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The NFL draft is behind us, and it’s never too early to start looking at your fantasy football drafts. We’re here to best prepare you for the big day, and make sure that you don’t make any mistakes that can compromise your entire season. To kick off our fantasy football roundup, here are 24 players you should avoid drafting in 2024:
QB Aaron Rodgers — New York Jets
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It’ll be tempting to snag Aaron Rodgers in the later rounds. He’s previously recorded some of the most productive seasons to date of any QB in the league. A healthy Rodgers should lead the Jets back into postseason contention, but his expectations as a fantasy football contributor should be tempered. The Jets will be wary of putting their veteran QB in harm’s way. The offense will be catered towards Rodgers getting the ball out as quickly as possible. RB Breece Hall will likely be leaned upon heavily, limiting the downfield opportunities for this offense.
WR Davante Adams — Las Vegas Raiders
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Gone are the days of Davante Adams being an unquestioned top-5 wideout in fantasy football leagues. Since joining the Raiders, Adams has seen his efficiency take a hit and he’s coming off his worst full season in years. Vegas hardly addressed the quarterback issue in the offseason, adding journeyman Gardner Minshew to the mix alongside sophomore Aidan O’Connell. Even if one of those QBs ends up having an above-average campaign, it’s not like the Raiders have a shortage of receiving options. Minshew and O’Connell will happily take easy completions to Jakobi Meyers or rookie TE Brock Bowers as defenses load up to shutdown Adams.
QB Justin Herbert — Los Angeles Chargers
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Look at all the signs Jim Harbaugh is giving us to avoid Justin Herbert in drafts this year. Run-game aficionado Greg Roman was hired as offensive coordinator. Pass-catching back Austin Ekeler was replaced by two former Ravens — Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins. The team let go of its two best wideouts — Keenan Allen and Mike Williams — and spent its first-round pick on an offensive tackle. Herbert will have more time in the pocket than he’s used to, but he doesn’t have any proven targets to throw to. This team will rely on the ground attack, just like every Harbaugh team we’ve seen previously.
RB Austin Ekeler — Washington Commanders
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Austin Ekeler’s run as an RB1 appears to be over. He looked as slow as ever last year and saw his numbers dip dramatically. In 14 games, Ekeler recorded 1,064 scrimmage yards, 51 receptions, and six scores. The Charger RB averaged nearly 1,600 scrimmage yards, 88 receptions, and 19 touchdowns in the previous two years. Leaving the warm LA climate for a questionable Washington offense will be a culture shock. Are we sure rookie QB Jayden Daniels will be looking for his safety valve often? Plus, Ekeler will be in more of a timeshare than before. Brian Robinson Jr. will certainly play a big role in the Washington backfield, cutting into Ekeler’s workload.
RB Ezekiel Elliott — Dallas Cowboys
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No reason to get sentimental about this reunion. Ezekiel Elliott is set to return to Dallas after a one-year sabbatical in New England. The former No. 4 overall pick was with the Cowboys for seven years and recorded 80 touchdowns over 103 appearances. While he did reach pay-dirt 24 times over the last two seasons in Dallas, his play steadily declined until the team decided to bump him in favor of Tony Pollard. Elliott is back, but a smaller role is expected, even with Pollard bolting for Tennessee. We’d stay away from the Cowboys’ backfield entirely in ’24.
WR Keenan Allen — Chicago Bears
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The Bears’ new-look offense has fans fired up for the 2024 campaign. Rookie hurler Caleb Williams will be joining a roster far better than most No. 1 picks are accustomed to. DJ Moore is already in place, and the team went out and added University of Washington pass-catcher Rome Odunze through the draft, as well as six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen. As exciting as the offense could look, somebody will have to sacrifice some opportunities. In all likelihood, we could see all three Chicago WRs failing to meet massive expectations. Allen could get squeezed the most, as he’s in a contract year and just turned 32 years old. We’re unlikely to see him get the 150-plus targets he saw in Los Angeles over the last seven years.
WR Stefon Diggs — Houston Texans
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A new team for Stefon Diggs could spell the end of his run as a top fantasy wideout. Diggs spent the last four seasons as the unquestioned No. 1 option on a pass-heavy offense. However, he saw his numbers dip considerably during the latter half of 2023. Was it a case of the Bills preemptively preparing for his departure? Or, has the 30-year-old seen a decline in his overall play? We could see a rejuvenated Diggs in Houston as he sets out to prove he can still be an elite contributor. But, he won’t be the target machine like he was in Buffalo. Nico Collins and Tank Dell have already built considerable chemistry with QB C.J. Stroud, not to mention RB Joe Mixon featuring as a pass-catcher. Expect more of a low-end WR2 output from Diggs in ’24.
RB Najee Harris — Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Steelers aren’t all-in on Najee Harris, so why should you be? The former Alabama runner has posted three straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career, but was outperformed by his backup, Jaylen Warren, for much of ’24. Warren had more fantasy points last season (PPR) despite seeing 74 fewer touches. The two backs play behind the same offensive line, but Warren averaged 1.3 more yards per touch. The team passed on Harris’ fifth-year option, signaling he could hit free agency next offseason. Not exactly a ringing endorsement from the franchise that spent a first-round pick on Harris back in 2021.
RB De’Von Achane — Miami Dolphins
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De’Von Achane’s per-game numbers are eye-popping. The speedster dazzled in his first year during his rookie campaign. He made his debut in Week 2 but saw just one carry. In Week 3, Achane ran for 203 yards and had four touchdowns in a 70-20 rout of the Broncos. He finished the year with nearly 1,000 scrimmage yards on just 130 chances and scored 11 TDs. He’s a cheat code when on the field, but it’s difficult to trust his health moving forward. Achane is slight of frame (listed at 188 pounds) and was limited to just 11 games as a rookie. Unless you have a strong contingency plan, Achane is a risky pick in the early rounds.
WR Jameson Williams — Detroit Lions
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It feels like Jameson Williams is being set up to fail. The Lions drafted Williams in the first round two seasons ago, and he has yet to live up to the hype. After missing a majority of his rookie campaign, Williams played in 12 games in ’23 and finished with 24 receptions for 354 yards, and two receiving TDs. Defenses have to account for him due to his blazing speed, but he’s still too far down in the pecking order. The only way Williams becomes a consistent fantasy contributor is if he can eat into the usage of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Jahmyr Gibbs, or David Montgomery. We don’t see that happening.
TE David Njoku — Cleveland Browns
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TE is a tricky position to draft — both in real life and for fantasy purposes. If a talented player at the position has a few good games, they instantly skyrocket up the rankings. That was the case for David Njoku, who enjoyed a strong end to the season in ’23. However, we aren’t sure if he’ll be able to keep that up. Njoku’s production mostly came with Joe Flacco under center. His role is a bit murkier with Deshaun Watson returning in ’24. And, the Browns added Jerry Jeudy who will surely see plenty of targets. Njoku has always been a bit hit-or-miss, and we think he could disappoint fantasy managers next season.
WR Malik Nabers — New York Giants
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Be wary of rookie WRs on bad offenses. We’ve seen first-year wideouts succeed early on. Puka Nacua wasted no time stamping himself as one of the top options in the game. The same goes for guys like Ja’Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb. The common theme among rookies who find instant success? The quality of the offense they play for. The Rams, Bengals, and Cowboys are among the most potent attacks in the league. For every Ja’Marr Chase there’s a Drake London who struggled to put up numbers. Malik Nabers is in the latter camp. The Giants will be better in ’24, but Daniel Jones still has a ton to prove. Stay away from Nabers until his offense proves they can put up points.
WR Calvin Ridley — Tennessee Titans
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Calvin Ridley’s final stats from ’23 don’t look too bad. He finished with over 1,000 yards and secured eight touchdowns. For most wideouts, that’s a pretty good season. However, anybody who had Ridley on their fantasy team last year can attest to his inconsistency. Perhaps that was a result of playing in an up-and-down Jaguars offense. But, Ridley has always been more of a boom-or-bust player. Now, he’s entering the worst QB situation of his career. Even a down Trevor Lawrence season and an aging Matt Ryan is better than Will Levis. Ridley will put up some absolute duds on this Titans offense.
WR Christian Watson — Green Bay Packers
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The Packers remade their WR room in a hurry. Following Davante Adams’ departure, the team was left to build from the ground up. And, they’ve done an incredible job of putting playmakers around QB Jordan Love. Watson was the highest draft pick of the bunch — 34th overall (2022) — and is the most impressive athletically. However, most of his production has come in a span of a few games and he’s already proven to be injury-prone. If you’re going to take a flier on a Packers wideout, we’d suggest going for either Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, or Dontayvion Wicks.
TE Juwan Johnson — New Orleans Saints
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Juwan Johnson was a popular late-round pick for those who passed on an early TE. The stage was set for a big season for the athletic pass-catcher. New Saints QB Derek Carr has always favored TEs, and Johnson was coming off a career-high in receptions, yards, and touchdowns the year prior. Instead, Johnson battled injuries and inconsistency as he ended up mostly an after-thought in the Saints offense. New Orleans even turned to converted QB Taysom Hill to fill the role at times — and, veteran Jimmy Graham even nabbed 4 TDs. Johnson is talented, but there are a ton of mouths to feed on the Saints and the offense isn’t nearly consistent enough to sustain everybody.
TE Mark Andrews — Baltimore Ravens
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The Ravens TE position is a coveted spot in fantasy football. Lamar Jackson is adept at completing passes to his safety valves. Mark Andrews has been Jackson’s no. 1 target for years, but that time could be coming to an end in ’24. For one, WR Zay Flowers is looking to build upon a strong rookie campaign. He will likely end the season with the most targets on the Ravens for the second straight year. Additionally, Derrick Henry was brought in and could end up stealing a ton of work near the goal line. And, we also cannot forget about Isaiah Likely’s presence in the TE room. Likely was exceptional last season when Andrews was forced to miss time. We’ll see both TEs utilized next year, but Andrews’ target share will surely take a hit.
WR Odell Beckham Jr. — Miami Dolphins
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Once a fantasy darling, Odell Beckham Jr’s. best days are behind him. The three-time Pro Bowler had a mildly productive season in ’23 after missing the entirety of the 2022 campaign. Playing for the Ravens, Beckham Jr. finished with 35 receptions for 565 yards and three scores. It’s a far cry from the player we saw terrorize defenses with the Giants. His strong Super Bowl performance with the Rams — which ended in injury — was likely the last time we see Beckham Jr. playing at an elite level. He’s merely a depth option on this Dolphins offense and is unlikely to take away any targets from the team’s top two wideouts — Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle
RB Javonte Williams — Denver Broncos
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It’s been a tough couple of years for the former Tar Heel. Javonte Williams entered ’22 with high expectations, but his season ended prematurely just four games in after an ACL tear. He returned healthy in ’23 but was mostly outproduced by undrafted backup Jaleel McLaughlin (3.6 YPC vs. 5.4 YPC). Samaje Perine also emerged as a third-down back who caught 50 passes. Sean Payton has always preferred a committee in the backfield. Williams may lead the team in carries again, but the lead back in a Broncos committee is not what you should be spending a mid-round pick on.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson — New England Patriots
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Rhamondre Stevenson was a massive disappointment in ’23, and looks to once again be a shaky pick heading into next season. New England’s offense will be better with either Jacoby Brissett or rookie Drake Maye under center, but we can only expect so much out of a team that lacks proven skill players. Stevenson was once regarded on that level, but not after last season. His production lies in his abilities as a pass-catcher. However, the Patriots signed another pass-catching back in Antonio Gibson (formerly with the Washington Commanders) who will surely see some third-down work. We’d stay away from both unless something drastic occurs.
QB Russell Wilson/Justin Fields — Pittsburgh Steelers
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Pittsburgh added a pair of former fantasy stars to their QB room. The additions of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are surely an upgrade over what the team previously possessed. However, we should temper expectations in ’24. Wilson was previously a top-5 fantasy QB in his heyday, but those days are long gone. He was an average option in Denver in ’23 and isn’t getting any younger. Fields could be a dominant fantasy player, but it’s unclear if he’ll even win the job to start the season. Save yourself a headache. Don’t draft either Steelers QB.
QB Jalen Hurts — Philadelphia Eagles
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Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts is a player managers should be wary of rather than somebody to outright avoid. Hurts has finished as the No. 2 QB behind Josh Allen each of the past two seasons. Even though Philadelphia’s offense took a step back last year without former OC Shane Steichen, Hurts remained a fantasy standout due to his rushing output. However, there is some cause for concern in that department heading into ’24. For one, superstar center Jason Kelce is gone — which could lead to “tush push” ramifications. Additionally, new Eagles running back Saquon Barkley may end up seeing more work near the goal line. Hurts had a whopping 15 rushing TDs in ’23. Expect that number to dip next season.
WR Cooper Kupp — Los Angeles Rams
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It wasn’t too long ago that Cooper Kupp was in contention for the No. 1 pick in some drafts. Kupp was named Offensive Player of the Year in ’21 after leading the league in receptions (145), yards (1,947), and touchdowns (16). His consistency set him apart from the rest of the receivers in the league. He’s always had tremendous rapport with QB Matthew Stafford. With that being said, he could be looking at a secondary role in this Rams offense. Standout rookie Puka Nacua led the team in all major receiving categories last year as Kupp once again dealt with injuries. The 30-year-old Kupp has missed 13 games over the last two years. And, in the 12 games Kupp played last season, Nacua saw more targets when they shared the field. Kupp can still be productive, but he’s no longer the top option in Los Angeles.
WR Tee Higgins — Cincinnati Bengals
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Bengals wideout Tee Higgins is somebody we’re extremely cautious with heading into draft season. The 25-year-old publicly requested a trade after the team franchise tagged him in the offseason. It doesn’t seem like the Bengals are overly motivated to move their No. 2 wideout, and a contract extension is not imminent. Perhaps the Bengals don’t give in to Higgins’ request, and the wideout is motivated to perform well once the season begins. However, he was up and down even when QB Joe Burrow was healthy last year. In seven games together, Higgins caught two or fewer passes on four occasions with Burrow under center. Plus, there’s a chance Higgins gets traded to a team with worse QB play or a more run-heavy scheme.
TE Travis Kelce — Kansas City Chiefs
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Travis Kelce has been the league’s premier TE for nearly a decade. From 2016-22, Kelce finished as TE1 (PPR) every year except for 2021 when he finished second behind Baltimore’s Mark Andrews. This past year, he was excellent in the playoffs once again but had a rather pedestrian regular season (by his standards). A great Kelce season in the past meant he was lapping the field — finishing far ahead of his TE peers. In ’23, he finished as TE3 and the gap between him and the rest of the pack was not very wide. He scored just one touchdown over his last nine regular season games. At 34 years old, he’s no longer a player you should consider in the first couple of rounds. Detroit’s Sam LaPorta should be the first TE taken off the board in your draft.
