Fantasy Football 2024: Examining Preseason Mock Draft and Cheatsheet

NFL preseason production can be hard to gauge for fantasy football managers.

Overreacting to meaningless numbers is a sure way to torpedo your fantasy squad. Then again, you don't want to dismiss what you're seeing entirely. Position battles will be won and lost. Breakouts and busts will send a few early hints about the direction they're headed. Some rookies will hit the ground running, while others will face plant.

Fantasy values will change as the exhibition season plays out, in other words, so let's take stock of where things stand before they do. To do that, we'll examine the first few rounds of a recent mock draft from the fantasy crew at Yahoo Sports and spotlight some of the more eye-grabbing selections. We'll close with a cheatsheet-style snapshot of our top-10 rankings at the skill positions.

10-Team, 3-Round, Half-PPR Mock

Ryan Kang/Getty Images

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 11: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on during pregame warmups before Super Bowl LVIII against the Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

Round 1

1. Christian McCaffrey, RB, SF

2. Breece Hall, RB, NYJ

3. Tyreek Hill, WR, MIA

4. Bijan Robinson, RB, ATL

5. CeeDee Lamb, WR, DAL

6. Justin Jefferson, WR, MIN

7. Puka Nacua, WR, LAR

8. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, CIN

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

10. Jonathan Taylor, RB, IND

Round 2

11. Garrett Wilson, WR, NYJ

12. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, DET

13. Saquon Barkley, RB, PHI

14. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, ARI

15. A.J. Brown, WR, PHI

16. Kyren Williams, RB, LAR

17. Chris Olave, WR, NO

18. Nico Collins, WR, HOU

19. Drake London, WR, ATL

20. Derrick Henry, RB, BAL

Round 3

21. Travis Etienne Jr., RB, JAX

22. Josh Jacobs, RB, GB

23. Rachaad White, RB, TB

24. Malik Nabers, WR, NYG

25. Sam LaPorta, TE, DET

26. Isiah Pacheco, RB, KC

27. Josh Allen, QB, BUF

28. James Cook, RB, BUF

29. DK Metcalf, WR, SEA

30. DJ Moore, WR, CHI

Notable Picks

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 1: Wide receiver Puka Nacua #17 of the Los Angeles Rams runs after catching a pass during training camp at Loyola Marymount University on August 1, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Breece Hall at No. 2

Most drafts—mock and actual—will feature the same question with the second pick: Which receiver should be first off the board? Christian McCaffrey is virtually locked into the top spot, but then you'll usually see a quick run on elite receivers like Tyreek Hill, CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson.

Not here, though, as Breece Hall wound up in the No. 2 slot. It's an ambitious addition for someone who isn't the consensus second-best running back—most have him in a tight race with Bijan Robinson—and may not be leaned on quite as heavily with a healthy Aaron Rodgers running the offense and upgrades in the receiving room.

Hall is talented enough to justify this pick, but it's worth noting he played 17 games last season and tallied just 994 rushing yards and five rushing scores. His fantasy value was tied to his receiving work (76 catches for 591 yards and four scores), and the Jets may not need as many check-downs with a capable quarterback like Rodgers running the show.

Puka Nacua at No. 7

On the surface, this might seem like a defensible selection. Puka Nacua was incredible as a rookie, and if he comes close to matching his production (105 receptions for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns), no one will second-guess taking him in this spot.

Remember, though, he posted those numbers while Cooper Kupp was either out or limited by a nagging hamstring injury and some ankle issues. Perhaps Kupp, who turned 31 in June, is simply starting his decline, but he almost has to be for Nacua to return value at this draft cost.

There's a chance everything breaks right, and Nacua winds up as a top three player at the position. It's just perhaps not a great enough chance to take him over Ja'Marr Chase and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Malik Nabers at No. 24

It's always worth clocking where rookies are going in mocks—especially when they land higher than expected.

For some, Malik Nabers will be a fine value at No. 24. That feels a touch premature, though, particularly given the question marks regarding the New York Giants' passing game. Nabers should be the top option in it, but how much will that matter? Before Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending ACL tear, he played five games. He had 203 or fewer passing yards in four of them and tallied a total of just two touchdown passes and six interceptions.

Betting this big on Nabers requires betting on Jones, too. That's a risky wager to make, especially with pass-catchers like Davante Adams, DK Metcalf and DJ Moore still on the board.

Cheatsheet Rankings

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HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 04: C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans throws a pass during Mandatory Minicamp at Houston Methodist Training Center on June 04, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Quarterback

1. Josh Allen, BUF

2. Jalen Hurts, PHI

3. Lamar Jackson, BAL

4. Patrick Mahomes, KC

5. Anthony Richardson, IND

6. C.J. Stroud, HOU

7. Joe Burrow, CIN

8. Kyler Murray, ARI

9. Dak Prescott, DAL

10. Tua Tagovailoa, MIA

Running back

1. Christian McCaffrey, SF

2. Breece Hall, NYJ

3. Bijan Robinson, ATL

4. Jonathan Taylor, IND

5. Saquon Barkley, PHI

6. Jahmyr Gibbs, DET

7. Kyren Williams, LAR

8. Travis Etienne Jr., JAX

9. Isiah Pacheco, KC

10. De'Von Achane, MIA

Wide receiver

1. CeeDee Lamb, DAL

2. Ja'Marr Chase, CIN

3. Tyreek Hill, MIA

4. Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET

5. Justin Jefferson, MIN

6. Garrett Wilson, NYJ

7. A.J. Brown, PHI

8. Puka Nacua, LAR

9. Davante Adams, LV

10. Chris Olave, NO

Tight end

1. Travis Kelce, KC

2. Sam LaPorta, DET

3. Mark Andrews, BAL

4. George Kittle, SF

5. Trey McBride, ARI

6. Dalton Kincaid, BUF

7. Jake Ferguson, DAL

8. Evan Engram, JAX

9. Kyle Pitts, ATL

10. Brock Bowers, LV