My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (2024)

2024 Rank: 35 - 2023 Rank: 35

Hurts' dominant rushing game makes him a perennial contender for top fantasy QB status, even with modest passing numbers. Last season, he was 13th in touchdown passes and 14th in passing yards but finished QB2 in fantasy (after QB3 the previous year) thanks to 15 rushing touchdowns, an NFL record for quarterbacks (later tied by Josh Allen). The Tush Push helped Hurts cross the goal line 11 times and convert 24 first downs on third or fourth and short. It was his third consecutive season with double-digit rushing touchdowns and at least 600 rushing yards. That allowed him to overcome a drop in YPA (7.2, 14th) as his receivers contributed fewer yards after the catch. Hurts threw deep plenty last season -- his 8.7 air yards per attempt ranked fourth -- and should do so again with wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith providing plenty of firepower under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Hurts' rushing TDs likely will regress some this season, and free-agent RB Saquon Barkley could swipe a portion of the short-yardage carries. But even with, say, five fewer rushing scores, Hurts would have still finished as a top-five fantasy QB last season.

2024 Rank: 53 - 2023 Rank: 53

Murray missed the first nine games of last season recovering from an ACL injury, but when he returned Week 10 his arm was more rusty than his legs. It wasn't until late in the season that his passing came around and he threw six touchdowns to one interception over the last three weeks while averaging 241 yards per game. But Murray mostly stuck to short passes and he struggled to stretch the field. He finished with 6.7 yards per attempt, 24th in the league. He didn't get much help from a limited receiving unit, but that shouldn't be a problem this season after Arizona used the fourth overall pick on Marvin Harrison, who immediately becomes the No. 1 wideout. The Cardinals also signed wide receiver Zay Jones to add depth alongside slot specialist Greg Dortch and second-year pro Michael Wilson. Even if the ancillary receivers don't pan out, Murray should have enough firepower with Harrison and TE Trey McBride, who caught 66 passes over the final 10 games last year. Murray is unlikely to ever rank among the league's top passers, but he's always been at least competent in that regard while piling up some of the top rushing stats at his position. The combination of better health and better pass catchers should be enough to put him back in the top 10 of fantasy QBs.

2024 Rank: 33 - 2023 Rank: 33

Jacobs demonstrated his best form in 2022 when he led the league with 1,653 rushing yards over 340 carries (4.9 YPC). He also had at least 1,101 total yards and seven TDs in each of his other four seasons with the Raiders, but 2022 was the only time it all came together in terms of volume, efficiency and health. Jacobs has a second chance to check all the boxes after signing a four-year, $48 million contract to replace Aaron Jones in Green Bay, where he'll likely experience the best coaching and QB play of his career. It'll be his first time playing in generally favorable conditions, as the Raiders gave him plenty of volume but rarely featured good blocking and competent QB play at the same time. Jacobs played 73 of a possible 83 games (88 percent) in his five years with the Raiders, proving fairly durable amidst large workloads even while often appearing on injury reports. Veteran backup AJ Dillon and rookie third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd could take some touches off the bench, but neither is a threat to usurp Jacobs for the lead role, nor are they natural fits to handle passing downs.

2024 Rank: 41 - 2023 Rank: 41

Opportunity is the primary driver of fantasy utility for running backs, and Mixon has been one of the most durable assets at the position thanks to his ability to handle large workloads and stay on the field for any situation. He played over 600 snaps each of the last three years, with at least 270 touches, 1,255 total yards and nine touchdowns each season. His career rushing average of just 4.1 yards per carry is a reminder that Mixon is no better than average as a pure runner, but his career pass-catching numbers (81.6 percent catch rate, 6.2 yards per target) just as quickly point out that he's an above-average pass catcher by RB standards. That three-down ability is presumably what interested the Texans in Mixon, inspiring not only a trade with the Bengals but also a three-year extension. 2023 bust Dameon Pierce is the only other Houston RB with lead-runner experience or significant draft capital, putting Mixon in good position to take a lot of touches in a high-quality offense again.

2024 Rank: 37 - 2023 Rank: 37

Smith topped 900 yards as a rookie in 2021 and has subsequently turned in consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, solidifying himself as one of the best No. 2 receivers in the league. He's no match for A.J. Brown in terms of size and pure athleticism, instead getting it done with precise route-running and strong hands. The 2020 Heisman winner has lived up to expectations as a 10th overall pick, including last year when he bounced back from a slot start to averaged 75.9 yards per game from Week 8 onward. Smith and Brown will lead the way for Philadelphia's passing attack again in 2024, and they'll be working with a new playcaller for the third straight year, this time taking directions from former Cowboys and Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. While his track record is mixed from a real-life standpoint, Moore's offenses generally have been friendly for WR production, potentially opening the door for Smith to take a step forward without usurping Brown as the No. 1.

2024 Rank: 62 - 2023 Rank: 62

Conner has quietly been one of the NFL's best running backs for years now, and arguably better for the Cardinals than he was for the Steelers before. The problem is that he's missed multiple games every season of his seven-year career, sitting out 21 percent of available contests despite avoiding severe injuries like ACL and Achilles tears. Last season he missed four games with a knee sprain but nonetheless reached 1,000 yards rushing for the first time. He drew only 33 targets, down from 58 the year before, but his rushing yards and touchdowns (seven rushing, two receiving) more than made up for it in fantasy terms. Conner has scored 35 TDs in 41 games with the Cardinals, including at least eight each season, and he may now find himself in the best offense he's inhabited since his early days in Pittsburgh. A healthy Kyler Murray handing off to Conner and throwing passes to Marvin Harrison and Trey McBride sounds promising, but there is a potential complication for Conner in the form of rookie third-round pick Trey Benson, who averaged 6.1 yards on 310 carries at FSU the past two years. Benson's presence could keep Conner around 15 touches per game rather than pushing up toward 18-to-20 like he has a few times before.

2024 Rank: 55 - 2023 Rank: 55

Rice had an incredible rookie season, nearly reaching 1,000 yards despite being a part-time player for the first half of the year and rarely seeing targets downfield. The second-round pick was more of a complete receiver in college, exploding for 1,355 yards at a clip of 14.1 per catch his final season at SMU, but the Chiefs ended up using Rice as a screen and quick-pass specialist. He finished 21st among WRs with 2.08 yards per route, despite having the shallowest aDOT (4.7) among qualified players at his position. The secret to success was a high catch rate (77.5 percent, 6th) combined with a ton of yards gained after the catch (8.5 average, 2nd). That might not be sustainable, even in Kansas City's offense, but Rice should eventually have the opportunity to run more downfield routes to make up for it. The problem there is that the Chiefs just added speedy wideouts Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy (28th overall pick), not to mention that Rice likely will be suspended at some point in 2024 or 2025 for a hit-and-run incident this offseason. The combination of factors creates a lot of risk, which is perhaps surprising for a player that had such a productive rookie season alongside Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.

2024 Rank: 65 - 2023 Rank: 65

The Steelers traded Johnson to Carolina this spring, after a trend-breaking 2023 campaign in which his per-target efficiency rose (8.2 YPT) but his volume plummeted (87 targets in 13 games). Before last year, he had three straight seasons with 144 or more targets and less than seven yards per target, putting up 88-923-7 in 2020, 107-1,161-8 in 2021 and 86-882-0 in 2022. The latter was one of the least efficient high-volume receiving lines in league history, with Johnson failing to find the end zone and catching only four of his 25 targets 20-plus yards downfield. He went 5-of-18 in that range last season, adding 310 yards on 28 intermediate targets (10-19 yards downfield) and catching 31 of his 40 passes within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. Johnson could now be the No. 1 receiver for coach Dave Canales and QB Bryce Young in Carolina, where 34-year-old Adam Thielen and rookie first-round pick Xavier Legette are the other lead candidates for WR snaps and targets.

2024 Rank: 84 - 2023 Rank: 84

The Steelers re-committed to last year's run-heavy identity when they hired Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator, making Warren a coveted asset even with starter Najee Harris taking 250-plus carries. Warren has thrived playing out of the bullpen, averaging 5.1 yards over 226 carries while catching 83.2 percent of his targets. If the need arises, there's reason to think he could also thrive as a starting running back, and perhaps even as a workhorse. Warren offers an unusual mix of traits, combining elusive running with reliable hands and a stout frame (5-8, 215). He may not be fast (4.55 40) but makes up for it with agility and balance, bouncing off would-be tacklers to gain extra yards. Warren's fantasy utility looks solid in PPR formats after he caught 61 passes last year, whereas starter-worthy production under standard scoring might require Harris suffering an injury. And while Harris has been durable so far, much of Warren's fantasy appeal stems from the possibility of what he might do if his backfield mate misses games for the first time.

2024 Rank: 97 - 2023 Rank: 97

Zack Moss is the Bengals' likely starter after they signed him to a two-year, $8 million contract, but Brown could be one of the league's more regularly involved backup running backs. Moss has missed at least three games every season despite never averaging more than 13.1 carries or 1.9 catches per game (numbers he hit last year in Indianapolis because Jonathan Taylor missed so many games). Cincinnati drafted Brown in the fifth round last year after he ran a 4.43 40at 5-10 209, and while he barely played for the first three months of his rookie season, his role surged over the final six weeks when he took 53 touches for 322 yards. He's now in an awfully good situation for a backup running back, entering his second pro season in an efficient offense after a strong finish to his rookie year, with the Bengals having traded away their old starting RB and replaced him with a cheaper player who has 11 career starts. Even better for Brown that Cincinnati declined to draft a new running back, leaving special-teams and practice-squad types as the only alternatives to him and Moss.

2024 Rank: 104 - 2023 Rank: 104

Williams still has a chance to live up to his billing as the 12th overall pick in 2022, and the Lions' lack of additions at his position this offseason suggests they think he can do just that. After missing most of his debut season to rehab an ACL tear, Williams was suspended for the first six weeks of 2023 for using an app to gamble from the team facility. He then rotated with Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond for much of last year, with Amon-Ra St. Brown being Detroit's only WR to get a full starter's workload and steady stream of targets. The speedy Williams ran a lot of deep routes and never saw more than seven targets in a game, but he did contribute a bunch of big plays, including a 42-yard TD run and three-yard TD catch in the NFC Championship Game. The Lions are bringing back offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and most of their starters, with Reynolds and RG Jonah Jackson being the exceptions. Williams will have another chance to break out, and this time without a gambling suspension standing in his way.

2024 Rank: 198 - 2023 Rank: 198

The sixth QB drafted in the first round at No. 12 overall this season, Nix is expected to start Week 1 for the Broncos. Backups Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson don't figure to be much competition, and Nix should be seasoned for a rookie after setting an NCAA QB record with 61 collegiate starts. Nix doesn't have the arm talent of most of the quarterbacks drafted ahead of him and lacks an elite trait. He also wasn't asked to stretch the field at Oregon, instead opting for a short passing game that boosted his completion rate to an NCAA record 77.4 percent. But coach Sean Payton presumably was attracted to Nix's quick release and processing ability, and his ability to avoid negative plays -- he threw just 26 interceptions in five years as a collegiate starter and was sacked only 10 times the last two seasons. At 6-2, 214, Nix has enough athleticism to throw accurately on the run and adds rushing upside to his fantasy profile -- 1,613 rushing yards and 38 TDs in college. The Broncos, though, aren't strong at the skill positions with only Courtland Sutton a sure thing after Jerry Jeudy was traded. Denver also drafted Nix's former Oregon teammate, WR Troy Franklin, in the fourth round.

2024 Rank: 194 - 2023 Rank: 194

Slow starts led to underwhelming season totals in each of Okonkwo's first two NFL campaigns. In 14 games spanning Weeks 12-18, Okonkwo caught 50 passes for 600 yards (42.9 yards per game) and three touchdowns. In 20 appearances from Weeks 1-11, he had only 378 yards (18.9 ypg) and one TD. Okonkwo's second-half uptick in 2023 can be explained in part by the insertion of rookie QB Will Levis, who took over as Tennessee's starter in Week 8. Okonkwo is a small but shifty tight end in the mold of Jonnu Smith and Gerald Everett, boasting 4.52 speed at 6-3, 238. He should see plenty of single coverage with defenses worried about Tennessee's revamped WR trio (Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins and Tyler Boyd) under new coach Brian Callahan, but there's still no guarantee of a large target share or quality QB play.

2024 Rank: 224 - 2023 Rank: 224

This will be Fairbairn's eighth season as the kicker in Houston, after tying for third among kickers with 9.3 fantasy points per game last year. He was reborn as a fantasy asset thanks to C.J. Stroud, whose rapid emergence as a top QB gave Houston an above-average offense for the first time since Deshaun Watson's prime. Fairbairn has long been a reliable kicker, converting 87.1 percent of field-goal attempts and 92.4 percent of PATs in his career, but he didn't offer much fantasy value in 2021 and 2022 when the Texans were weak at quarterback. He's been a good long-distance kicker, making 72.5 percent of tries from 50-plus yards, so there's every reason to expect solid fantasy production now that Fairbairn is attached to a good offense again.

2024 Rank: 948 - 2023 Rank: 948

Smith has finished inside the top six in the league in tackles in each of the last four seasons. In 2023, his first full year with the Ravens, he was asked to take on additional responsibilities in coverage and turned in his highest snap count in that role of his career. He broke up a career-best eight passes, adding to his impressive fantasy resume that includes at least one pick in every season of his career. Baltimore lost a few key pieces of its defense this offseason, most relevantly Patrick Queen. That creates both opportunity for Smith to take on additional responsibilities as well as some questions about his ability to remain as effective as past seasons due to a lesser supporting cast. Based on his track record as a pro, however, we should bet on the former.

2024 Rank: 329 - 2023 Rank: 329

Minshew started 13 games for the Colts last season after replacing an injured Anthony Richardson, and the veteran was competent, if not impressive. Competence works for the Raiders, who handed Minshew a two-year, $25 million deal this offseason and then named him as the Week 1 starter (over Aidan O'Connell) after two preseason games. Both QBs were similarly inefficient last season -- Minshew threw for 6.7 YPA; O'Connell averaged 6.5 in 11 starts for the Raiders -- but Minshew offers more experience and more mobility (O'Connell had zero scramble yards last season). Minshew will work with a strong group of pass catchers, led by wide receivers Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers and young tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer. Coach Antonio Pierce intends to lean on the running game, but the Raiders let Josh Jacobs walk without a comparable replacement. How that shakes out is a wild card, as is new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, whose passing scheme in Chicago the last two years got him fired.

2024 Rank: 885 - 2023 Rank: 885

Three years into his pro career, Jones has proven that sometimes growth is linear. Since being drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Rams, Jones has seen his snap count increase each campaign and his production has followed suit. That culminated in 2023, when he posted 145 total tackles. Racking up stops was nothing new for Jones, but he showed diversity in his role for the first time in his career by rushing the passer occasionally. His primary source of fantasy value will remain with voluminous tackles. However, it will be interesting to see if the team's numerous additions to its defensive line gives Jones more freedom to operate as a true playmaker.

2024 Rank: 177 - 2023 Rank: 177

The most impressive part of Allen's profile is the fact that he ran for over 1,200 yards in his true freshman season at Wisconsin, at just 17 years old. The next two seasons were actually less successful than the first, but overall it was enough to get Allen picked by the Jets in the fourth round of the 2024 draft. Allen will compete with fifth-round picks Israel Abanikanda (2023) and Isaiah Davis (2024) for reps behind workhorse starter Breece Hall, and it's not obvious how that depth chart might shake out. Allen is the most powerful at 235 pounds, while Abanikanda is the fastest. The fact that Allen declined to run a 40-yard dash before the draft raises concerns about his whether his speed will prove NFL-caliber.

2024 Rank: 496 - 2023 Rank: 496

2024 Rank: 230 - 2023 Rank: 230

Johnson was the Saints' top tight end the past two seasons and doesn't have significant, new competition for 2024, but his availability for Week 1 is in doubt following foot surgery in June. Once he's ready, Johnson figures to get most of the TE snaps in passing situations and a majority of the targets (or at least a plurality) over Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill. Johnson broke out with 508 yards and seven touchdowns on 65 targets in 2022, before dipping to 368 yards and four TDs last season with only six fewer targets. The 6-foot-4 converted wide receiver struggled with calf injuries and failed to build chemistry with QB Derek Carr last season, but the connection at least improved down the stretch when Johnson had 216 yards and three TDs in the last four games (more than half his production for the entire season). The Saints don't have much pass-catching depth behind WR Chris Olave, RB Alvin Kamara and WR Rashid Shaheed, so Johnson may ultimately have the chance to earn more targets under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.

2024 Rank: 247 - 2023 Rank: 247

Lou Anarumo enters his sixth year as Cincinnati's defensive coordinator, following a challenging 2023 season in which the Bengals defense regressed significantly: they ranked 31st in yardage, 21st in points allowed and 18th in fantasy scoring. The struggles in the secondary were exacerbated by S Jessie Bates' departure to Atlanta and CB Chidobe Awuzie's rocky return from an ACL tear, but the biggest problem was the run defense plummeting to 26th in yards allowed and 31st in yards per carry (a stark decline from top-10 rankings the previous year with a similar front-seven lineup). The Bengals' secondary is poised for improvement this season after signing safeties Vonn Bell and Geno Stone, which allows 2022 first-round pick Dax Hill to shift back to cornerback, his natural position. With reliable slot corner Mike Hilton and promising young starters Cameron Taylor-Britt and Jordan Battle, the main question for Cincinnati's secondary is who will secure the final starting cornerback spot between Hill and DJ Turner. The Bengals boast a strong pass rush from Trey Hendrickson, Sam Hubbard and B.J. Hill, which means there's legitimate hope for a defensive turnaround and a return to fantasy value.