My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (2024)

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My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (2)

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My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (3)

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In a draft that can only be described as a fantasy football masterpiece, DA GRIDIRON GIANTS showcased their skills by securing an impressive A+ grade. With a projected record of 12-2-0 and a first place finish on the horizon, it seems like the competition in duane's Expert League might already be waving the white flag. Despite the draft order of 6th, DA GRIDIRON GIANTS managed to navigate through 30 rounds like a seasoned pro, leaving their opponents in awe.

While some teams may have stumbled over their picks, DA GRIDIRON GIANTS shone brightly with their selections. Snagging Deebo Samuel Sr. at 54, who had an ADP of 29, was a stroke of genius, proving that DA GRIDIRON GIANTS has a keen eye for value. Even the not-so-great picks like Tua Tagovailoa at 27, with an ADP of 102, couldn't dim the overall brilliance of DA GRIDIRON GIANTS's draft. With 5 players on bye week 12 and a trio from the same team, DA GRIDIRON GIANTS seems ready to conquer the fantasy football realm.

ADP Analysis

Pick Number

Bars above zero indicate a pick was selected later than a player's ADP. Bars below zero show players that were taken earlier than their ADP.

Inside the Draft

Player Outlooks

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (4)

Josh Allen Player Note

QB - Round 1, Pick 6 - Bye 12

2024 Rank: 31 - 2023 Rank: 31

No quarterback has a better mix of passing and rushing volume than Allen, which, no surprise, is why he finished as the top fantasy QB three of the past four years. Last season he was fifth in pass attempts and fourth in rushing attempts by a QB -- the only player ranked top five for both -- en route to topping 4,000 passing yards for the fourth consecutive season and 500 rushing yards for the third year in a row. Allen offset a four-year-low 29 TD passes with 15 rushing scores, a new NFL QB record shared by him and Jalen Hurts. Allen consistently throws downfield -- his 8.7 air yards per attempt ranked third -- but his wide receivers didn't offer much help last year. Stefon Diggs wilted in the second half of the season while struggling with drops, and Gabe Davis once again didn't blossom as hoped. The Bills parted with both, signing Curtis Samuel and drafting Keon Coleman in the second round. That looks like a big downgrade at first glance, but the Bills are optimistic about holdover Khalil Shakir, who came on strong down the stretch last season and scored two TDs in the playoffs. Tight end Dalton Kincaid, a 2023 first-round pick, might end up being Allen's favorite target and the closest thing to a replacement for Diggs. Even if the pass catchers aren't great, Allen should again be able to make up for it with his big arm and prolific rushing stats,

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (6)

C.J. Stroud Player Note

QB - Round 2, Pick 11 - Bye 14

2024 Rank: 52 - 2023 Rank: 52

It didn't take long for Stroud to prove he was the best quarterback from the 2023 Draft. The second overall pick set a rookie record by going 191 attempts before throwing his first interception -- in Week 6. Two weeks later, he set another rookie record with 470 yards and five touchdowns. Despite two missing two games in concussion protocol, he totaled the third-most passing yards by a rookie in NFL history (4,108). The list goes on. Stroud used his strong arm to constantly attack downfield, averaging 9.0 air yards per target, second in the league. On attempts of at least 20 air yards, he had the league's second-highest completion percentage (58.8), throwing for eight TDs and no interceptions. His passing should only get better in Year 2, especially after the Texans added WR Stefon Diggs to an already impressive skill group of WRs Nico Collins and Tank Dell and TE Dalton Schultz. The Texans also traded for Joe Mixon, giving Stroud a reliable pass catcher out of the backfield. If the 6-foot-3, 218-pound Stroud also runs a little more this season -- after 167 yards and three TDs last year -- he'll quickly become one of the top fantasy quarterbacks.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (8)

Travis Etienne Jr. Player Note

RB - Round 3, Pick 22 - Bye 12

2024 Rank: 22 - 2023 Rank: 22

The Jaguars offense fell off a cliff from 2022 to 2023, and Etienne's efficiency suffered badly for it even as his fantasy production improved thanks to more volume and touchdowns. Defenses seemed to have everything figured out against Jacksonville, swarming ballcarriers and targets at every turn. It's not clear what the Jaguars might do to make their offense less predictable in 2024, but the coaches and front office otherwise offered the explanation that last year's offense struggled due to poor offensive line play. It's hard to believe that what was mostly the same offensive line from 2022 could be solely responsible for Etienne's rushing average falling from 5.1 yards per carry to 3.8. Etienne is too talented to stay under 4.0 YPC forever, but for now he'll have to make do with the same coaching staff and most of the same blockers from last year, as former Bills center Mitch Morse is the only new offensive lineman projected to start. Etienne's workload at least seems secure, in part because the Jaguars don't have much else in the backfield unless 2023 third-round pick Tank Bigbsy rebounds strong from a poor rookie season.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (10)

Tua Tagovailoa Player Note

QB - Round 4, Pick 27 - Bye 6

2024 Rank: 111 - 2023 Rank: 111

Tagovailoa led the league with 4,629 passing yards last year and threw for 29 touchdowns, both career highs, playing a full season for the first time after previously struggling with injuries. He was one of the league's most efficient quarterbacks, with 8.3 yards per attempt ranking second after he led the NFL with 8.9 YPA the previous year. Although he had a modest number of pass attempts (32.9 per game, 16th in the league), his accuracy (76.8 on-target percentage, 3rd) and frequent downfield targets (35 percent of attempts went beyond 10 yards, 4th) allowed for the impressive efficiency. He was the league's most accurate QB on attempts beyond 20 yards and threw 10 touchdowns on downfield passes, which also led the league. Deep opportunities should be abundant again this season in an offense with speed demon wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Tight-end acquisition Jonnu Smith adds another weapon, and the backfield remains dangerous with Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane. It's a good situation for efficiency, but Tagovailoa still doesn't have a high fantasy ceiling, as he rarely runs and isn't likely to finish among the league leaders in pass attempts under coach Mike McDaniel.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (12)

De'Von Achane Player Note

RB - Round 5, Pick 38 - Bye 6

2024 Rank: 25 - 2023 Rank: 25

If Achane were 20 pounds heavier he might be the best running back in the NFL. He may already be the most dangerous back on any given play thanks to his 4.32 speed, but to reach the top of the fantasy rankings you need both usage and efficiency. It looks like efficiency won't be a problem -- 800 yards and eight touchdowns on 103 carries is just absurd -- after the 2023 third-round pick finished his rookie season four rush attempts shy of qualifying for one of the top five single-season YPC marks (7.8) in NFL history. What remains to be seen is if he can take more usage and hold up physically. Achane dealt with knee, toe and rib issues at different points in his rookie season, missing six full games and nearly all of another. It's probably in the Dolphins' best interest to continue splitting carries between Achane and Raheem Mostert, frustrating as it might be for fantasy investors. The possibility of somewhat limited usage makes Achane more volatile than other players in his ADP range, with the benefit being a massive ceiling if he captures a larger share of a Miami backfield that combined for 2,712 total yards and 34 TDs last year.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (14)

RB - Round 6, Pick 43 - Bye 10

2024 Rank: 47 - 2023 Rank: 47

The 2023 season was another successful one for Walker, who led the Seahawks with 905 yards and eight touchdowns rushing (4.1 YPC) while remaining safely ahead of 2023 second-round pick Zach Charbonnet. Walker got 219 carries and 37 targets on 476 snaps, which wasn't much different from his 2022 rookie-year workload (228 carries and 35 targets on 550 snaps). He missed two games each season, and didn't get much playing time in clear passing situations either year. It's anyone's guess whether Walker can consolidate his workload further in Year 3. The Seahawks presumably expect Charbonnet to be more than the passing-down specialist that he was for much of last year, but Walker is also a second-round pick and probably a better pure runner. If Charbonnet can get his foot in the door at Walker's expense it might be due to pass blocking and better hands. For Walker to remain a solid RB2 type in fantasy football he'll need to hold off any advances by Charbonnet under a new coaching staff.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (16)

Deebo Samuel Sr. Player Note

WR - Round 7, Pick 54 - Bye 9

2024 Rank: 28 - 2023 Rank: 28

Samuel rebounded from a disappointing, injury-plagued 2022 and re-established himself as a premier weapon in 2023, though it was still a far cry from the heights of his 2021 breakout. He's been all over the place in terms of both cumulative and per-game production, averaging 21.5 PPR points in 2021, 13.3 in 2022 and 16.2 in 2023, thereby fluctuating from high-end WR1 to passable WR3 to solid WR2 (in fantasy terms). Samuel has been more valuable under standard scoring, but his reliance on touchdowns and big plays (rather than quantity of targets/receptions) further underscores the likelihood of continued inconsistency. There's also the matter of his physical running style and lengthy injury history, including seven documented incidents with his hamstrings or groins dating back to college. That's perhaps part of why he's often mentioned in trade rumors, with the latest whispers suggesting Samuel is likely to be shipped out next offseason. Of course, he can only be mimicked, not truly replaced, as he's a more powerful runner than nearly all RBs but still slick enough to get open against cornerbacks. The leaderboard for yards after catch tends to vary considerably from season to season, but Samuel has proven to be the outlier of all outliers, leading qualified WRs in YAC average four years running. Combining the YAC with his rushing yardage and red-zone carries makes for a pretty good fantasy package even if we anticipate some missed games.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (18)

Jaylen Waddle Player Note

WR - Round 8, Pick 59 - Bye 6

2024 Rank: 35 - 2023 Rank: 35

Waddle topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three NFL seasons and is well positioned to do so again this year. He had 140 targets but only a 6.8 aDOT and 9.8 yards per catch as a rookie, before settling in the past two years with higher efficiency, less overall volume and a deeper average target depth. Waddle even led the league with 18.1 yards per catch in 2022, finishing with a 75-1,356-8 line on 117 targets (11.6 YPT) in Tyreek Hill and Mike McDaniel's first season in Miami. Waddle missed three games last year and saw his efficiency decline from league-leading to merely excellent (9.8 YPT), with the result being 342 fewer yards and four fewer TDs in three fewer games (a 72-1,014-4 line on 104 targets across 14 appearances). He still finished Top 5 in yards per route, with 2.88 actually being slightly more than in 2022 (2.64 YPRR). Waddle is one of the fastest players in the league and has the talent to be a No. 1 receiver, but he may have to settle for No. 2 volume again because he's still sharing an offense with Hill, De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (20)

Devin Singletary Player Note

RB - Round 9, Pick 70 - Bye 11

2024 Rank: 85 - 2023 Rank: 85

Already something of a journeyman at 26 years old, Singletary wasn't retained by Houston after a fairly productive 2023 in which he ran for 898 yards and four touchdowns on 216 carries (4.2 YPC). He's more steady than explosive as a runner, and below average as a pass catcher, which perhaps led the Bills and now Texans to grow bored with his mostly solid play. The Giants may not have that luxury, as they signed Singletary to a three-year contract to replace Saquon Barkley and don't have any other running backs with significant NFL experience or draft capital. The lack of competition could allow Singletary to challenge his previous career highs of 216 carries (2023) and 52 targets (2022), but efficiency likely will be a challenge even after the Giants signed two new starting linemen this offseason. After spending his first five seasons with C.J. Stroud or Josh Allen as his quarterback, Singletary will line up behind Daniel Jones (and possibly Drew Lock) in 2024.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (22)

Tony Pollard New Player Note

RB - Round 10, Pick 75 - Bye 5

2024 Rank: 83 - 2023 Rank: 83

What was supposed to be a breakout bonanza for Pollard last season turned out to be a disappointment instead, as his trademark explosiveness entirely disappeared. Part of the decline can be explained by his role becoming more challenging, with Pollard not only playing added snaps overall but also taking on the grueling work (like short-yardage carries and blitz pickups) that was Ezekiel Elliott's domain before 2023. The other explanation, offered by Pollard himself, is that he wasn't physically at his best until late in the year because he'd suffered a fibula fracture and ligament injury during the previous season's playoffs. Whatever the case, Pollard dropped to a career-low 4.0 YPC and had fewer rushing and receiving yards than in 2022 despite adding 59 carries (252) and 16 receptions (55). His TD total was halved (12 to six), with Pollard scoring just four times on 18 carries inside the 5-yard line and failing to score a TD of 30-plus yards all year (after five in 2022). He now leaves Dallas for Tennessee, where he'll share playing time with a likely equal in Tyjae Spears. Neither is an obvious fit for the goal-line work Pollard struggled with last year, and both are above average as passing-down backs. It's thus unclear what their split will look like, but both figure to have significant roles in Tennessee's more spread-out offense under new coach Brian Callahan.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (24)

Amari Cooper Player Note

WR - Round 11, Pick 86 - Bye 10

2024 Rank: 43 - 2023 Rank: 43

Cooper had a career-high 1,250 receiving yards last year, fueled by a 265-yard performance Week 16 at Houston with Joe Flacco under center. A calf injury cost Cooper the next two weeks and prevented him from further padding his stats after 485 yards and three TDs in four games with Flacco. Browns TE David Njoku also put up big numbers late in the season, but Cooper was the team's only pass catcher to thrive with both Flacco and Deshaun Watson. Cooper was already on pace for a career high in yards when Watson suffered his season-ending shoulder injury Week 10, averaging 4.6 catches for 79.4 yards over the first nine games. Cooper struggled when P.J. Walker and Dorian Thompson-Robinson filled in at quarterback but then had his most productive stretch of the season with a more experienced backup. The Browns are giving Watson another chance to prove he can still be a franchise QB, with new help arriving in the form of WR Jerry Jeudy. There's a good chance Jeudy takes targets that went to Elijah Moore or ancillary pass catchers last season, but it isn't out of the question that the former Bronco could also steal some looks from Cooper and Njoku. The good news is that Cooper hasn't shown any sign of losing a step, entering his age-30 season with seven 1,000-yard campaigns to his name.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (26)

Christian Kirk Player Note

WR - Round 12, Pick 91 - Bye 12

2024 Rank: 77 - 2023 Rank: 77

Kirk had career highs for receiving yards (1,108) and touchdowns (eight) in 2022, his first season with the Jaguars, and he was on pace for another 1,000-yard season last year until a core muscle injury cost him the final five games. He was Trevor Lawrence's favorite target even after the Jaguars added Calvin Ridley, whose presence didn't prevent Kirk from finishing 2023 with career highs for target rate (22.5 percent) and yards per route (2.08). The Jags have since parted ways with Ridley and Zay Jones, bringing in first-round pick Brian Thomas and former Bill Gabe Davis as the replacements at wide receiver. The addition of two big receivers could allow Kirk to play even more of his snaps from the slot -- where he's at his best -- and he might still be Lawrence's favorite receiver even if Thomas is now the most physically talented.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (28)

Austin Ekeler Player Note

RB - Round 13, Pick 102 - Bye 14

2024 Rank: 103 - 2023 Rank: 103

The Commanders hope Ekeler's down 2023 season was the result of bad-luck outcomes, namely the high-ankle sprain he suffered Week 1 and the broken finger that ended Justin Herbert's year. The other explanation is that Ekeler's numbers fell off a cliff because his physical abilities declined from 2022 to 2023, which was then exacerbated by the Chargers struggling overall. A year later, the 29-year-old RB is hoping to rebound with better health and a new coaching staff, but he may have more bad luck ahead if things don't click for offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and rookie QB Jayden Daniels. If nothing else, Ekeler figures to start off with most of the passing-down snaps for a team that returns 2023 lead rusher Brian Robinson. The biggest question, apart from Ekeler's potential physical decline, is whether he'll take on a decent chunk of the rushing workload or largely be limited to pass snaps the way former Commanders backup Antonio Gibson was last year.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (30)

Geno Smith Player Note

QB - Round 14, Pick 107 - Bye 10

2024 Rank: 142 - 2023 Rank: 142

After a surprisingly impressive 2022 season, Smith barely finished as a top-20 fantasy quarterback last year. The main culprit was a significant dip in accuracy as his on-target rate dropped by four percentage points, from fourth to 21st in the league, and his completion rate dropped by five percentage points, from first to 18th. For reasons unknown, Smith struggled mightily to connect on short passes. On deep passes, he was mostly as accurate as the previous year, though his touchdowns on attempts of at least 20 yards fell from 10 to two. Perhaps that provides hope for this season, as his downfield TD rate likely will see positive regression. Also in his corner is offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, the former University of Washington coordinator who helped Michael Penix become a Heisman Trophy candidate. Grubb's scheme may prove more creative and faster-paced than the offense Shane Waldron ran in Seattle the past three years. The Seahawks have one of the league's better WR trios in DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but it'll be hard for Smith to capitalize if O-line injury issues from 2023 are repeated this upcoming season. The Seahawks certainly are counting on better injury luck and coaching, as the offense didn't get any splashy additions this offseason.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (32)

Green Bay No new player Notes

DEF - Round 15, Pick 118 - Bye 10

2024 Rank: 259 - 2023 Rank: 259

Green Bay's defense relied on a slow-paced, efficient offense to help matters last season, facing a league-low 10.2 drives per game and finishing in the top half for yards and points allowed. The defensive efficiency stats were much worse -- 26th in yards per drive, 23rd in yards per carry, and 18th in net yards per attempt. The absence of starting CBs Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes for much of the season contributed to these struggles, and defensive coordinator Joe Barry became a target of fan frustrations. Under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, formerly of BC, the Packers have legitimate hope for defensive improvement. They retained their pass-rushing core -- led by Rashan Gary and 2023 first-rounder Lucas Van Ness -- and added safety Xavier McKinney from the Giants. Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft saw LB Edgerrin Cooper (45th overall), S Javon Bullard (58th), and LB Ty'Ron Hopper (91st) join the roster. The outlook is relatively promising, albeit contingent on better health for a pair of oft-injured cornerbacks.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (34)

Chicago No new player Notes

DEF - Round 16, Pick 123 - Bye 7

2024 Rank: 216 - 2023 Rank: 216

The Bears stumbled to an 0-4 start last season while conceding at least 27 points each game under defensive coordinator Alan Williams, who then resigned for reasons reportedly unrelated to football. Coach Matt Eberflus assumed interim DC duties and turned the unit around. The Bears traded for DE Montez Sweat, a crucial addition, and closed the season winning four of their final six games while holding opponents to 20 or fewer points in each contest. Sweat earned a contract extension last fall, with standout CB Jaylon Johnson following in March. In the offseason, the Bears signed safeties Kevin Byard and Jonathan Owens after losing three starters (DE Yannick Ngakoue, S Eddie Jackson, DT Justin Jones) in free agency. Jackson and Ngakoue were well past their respective primes in any case, so the Bears should field a competent defense even after they devoted the vast majority of their offseason resources to offense.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (36)

Hunter Henry New Player Note

TE - Round 17, Pick 134 - Bye 14

2024 Rank: 170 - 2023 Rank: 170

Henry finished second on the Patriots with 419 receiving yards last season and accounted for six of the team's 16 receiving touchdowns. His production was dragged down by poor QB play, a problem that may have been alleviated when the Patriots signed Jacoby Brissett and drafted Drake Maye third overall. Henry averaged 556 receiving yards and 5.5 TDs in his prior two seasons with the Patriots, and there's hope for a rebound after he re-signed for three more years this March. He missed the final three games of last season due to a knee injury, but the 29-year-old came back healthy for the offseason program and isn't likely to face serious snap competition from Austin Hooper (free-agent signing) or Jaheim Bell (seventh-round draft pick). Meanwhile, the Patriots have a WR room with neither first-round picks (besides return man Jalen Reagor) nor any players that reached 600 receiving yards last year.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (38)

Cade Otton Player Note

TE - Round 18, Pick 139 - Bye 11

2024 Rank: 181 - 2023 Rank: 181

Otton flashed a level of production last postseason that he hadn't previously displayed in two years as Tampa Bay's starting tight end, catching 13 passes 154 yards and one touchdown on 19 targets in two playoff games. He had only 455 yards in 17 regular-season games, after 391 yards in 16 games during his 2022 rookie season. Otton had four TDs and 67 targets in the regular season last year, drawing more than six targets only once despite playing more than 90 percent of offensive snaps every week. His three-down role and strong postseason are encouraging, but even a step forward likely would leave Otton as a distant Option C behind WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. The tight end had a 12.2 percent target share in the regular season last year, getting slightly fewer looks than even RB Rachaad White (70) and No. 3 receiver Trey Palmer (68. It's possible Otton builds on his playoff breakout and emerges as a low-end fantasy starter under new offensive coordinator Liam Coen, but there's also a chance the 25-year-old TE simply reprises his high-snap, low-target role from 2022 and 2023.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (40)

Tyler Conklin Player Note

TE - Round 19, Pick 150 - Bye 12

2024 Rank: 176 - 2023 Rank: 176

In 2021, his final season with Minnesota, Conklin caught 61 passes for 593 yards and three touchdowns on 87 targets. Despite a major drop off in QB quality the past two seasons -- going from Kirk Cousins to Zach Wilson -- the tight end had extremely similar stats, averaging 59.5 catches for 586.5 yards and 1.5 TDs on 87 targets for the Jets. With Aaron Rodgers back healthy after tearing his Achilles in his Jets debut last season, Conklin figures to benefit from improved QB play, though he'll also have WRs Mike Williams and Malachi Corley as new competition for whatever's left over behind WR Garrett Wilson and RB Breece Hall. At the very least, Rodgers should help Conklin get back into the end zone (zero TDs in 2023) while seeing similar volume to the past three seasons (exactly 87 targets each year). It'll help if Conklin plays like he did last year (two drops, no fumbles) and quickly earns Rodgers' trust, rather than repeating his mistake-filled 2022 (five drops, two fumbles).

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (42)

Carolina No new player Notes

DEF - Round 20, Pick 155 - Bye 11

2024 Rank: 295 - 2023 Rank: 295

Panthers DC Ejiro Evero pursued head coach roles in Carolina, Atlanta, and Seattle, but ultimately he remained with the Panthers under new coach Dave Canales after missing out on all three jobs. After losing OLB Brian Burns and ILB Frankie Luvu this offseason, the Panthers secured veteran replacements in Jadeveon Clowney and Josey Jewell. Led by DT Derrick Brown, the defense doesn't look too bad on paper, but it might have the same problem as last year -- being severely limited by the team's offense. A terrible offense hurts field position, especially if there's a high rate of turnovers leaving opponents with short fields. It also makes it hard to end up in the situations that maximize D/ST fantasy production, i.e., when the other team is forced to pass and thus has a higher likelihood of giving up sacks and turnovers. The Carolina offense might be better this season, but it almost certainly won't be good.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (44)

Colby Parkinson No new player Notes

TE - Round 21, Pick 166 - Bye 6

2024 Rank: 194 - 2023 Rank: 194

With Tyler Higbee recovering from a torn ACL suffered in January, the Rams signed Parkinson this offseason to join Davis Allen and Hunter Long at tight end. A three-year, $22.5 million contract suggests Parkinson is the favorite for snaps and targets early in the season, even though Allen had a strong finish to his 2023 rookie year. Parkinson caught exactly 25 of 34 targets each of the past two seasons as a backup in Seattle, totaling 322 yards and two touchdowns in 2022 and then 247 yards and two TDs in 2023. Higbee may eventually reclaim his starting job and most of the TE snaps/targets, but the timing and severity of his injury hints at missed games to start the season.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (46)

Detroit No new player Notes

DEF - Round 22, Pick 171 - Bye 5

2024 Rank: 269 - 2023 Rank: 269

Detroit's defense took a significant step forward last season under third-year coordinator Aaron Glenn, finishing 23rd in points allowed, 19th in yardage and tied for 23rd in fantasy points. While these numbers are modest, they mark an improvement from 2021-22 when Glenn had one of the least talented defenses in the league. DE Aidan Hutchinson emerged as a star, teaming up with nose tackle Alim McNeill and LB Alex Anzalone to give the Lions a formidable run defense (2nd in yards, 3rd in YPC). Rookie second-round pick Brian Branch impressed as a slot corner, but the rest of the secondary struggled in coverage. The Lions aggressively addressed this weakness by trading for long-time Bucs starter Carlton Davis, signing former Raiders nickelback Amik Robertson and then drafting Terrion Arnold (24th overall) and Ennis Rakestraw (61st). They bolstered the line by signing DE Marcus Davenport and DT DJ Reader, and there's still hope 2023 first-round pick Jack Campbell will strengthen the linebacker corps. With improved CB depth, the Lions defense now looks solid across the board, potentially allowing Branch to move to safety full-time.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (48)

DeAndre Hopkins Player Note

WR - Round 23, Pick 182 - Bye 5

2024 Rank: 104 - 2023 Rank: 104

Hopkins joined the Titans on a two-year contract last offseason and immediately jumped in with a huge target share in a run-heavy offense. He was never the fastest wideout and perhaps had lost a half step since his prime, but Hopkins mostly looked like his old self during his age-31 campaign, easily leading a subpar passing attack in targets (137), catches (75), yards (1,057) and touchdowns (seven). After thriving as a possession receiver in Arizona, he surprisingly saw a league-high 39 targets 20-plus yards downfield, in part because rookie QB Will Levis had a league-high 10.8 aDOT. Hopkins had TD catches of 61, 47 and 16 yards in Levis' first start, and while the rookie threw only four more touchdowns the rest of the season, three of those went to Hopkins (giving him six of eight overall). The Titans passing game has a chance to be much improved with Levis entering his second season under new coach Brian Callahan, but some of the improvements -- namely signing Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd -- hint at Hopkins seeing reductions in his massive target share (28.7 percent) and air-yard share (43.4 percent) from 2023. It is possible better efficiency and/or more overall team passing volume could make up for those losses, but there's no guarantee given Hopkins' age.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (50)

Antonio Gibson New Player Note

RB - Round 24, Pick 187 - Bye 14

2024 Rank: 153 - 2023 Rank: 153

Rhamondre Stevenson is the more powerful and reliable runner between himself and Gibson, but the Patriots feature to conduct a run-heavy offense that tests the durability of both players. Both are also plus pass catchers, but as the Speed Back between the two it seems like Gibson is more likely to focus on passing downs while Stevenson handles most of the running, especially related to power functions. Gibson might not have a perfectly well-rounded game but he's still a 220-pound back with sub-4.4 speed and plus pass-catching ability, so there's some amount of potential there especially if Stevenson were to miss any time. It will be important for Gibson to avoid fumbling after dropping the ball four times in 2023 and six times in 2021.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (52)

Alex Singleton No new player Notes

LB - Round 25, Pick 198 - Bye 14

2024 Rank: 936 - 2023 Rank: 936

Singleton has been a tackle machine throughout his career, as he's tallied over 100 stops in four of his five seasons in the NFL. The thing that changed in 2023, and hints that there may be an additional level of production on the way, was his workload. He topped 1,000 defensive snaps for the first time in his career and a career-best 177 total tackles followed. The cap on Singleton is that he's a liability in coverage, which will serve to limit his utility in statistics other than purely tackles unless he shows significant improvement. In the short term, Denver did little to displace Singleton this offseason. Even if he loses some snaps on later downs, he should be in line to tally plenty of tackles once again in 2024.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (54)

Bobby Okereke No new player Notes

LB - Round 26, Pick 203 - Bye 11

2024 Rank: 890 - 2023 Rank: 890

Like virtually all of the linebackers in the top range of IDP rankings, Okereke is capable of piling up tackles. In his first season with the Giants, however, the entire rest of his statistical profile changed in a positive way. Okereke had always been relied upon heavily in coverage, but he showed improved form in the new scheme, recording a career-best 10 pass breakups while also picking off multiple passes in a season for the second time in his career. The more significant change in his role came as a pass rusher. He was utilized far more regularly in that regard in 2023. While Okereke still posted a modest six quarterback hits, he had previously never had more than two in a season. Heading into 2024, he'll be a safe bet to rack up stops and some coverage stats, but his upside will come from just how much he can get after the quarterback.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (56)

C.J. Mosley No new player Notes

LB - Round 27, Pick 214 - Bye 12

2024 Rank: 1001 - 2023 Rank: 1001

Mosley is entering his 10th season as a pro and fifth as a Jet, so there's little question about what he brings to the table. He's topped 1,000 defensive snaps and 150 tackles in each of the last three seasons. Mosley also remains excellent in coverage, breaking up at least seven passes in each of the last two seasons while picking off a combined two passes. After signing a two-year extension to remain in New York, it's clear that Mosley will remain a key part of the team's plans. The only red flag in his profile is that something that Mosley can't control, as he's entering his age-32 season. He's shown no signs of slowing to this point, but that is a clear possibility at this point in his career.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (58)

Ivan Pace Jr. No new player Notes

LB - Round 28, Pick 219 - Bye 6

2024 Rank: 857 - 2023 Rank: 857

Puka Nacua captivated the fantasy community with his performance during his rookie season, and Pace was the equivalent on the defensive side of the ball. He signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft and immediately made a positive impression. Not only did Pace make the team out of training camp, but he also had a substantial defensive role immediately. By Week 11, he was playing 100 percent of defensive snaps, and he closed the season with 65 tackles across his last seven games. All told, he topped 100 tackles while also tallying two sacks, one forced fumble, and one interception. He'll head into the 2024 season as a clear starter among the Vikings linebacker corps and with the chance to build on his impressive rookie season.

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (60)

DeMario Douglas New Player Note

WR - Round 29, Pick 230 - Bye 14

2024 Rank: 168 - 2023 Rank: 168

Douglas was one of the few players on the 2023 Patriots to have an impressive season. As a rookie sixth-round pick, he earned a role in the slot immediately but wasn't targeted much early in the season. He took on a large role midway through the year, including more snaps on the perimeter, in part due to Kendrick Bourne suffering an ACL tear Week 8. Douglas missed three games due to his own injury issues, but he had at least three catches and five targets in each of his nine appearances from Week 7 onward, averaging 4.3 catches for 46.4 yards on 6.9 targets. His 561 yards for the season were a team high, but it didn't amount to much for fantasy without any touchdowns to boost his points. Douglas gets a new coaching staff and potential franchise QB Drake Maye for his second pro season, but there will also be new competition for WR snaps/targets, including free-agent signing K.J. Osborn and rookie Ja'Lynn Polk (Round 2) and Javon Baker (Round 4).

My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (62)

Bucky Irving Player Note

RB - Round 30, Pick 235 - Bye 11

2024 Rank: 157 - 2023 Rank: 157

Irving was very productive at both Minnesota and Oregon in college, demonstrating standout ability as a runner and pass catcher both. Whether those skills show up at the pro level depends on whether Irving can overcome his poor size-adjusted athleticism. There are historical examples of skilled college running backs flopping in the NFL due to getting overmatched by NFL athleticism, and Irving could prove another example given his poor 4.55-second 40 time at just 192 pounds. With the Buccaneers Irving will likely play in a limited rotational role either way, probably focusing on draws as a runner while pushing for passing-down snaps. Rachaad White can likely match and exceed any utility offered by Irving, making Irvin more of a true backup than someone pushing for a role at White's expense.

Team Forecast

Bye Week Points Lost

Points

Each bar represents the total projected season points for each player that's on bye that week. This chart shows any potential bye week issues.

Schedule by Opponent Points

Week

Week-by-week schedule with each opponent's projected season points. This chart shows any difficult or easy stretches in the schedule.

DA GRIDIRON GIANTS
1. (6) Josh Allen (Buf - QB)
2. (11) C.J. Stroud (Hou - QB)
3. (22) Travis Etienne Jr. (Jax - RB)
4. (27) Tua Tagovailoa (Mia - QB)
5. (38) De'Von Achane (Mia - RB)
6. (43) Kenneth Walker III (Sea - RB)
7. (54) Deebo Samuel Sr. (SF - WR)
8. (59) Jaylen Waddle (Mia - WR)
9. (70) Devin Singletary (NYG - RB)
10. (75) Tony Pollard (Ten - RB)
11. (86) Amari Cooper (Cle - WR)
12. (91) Christian Kirk (Jax - WR)
13. (102) Austin Ekeler (Was - RB)
14. (107) Geno Smith (Sea - QB)
15. (118) Green Bay (GB - DEF)
16. (123) Chicago (Chi - DEF)
17. (134) Hunter Henry (NE - TE)
18. (139) Cade Otton (TB - TE)
19. (150) Tyler Conklin (NYJ - TE)
20. (155) Carolina (Car - DEF)
21. (166) Colby Parkinson (LAR - TE)
22. (171) Detroit (Det - DEF)
23. (182) DeAndre Hopkins (Ten - WR)
24. (187) Antonio Gibson (NE - RB)
25. (198) Alex Singleton (Den - LB)
26. (203) Bobby Okereke (NYG - LB)
27. (214) C.J. Mosley (NYJ - LB)
28. (219) Ivan Pace Jr. (Min - LB)
29. (230) DeMario Douglas (NE - WR)
30. (235) Bucky Irving (TB - RB)
My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (2024)

FAQs

Are fantasy draft grades accurate? ›

Despite the correlation between draft grades and average win percentage, it's important to note that it doesn't imply a causal relationship between the two. Just because you received an "F" grade in your draft doesn't mean you will lose your league, just as an "A+" draft grade doesn't mean you'll win it.

Where can I see my Yahoo Fantasy grade? ›

  • Team page - Your Rating will show to the right of your team name.
  • Match-up page - Click the [vs.] symbol to see your team's Rating.
  • The same as the mobile apps, you can view Levels and Ratings for any manager in your league.

How to do the perfect fantasy draft? ›

And here they are, my friend:
  1. Know the Rules (no kidding) ... ...
  2. Use Dynamic Player Valuations – Not Just Rankings. ...
  3. Outsmart Your Competition By Understanding Positional Scarcity. ...
  4. Take Advantage of Mock Drafting to Strategize. ...
  5. Hunt for Late-Round Fantasy Studs. ...
  6. Manage Risk By Avoiding Busts & Injury Risks.
7 days ago

How do I reset my Yahoo fantasy football draft? ›

You can reset a completed draft up to 3 times.
  1. From Yahoo Fantasy, mouse over Fantasy | select a sport.
  2. Click the Commissioner tab.
  3. Click the Draft & Keepers tab.
  4. Click Reset Draft.
  5. Click Reset Draft again twice to confirm.

Does Yahoo do draft grades? ›

Every time you wrap up a draft with Yahoo Fantasy, a little birdy swoops into your email inboxes with a note critiquing your performance. Behold, your draft has been graded by the powers that be!

What is the most successful draft position in fantasy football? ›

In 12-Team Half-PPR, the best draft position is pick No. 1 or 2. Drafting optimally from the No. 1 or 2 spot in 12-team half-PPR drafts lands you on the same team through six rounds -- and a whopping 328.6 3D Value points.

How to get diamond level in Yahoo Fantasy Football? ›

Diamond - 900+ Rating and 99th Percentile. Platinum - 800-899 and 95th-98th Percentiles. Gold - 700-799 and 81st-94th Percentiles. Silver - 600-699 and 60th-80th Percentiles.

Does ESPN give Fantasy draft grades? ›

This feature will be available only in the ESPN Fantasy app this season. Immediately following your league's draft, each manager will receive a draft grade, along with brief analysis on the prospects for their squad this season.

How to check Yahoo Fantasy football history? ›

At the top of your Fantasy profile, select the sport you'd like to review your league history from. Below the list of Fantasy sports, select History. Review the list of your past teams and leagues then select the one you'd like to access.

Which position to pick first in fantasy football? ›

Perfect 2024 fantasy football draft strategy, round by round for 12-team leagues: 4.0. Wide receiver is the right first-round pick outside of 1.01: Christian McCaffrey is the right pick at 1.01, but a wide receiver is the way to go at any other pick in the first round.

What round should I draft a QB? ›

You should be satisfied to nab any of the QBs I have ranked from fifth to ninth here. Stroud and Richardson will be picked in the fourth or early fifth rounds of many drafts, while the others should be considered as fifth to sixth round targets depending on the flow of your draft as it progresses.

What is the best pick in fantasy football 2024? ›

Despite dealing with a calf injury to close out training camp, Christian McCaffrey remains firmly atop my draft boards as the No. 1 pick in 2024.
  • Christian McCaffrey. Q. ...
  • Tyreek Hill. Q. ...
  • CeeDee Lamb. WR - DAL - #88. ...
  • Breece Hall. RB - NYJ - #20. ...
  • Bijan Robinson. RB - ATL - #7. ...
  • Ja'Marr Chase. Q. ...
  • Justin Jefferson. ...
  • Amon-Ra St.
18 hours ago

How do I reset my fantasy football draft? ›

You can access the Reset Draft page after your league's draft is complete. If you wish to reset the draft, the system will completely change the league's status from post-draft to pre-draft. Once you are certain you wish to go through with the reset, click on "Reset Draft".

Why is my Yahoo Fantasy draft not working? ›

Draft app crashes during the draft

Reload the app. Clear your web browser cache. Use a different supported web browser. Access the draft from the Yahoo Fantasy app on your mobile device.

How to see keepers in Yahoo Fantasy Football? ›

To show or hide the Keeper Status:

From Yahoo Fantasy, mouse over Fantasy | select a sport. Click the Commissioner tab. Click the Draft & Keepers tab. Click Keeper Player Status.

Are fantasy predictions accurate? ›

Our projections are only as accurate as (the aggregate of) the underlying sources of projections. Nevertheless, the “wisdom of the crowd” is the most accurate of all fantasy football projections, and accounts for about one-half to two-thirds of the variance in players' performance (see here).

Does ESPN still do fantasy draft grades? ›

Draft grades and recap

Immediately following your league's draft, each manager will receive a draft grade, along with brief analysis on the prospects for their squad this season.

Who has the most accurate fantasy football projections? ›

John Paulsen: The Mastermind Behind the Rankings

Renowned as one of the industry's best, Paulsen has twice been crowned the Most Accurate Fantasy Football Expert by FantasyPros, further solidifying 4for4.com's dominance.

Can you see draft results on NFL fantasy? ›

You can view your league's past draft history at Activity » Draft and select a season from the drop-down. Dynasty leagues may see more than one draft listed for a particular season.

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