Fantasy Football: ‘My Guys’ — Scott’s Pianowski’s favorite draft targets of 2024

As soon as upon a time, this yearly fragment used to be known as “What’s In My Wallet,” supposed to present an explanation for the gamers I’ve drafted primarily the most. No longer prolonged in the past, we pivoted to a “My Guys” near, the save it’s restful holding gamers I without a doubt adore drafting, but it also lets in me the latitude to comprise gamers I’m sold on, even supposing I’m no longer lucky satisfactory to land quite a bit of shares of them in my drafts.

My cards are on the desk. My opponents know the fellows I settle on. Usually, I’ll mess up my last drafts right here, to your income. As continually, season this to model, and observe it to the uncommon challenges of your rooms. your setup better than I ever would possibly presumably additionally.

Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Lions

Essentially the most important round of fantasy drafts has change into a minefield this twelve months, with holdouts, accidents and uncertainty. St. Brown is the form of safe choose that can again you to sleep at night time. The Lions maintained their offensive infrastructure and the Solar God will without considerations lead his team in targets. And that just isn’t any longer comely a ground-securing choose; St. Brown used to be the WR3 in half-point PPR scoring (17 weeks) closing twelve months.

Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders

Anthony Richardson is on a bunch of breakout and target lists, but I ponder if that is a reply looking for a intention back. The QB pool is absurdly deep entering 2024. Daniels potentially provides the the same speeding upside as Richardson, and Daniels used to be a significantly better passer in his college days. Reps topic, too; Daniels threw 1,438 passes in college, Richardson comely 393. You would possibly presumably draft Daniels about 4-5 rounds after Richardson in Yahoo rooms comely now.

Bijan Robinson, RB, and Kyle Pitts, TE, Falcons

The Atlanta offense used to be submarined by unlucky quarterback play and questionable play calling currently. Now Kirk Cousins is right here to resolve the QB room, and original OC Zac Robinson has impressive credentials after working with Sean McVay. Throw in an absurdly easy time desk that is largely indoors and likewise you beget a destination offense.

You would possibly presumably throw in Drake London as properly for these that adore, though I haven’t been able to bag him unparalleled this summer. Final analysis, you can beget to draft some Falcons this twelve months. They survey adore the overwhelming licensed in the NFC South, and fantasy production is continuously correlated with team success.

Garrett Wilson, WR, Jets

He received’t fling into the second round of your draft but be ready to pounce if he does. Aaron Rodgers has continually been good to his main receivers, and Wilson’s combination of athleticism, intelligence and competitiveness give him a possibility to change into the NFL’s top receiver in some unspecified time in the future. The Jets beget a ambitious protection, which would possibly additionally mitigate some volume. Nonetheless Wilson will continually be a proactive choose for me.

Derrick Henry RB, Ravens

The Ravens in some design presumably escorted the customary Gus Edwards into the tip zone 13 times closing twelve months. Now Henry, a slam-dunk Corridor of Famer, steps into the pilot chair and is the obvious licensed to steer the NFL in speeding touchdowns.

Baltimore’s offensive line does beget some considerations, but some of that is mitigated by Lamar Jackson’s speeding skill, which is able to spread defenses out and delivery up operating lanes. And endure in suggestions the Ravens hardly call Jackson’s title at the aim line, which manner others bag to rating the chippies. Henry is one in all primarily the most efficient second-round picks you would possibly presumably invent, and motorway robbery if he in some design presumably slides to your third round.

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars

As soon as upon a time, Lawrence used to be the golden boy of the league, the next celeb ready to transfer after landing because the main choose in the draft. It’s been a small bit rocky since then — losing his rookie twelve months to the Metropolis Meyer mistake didn’t again. Nonetheless Lawrence has quietly charted because the QB7 and QB12 the closing two years, and he’s currently drafted because the QB16. Whenever you happen to are getting around to drafting your second quarterback, he’s a top target.

Isiah Pacheco, RB, and Rashee Rice, WR, Chiefs

It took a while for every of these gamers to enter the corpulent circle of belief closing twelve months, but the foundations had been varied down the stretch. Pacheco had eight touchdowns in his last eight video games of closing twelve months (including the playoffs), and he used to be precious in the passing game, catching 31 balls. Rice’s last 10 video games leaped off the page, too: 69 catches, 822 yards, four touchdowns. He’s no longer dynamic on deeper routes, but Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid will withhold him relevant.

Rice’s ongoing accurate intention back need to be talked about, but it’s starting up to feel adore he’ll both face a short suspension this twelve months or the case will likely be pushed into 2025. I’m no longer frightened of drafting Rice proactively.

David Bernard Law Montgomery, RB, Lions

Devin Singletary, RB, Giants

Amari Cooper, WR, Browns

I’m linking all three of these gamers because they’re dead-brand vets, the form of gamers who in general present a nice pocket of brand merely because they’re no longer vivid original toys.

• Cooper proved quarterback-proof while the Browns mature 5 varied quarterbacks closing twelve months; he’s changed into into Mike Evans-lite, with comely fairly less landing equity.

• Singletary used to be a gleaming hero in the second half of 2023, and he holds instantaneous security with the Giants as a consequence of his Buffalo historic previous with Brian Daboll.

• Bernard Law Montgomery’s upside is capped with Jahmyr Gibbs around, but Bernard Law Montgomery would possibly presumably additionally need more aim-line equity and the Detroit offensive line is wonderful.

Khalil Shakir, WR, Payments

Chemistry doesn’t near in a single day; you would possibly presumably no longer present it on the data superhighway. Shakir is primarily the most efficient Buffalo wide receiver who’s ever caught a customary-season dart from Josh Allen, and original face Curtis Samuel is coping with a turf toe injury. Shakir posted a fleet 13.6 yards per target closing twelve months, and while these stats would possibly presumably additionally additionally be misleading for give a steal to gamers, we can no longer ignore that Shakir used to be better than Stefon Diggs down the stretch — and Shakir also had 10 catches and two touchdowns in the playoffs. Shakir is the Buffalo receiver I have been focusing on, brand successfully slotted because the WR54 in Yahoo drafts.

Bengals D/ST

I take a “play for presently” near quite a bit of the time with my DS/T picks. The Bengals are the excellent Week 1 licensed, recognizing 9.5 aspects to a Unusual England offense that would be an early shipwreck. Sounds good to me. Let’s roll Cincinnati in Week 1, and peril in regards to the relaxation of the time desk later. Many leagues will mean you would possibly presumably trot the protection situation all season.