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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JUNE 13: Curtis Samuel #1 of the Buffalo Bills participates during Buffalo Bills mandatory mini camp on June 13, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JUNE 13: Curtis Samuel #1 of the Buffalo Bills participates during Buffalo Bills mandatory mini camp on June 13, 2024 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)Bryan Bennett/Getty Images

Fantasy Football 2024: Rankings for Top Sleeper and Bust Candidates

Zach BuckleyAug 2, 2024

There are myriad paths capable of taking fantasy football managers to the championship podium.

Correctly tabbing this NFL season's breakout sleepers and underperforming busts are two of the most critical.

When assessing sleepers and busts, the key is value. Sleepers only qualify as such if you can get them at a discounted rate at your draft. Busts, meanwhile, don't have to be avoided at all costs, it's just that they're unlikely to return sufficient value based on their average draft cost.

Before highlighting a few of our top sleeper and busts picks for the 2024 campaign, we'll lay out our top-50 rankings in point-per-reception (PPR) leagues.

2024 PPR Rankings

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 14: CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on as he warms up prior to an NFL wild-card playoff football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium on January 14, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 14: CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on as he warms up prior to an NFL wild-card playoff football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium on January 14, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, SF

2. CeeDee Lamb, WR, DAL

3. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, CIN

4. Tyreek Hill, WR, MIA

5. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, DET

6. Breece Hall, RB, NYJ

7. Justin Jefferson, WR, MIN

8. Bijan Robinson, RB, ATL

9. Garrett Wilson, WR, NYJ

10. A.J. Brown, WR, PHI

11. Puka Nacua, WR, LAR

12. Jonathan Taylor, RB, IND

13. Saquon Barkley, RB, PHI

14. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, DET

15. Davante Adams, WR, LV

16. Chris Olave, WR, NO

17. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, ARI

18. Kyren Williams, RB, LAR

19. Josh Allen, QB, BUF

20. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, SF

21. Drake London, WR, ATL

22. Mike Evans, WR, TB

23. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, IND

24. Travis Etienne Jr., RB, JAX

25. Isiah Pacheco, RB, KC

26. Deebo Samuel Sr., WR, SF

27. Nico Collins, WR, HOU

28. Jalen Hurts, QB, PHI

29. Travis Kelce, TE, KC

30. Jaylen Waddle, WR, MIA

31. Lamar Jackson, QB, BAL

32. Sam LaPorta, TE, DET

33. Cooper Kupp, WR, LAR

34. Patrick Mahomes, QB, KC

35. De'Von Achane, RB, MIA

36. DeVonta Smith, WR, PHI

37. DK Metcalf, WR, SEA

38. D.J. Moore, WR, CHI

39. Derrick Henry, RB, BAL

40. Rachaad White, RB, TB

41. Amari Cooper, WR, CLE

42. Josh Jacobs, RB, GB

43. Joe Mixon, RB, HOU

44. Anthony Richardson, QB, IND

45. Kenneth Walker III, RB, SEA

46. James Cook, RB, BUF

47. Malik Nabers, WR, NYG

48. C.J. Stroud, QB, HOU

49. Stefon Diggs, WR, HOU

50. Mark Andrews, TE, BAL

Sleepers to Target

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CINCINNATI, OH - JULY 29: Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss (31) carries the ball during the Cincinnati Bengals training camp at Kettering Health Practice Fields on July 29, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - JULY 29: Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss (31) carries the ball during the Cincinnati Bengals training camp at Kettering Health Practice Fields on July 29, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Zack Moss, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati's ground game got a face lift this summer when longtime starter Joe Mixon was traded to the Houston Texans. The Bengals signed Moss to do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to filling Mixon's shoes.

Moss has never previously held a permanent featured role, but the Indianapolis Colts called upon him to fill in for a missing Jonathan Taylor during parts of last season. Moss handled 15-plus carries in six contests last season. During those games, he averaged 92.2 rushing yards. He also added 11 receptions for another 83 yards and scored four touchdowns.

Curtis Samuel, WR, Buffalo Bills

Reuniting with offensive coordinator Joe Brady could be big for Samuel. The two worked together with the Carolina Panthers in 2020, when Samuel paired 851 receiving yards with 200 rushing yards and found the end zone five times.

Teddy Bridgewater quarterbacked that offense. Perennial All-Pro Josh Allen quarterbacks this one, which could do wonders to Samuel's efficiency as a dynamic receiving threat.

Busts to Avoid

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LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS - JUNE 05: Keenan Allen #13 of the Chicago Bears pactices during the Chicago Bears mandatory minicamp at Halas Hall on June 05, 2024 in Lake Forest, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS - JUNE 05: Keenan Allen #13 of the Chicago Bears pactices during the Chicago Bears mandatory minicamp at Halas Hall on June 05, 2024 in Lake Forest, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

Austin Ekeler, RB, Washington Commanders

Ekeler once ranked among the most reliable running backs in fantasy, but his 2023 season was a massive letdown. When he wasn't missing time with injuries, he seemed limited by them. His 3.5 yards per carry were easily the fewest of his career, while his six touchdowns were dwarfed by the 38 he tallied over the previous two campaigns.

His stock is clearly slipping, and a move to Washington may not help things. He'll likely split backfield duties with Brian Robinson and lose carries to rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Keenan Allen, WR, Chicago Bears

Allen, coincidentally Ekeler's longtime teammate on the Los Angeles Chargers, has encountered his own injury issues. Those at least haven't sapped his statistics yet, but an offseason move to Chicago threatens to do just that.

He'll go from catching passes from established veteran Justin Herbert to unproven rookie Caleb Williams. That's worrisome enough on its own, but the bigger concern is the number of alternatives Williams will have in the passing game. Allen will fend for whatever targets he can find alongside DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet and D'Andre Swift.

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