In less than a week, we will have a big NFL game and therefore fantasy football results to track. Hope is eternal, and everyone has an opinion on which player will do this or which team will do that. Isn’t that the fun of being a fan?
With that in mind, we asked ESPN fantasy football analysts to share their thoughts with the world. Don’t be surprised if any of them come to fruition.
If this happens, don’t be surprised…
Adonai Mitchell finishes as a top-35 fantasy WR
Currently drafted as WR61, the Indianapolis Colts rookie has the size and speed (his 4.34 40-yard dash was third-fastest among wide receivers at this year’s Combine) to be a deep threat in this offense. And with Josh Downs currently out with an ankle sprain, Mitchell has had a chance to get acquainted with QB Anthony Richardson in camp. Mitchell was under the radar at Georgia, but he emerged at Texas and showed glimpses of what he could be, and the Colts liked him enough to draft him 52nd overall. If Downs is sidelined for an extended period or Mitchell makes a strong case for playing time, he could provide a big return on investment for fantasy managers. Stephania Bell
Travis Etienne Jr. finishes as a top-5 fantasy RB.
Etienne averaged 16.6 points per game last season and scored 12 touchdowns. He is a volume runner (267 carries) with dual-threat skills in the passing game, catching 58 of 73 targets in 2023. Even with a slight drop in total touches this season, his placement has led to consistent weekly volume as a runner and receiver, creating scoring opportunities in the low red zone. Etienne is a real upside in a Jacksonville Jaguars offense that has the pieces to put up explosive numbers in 2024 and head coach Doug Pederson’s plans. Matt Bowen
Kyren Williams finishes as a top-5 fantasy RB.
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Will Kieren Williams’ return to punting impact his fantasy potential?
Mike Clay hasn’t lost his fantastic confidence in Kieren Williams despite reports he’ll return punts for the Rams.
Williams’ stock has been dropping since the recent “news” that he will be the primary punt returner for the Los Angeles Rams. Williams filled that role in Weeks 1-3 of last season (he was responsible for all three of the Rams’ punt returns) and accounted for 86% of the team’s offensive snaps during that span. Williams actually began the 2023 season in a timeshare with Cam Akers, but he accounted for 14 of the team’s first 24 RB carries and 67% of the snaps in a comfortable Week 1 win over Seattle. He found the end zone twice in that game and ranked fifth among running backs in fantasy points until Austin Trammell took over punt return duties in Week 4. Since we’ve already taken into account that Williams’ usage has decreased with rookie Blake Corum, it feels like a mistake to double-count him now that he’ll be returning one or two punts per game. A year after joining Christian McCaffrey as the only backs to average over 18.0 fantasy PPG, the 24-year-old Williams is in good position for another solid RB1 campaign. — Mike Clay
The Denver Broncos’ passing game provides excellent fantasy numbers.
In particular, Marvin Mims Jr. is the breakout star in our game that many expected him to be in 2023. Bo Nix’s rise to the starting quarterback position is a huge plus. He looked very comfortable in the pocket and had no mistakes in two preseason games. Tim Patrick’s release has simplified the receiving rankings, making Courtland Sutton and Mims’ targets more consistent than they were a few weeks ago. Sutton, who averages out to be the No. 42 wide receiver, and Mims, who is ranked outside the top 75 at the position, have a ceiling of being a top-20 player at the position. Nix, meanwhile, has the opportunity to be a matchup-appealing surprise player at his position — a top-12 quarterback. Tristan H. Cockcroft
Kyle Pitts is the TE1 this season.
The first three seasons of Pitts’ career were frustrating for fantasy managers. Even Pitts’ rookie season was a bit disappointing, as he became the second tight end in league history to receive 1,000 yards but only scored one touchdown. Injuries, quarterback play, and scheme design have been conspirators over the past two years. This season, it’s all finally come together. Pitts is a talented player and will play in an Atlanta Falcons offense run by a capable QB named Kirk Cousins. Look for Pitts as a 2nd-3rd round fantasy pick by this time next year. — Tyler Fullgum
Derrick Henry Surpasses 20 Touchdowns
Perhaps not so bold a statement. 25 points? Henry has reached double-digit rushing touchdowns for six straight seasons, but he’s only had “only” 17 points in his 2,000-yard season. That was a 16-game season. Now he’s 17 games in, and the Baltimore Ravens’ offense offers a perfect setup, boasting a more potent offensive line, a quirky quarterback with great skills and creative play calling. After all, if Gus Edwards can score 13 touchdowns, what can Henry do? Yes. He’s 30, but he’s still breaking down defenders and racking up yards after contact. He’s got more touchdowns than receptions. — Eric Caravel
Roman Odunze beats out Keenan Allen as Caleb Williams’ second target
The question isn’t when, but if. Odunze will be Williams’ second-favorite target behind DJ Moore before the season ends. Odunze has radiated alpha energy throughout his college career (10 games with 100+ yards receiving and a Biletnikoff Award finalist in 2023) and has been a force since being drafted ninth overall by the Chicago Bears. He and Williams have shown immediate chemistry. The two have especially connected on off-structure plays that led to a nice 45-yard connection in the team’s third preseason game against Cincinnati. A player with Odunze’s frame, route acumen and catch radius can’t be relegated to third-round duty for long. His stat line could be a little boomy or shaky at first, but he’s a 10th-round pick with tremendous upside (and a surprising third-round pick after Allen was selected). — Liz Rosa
Travis Kelce drops out of top 5 TE
Kelce is still one of the best (if not the best) tight ends in the game, but the gap between him and the rest has narrowed considerably. Since 2016, Kelce has finished as the top tight end six times and has never ranked lower than TE3 in that span. His dominant performances have been impressive, but now Kelce has to compete not only with his own offense but with other interesting fantasy tight ends. Think Sam LaPorta, Trey McBride, Mark Andrews, Dalton Kincaid, Evan Engram, David Njoku, and (now that he has a real QB) Kyle Pitts. Kelce is 35 years old this year, and he also has to deal with Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, and Marquise Brown stealing targets in the Kansas City Chiefs offense. Kelce had the second-lowest target share of his career last season, and that was before the Chiefs added more weapons to their offense. Since gold doesn’t last forever, it wouldn’t be surprising to see some change at the top of the tight end position this season. — Daniel Dorff
Caleb Williams threw for over 4,000 yards and became a top-10 fantasy QB.
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Why Field Yates is ‘all in’ on Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams in fantasy
Field Yates explains why he expects the rookie QB class to excel in fantasy football.
The Bears are the only team without a quarterback passing for 4,000 yards in a season. Surrounded by an impressive supporting cast, Williams is well-positioned to end that drought. The No. 1 pick is the first rookie quarterback drafted in the top five and will throw to several players (Moore, Allen) who had at least 1,200 receiving yards in a previous season. He will also have an additional target in fellow first-round rookie O’Dunnes, who led the FBS with 1,640 receiving yards in his final college season at Washington. Williams’ rushing potential gives him a high fantasy ceiling. — Eric Moody
Jayden Daniels finishes as a top-7 fantasy QB as a rookie.
Daniels is listed as QB12 in our preseason rankings, one spot ahead of Caleb Williams among all rookie signal callers. Daniels has a lot going for him as he is very mobile at the position (he led FBS players in yards per rushing attempt last season and had at least 100 rushes), so he has a lot of upside to start a big season. He is a talented thrower and should help fuel a fast-paced offense that has often lagged this season. We often emphasize that quarterback rushing is important to creating a high floor, but Daniels also has a lot of upside. Field Yates
