My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (2024)

2024 Rank: 5 - 2023 Rank: 5

Robinson's rookie year was frustrating due to the inconsistent usage he saw under coach Arthur Smith, whose departure could allow the 2023 eight overall pick to take off. Robinson was predictably effective as a rookie, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and 8.4 per catch in an offense with bottom-five QB play. A repeat of his 86 targets from last season likely would go further in 2024 with QB Kirk Cousins throwing the passes instead of Desmond Ridder or Taylor Heinicke. Whatever Robinson's target volume looks like, he should easily improve upon last year's 67.4 percent catch rate (fourth worst among RBs) and also figures to take more carries than he did last year. Capable as Tyler Allgeier might be, he doesn't warrant 186 carries to every 214 of Robinson's --something like a 1:2 ratio would make more sense -- and may not be a good fit anyway in a more spread-out offense under new coordinator Zac Robinson (a former Rams assistant). Robinson's combination of speed (4.46 40), size (5-11, 215), power, balance and agility should make him an excellent fit for any NFL offense, including this new-look Atlanta unit with three top-10 draft picks at skill positions and an experienced, reliable offensive line.

2024 Rank: 18 - 2023 Rank: 18

A late-season shoulder injury cost Pacheco two games and Week 18 rest a third, but in the 14 games he played last season Pacheco showed a new level of skill (and fantasy value) relative to his promising 2022 rookie season. His fantasy value improved mostly because he jumped from 14 targets in 2022 to 49 last year, benefitting from Jerick McKinnon's injury but also an increase in Andy Reid's trust in Pacheco. The trust showed up in other forms, with Pacheco adding 35 carries (205-170) and four TDs (9-5) to his rookie-year totals despite playing three fewer games. If Pacheco can simply maintain last year's usage pace of roughly 250 carries and 50 catches per 17 games, we might be looking at a career year in 2024. Kansas City's depth chart is glaringly void of competition, with no incoming draft picks and Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Samaje Perine being the only other experienced running backs. Pacheco already showed last year what this breakout might look like -- if you include four playoff games his season total was 286 carries for 1,248 yards (4.4 YPC) and 10 touchdowns in 18 games, plus 65 receptions for 304 yards and two TDs.

2024 Rank: 21 - 2023 Rank: 21

Evans famously has started his career with 10 straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons, including a 1,255-yard, 13-TD campaign last year catching passes from Baker Mayfield. The Buccaneers dropped to 568 pass attempts after topping 700 in back-to-back seasons with Tom Brady, but the portion of passes going downfield -- and specifically to Evans -- was much higher with Mayfield taking over last season. There was perhaps some luck/fluke in Evans accounting for 46.4 percent of the team's receiving touchdowns, but he also had his best numbers since at least 2018 in terms of targets (136), catches (79) and receiving yards (1,255). The Bucs are running it back with Mayfield, Evans, WR Chris Godwin, TE Cade Otton and RB Rachaad White at the skill positions, with the big change being new offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who spent the previous few seasons bouncing between Kentucky and the Rams. Former coordinator Dave Canales is new coaching the division-rival Panthers -- his reward for helping to revive Mayfield's career (with a big assist from Evans).

2024 Rank: 35 - 2023 Rank: 35

Hurts' dominant rushing game makes him a perennial contender for top fantasy QB status, even with modest passing numbers. Last season, he was 13th in touchdown passes and 14th in passing yards but finished QB2 in fantasy (after QB3 the previous year) thanks to 15 rushing touchdowns, an NFL record for quarterbacks (later tied by Josh Allen). The Tush Push helped Hurts cross the goal line 11 times and convert 24 first downs on third or fourth and short. It was his third consecutive season with double-digit rushing touchdowns and at least 600 rushing yards. That allowed him to overcome a drop in YPA (7.2, 14th) as his receivers contributed fewer yards after the catch. Hurts threw deep plenty last season -- his 8.7 air yards per attempt ranked fourth -- and should do so again with wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith providing plenty of firepower under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Hurts' rushing TDs likely will regress some this season, and free-agent RB Saquon Barkley could swipe a portion of the short-yardage carries. But even with, say, five fewer rushing scores, Hurts would have still finished as a top-five fantasy QB last season.

2024 Rank: 37 - 2023 Rank: 37

Smith topped 900 yards as a rookie in 2021 and has subsequently turned in consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, solidifying himself as one of the best No. 2 receivers in the league. He's no match for A.J. Brown in terms of size and pure athleticism, instead getting it done with precise route-running and strong hands. The 2020 Heisman winner has lived up to expectations as a 10th overall pick, including last year when he bounced back from a slot start to averaged 75.9 yards per game from Week 8 onward. Smith and Brown will lead the way for Philadelphia's passing attack again in 2024, and they'll be working with a new playcaller for the third straight year, this time taking directions from former Cowboys and Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. While his track record is mixed from a real-life standpoint, Moore's offenses generally have been friendly for WR production, potentially opening the door for Smith to take a step forward without usurping Brown as the No. 1.

2024 Rank: 42 - 2023 Rank: 42

Nabers is one of the best WR prospects of the past decade and probably a steal with the sixth overall pick. He has 4.35 speed without sacrificing bulk (6-0, 200) and is coming off a 1,569-yard junior season at LSU, where he had 417 yards as an 18-year-old true freshman two years prior (and 1,017 receiving yards his sophom*ore year). Nabers turned 21 this summer, making him one of the youngest prospects from his draft class as well as one of the most accomplished. He thrived as both a perimeter and slot receiver at LSU, with a rare combination of catches deep downfield and short receptions turned into long gains. Nabers isn't quite as big as fellow top-10 picks Marvin Harrison and Rome Odunze, but the LSU product is probably the fastest of the trio and definitely the most dangerous with the ball in his hand. The Giants may need to be creative to maximize Nabers' impact early on, as they're unlikely to get high-quality QB play from Daniel Jones or Drew Lock and don't have any other pass catchers that scare defenses. It won't be long before Nabers sees a lot of targets, but efficiency may be too much to ask from a 21-year-old rookie in a bad offense.

2024 Rank: 61 - 2023 Rank: 61

Released by the Packers this offseason, Jones signed a one-year, $7 million contract with Minnesota and now gets two opportunities to face his former team (if he stays healthy). It remains to be seen how much work Jones can handle with age 30 coming up in December, but when he was healthy last season he looked about as good as ever, closing out the season with five straight 100-yard rushing performances (including the playoffs). He's averaged 5.0 yards per carry for his career -- never less than 4.6 in a season -- and has consistently averaged about four targets per game while scoring far more receiving TDs than a typical running back (17 in five seasons under Matt LaFleur). Jones could get similar per-game workloads (or even larger) in Minnesota, where there's no established veteran backup or early draft pick behind him in the backfield. On the other hand, Jones has never averaged more than 14.8 carries per game and isn't likely to start now as he approaches age 30 with a lengthy history of knee sprains and hamstring strains. The Vikings figure to use another back off the bench to lighten Jones' load, with Ty Chandler being the favorite after he made some noise late last season.

2024 Rank: 81 - 2023 Rank: 81

Daniels will enter Week 1 as a starter after the Commanders drafted him second overall this April. Durability was one of the few major concerns about Daniels during the draft process, as he's rather slim at 6-4, 210. Another issue was his lack of standout play prior to his Heisman-winning season at LSU last year. The Commanders, though, see a near-elite arm with accuracy to all parts of the field and good touch on deep balls. Daniels led the nation last season in air yards per attempt (10.2) and YPA (11.7) and still ranked seventh in completion percentage (72.2), i.e., his accuracy wasn't a product of easy passes. Daniels' running ability is perhaps the most intriguing aspect for fantasy, as he topped 2,000 rushing yards and scored 21 TDs over his last two years at LSU. The Commanders have WR Terry McLaurin as a sure-handed target but otherwise seem to be hoping for late-career rebounds from RB Austin Ekeler and TE Zach Ertz. The team drafted TE Ben Sinnott and WR Luke McCaffrey in Rounds 2 and 3, respectively, so there's at least some hope for complementary weapons to emerge if the veterans don't work out. Daniels' skills seem to mesh with the scheme brought in by new coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, and the rookie's legs can carry him to fantasy relevance even if his passing stats are subpar.

2024 Rank: 82 - 2023 Rank: 82

What was supposed to be a breakout bonanza for Pollard last season turned out to be a disappointment instead, as his trademark explosiveness entirely disappeared. Part of the decline can be explained by his role becoming more challenging, with Pollard not only playing added snaps overall but also taking on the grueling work (like short-yardage carries and blitz pickups) that was Ezekiel Elliott's domain before 2023. The other explanation, offered by Pollard himself, is that he wasn't physically at his best until late in the year because he'd suffered a fibula fracture and ligament injury during the previous season's playoffs. Whatever the case, Pollard dropped to a career-low 4.0 YPC and had fewer rushing and receiving yards than in 2022 despite adding 59 carries (252) and 16 receptions (55). His TD total was halved (12 to six), with Pollard scoring just four times on 18 carries inside the 5-yard line and failing to score a TD of 30-plus yards all year (after five in 2022). He now leaves Dallas for Tennessee, where he'll share playing time with a likely equal in Tyjae Spears. Neither is an obvious fit for the goal-line work Pollard struggled with last year, and both are above average as passing-down backs. It's thus unclear what their split will look like, but both figure to have significant roles in Tennessee's more spread-out offense under new coach Brian Callahan.

2024 Rank: 56 - 2023 Rank: 56

The Texans scored a big win when they took one of the smaller WR prospects in recent memory with the 69th overall pick of the 2023 Draft. Dell started off as the team's No. 3 receiver but quickly became much more, exploding for 7-72-1 in Week 2 and 5-145-1 in Week 3. He added two more 100-yard games and five more touchdowns before suffering a season-ending leg fracture Week 13, having averaged 4.7 catches for 70.9 yards on 7.5 targets through his first 10 games. Dell got playing time both outside and in the slot, seeing at every level of the field. The only negative was durability, which admittedly might be more of a concern for someone who weighed in at 5-8, 165, at the 2023 Combine (where he ran a 4.49 40). Dell now has a second concern in the form of target competition, after the Texans traded for Stefon Diggs this offseason. Dell and Nico Collins still project as C.J. Stroud's top receivers long term, but Diggs could have a big impact on the target distribution for a year or two.

2024 Rank: 113 - 2023 Rank: 113

Goedert has averaged 55 catches, 651 receiving yards and 3.6 TDs over the past five seasons, consistently producing like a low-end fantasy starter. He'll likely continue to cede the majority of targets to WRs A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and splashy offseason addition Saquon Barkley presents stiffer competition for targets underneath. Still, Philadelphia's lack of playmakers beyond those three should keep Goedert's floor respectable. He's a reliable target who can keep the offense on schedule and move the chains, but he doesn't get many goal-line targets or deep passes, instead relying on short receptions and yards after the catch. High-value touches are at a premium in Philadelphia, where QB Jalen Hurts always get a ton of goal-line carries and A.J. Brown tends to suck up the most valuable targets. Since the start of the 2022 season, Hurts has 28 rushing TDs and Brown has 18 receiving TDs, while Goedert has scored only six times. If you're drafting Goedert, it's for the safety of his floor -- five straight years with at least 3.7 catches and 40.5 yards per game -- rather than any hope for a new ceiling.

2024 Rank: 199 - 2023 Rank: 199

The Dolphins had plenty of star power on defense last year for veteran coordinator Vic Fangio, but things didn't go as planned and the team ultimately relied on its high-powered offense. Star CB Jalen Ramsey missed the first seven games due to a meniscus tear, and top edge rushers Jaelen Phillips (Achilles) and Bradley Chubb (ACL) suffered season-ending injuries in the second half of the year. CB Xavien Howard also struggled with injuries and has since been replaced by Kendall Fuller opposite Ramsey. The Dolphins lost DT Christian Wilkins, LB Jerome Baker, and S Brandon Jones in the offseason, but they added veteran linebackers Anthony Walker and Jordyn Brooks, former Bills safety Jordan Poyer, DL Calais Campbell and rookie edge rusher Chop Robinson (21st overall). First-time defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, hired away from the Ravens, has a solid group to work with even if Chubb might not be available early in the season.

2024 Rank: 112 - 2023 Rank: 112

After finishing top 10 among quarterbacks in 2022, Lawrence went backward last season. He threw four fewer touchdowns and six more interceptions than the year before, and he failed to top 15 fantasy points in half of his 16 games. He also tied for the league lead with seven lost fumbles. Although he missed only one game, Lawrence battled through numerous injuries. But his accuracy was on par with the previous season and his downfield passing actually improved -- he posted a career-high 8.2 air yards per attempt and was on target with 55.7 percent of his attempts of at least 20 yards (seventh in the league). His touchdown total suffered in part because of a below-average 21.4 red-zone TD percentage. The Jaguars' first-round draft pick, WR Brian Thomas, should help in that area. Thomas is a former basketball star with a wide catch radius and 4.33 speed -- nearly unprecedented at his size (6-3, 209). Jacksonville added another downfield threat with the signing of Gabe Davis, so while Calvin Ridley and Zay Jones are now playing elsewhere, Lawrence still has plenty of playmakers to complement trusted targets Christian Kirk and Evan Engram. Elite passing numbers remain unlikely, but Lawrence should take a step forward from last year while continuing to add some rushing production (321.3 yards and 3.7 TDs per season).

2024 Rank: 225 - 2023 Rank: 225

Moody faced a lot of pressure as a rookie, coming in as a third-round pick on a Super Bowl-ready team. He wasn't great in the regular season, going 21-of-25 on field-goal attempts and 60 of 61 on PATs, before missing two more FGs and an extra point during the playoffs. Moody kicked a go-ahead, 53-yarder just inside the two-minute warning of the Super Bowl, making up for his missed PAT earlier in the game. It was an eventful rookie season, and presumably a decent enough one for Moody to keep his job in 2024. The 49ers are typically excellent in the red zone under coach Kyle Shanahan -- and also score from long distance a lot -- but Moody should at least pile up a ton of PATs if nothing else.

2024 Rank: 128 - 2023 Rank: 128

Schultz had at least 577 receiving yards and 14 red-zone targets each of the past four seasons while averaging 5.5 touchdowns in that span. The first three of those campaigns came in Dallas prior to an intrastate move to Houston, where he had 635 yards and five TDs in 2023. Schultz re-signed for three years and $36 million in March, ensuring the Texans are committed to him as their starting tight end, but he's now overshadowed by one of the league's best WR rooms. The Texans traded for Stefon Diggs to form a Big 3 with Nico Collins and Tank Dell, and they may even have the best group of backup WRs in the league. A rising tide lifts all boats, however, and second-year QB C.J. Stroud could have that effect on Houston's offense. Schultz is more of a midsize cruiser than a yacht, but he could put up decent numbers again if he's playing a lot of snaps in a top offense, even if he's somewhat of an afterthought within that offense.

2024 Rank: 144 - 2023 Rank: 144

Watson's 2023 season was marred by shoulder injuries, with a season-ending fracture in Week 10 limiting him to six games for the second consecutive year. His numbers were similar to the poor stats he posted in 2022, although he went downfield more often last season. His air yards per attempt climbed to 9.2, third in the NFL, as he threw deep on 12.3 percent of his attempts after just 5.3 percent traveled at least 20 yards the previous year. Unfortunately for the Browns, not much changed in Watson's results. Perhaps he'll have more success with the deep ball this season, as he certainly has the receiving crew to be successful. The Browns traded for Jerry Jeudy this offseason, creating a strong WR trio with holdovers Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore. Tight end David Njoku returns after a career season, and running back Nick Chubb is said to be making good progress in his rehab from an ACL tear. Another thing going for Watson is his rushing ability -- he averaged 26.5 rush yards per game the last two years, only a 15 percent drop from his 31.1 ypg in four seasons with the Texans. Better health would go a long way, even if a full return of his peak Houston form is a long shot at this point.

2024 Rank: 103 - 2023 Rank: 103

The Commanders hope Ekeler's down 2023 season was the result of bad-luck outcomes, namely the high-ankle sprain he suffered Week 1 and the broken finger that ended Justin Herbert's year. The other explanation is that Ekeler's numbers fell off a cliff because his physical abilities declined from 2022 to 2023, which was then exacerbated by the Chargers struggling overall. A year later, the 29-year-old RB is hoping to rebound with better health and a new coaching staff, but he may have more bad luck ahead if things don't click for offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and rookie QB Jayden Daniels. If nothing else, Ekeler figures to start off with most of the passing-down snaps for a team that returns 2023 lead rusher Brian Robinson. The biggest question, apart from Ekeler's potential physical decline, is whether he'll take on a decent chunk of the rushing workload or largely be limited to pass snaps the way former Commanders backup Antonio Gibson was last year.

2024 Rank: 932 - 2023 Rank: 932

Singleton has been a tackle machine throughout his career, as he's tallied over 100 stops in four of his five seasons in the NFL. The thing that changed in 2023, and hints that there may be an additional level of production on the way, was his workload. He topped 1,000 defensive snaps for the first time in his career and a career-best 177 total tackles followed. The cap on Singleton is that he's a liability in coverage, which will serve to limit his utility in statistics other than purely tackles unless he shows significant improvement. In the short term, Denver did little to displace Singleton this offseason. Even if he loses some snaps on later downs, he should be in line to tally plenty of tackles once again in 2024.

2024 Rank: 1645 - 2023 Rank: 1645

2024 Rank: 460 - 2023 Rank: 460

Brian Flores keyed a number of breakouts on the Minnesota defense, and Bynum was among the players to benefit. Despite playing fewer snaps as compared to 2022, he recorded 56 more tackles and three additional pass breakups in 2023. The key was a shift in Bynum's deployment, as he went from a traditional free safety to also earning snaps as a slot corner and inside the box. Given the success that Bynum and others experienced, it's difficult to envision the Vikings changing their system. That sets Bynum up for another very productive season in 2024.