Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud. Photo USA Today Sports Images Everyone in fantasy football has a draft list. I have two, because honestly, my heart can overwhelm my brain as time goes on.
So the second list is the important one. Your dream team. It’s a wish list of people you should consider before choosing from the standard draft list.
Fantasy football is designed to be fun. Winning helps ensure that. But winning with a team you enjoy watching kills both.
That doesn’t mean you should draft multiple players from your favorite team. Just one is enough… especially if he’s on your 2024 12-man list:
QB CJ Stroud, Texans
Texas has so many weapons that it’s hard to predict who will be better than who. It’s likely that someone will be different every week, which is not ideal for fantasy. But this guy: He leads the league’s most potent offense. That guy is Stroud.
QB Jaden Daniels, Commanders
August 17, 2024; MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.; Washington Commanders quarterback Jaden Daniels (5) drops back to pass against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim LaSole-USA TODAY Sports I’m not a huge fan of drafting (fantasy) backup quarterbacks, but there’s one good reason to do so: to prevent other teams from taking a potential star. Daniels is one of those guys. He’s a late-round pick whose running ability makes him the ultimate low-risk, high-reward pick.
RB Bijan Robinson, Falcons
June 3, 2024; ATLANTA, GA; Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) is seen on the field during Falcons OTAs at the Falcons training facility. Mandatory Credit: Dale Janine-USA TODAY Sports There is little doubt that he is the most talented running back in the NFL. He is the second coming of OJ Simpson. He was a top-10 back last season as a rookie, but he didn’t get any help. The Falcons have a quarterback this year who is making longer drives, more touches, and double the number of touchdowns. Start engraving fantasy MVP trophies.
RB De’Von Acane, Dolphins
October 8, 2023; MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.; Miami Dolphins running back Devon Achane (28) looks on after scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants in the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports The Dolphins are next in line with Texas: a team I have to have at least one of. Remember, this offense produced a top-five back (Raheem Mostert) last season, who basically sat back and watched when Ashane was healthy. Will he get hurt again? He had 38 carries in his last college game at Texas A&M in 2022. They wouldn’t have worried about that.
RB Zack Moss, Bengals
Moss is the biggest reason to focus on wide receiver early in the draft. In eight starts last season, he rushed for 122 yards or more twice, had seven or more targets twice, and had 18 or more carries three times. He joins a stronger offensive team, is durable, can catch passes… and could very well be an eighth-rounder.
WR Drake London, Falcons
Drake London catches the pass. Source: Getty Images This is a consolation prize for those who didn’t draft high enough to get teammate Robinson. London is a talented player, and the Falcons recognize that. He’s been targeted 227 times in his first two seasons, and has dropped just seven balls. And yet somehow he’s only connected on 141 of them. The aforementioned new QB (Kirk Cousins) should fix that, setting the stage for London to be a first-round pick for the next few years. This is the last year to get him at a discount.
WR Cooper Cup, Rams
The Cooper Cup is a cornerstone of the Los Angeles Rams. Source: Getty Images Kupp last commanded 191 targets, caught 145 balls and scored 16 touchdowns when he was fully healthy. While Kupp recovered from a serious ankle injury last season, Puka Nacua ran his pattern, finishing with 160 targets, 105 catches and six TDs. This year, Kupp is the healthier of the two, and he has already proven to be the better of the two. So why is Nacua being drafted earlier?
WR Brian Thomas, Jaguars
Seriously, Trevor Lawrence, wake up. Drafted as a generational talent, Lawrence struggled with the fact that Clemson had better wideouts than Jacksonville. Not anymore. Lawrence throws a great deep ball, and Thomas runs a great deep pattern. It’s a combination made in fantasy heaven.
WR Jameson Williams, Lions
August 19, 2023; DETROIT, Mich.; Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) walks off the field after a preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ford Field. Credit: Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports Add the Lions to the list of teams brimming with offensive talent. And now add one more. While the defense is focused on stopping David Montgomery in the middle, Jamir Gibbs on the wing, Sam LaPorta behind the linebacker, and Amon-La St. Brown in the short zone… who will be the guy to push the speedy Williams deep down the field? That’s their — and potentially your — secret weapon.
TE Brock Bowers, Raiders
April 26, 2024; HENDERSON, Nev.; Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers speaks to the media at Intermountain Health Performance Center in Henderson, Nev. Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports More and more NFL teams are using tight ends as weapons, and that’s because more and more colleges are producing these unique talents. Bowers is arguably the best player to come out of the college game. And he’s joining the perfect team. A team that wants to catch the ball and throw low-risk passes. It’s worth keeping an eye on his foot injury in camp. If healthy, Bowers could lead all tight ends in catches… as a seventh-round pick.
PK Brandon Aubrey, Cowboys
Every season, you have to answer two questions: Should you draft the second-to-last kicker? Or the defense/special teams guy? Or vice versa? This year, the answer is the same: No, no. Aubrey is so good that he could change fantasy tradition. Do yourself a favor. Take the kicker first. Some people will laugh… until he rips a 60-yarder on Opening Day.
Ravens Defense/Special Teams
Speaking of fantasy tradition, this could be the first year that more D/STs are drafted for ST than D. That’s a potential consequence of the new kickoff rule, which seems to favor the most creative thinkers on the special teams side of the game. At the top of that list is John Harbaugh. And you get a great defense.
