2024 Fantasy Football: Players Flying Up Boards This Preseason
Not only is the preseason a welcomed sight because it brings NFL teams back to the field, the fantasy football community gets a much-anticipated look at lesser-known players.
Properly projecting some of the biggest preseason risers can lead to a championship, after all.
In the early stages of the 2024 preseason, a half-dozen players have earned a little more attention. It's been a product of both on-field performance and off-field matters, such as injuries and holdouts.
One quick note of caution: Don't expect all of these players to hold meaningful roles in the regular season.
For now, however, they are worth monitoring closely.
Sam Darnold, QB, Minnesota Vikings
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If you follow the NFL with any regularity, you probably understand why Sam Darnold is an obvious pick.
Signed to a one-year contract this offseason, Darnold joined the Minnesota Vikings with a bit of uncertainty. They needed a quarterback to replace Kirk Cousins and understandably didn't want to enter the 2024 draft without a potential starter on the roster.
Once the team picked JJ McCarthy, the tone shifted as anticipated to a competition in Minnesota. However, that conversation has vanished because of McCarthy's season-ending meniscus injury.
Darnold isn't anywhere close to a sure thing. You shouldn't be viewing him as a QB1 for your roster.
Nevertheless, he'll be throwing passes to All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson, promising second-year wideout Jordan Addison and quality tight end T.J. Hockenson. The reality is the Vikings are likely to struggle and be forced into plenty of late-game passing situations, too.
Because of McCarthy's injury, Darnold has risen from a borderline undraftable player to a defensible QB2 in fantasy.
Jaylen Wright, RB, Miami Dolphins
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In theory, the Miami Dolphins will be leaning on Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane in the backfield.
But we simply can't ignore Jaylen Wright.
During his preseason debut, the speedster from Tennessee turned 10 carries into 55 yards and a touchdown.
Wright needs to beat out Jeff Wilson Jr. on the depth chart, yes. Miami's investment in Wright far outweighs the veteran, though, so the full expectation is he'll be the offense's RB3 to open the campaign.
From there, it's a matter of Wright capitalizing on his opportunities—and it only takes a couple of explosive runs to earn more carries.
Braelon Allen, RB, New York Jets
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Breece Hall is the unquestioned RB1 on the New York Jets. That much is perfectly clear following his season with 1,585 scrimmage yards and nine total touchdowns despite the team's QB woes.
As talented as Hall is, however, a basic tenet of fantasy football is thinking about handcuffs in the backfield.
While the competition also includes Israel Abanikanda and fellow rookie Isaiah Davis, fourth-round pick Braelon Allen has started to stake his claim to the second-string title. He impressed in camp and rushed for 54 yards on six attempts in the Jets' preseason opener.
Hall is plenty physical, but Allen absolutely looms as a potential touchdown vulture with his 235-pound frame.
Combine his handcuff value with a foreseeable—and, to be clear, uncertain—red-zone role, and Allen is a preseason climber.
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Jalen Tolbert, WR, Dallas Cowboys
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The story isn't quite as simple as "CeeDee Lamb is holding out, so congratulations for existing, Jalen Tolbert." That's not fair.
It's also wrong to not mention that in this conversation.
The consensus belief is Dallas will eventually get Lamb signed. He's much too valuable to keep on the sideline for any length of time in the regular season since the receiving corps is so thin.
That context, nevertheless, is why Tolbert requires a look. Brandin Cooks and tight end Jake Ferguson would presumably be Dak Prescott's top options, but there are plenty of targets to go around in the Cowboys' offense if Lamb continues holding out.
Even after Lamb returns, Tolbert should be the WR3 in a fantasy-friendly scoring attack with a chance to rise higher.
Jordan Whittington, WR, Los Angeles Rams
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Did the Los Angeles Rams find another gem?
After watching Puka Nacua become an All-Pro wideout in his rookie year, the Rams are excited about Jordan Whittington.
The sixth-round draft pick showed out immediately in the preseason, reeling in six passes for 74 yards. In the postgame press conference, Sean McVay said Whittington is "going to be a factor for us" in 2024.
Who am I to argue?
There's no question that Cooper Kupp and Nacua, if healthy, will be Matthew Stafford's most-targeted players. Still, similar to Tolbert in Dallas, the Rams' offense can support a WR3 in the right matchups.
Whittington should be a late-round factor in your fantasy drafts, too.
Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
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Given that Brock Bowers was a three-time All-American at Georgia and a first-round pick, he arrives with lofty expectations.
The question, however, was exactly how the Las Vegas Raiders planned to deploy the rookie tight end. After all, they drafted Michael Mayer in the second round last year, too. Would they be splitting snaps, or might the Raiders get creative to put both on the field?
It appears the latter will be true. Hopefully.
Bowers notched 11 snaps in Week 1 of the preseason, aligning at four different spots. Las Vegas actually showing the idea of a non-traditional role for Bowers is a major positive for his fantasy value.
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