All season lengthy, I introduced you gamers who would make or break your fantasy staff every week and now that that season has come to an finish, it’s time to debate which gamers made or broke your whole fantasy yr.
From rookie highs to disappointing veterans, I’ve narrowed down a listing of gamers who really made a distinction — each good and unhealthy in 2024.
Players who made our fantasy season
The ascension to true WR1: Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
We’ll begin off with my favourite “make” participant who was a frequent flyer within the weekly column and hit week after week: Brian Thomas Jr.
We debated Marvin Harrison Jr.’s ADP and if Rome Odunze might ascend to the WR1 function for the Bears. Both grew to become a moot level and the true focus ought to have been on Brian Thomas Jr.’s potential because the Jaguars’ WR1.
Thomas Jr.’s fantasy season was a ravishing development, culminating in 80 receptions on 122 targets for 1,179 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He completed as the general WR4 and WR9 in common factors per recreation, outperforming first-round receivers like A.J. Brown and Tyreek Hill (we’ll get to him later). This was notably spectacular contemplating BTJ was the lowest-drafted first-round receiver by ADP, even behind Ladd McConkey and Xavier Worthy.
While he didn’t have the very best common factors per recreation (Malik Nabers barely edged him out), Thomas Jr.’s season stood out for his development and consistency by way of fantasy reliability, regardless of the Jaguars’ perplexing and restricted focusing on.
From Week 1 by means of Week 11 (previous to Jacksonville’s bye week), Thomas Jr. was the WR24 in common factors per recreation, averaging 11.4 fantasy factors, 3.8 receptions and 5.7 targets per recreation. After the bye week, Doug Pederson lastly noticed the sunshine and Thomas Jr. grew to become the WR2 in common factors per recreation — sure the general WR2 — averaging 20.2 fantasy factors per recreation behind solely Ja’Marr Chase.
His receptions elevated to 7.6 per recreation on 11.8 targets per recreation and most of this manufacturing got here with Mac Jones at quarterback. Thomas Jr. delivered as a real WR1 and his 2025 fantasy worth will probably be fascinating and thrilling to observe.
The profession yr: Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I gained’t lie. I had my considerations about Baker Mayfield this yr, and that skepticism was largely tied to Geno Smith’s regression after 2022. Smith went from being the general QB5 in 2022 to QB19 in 2023, with statistical drops throughout the board. The distinction in Mayfield’s efficiency in 2023 in comparison with all earlier seasons was astounding. It was straightforward to attach the dots and attribute a serious a part of Mayfield’s improvement to former offensive coordinator Dave Canales, so I apprehensive that Canales’ departure from Tampa Bay would result in the identical regression we noticed with Smith.
Instead, Mayfield delivered his greatest statistical season but, setting profession highs in completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns and speeding manufacturing. He completed as the general QB5 in complete factors and QB4 in common factors per recreation behind solely Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Joe Burrow, whereas tying with Jayden Daniels.
Mayfield’s season wasn’t nearly statistical enchancment; his consistency was exceptional. He had solely 4 video games exterior the highest 10 quarterbacks, and two of these performances coincided with Mike Evans’ absence as a result of harm. Mayfield was usually pressured into high-volume conditions as a result of Tampa Bay’s atrocious protection, however what he achieved with that quantity was unbelievable. Through 17 weeks, Mayfield threw 39 touchdowns, second solely to Joe Burrow and tied with Lamar Jackson.
Perhaps essentially the most spectacular a part of Mayfield’s season was his ADP worth. He was drafted exterior the highest 20 quarterbacks, behind gamers like Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins and Trevor Lawrence.
The breakout season: Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
During draft season, I positioned a variety of my private eggs in Chase Brown’s basket, and fortunately, it completely paid off.
The begin of the season was irritating, because the Bengals used Zack Moss because the lead again. Despite spectacular numbers on his restricted work, Brown had simply 14 carries throughout the primary three video games, by no means taking part in greater than a 3rd of the offensive snaps.
In Week 4 towards Carolina, we lastly noticed a shift. Brown broke out with 15 carries for 80 yards and two speeding touchdowns. While it appeared like Brown was on the verge of changing into the lead again, the Bengals caught with a bizarre committee strategy. Brown clearly outperformed Moss, however Moss’ continued involvement restricted Brown’s fantasy upside.
Everything modified when Moss suffered a season-ending harm in Week 8. From Week 9 by means of the top of the fantasy season, Brown was the general RB6 in complete factors and RB5 in common factors per recreation, averaging 18.3 fantasy factors per recreation. Brown primarily ascended right into a Kyren Williams-esque function, taking part in 80% or extra of the snaps in each recreation.
Brown grew to become matchup-proof and game-script-proof. In run-heavy recreation plans, Brown thrived on quantity. In pass-heavy conditions, he was a key piece within the receiving recreation, operating a wide range of routes past easy checkdowns.
I discussed Kyren Williams for a motive; Brown is heading for the same offseason trajectory. Moss continues to be below contract, elevating questions on whether or not he’ll recuperate and push the backfield right into a committee once more. Do the Bengals put money into one other again through the draft? Or do they belief Brown as their future workhorse? Brown will probably be an interesting participant to observe this offseason.
Players who broke our fantasy season
The rookie disappointment: Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals
After discussing the glory of Brian Thomas Jr., it’s solely truthful to the touch on Marvin Harrison Jr.’s disappointing season. Harrison Jr. entered the yr with essentially the most aggressive ADP of any rookie, sometimes going within the early second spherical. He was moving into a transparent WR1 function with a secure veteran quarterback, however the Cardinals’ offense struggled to search out its id all yr.
Harrison Jr. completed the season with simply 57 receptions on 110 targets for 822 yards and 7 touchdowns. His 52% catch fee highlighted a transparent disconnect with Kyler Murray. While there have been considerations about Malik Nabers’ quarterback state of affairs, Nabers nonetheless managed a traditional catch fee regardless of taking part in with a chaotic mixture of sign callers.
Even within the few video games that Harrison Jr. truly hit, they nonetheless felt he by no means hit his true ceiling. Recall the Week 2 two-touchdown efficiency towards the Los Angeles Rams, the place his whole fantasy manufacturing got here within the first quarter solely to fail to attain a single level for the rest of the sport.
Harrison Jr.’s ADP will doubtless drop considerably in 2025, however the massive query stays: Can the Cardinals regulate their offense to raised make the most of Harrison Jr., and may he and Murray lastly get on the identical web page?
The sophomore hunch: CJ Stroud, QB, Houston Texans
Stroud seems like a cautionary story of getting overly excited a couple of rookie and over-drafting him. As a pocket passer, Stroud lacks the speeding upside that usually propels quarterbacks into elite fantasy tiers (see: Joe Burrow). While speeding isn’t necessary for achievement, with out it, a quarterback should produce excessive passing quantity to ship top-tier outcomes.
The expectation for Stroud was sky-high coming into 2024. Coming off a promising rookie marketing campaign the place he completed as QB10 in common fantasy factors per recreation (18.7), fantasy managers anticipated he might construct on that success with an upgraded arsenal of weapons. Instead, Stroud’s 2024 numbers fell quick: 3,677 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions whereas averaging simply 14.2 fantasy factors per recreation. He plummeted to QB26, ending behind all of the rookie quarterbacks who began nearly all of the season, in addition to older veterans like Derek Carr and Aaron Rodgers.
Stroud’s 2023 numbers, in hindsight, didn’t justify his ADP leap to QB5 in 2024 drafts. Fantasy managers anticipated him to thrive with Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell, plus the addition of Joe Mixon, creating visions of a high-volume, explosive Texans offense. Instead, the offense struggled with important accidents throughout the board.
Even when the offense was wholesome early within the season, the outcomes had been underwhelming. Stroud managed one ceiling recreation in Week 1 towards Indianapolis, ending as QB8 with 18.7 fantasy factors. However, within the following two video games, he completed as QB16 and QB25. Throughout the season, Stroud’s greatest performances got here towards AFC South rivals, and he failed to complete as a QB1 in any matchup exterior the division.
While Stroud isn’t alone in being a QB bust this season, his constant top-five draft placement makes him one of the vital evident disappointments. Fantasy managers banked on him to ship the gaudy pocket-passer numbers we noticed from gamers like Joe Burrow, Jared Goff and even Sam Darnold in 2024. Unfortunately, these expectations went unmet.
The first-round bust: Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins
For my remaining make-or-break participant, I thought-about discussing Travis Kelce, however I’ve already coated his underwhelming season and considerations for 2025 in my Week 17 pulse verify article. Instead, we’ll deal with one of many largest first-round busts of the season: Tyreek Hill.
Hill began the yr with a ceiling efficiency in Week 1 towards Jacksonville. Unfortunately, the season rapidly unraveled for each Hill and the Miami offense when Tua Tagovailoa suffered an harm in Week 2. From Weeks 3 by means of 7, whereas Tua Tagovailoa was sidelined, the Dolphins offense was fully unusable. Hill did not exceed 10 fantasy factors throughout this stretch, regardless of favorable matchups that appeared ripe for achievement.
Much of the blame fell on Miami’s inept backup quarterback group. The hope was that Hill would bounce again as soon as Tagovailoa returned. However, even after that occurred, it took weeks for him to regain type and for Miami to search out the amount essential to help its receiving corps. Hill didn’t crack 100 yards once more till Week 14 and completed the season with simply three WR1 performances.
In addition to Tua’s harm, Hill dealt along with his personal challenges. A lingering hand harm might have impacted his efficiency, whereas the Dolphins offense shifted priorities. De’Von Achane emerged as a key receiving possibility, lowering alternatives for each Hill and Jalen Waddle. To complicate issues additional, Jonnu Smith’s rise additional restricted the manufacturing of Miami’s star large receivers.
Heading into his age-31 season in 2025, Hill’s future stays unsure. Tagovailoa’s well being and consistency are nonetheless main query marks and the Dolphins’ offensive focus seems to be evolving. Hill will doubtless see a noticeable dip in ADP, and fantasy managers might want to weigh the dangers of betting on a bounce-back yr.
