The 2024 NFL season is upon us and with it brings the excitement of fantasy football strategy. Aside from betting on games, fantasy football is the best way to put yourself in the middle of the action as you draft a squad in hopes of taking home your league’s championship.
While managing your team throughout the season is crucial to your overall success, the road to glory begins through the draft. We’ve created a thorough 2024 fantasy football draft strategy and campaign outlook so you know where to look in order to put together a competitive team. We also highlight the best daily fantasy football site to take your action to!
How the NFL Fantasy Football Draft Works
Working just like the NFL draft, a fantasy football draft allows each team to make selections in order to build out their roster.
Most fantasy football drafts operate through a snake system (last pick of the first round gets first pick of second round), but some leagues may operate under a lineal selection order (same order each round).
Typically, fantasy football rosters are broken down by the starting lineup which features 1 quarterback, 2 running backs, 2 wide receivers, 1 tight end, 1 FLEX (any RB/WR/TE), 1 kicker, and 1 defence/special team unit), with an additional six roster spots for your bench.
After you’ve filled your roster through your draft, players can access players through the waiver wire/free agent market. This is where all players who aren’t currently owned by any league mates are placed and become available to replace any other positions on your squad.
Fantasy lineups need to be set each week with the goal of scoring the most possible points during the week. With injury news breaking throughout the week, all the way up to warm-ups, staying informed on your team’s health is critical to your success.
Aside from your 2024 fantasy football roster, make sure you understand all the league rules and points system in place. Every league operates under their own rules such as points per reception vs. standard, Super FLEX (QBs can be used at FLEX), as well as various other unique stipulations.
Fantasy Football Draft Strategy 2024: Tips and Tricks
Below we’ve outlined some basic draft strategy tips and tricks for beginners so you know how to best draft your squad heading into the upcoming NFL fantasy football season.
1. Balance your Roster by Position
A simple concept to bring into your NFL fantasy draft strategy, balancing your roster by position is something to keep in mind when making your picks.
If you only draft wide receivers in the first four rounds of your fantasy draft before selecting a running back, you wouldn’t be able to play each of these top selections, and would also have a weak spot at a crucial position.
Tip: Be sure to fill out your starting skill player groups with a quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, a FLEX, and a tight end before drafting any backup players.
2. Draft Players on High-Scoring Offences
NFL fantasy football revolves around offence, which makes players on high-scoring teams a more attractive choice than a top target on a struggling offensive squad.
Last year, the top scoring teams per game were the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, and Miami Dolphins. With each of these teams still primed for offensive success in 2024, be sure to consider the players of these teams when drafting your fantasy lineup.
Tip: If a team is consistently putting up big figures on the scoreboard, chances are that any member of their starting offence will provide you with reliable fantasy points.
3. Check the Average Draft Position
While everyone likes to think they’re an expert when it comes to fantasy football draft strategy, using the average draft position to make your next draft pick can be a great resource when filling out your roster.
A player’s average draft position shows where they’re being selected across all leagues. This tool can help you see if a player is worth grabbing at their projected spot, or if you could hold off and try to snag them in the later rounds.
This tool can also help you select one of two players you’re torn between. For instance, if you’re comparing two WRs with similar stats and projections, the average draft position can help you decide where you want to lean in terms of adding talent to your roster.
Tip: If you have a good feeling about a particular player, it’s never a bad call to trust your gut. That said, average draft positions can be a great way to influence your draft choices.
4. Draft from Multiple Teams
Just like drafting the positions of each player, you’ll also want to draft players from multiple teams.
Everyone has a soft spot for their favourite teams (Go Green Bay), but drafting too many players from the same squad can leave to cannibalization of your fantasy points. While it can pay off if your top team puts up a big scoring night, you would suffer badly if they were to get shut out.
Tip: We recommend drafting a maximum of three players from a single team, with no more than two of those players in your starting lineup.
5. Form Mock Draft Strategies
Practice makes perfect, and that is certainly the case when it comes to forming your 2024 fantasy football draft strategy. By completing a fantasy mock draft, you can begin to build out a game plan as you know what to expect when you head into your draft.
While the actual fantasy draft may not go the exact way your mock drafts do, this will still keep you prepared when it comes to figuring out which players should be available once your pick rolls around.
Tip: With a mock draft, you can try multiple draft strategies based on positions, teams, and overall projections without feeling the effects of a loss.
Advanced Draft Strategy
If you’re an experienced fantasy player, then the advance tips found below could prove beneficial heading into this NFL fantasy football season. While novices aren’t exempt from making using of these fantasy football draft strategies, some of this may be more complex and could cause more confusion than clarity. Tread with caution!
🏈 Running Backs > Wide Receivers
It’s no secret that the NFL has become a pass-first league, but that doesn’t mean you should lean into the hype of wide receivers. With only a few dominant running backs still walking the earth, these players should be kept in higher regard than their pass-catching counterparts.
Running backs are generally recommended to draft prior to wide receivers based on their ability to generate points with ease. Handoffs are generally more successful compared to all the factors that need to go right in for a receiver to get open, and haul in a pass.
Additionally, running backs in PPR point league settings are incredibly valuable. Not only do they rack up rushing yards, but also receptions. With their increased ceiling (when compared to wideouts) you should ensure you have a solid running back group prior to taking too many wide receivers.
👬 Draft Dynamic Duos
We’ve already said not to draft too many players from the same team. But, if you’re going to, try to choose a beneficial relationship. By drafting dynamic duos (such as a quarterback and his running back or number-one receiver) this can lead to you doubling up your points each time they link up.
For example, if you were to draft Justin Herbert and Quentin Johnson, each time they connect in the end zone for a touchdown, you’d be credited with two scores for the price of one.
While this draft strategy can still be risky on a poor offensive showing for your duo’s team, the potential upside can be too good to pass up on.
💰 Prioritize Pass-Catchers (PPR)
If your 2024 fantasy football league settings are set to points per reception (PPR), then you should make sure to prioritize players who haul in the most receptions for their team.
While deep threat receivers and smashmouth running-backs can produce big gains, reliable pass-catchers are the safer, and more consistent, way to score points.
For example, while DJ Moore or Rome Odunze may be the top targets for the Chicago Bears in 2024 due to their ability to rip-off big gains downfield, Keenan Allen has proven himself to be one of the best in the league when it comes to absorbing balls on any down.
The same can be said about running backs. Elusive, pass-catching running backs are much more valuable due to their versatility, versus a back that can only produce through runs up the middle.
👶 Take Flyers on Rookies
If you’re looking for a sleeper pick to take in the late rounds of your draft, rookie players are a great way to gain an edge on your league.
While nobody knows how the newest members for each team are going to perform throughout the season, once you’re left with your last few draft picks, you should take a flyer on some of the available rookies. Each year, several rookies come out of the woodwork and become top scoring options on their squads.
With big upsides and low-risks involved with these later rounds picks, rookie players are welcome draft picks at the end of the selection process.
📈 Create your own Big Board
With NFL fantasy football growing in popularity (and projected rankings and points being assigned across multiple platforms), sometimes you need to take matters into your own hands.
That’s why we recommend creating your own big board for your upcoming NFL fantasy draft. By creating your own draft board and rankings, you can determine which players you value more than their projections, in addition to players you want to avoid–regardless of their projections or rankings.
This draft strategy should only be done by those who have a thorough understanding of fantasy football, and the NFL in general. You’re going to need to compare hundreds of players across the league in order to find the best value–so make it worth it.
NFL Fantasy Football Top Picks
With the 2024 fantasy football season underway, let’s take a look at the consensus rankings among fantasy draft managers this year. Below we’ve highlighted the top three players by their average draft position in 2024, how they’re performing, and their total projected fantasy points.
Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
The consensus top target for all fantasy owners is superstar running back Christian McCaffrey. He was the popular choice among those selecting first overall in their drafts.
After finishing the 2023 NFL campaign with the most fantasy points scored among all running backs by a wide margin, as well as good enough to rank third-overall including quarterbacks (PPR), CMC was the easy choice with the 2024 first pick.
While this was a smart play by anyone who drafted the 49ers star, things haven’t played out the way that managers had hoped. After missing Week 1 due to a calf injury, McCaffrey has officially been moved to the IR and is expected to miss between 4-6 weeks as of Week 2.
This is a major blow to any 2024 fantasy football roster that selected the elite talent as they are now set to play without their top draft choice for first half of the season.
CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys
The first wide receiver off the board in many drafts, CeeDee Lamb has quickly established himself as one of the game’s top players. After leading the way for all players last year with a sensational statistical output, Lamb was rightfully a popular pick among fantasy owners.
Having reeled in a career-high in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns in 2023, Lamb is arguably the best wide receiver in football. With the Cowboys offence set to revolve around the talent of Lamb, his productivity level is set to soar through the roof in 2024.
With his dominance in target share for the Cowboys, Lamb is sure to rack up PPR points this year as he once again finishes among the top producers this fantasy season.
Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
Possessing breakneck speed, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is a no-brainer top target for any 2024 fantasy football manager. After being named the top player among his cohort through the NFL Top 100 rankings, Hill was electrifying in the 2023 season.
After hauling in major total receiving yards, yards per game, and touchdowns, Hill showed he was an unstoppable force for the ‘Fins last year. His on-field heroics translated directly to strong fantasy football performance, and he ranked second in PPR points among wide receivers.
With the potential to create a scoring play at any moment, Hill is set for another explosive season in 2024 and could prove to be a league winner for fantasy players.
NFL Fantasy Football Breakout Players
Every year, there are several top players who fly under the radar and wind up becoming league winners.
The 2023 season was no different. We saw the emergence of several top talents, who’s average draft positions skyrocketed compared to last year. For various reasons, each of these players excelled in their environments and ended up becoming some of the most valuable fantasy players of the year.
Check out the top breakout players of the 2024 fantasy football season below, and how they became some of the most highly-sought after for talent in this year’s draft.
Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets
Shooting up 35 spots from last year’s draft, New York Jets Breece Hall was easily one of the top breakout players of the season. Even amidst constant changes and uncertainties among the Jets’ offence, Hall served as a reliable fantasy option.
Thanks to his ability to work well as a receiver out of the backfield, Hall ended up as the #2 running back in NFL fantasy PPR points.
With all-time great quarterback, Aaron Rodgers making his return to the Jets lineup this year, fantasy managers invested highly in Hall’s stock as he became the fifth-most popular draft choice of the 2024 season.
Able to impact the game on the ground, as well as through the air, Hall is set for a phenomenal fantasy season as long as he can stay healthy.
Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
Set to make the leap in his second season in the NFL, fantasy draft enthusiasts were all over Jahmyr Gibbs in 2024.
Moving from 33 in average draft position to 13 this year, Gibbs has cemented his spot as a building block for the Detroit Lions future. Having superseded David Montgomery for the top spot in the Lions depth chart, Gibbs is poised for a fantastic 2024 fantasy season.
An explosive athlete that works well in both the pass-game as well as rushing the football, Gibbs is set to continue his rapid development in 2024.
Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
The undisputed diamond in the rough of the 2023 fantasy football season, many league winners have Los Angeles Rams wide receiver, Puka Nacua to thank for their hard-earned league championships.
After entering the 2023 NFL season as a relatively unknown player, the rookie Nacua was largely left undrafted in most fantasy football selections. But, after bursting onto the scene in Week 1 with a 10 reception, 119-yard performance in his NFL debut, Nacua quickly became a hot commodity among any league’s waiver wire.
Finishing the 2023 fantasy season as the fourth-highest scoring wideout, Nacua was rightfully a top draft choice for many managers this year, holding an average draft selection of 14.2 among all leagues.
Possibly the very definition of a breakout player, Nacua is primed for yet another big fantasy football season in 2024.
NFL Fantasy Football Sleeper Picks
While it can be tough to find breakout NFL fantasy football players before they’ve emerged, below we’ve provided a few talents that should be looked at as sleeper picks in your 2024 fantasy football draft strategy.
Sleeper picks are players that many league managers wouldn’t consider adding, but may have high upside that could help you finish atop your league standings this season.
Check out our top 2024 fantasy football sleeper picks below and be sure to roster these ‘under the radar’ players to provide you with a winning edge.
Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
A patriotic pick, Canadian Chase Brown could be set for a breakout season for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024. After losing longtime starting running back Joe Mixon to the Houston Texans, the top spot in the backfield may be up for grabs.
Competing for snaps with former-Indianapolis Colts running back Zach Moss, Brown is sure to be heavily featured in the Bengals’ game plan. A speedy back that works well in the passing-attack, Brown could prove to be a sneaky point producer in fantasy leagues this season.
Holding an average draft position of pick 111.2, Brown is likely available through the waiver wire or via trade in most leagues. Invest in Brown now and reap the rewards before season’s end, as he’ll possibly emerge as the top rusher for the Bengals in 2024.
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Primed for a big rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. could be a sneaky pick-up for any fantasy manager.
While rookies can always be a risk to select within a fantasy football draft, Thomas is already establishing himself as the top target of quarterback Trevor Lawrence early this season. Receiving a healthy dose of targets out the gate, Thomas could see himself grow into a top NFL fantasy receiver on a star-studded Jags offence.
Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions
Having shown glimpses of sensational upside in his first two seasons in the NFL, Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams is poised for a breakout season in 2024.
While he hasn’t been a top target so far in his career, with his big play potential alongside star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, Williams could be poised to explode in production this season.
At an average draft position of #120.2, Williams is easily accessible and could be ready to pop off for a big showing on a weekly-basis in 2024.
NFL Fantasy Football: How it Works
There are several aspects of NFL fantasy football that can make it unique and challenging when compared to other fantasy sports. With 32 teams across the league, as well as a plethora of players at multiple positions, NFL fantasy football is arguably the hardest fantasy sport to play.
Another challenging aspect of fantasy football comes from their weekly games, rather than daily schedule compared to other leagues like the NHL, NBA, or MLB. With this setup, there’s no room for error. If a key player drops a dud, it can make-or-break your matchup.
Here are some more aspects to take into consideration when playing NFL fantasy football–see how you can use this information to your advantage this season.
Bye Weeks
In the NFL, each team is granted one bye week, which allows them to have a week to rest without having to play a game. When crafting your 2024 fantasy football roster, it’s important to take bye weeks into account. If you have multiple players on the same bye week, you could be handcuffed to backups, or forced to make a roster change as you won’t have enough personnel to compete.
Trades
A challenging but exciting aspect of fantasy football is trading with other league managers. Just like in the NFL, you can ship off your own players in order to receive talent in return. This can be done to build your roster strategically if you feel you’re weak on certain positions, or could be done to sell high or low on a player you don’t fully trust.
Finding a willing trade partner can be difficult, but it can be necessary to produce winning seasons.
CFL Fantasy Football
Not only can you play NFL fantasy, but now you can also play CFL fantasy football. The Canadian game continues to excite fans across Canada and now you can take the action to the next level with CFL fantasy.
Just like with NFL fantasy, players need to be strategic when crafting their lineups as games are only played once a week, but in the case of the CFL, there are far less teams and players to choose from.
The CFL and NFL are also completely different games, operating under their own unique rule sets. Below we’ve highlighted some of the key differences to take into account when drafting your CFL fantasy squad.
3 Downs
A major difference in the NFL versus the CFL is the amount of downs played in a series. While the NFL plays with four total downs, the CFL plays with three. While the playing field and ball are larger than their neighbours to the south, Canadian football having one less down is crucial factor in fantasy.
With one less down, this means less total offensive opportunities for your selected fantasy players to score and produce yards during the game.
Player Twelve
One of the many key differences between American and Canadian football (aside from the amount of downs) is the players on the field. In the CFL, teams have 12 players on the field at once as opposed to the 11 in the NFL.
With this extra player, there are increased offensive possibilities, and more viable depth on each team when drafting your CFL fantasy team.
Best Daily Fantasy Football Sites
Below we’ve highlighted the go-to destination for all your daily fantasy sports needs. Score a big win while drafting your winning squad each week of this season’s NFL action.
DraftKings
Not only are they one of the top online sportsbooks on the market, DraftKings is also one of the best daily fantasy football sites in Canada. With their roots stemming from daily fantasy sports, the experience playing at DraftKings is unparalleled.
At DraftKings, players can draft their team based on a pre-determined budget based on each player’s projected fantasy output. The higher their projected total, the more of a cap hit they’ll hit, so you need to draft strategically when compiling your team.
Best Daily Fantasy Football!
One aspect of DraftKings compared to a typical fantasy football league is that every player is available to select. Multiple players can roster the same players as long as they fall within the outlined budget.
Once you’ve built your team, players can join contests and compete for cash prizes with their selected team. Top finishers will earn increasing amounts, with the first-place finisher earning the biggest payout.
While there are multiple platforms on the market, nothing compares to the service offered by DraftKings. Check out DraftKings fantasy sports today and see why they are the cream of the crop, and score your next fantasy football payout with them today.
Final Thoughts on Fantasy Football Draft Strategy
All-in-all, developing a fantasy football draft strategy is incredibly important if you hope to be successful. From scouting talent and taking risks, following trends, and making moves throughout the season, CFL and NFL fantasy football takes a great deal of skill, as well as some luck, to become a league winner.
Be sure to incorporate some of the strategies provided within this article in your next live draft, and make the 2024 fantasy football season one for the history books.
Fantasy Football Draft Strategy FAQs
In an online draft, you either want to select early or in the later rounds. If you are picking within the top three spots, you are almost guaranteed to land a stud, which will make up for the wait in making your second pick.
Drafting in the later rounds may not score you a flashy pick off the jump, but positions you to select close together so you can form a strong one-two punch.
In 2024, the consensus rankings had Christian McCaffrey as the best first pick for fantasy football. McCaffrey is a versatile playmaker with the San Francisco 49ers who recorded a career-high in rushing yards last year.
In a 12 team league, it is best to draft a QB in the later rounds. With plenty of managers in your league, it’s important to load up with skill players as the waiver wire market will be slim pickings. Quarterbacks are a dime a dozen in fantasy football so don’t feel overly pressured to draft one early.
If you have the fourth overall pick in your 2024 fantasy draft, the consensus rankings indicate that Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons is the best choice. Coming into his second season as a pro, Robinson is projected for a stellar season as the Falcons hope to be in Super Bowl contention in 2024.
There are a number of great draft strategies for fantasy football, but the best way to compile a competitive team is to have solid NFL knowledge. If you know how the top players are and how they are projected to play, this will help you build a winning roster in 2024.
Running back is the best position to pick first in fantasy football. While not always the case depending on the talent available, running backs come at a premium, where as wide receivers can be drafted later in the selection process.
For a standard 15-player roster, about 10-11 players should be wide receivers or running backs. With these groups taking up 2-3 spots each on your final lineup, building depth at these positions is key to your success.
