Bellcow running backs have become a bit of a myth in the NFL, with almost every team implementing a backfield by committee. However, Christian McCaffrey qualifies, having piled up a minimum of 326 touches in his last four healthy seasons. That being said. McCaffrey missed 23 games combined in 2020 and 2021 and missed the entire preseason with a calf injury, so handcuffing him with Trey Benson might be a wise choice with your 2024 Fantasy football picks to protect against losing your first-round pick. Targeting 2024 Fantasy football handcuffs is a wise 2024 Fantasy football strategy.
With a reliable set of live-updated Fantasy football rankings 2024, you can uncover potential 2024 Fantasy football sleepers, 2024 Fantasy football breakouts, and 2024 Fantasy football busts. Before setting your 2024 Fantasy football draft strategy, be sure to check out the 2024 Fantasy football rankings and cheat sheets from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
Last year, the model accurately predicted that Buccaneers running back Rachaad White was being dramatically undervalued. White was coming off the board in the seventh round on average in 12-team PPR leagues, but he emerged as Tampa Bay's workhorse ball carrier and provided significantly more value than expected, finishing No. 4 at his position. White rushed for 990 yards and six touchdowns while adding 64 catches for 549 yards and three more scores as a receiver. Anybody who followed the model's advice scored an every week starting running back in the middle rounds.
The same model has a proven track record providing Fantasy football tips, identifying A.J. Brown as a sleeper in 2020 and nailing Jonathan Taylor's monstrous season in 2021. Additionally, it's called past Fantasy football sleepers like Derrick Henry in 2019, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara in 2018, and Davante Adams in 2017. Anybody who banked on players like those made a run at their league title.
The model is powered by the same people who generated projections for all three major Fantasy sites, and it beat human experts last season when there was a big difference in ranking. The 2024 Fantasy football PPR rankings and 2024 Fantasy football standard projections update multiple times daily, so you're always getting the best Fantasy football advice.
Now, SportsLine has simulated the entire NFL season 10,000 times and released its latest 2024 Fantasy football rankings, along with plenty of sleepers, breakouts and busts. Head to SportsLine now to see them.
Top 2024 Fantasy football sleepers
One of the 2024 Fantasy football sleepers the model is predicting: Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin. Mike Evans got a contract extension done this offseason and remains Tampa Bay's most productive option at wide receiver, but Godwin has reached 1,000 yards in four of the last five seasons and he's actually led the team in targets two of the last three seasons.
Tampa Bay also begins the year with an incredibly pass-friendly schedule, as the Commanders, Lions, Broncos and Eagles all ranked 22nd or worse in pass defense in 2023. Those are big reasons why the model ranks Godwin ahead of Calvin Ridley and Jayden Reed, even though they're being drafted at least two rounds earlier in CBS Sports PPR leagues on average. See more Fantasy football sleepers 2024 here.
Top 2024 Fantasy football breakouts
One of the 2024 Fantasy football breakouts the model is predicting: Dolphins running back De'Von Achane. The Texas A&M product finished his rookie campaign with 103 rushes for 800 yards and eight touchdowns, and he was RB5 in points per game. He is expected to eclipse those numbers in 2024, with head coach Mike McDaniel saying over the offseason that Achane should get a heavier workload.
Achane will still have to compete for touches with veteran back Raheem Mostert. However, Achane has a much lower ADP and is projected to be off the board much quicker in average Fantasy drafts. His youth and upside make it easy to see why the SportsLine model is high on Achane heading into the 2024 season. See more Fantasy football breakouts 2024 here.
Top 2024 Fantasy football busts
As for players to avoid, the model lists Vikings running back Aaron Jones as one of its 2024 Fantasy football busts. Jones missed six games last season with Green Bay, as he had three different stints where he was inactive due to injury. That led to him finishing with just 889 total yards and three touchdowns after averaging 1,431 yards and 12 TDs over his previous four seasons. Further dropping Jones' stock is that his 4.6 ypc last year tied a career-low, and he's entering his age-30 season, which is a red flag for a running back.
Now, Jones has joined the divisional rival Vikings, who have been one of the league's worst rushing teams over the last two years. Minnesota ranked 27th in rushing in 2022 and 29th last season, while also ranking 30th in rushing TDs in 2023. That was with Kirk Cousins at QB, so having Sam Darnold under center isn't likely to lessen the stacked boxes that Jones will face. SportsLine's model has taken all of these factors into account and projects Jones to finish as a 2024 Fantasy football bust, finishing outside the top 25 in positional Fantasy points. See more Fantasy football busts 2024 here
How to find proven 2024 Fantasy football football rankings
SportsLine is also extremely high on a surprising quarterback you aren't even thinking about being taken in the middle rounds of 2024 Fantasy football drafts. This quarterback is listed as a shocking top-10 option ahead of stars like Trevor Lawrence and Aaron Rodgers. You can only see who it is, and the 2023 Fantasy football rankings for every player, at SportsLine.
So which 2024 Fantasy Football sleepers, breakouts and busts should you target and fade, and which QB shocks the NFL with a top-10 performance? Visit SportsLine now to get 2024 Fantasy Football cheat sheets for every single position, all from the model that nailed Deebo Samuel as a bust last year, and find out.
