The 2024 NFL Draft was not short of surprises by creating new storylines for the next season. I would like to volunteer as a tribute to be a “fan” during the draft next season because most of those folks didn’t know what was going on. Moving along, there are obvious winners and losers following the draft and free agency. Let’s dive into my initial reactions following the NFL Draft for a few players and teams heading into the 2024 NFL fantasy football season.
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NFL Draft Reactions
- Trevor Lawrence
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Razzball Rank: QB12 / Overall: 101
Fantasy Impact: I am ALL-IN for a resurgent season for Trevor Lawrence in 2024. The Jags front office brought in Gabe Davis from Buffalo then used their first pick on WR, Brian Thomas Jr. out of LSU. Jacksonville is providing all the weapons Lawrence needs to succeed. I believe he’ll be closer to his 2022 form where he threw for over 4,000 yards and 25 TDs. To take it a step further, he’ll throw for over 30 TDs, making him the next Jaguars’ QB to reach 30 TDs since Blake Bortles in 2015. I am lowering the Jags’ WRs until we see their usage in the preseason with Christian Kirk having the safest floor of the bunch in redrafts. Thomas Jr. is one of my favorites for dynasty leagues.
- Marvin Harrison Jr.
- Arizona Cardinals
- ECR Rank: WR54
Fantasy Impact: Arizona needed to improve their offense to stay relevant in the NFC West, yet were rumored to trade out of the fourth spot. Fortunately for the fantasy community, this did not happen as the Cardinals selected arguably the best pro player in the draft with Harrison Jr. Arizona appears to be doubling down on Kyler Murray as their franchise QB despite rumblings of moving on. Harrison Jr. has little competition for targets in Arizona and has WR2 and more written all over him. In addition, I have Murray back into the top 10 for QBs in 2024. The former Heisman winner should put up 3,700 passing yards with 400 rushing yards and a total of 30 touchdowns.
- Rico Dowdle
- Dallas Cowboys
- Razzball Rank: RB34 / Overall: 99
Fantasy Impact: Dallas refused to address the RB position in free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft. Dowdle was retained on a one-year deal. He is poised to have the RB1 role with the Cowboys, which has produced at least a top 15 RB in every season dating back to 2020 in the Mike McCarthy era. Ezekiel Elliott is rumored to be returning, but it doesn’t change my outlook for Dowdle as he is the most explosive back on the Cowboys roster. He’s going to be a bargain if he maintains his current ranking.
- Zamir White
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Razzball Rank: RB22 / Overall: 61
Fantasy Impact: Zamir White is one of my favorite players for next season. Vegas let Josh Jacobs walk in free agency and proceeded to draft two linemen with their first three picks in the 2024 draft. The Raiders did not select a rookie QB, who was rumored to be targeting one. Instead, they are rolling with veteran Gardner Minshew as their QB1 which should keep the Raiders offense productive. This has me more optimistic about the Raiders’ outlook, but even more for White, who averaged 21 carries over his last four games.
- George Pickens
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Razzball Rank: WR30 / Overall: 77
Fantasy Impact: The Steelers revamped their offense with a new OC, Arthur Smith while trading Diontae Johnson and adding two QBs in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. They also drafted WR, Roman Wilson, in the third round to bolster their WR corps. Smith has a run-first offensive scheme, which may limit Pickens’ opportunities but he’s the de facto WR1 for Pittsburgh. He’ll be catching passes from either QB, who both have produced a WR1 and should be in line for drawing the most targets in his career. He’s an intriguing WR2 with sleeper potential in 2024.
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