Fantasy Football 2024: Rookie Rankings, Top Team Names and League Names
It's about that time, fantasy fans. The NFL preseason kicked off on Thursday with the Hall of Fame Game, which means that draft season has officially arrived.
While most fantasy enthusiasts are well-versed in the ins and outs of creating a squad, that doesn't mean the process will be easy. Finding a valuable starting lineup in the draft is the No. 1 goal, but managers also need to account for depth, examine potential handcuffs and, of course, settle on the perfect team name.
Managers looking to forge a startup league this season will face similar challenges—though if you have enough participants to fill a league, you've already accomplished the hardest part.
Here, you'll find a look at some fun and funny name suggestions for both teams and leagues in 2024. You'll also find a look at some of this year's top rookies who figure to shake up the fantasy landscape in the coming months.
League Names
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Race to Avoid Last Place
The No Fun League
Grid-Paper Greats
The League
The League of Ordinary Gentlemen
Fantasy Island
The PPR Pros
Keepers and Sleepers
Lagging Lineups
Any Given Sunday (or Monday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday)
If you've volunteered to be the commissioner of a start-up league, you'll face plenty of non-name-related work ahead—from setting scoring parameters and scheduling the draft to evaluating trade for approval.
However, making sure every manager has a fun environment is also part of the gig, and having a fun league name can help there. Generic names or those based on scoring/roster formats can certainly work, but don't be afraid to try a personalized touch here.
Names like "Office Space" or "The Grass Cutters" can work for those in a work league. Similarly, "We're the Millers" or "Brown and Out" could work for family leagues. If your league is comprised of a group of friends, consider common interests for inspiration.
Fans of a certain sci-fi franchise, for example, may enjoy "The Dark Side Linebackers."
It's never a bad idea to hold a league vote either, as providing a sense of ownership can help ensure that managers keep coming back in future years.
Team Names
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Country Roads, Take Mahomes
Lamar Wars
Dak Side of the Moon
Tua Legit to Quit
Run CMC
Saquon and Only
Zeke and Destroy
Feel the Breece
CeeDee Juke Box
Jefferson Starship
Thrill of the Chase
Howdy, Nabers
When in Rome
3rd Down for Watt
Maxx Pressure
There's a tried-and-true method for creating team names with which most fantasy fans are familiar. Take the name of one of your top players, mash it with a common phrase, a pop-culture reference, a film or music title and wait for your opponents to laugh (or groan).
Team names don't have to be intentionally bad puns, though, or even player-name-related. A more personalized name can make more sense in keeper and dynasty leagues, and some managers keep the same team names for years.
The important thing is to find a name that suits you. If all goes well, it'll end up on a trophy at season's end.
2024 Rookie Rankings
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1. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals
2. Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
3. Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
4. Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears
5. Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears
6. Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills
7. Jonathan Brooks, RB, Carolina Panthers
8. Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
9. Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
10. Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Arizona Cardinals rookie wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. is the clear top rookie this year and the only first-year player worthy of first-round consideration—in point-per-reception (PPR) leagues anyway.
Harrison comes in as Arizona's No. 1 receiver, and he's fleshed elite upside during the offseason.
"You just watch him. You can watch him and tell. When a guy's got it, he's got it. And he definitely has it," quarterback Kyler Murray said, per Theo Mackie of the Arizona Republic.
Malik Nabers should, similarly, be an instant top target for the New York Giants. However, there's enough uncertainty with New York's quarterback situation to create a sizeable gap between Harrison and Nabers.
There's also a gap between Nabers and Rome Odunze, as Odunze is likely to be a second or third target for the Chicago Bears. At the same time, the presence of Odunze, Keenan Allen, D.J. Moore, Cole Kmet and D'Andre Swift makes Caleb Williams worth valuing as a fantasy starter.
We're valuing Brock Bowers quite highly because of the nature of the tight end position. Travis Kelce, Sam LaPorta, Mark Andrews and Trey McBride make up the top tier of fantasy tight ends, and there's a pretty broad second tier after them.
Due to his talent and projected role in Luke Getsy's offense, Bowers has the potential to be a top-five tight end as a rookie. The Las Vegas Raiders have quarterback questions and will feed the ball to Davante Adams, but Bowers is a legitimate playmaker who should be heavily targeted.
Under Getsy in Chicago, Kmet logged 90 targets, 73 receptions, 719 yards and six touchdowns last season.
Keon Coleman is the final rookie who should be valued as a starter right now—though roles may change during the preseason. The projected new No. 1 receiver of the Buffalo Bills, Coleman should quickly become a big-play threat for Josh Allen.
Jonathan Brooks, Brian Thomas Jr. and Xavier Worthy all have solid flex potential but shouldn't be valued too highly. Jayden Daniels is a strong sleeper quarterback thanks to the presence of Washington Commanders pass-catchers like Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Zach Ertz and Austin Ekeler.
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