The 2024 wide receiver rookie class was rated as a strong one last spring, a bunch of potential game-changers. And now that the fantasy football season is all but complete, we can emphatically give the final conclusion.
The kids are alright.
Rookies splashed all over TV screens in the fantasy football finals, intent on delivering championships to managers who believed in youth over experience. Consider the WR leaderboard as the early Sunday window closed, with 12 games in the books.
Malik Nabers (7-171-2 good for xx fantasy points) ranked as the WR2 for the week, Ladd McConkey (9-84-2 for xx points) the WR7. Jalen McMillan (5-51-2 for xx points), Brian Thomas Jr. (7-91-1 for xxx points) and Xavier Worthy (8-79-1 for xx points) were all in a row, holding down the 10-11-12 spots, respectively. Heck, even Marvin Harrison Jr. (6-96-0) had a solid game from Saturday, while Keon Coleman (3-27-1) landed a circus catch for a touchdown.
Thomas and Nabers were college teammates at LSU (along with another super rookie, QB Jayden Daniels), and the Thomas vs. Nabers fantasy draft debate should be a fun one next year. Thomas has been remarkably productive and consistent this year despite mediocre quarterback play from Trevor Lawrence and Mac Jones (to be fair, the touchdown Thomas caught on Sunday came on a gorgeous Jones throw). The New York quarterback situation has held Nabers down at times, although Drew Lock had his good stuff in Sunday’s upset of Indianapolis. The Giants are sure to draft a signature quarterback next year.
Nabers and Thomas could push way into Round 1 of 2025 drafts
Nabers, of course, went 17 picks earlier in 2024’s NFL Draft. But it was Thomas who was the higher-rated prospect coming out of high school. Given what Thomas overcame this year, I give him the slight edge over Nabers in 2025, but it’s a tiny difference. They might go back-to-back in a lot of leagues. For now, I figure they’ll land somewhere around the Pick 12-13 turn, but I wouldn’t be shocked if they become even pricier than that. Forget landing them in Round 3, that’s not going to happen.
McConkey will be a fantasy building block in Year 2
McConkey’s clinic at New England was doubly stinging for the Patriots, who traded the pick that became McConkey to the Chargers back in April, then shortly after selected one of the rookie flops of the year, WR Ja’Lynn Polk. McConkey’s true upside was likely shielded at Georgia, where he and TE Brock Bowers didn’t get to play in weekly shootouts. Does McConkey have potential Cooper Kupp upside down the road? It sure seems like the rookie is constantly open. He feels like a perfect Round 3 pick next year.
Worthy’s stock on the rise
The flow of Worthy’s rookie season was similar to how the Chiefs handled Rashee Rice last year — soft pedal things early, then turn it on late. Of course Worthy and Rice play much different roles, but the cadence of their seasons was similar. I suspect Worthy probably lands around Round 5 in those 2025 drafts.
Bucs’ offseason decisions will impact McMillan
McMillan was slow to earn fantasy trust from managers, as he finally climbed over the 50% rostered tag late this week. But with two touchdowns Sunday, that gives him six spikes in his last four games, part of the reliable Tampa Bay carnival. It will be interesting to see how Tampa Bay handles Chris Godwin, a pending free agent, after the season. If Godwin doesn’t return, McMillan probably makes sense around Rounds 5-6. With Godwin back, it’s a trickier call. The Buccaneers might also lose OC Liam Coen, who’s been brilliant with the play sheet.
Harrison, you ask?
I suspect Harrison is a third-round pick next year — a bet on the talent, even if you don’t trust the infrastructure. Kyler Murray and Harrison never completely worked out the kinks.
Other rookies deliver in Week 17
Two other non-quarterback rookies deserve a Week 17 nod as we complete this look-ahead.
Bucky Irving a star in the making
Bucky Irving grabbed the RB3 slot in championship week on the strength of 190 total yards against the Carolina sieve. He basically threw Rachaad White out of the way in the Tampa backfield — Irving collected 20 carries and 24 touches compared to six and seven, respectively, for White. I don’t think White is a bad player but Irving sure looks like a special one. Sounds like Irving might be a second-round pick next year, no later than Round 3.
Brock Bowers the new TE1
Bowers, of course, rewrote all those rookie tight end rules that Sam LaPorta worked on a year ago. He came on late in Sunday’s win over the Saints, securing all of his targets for a solid 7-77-0 line. His touchdown count of four is a little light, but consider the limited quarterbacks he’s been playing with. And let’s also acknowledge Bowers moved past Mike Ditka on the all-time rookie TE yardage chart, albeit Bowers had the benefit of a thicker schedule.
Kyle Pitts once challenged that Ditka yardage record, falling just short. Pitts has been a maddening fantasy player since, but Bowers looks like something that will last. Maybe the Raiders upgrade at QB, maybe not, but I don’t think it matters. Bowers should be the first tight end selected next year, figuring that will be Round 2-3 in pretty much every league.
