both of these backs stick to their respective roles, we are looking at an early-down back in Irving who will be limited. That’s not good.
That said, if we see rookie Irving again, he can easily outplay Gainwell and Tucker, winning over the backfield. His shoulder injury and mysterious off-field antics make this outcome seem unlikely. Hopefully Irving can return to the back we all loved as a rookie. However, I’ll let someone else in my league make that bet this year.
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