The Fantasy Footballers Writing Staff “My Guys” for 2024

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know all about the phenomenon known as the Fantasy Footballers “My Guy” episode. It’s been in fantasy football lore since its inception in 2015. If you need all the visuals, here’s the YouTube link:

Every year we give our writing staff the chance to plant their flag in the ground for one guy. We have an incredible group of writers who have written so many forward-thinking pieces during the offseason. Please show them some love on Twitter and let us know who your player for 2024 is using the #MyGuy in your tweet.

Kyler Murray, QB, ARI

Some people will call me a homer, but I don’t care – I am all in on Kyler Murray. Currently being drafted as the QB8 off the board in Sleeper, Murray has a legitimate chance to finish as a top-three QB. Kyler has rushed for over 400 yards in four of his five seasons, with 2023 being the only year he did not reach that threshold. He only played eight games that year. Even though he averaged a career-low 5.5 rushes per game last season, he still had six weeks as a top-12 QB. Kyler’s best performance as a passer was when he had an alpha WR in DeAndre Hopkins. With the arrival of Marvin Harrison Jr. in the valley, an alpha returns. So we have the upside of his rushing prowess coupled with one of the best WR prospects the NFL has seen in years. Oh, and don’t you dare forget Trey McBride. Since 2011, there have been 17 QBs who have had seasons with at least 300 pass attempts, 75 rushing attempts, and 300 rushing yards. Of these 17 QBs, 13 of them hit an average of 17 or more fantasy points a game during at least one of those seasons. In three of his five seasons in the league, Kyler hit that number, and only Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Russell Wilson hit that threshold more. Kyler is being drafted behind pocket passers named Burrow and Stroud, and I am shocked at this. Murray’s upside is cathedral ceiling level high, like in 2020 when he finished as the QB2. Take advantage and snag Kyler wherever you can.– Julia Papworth (@juliapapworth)

Christian Watson, WR, GB

Sorry Matt LeFleur, but I’m giving you a heads-up…go grab that sick bag. The Packers Head Coach may believe he’s “got a bunch” of No.1 receivers on the roster and want to vomit when he’s asked about it, but I’m a proud Scotsman, and as such live by classic Highlander rules…there can be only one! Third-year wideout Christian Watson is my very own Connor MacLeod, and although the former second-round pick is anything but immortal, I’m tipping him to return from his latest hamstring issue and establish himself as Jordan Love’s top-target in 2024. Since his rookie season, Watson has finished as a WR1 in over 26% of his starts – the highest of all wideouts from a draft class that included Chris Olave, Drake London, and Garrett Wilson. Whilst that trio are all being drafted as WR1s in the first two rounds, Watson is currently the 45th wide receiver off the board in the middle of the ninth! With WR4 draft capital and WR1 upside, he is the perfect low-risk/high-reward gamble for me this season and will be on a bunch of my fantasy teams come September…just please stay healthy Christian! -Paul Marnie (@PaulMarnie)

 Isiah Pacheco, RB, KC

Isiah Pacheco offers an ideal combination of high upside and reliability at a budget-friendly draft price this year. Similar to Kareem Hunt‘s rise with Kansas City, Pacheco started as an unheralded prospect but quickly claimed the lead running back role in the NFL’s top offense. While his role has been somewhat inconsistent early in his career, 2024 presents a fresh opportunity for him to establish himself as an every-down bellcow. With minimal competition on the depth chart, Pacheco is primed to handle the majority of goal-line and receiving duties. His explosive speed makes him a constant threat for big plays, positioning him for a substantial workload both on the ground and through the air. As a late third-round pick, Pacheco has top-five potential and could be poised for a breakout season reminiscent of Hunt’s 2017 campaign, when he finished as the RB4. -Joe Beldner (@JoeBeldner)

Anthony Richardson, QB, IND

This feels like one of those things that are super obvious to me but not everyone believes in, so I’ll take the dive and plant my flag on Anthony Richardson a league winner for fantasy football this season. While we’ve only seen him in 2 full NFL games, Richardson wasn’t just good for fantasy – HE WAS GREAT – with QB4 and QB2 finishes. The most exciting part of those games was Richardson’s usage in the running game where he put up a combined 20 rushes for 96 yards and 2 TDs. Any worries that the Colts might pull the reigns back on Richardson and his running ability after he missed most of his rookie season should be silenced with Head Coach Shane Steichen confirming they plan on leaning into the QB being involved in the running game. Steichen and what we’ve seen him do with weapons at QB like Jalen Hurts calling plays for Richardson only makes me trust that he’ll be great even more. Richardson is one of just a few QBs that has a real chance of finishing as the QB1 overall and fantasy managers can get him in the 5th-Round. At a minimum, fantasy managers are drafting Richardson at his floor with league-winning potential! -Kurt Mullen (@KurtKnowsBest)

De’Von Achane, RB, MIA

Outside of the Big Three, no RB offers a greater upside than Achane, and all it takes is one variable change: opportunity. One of the best early signs that someone could become an elite fantasy asset is that they start their career by stacking consistent high double-digit FPOE. Since 2000, only four RBs have bested Achane’s 60.3 rushing FPOE in their rookie season: Adrian Peterson, Ezekiel Elliott, Clinton Portis, and Maurice Jones-Drew (all four reached the top three for fantasy scoring at their peak); and Achane has the single-best per-game total FPOE (rushing and receiving) of any RB with at least 10 games since at least 2009. Achane is viewed as a role player, but so was Christian McCaffrey as a rookie; yet talent demands further opportunity. Up to 197 pounds and playing behind the oldest RB in the league in an offense that breeds hyper-efficiency, it’s absolutely possible, if not likely, that Achane gets far more chances with the rock. -Mat Irby

Malik Nabers, WR, NYG

When we look at historical data, we find that a majority (67%) of wide receiver breakouts occur within a player’s first two seasons. When we dig a little deeper into rookie breakouts, it becomes obvious that collegiate production and draft capital have a very strong correlation to immediate success at the NFL level. Malik Nabers checks both of those boxes as a first-round pick who dominated at LSU, accounting for about 30% of the team’s receiving production in his final two seasons. He now walks into an offense that is in desperate need for a WR1, paving a clear path to immediate targets in his rookie season. With Nabers’ versatility and ability to line up all over the field, I would not be shocked if he finished the season with over 130 opportunities. And with that type of volume, Nabers should easily finish this season as a top-20 wide receiver, with the upside to finish even higher if he can find the end-zone at a consistent rate.– Marvin Elequin (@FF_MarvinE)

Joshua Palmer, WR, LAC

The days of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are over; it is time for a new era to begin in Los Angeles. Quentin Johnston has shown little improvement in his catching ability since his underwhelming rookie season, and Ladd McConkey hasn’t yet taken a regular season snap with the Chargers. Meanwhile, Joshua Palmer is entering his fourth season with Justin Herbert and has shown out whenever given the opportunity. Justin Herbert will be out with an injury until the start of the regular season, further prohibiting him from establishing a connection with QJ or McConkey. Joshua Palmer will be the WR1 for Justin Herbert in 2024, and he is dirt-cheap, going in the 12th round of Sleeper drafts. No matter your team build, Joshua Palmer is an unmistakable value at the end of fantasy drafts in 2024. -Jack Reinhart (@JackJReinhart)

Drake London, WR, ATL

Delusional Atlanta fan, checking in. Arthur Sith is gone, and with him goes (hopefully) the perplexing penchant for fantasy-nerfing our best players. How much room for improvement is there in the city called Atlanta for the man called London? According to Ryan Heath at fantasypoints.com, the past two seasons saw the Falcons average the second-worst catchable targets per game; in the same span, Kirk Cousins‘ Vikings boasted the second-best catchable target rate in the league. If Kirk Cousins is healthy and good (please, please, please be good), Drake London is primed to go O-F-F. London’s ADP has him going as the WR14-15 according to Fantasy Football Calculator, so I love taking him as an elite WR2 that should finish in the top 10. – AJ Passman (@ajpassman)

Dalton Kincaid, TE, BUF

In my estimation, there are five tight ends who can finish as the TE1 in fantasy football in 2024. Dalton Kincaid is going off draft boards as the fifth of these options. While all four of the other highly drafted tight ends have legitimate target competition, Kincaid only needs to beat out a rookie with a questionable college production profile, a retread free agent on his third team, and a third-year wideout who hasn’t come close to breaking out. He also has an elite quarterback throwing him the ball. I wrote an entire article detailing why you should draft him this year, so needless to say, Dalton Kincaid is My Guy for fantasy football in 2024.-Aaron Larson (@aalarson)

Jayden Daniels, QB, WAS

I genuinely think Jayden Daniels can finally give us fantasy maniacs what Trey Lance never delivered: A brilliant rushing quarterback rookie season. Anthony Richardson gave us last year a sneak peek of that before getting injured. He was on pace to score enough fantasy points to finish as the QB2. Jayden Daniels is a much more NFL-ready QB, who ran for almost twice as many yards as Richardson did in his best year at college. If his rushing prowess is not enough, we’ve already seen how accurate he can be throwing the ball in his first preseason game as a Commander. Working under an OC (Kliff Kingsbury) who has already seen success coaching a mobile rookie QB (Kyler Murray), I’m convinced Jayden Daniels will be a fantasy football league winner.– Javier Manzenera (@elmantis)

Calvin Ridley, WR, TEN

The bet on Calvin Ridley is more like a bet on three different people – Brian Callahan, Will Levis, and the wideout himself. All the pieces of the puzzle need to fall into place in order for Ridley to reach his true fantasy potential. At his current draft cost, it’s a wager I’m more than willing to make. Ridley has several determinants in his favor: Callahan is bringing a fast-paced, pass-heavy offense to Tennessee. The first-time head coach, along with Joe Burrow of course, helped turn around Cincinnati’s offense. Even Jake Browning was efficient in Callahan’s system. Levis may be inexperienced, but he’s not short on arm strength. Make of it what you will, but the buzz around training camp has been about Levis’ improvement and the rapport he’s developing with his wideouts. And keep in mind Ridley returned last year after missing nearly two entire seasons. It’s fair to say he was a bit rusty in 2023. Oh, and he got the bag, showing how much the Titans value him as a focal part of their revamped offense. Combine all those factors with his ADP, which sees him being drafted outside of the first 30 WRs, plus an early injury to DeAndre Hopkins that could lead to extra targets to start the season, and you’ve got a recipe for success. I believe a top-12 finish is in the realm of possibilities, but even if he finishes as a top-24 WR, you’re getting more bang for your buck.– Dan Lovi (@LoviSports)

Amari Cooper, WR, CLE

It is elementary; Cooper is going way too late in drafts. In 2023, Cooper finished as the WR20 in full-PPR scoring. He was boom or bust, that is for sure, but of the 16 weeks he played, he finished inside at least as a WR36 nine times, and only once did he finish outside that mark in a plus matchup. Brown’s offense with Deshaun Watson has not been exciting to watch, but Cooper showed that if Watson gives him enough of the ball, he can make the team better as a whole. Being drafted as the WR58 on sleeper is an incredible steal for a player who finished below that metric only one time last year. He is the perfect depth piece and will fit in your flex for more weeks than not. -Caleb Leach (@CalebLeach95)

DeVonta Smith, WR, PHI

With new OC Kellen Moore‘s arrival, the Philly passing game should get an overall upgrade in 2024. Part of that shift is his emphasis on pre-snap motion (Eagles ranked dead last in 2023) and more “layup” type throws for WRs in the slot. Rather than seeing this as an either-or situation, both A.J. Brown AND DeVonta Smith can eat with this increased diverse utilization. I am for both but Smith’s draft cost is so much lower as a late 4th rounder on Sleeper. Smith has crushed ever since his Heisman year (5.54 slot YPRR in that role) and was this team’s preferred WR last year when defenses threw Cover-4 shell looks. We’ve seen him finish as a WR1 before (2022) and it is in the cards yet again for 2024. I love drafting him as my WR2 in full PPR leagues knowing the upside is oozing. -Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg)