My Yahoo Fantasy Football Draft Grade & Recap (2024)

2024 Rank: 5 - 2023 Rank: 5

Robinson's rookie year was frustrating due to the inconsistent usage he saw under coach Arthur Smith, whose departure could allow the 2023 eight overall pick to take off. Robinson was predictably effective as a rookie, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and 8.4 per catch in an offense with bottom-five QB play. A repeat of his 86 targets from last season likely would go further in 2024 with QB Kirk Cousins throwing the passes instead of Desmond Ridder or Taylor Heinicke. Whatever Robinson's target volume looks like, he should easily improve upon last year's 67.4 percent catch rate (fourth worst among RBs) and also figures to take more carries than he did last year. Capable as Tyler Allgeier might be, he doesn't warrant 186 carries to every 214 of Robinson's --something like a 1:2 ratio would make more sense -- and may not be a good fit anyway in a more spread-out offense under new coordinator Zac Robinson (a former Rams assistant). Robinson's combination of speed (4.46 40), size (5-11, 215), power, balance and agility should make him an excellent fit for any NFL offense, including this new-look Atlanta unit with three top-10 draft picks at skill positions and an experienced, reliable offensive line.

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.

2024 Rank: 14 - 2023 Rank: 14

The Eagles didn't mind letting D'Andre Swift walk in free agency once it was clear Barkley would finally hit the open market, and now Philadelphia has taken a strong running game and made it stronger yet. Barkley walks into the most favorable playing circ*mstances of his NFL career, which has been slowed both by injuries and various difficulties of playing in the Giants offense. Even after the retirement of center Jason Kelce, the Eagles offensive line should be a big upgrade over what Barkley had in New York, with the four returning starters in Philadelphia including standout OTs Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata. Barkley's three-year, $37.75 million contract is one befitting a workhorse running back, so his per-game usage should exceed Swift's from 2023 -- 229 carries and 49 targets in 16 games. The downside in Philadelphia is that QB Jalen Hurts takes a lot of the goal-line carries and turns potential check-down passes into scrambles, but it's possible that scales back some this season (under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore), which would then allow Barkley to score more easy fantasy points than Swift did last year.

2024 Rank: 23 - 2023 Rank: 23

Olave started his career with back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons after going 11th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. He was as advertised, more or less, relying on 4.39 speed and precise route-running more so than physicality and gaining yards after the catch. Olave improved his YAC average from 2.9 to 4.2 between his first and second seasons -- showing some improvement in that regard -- albeit with his aDOT dropping from 14.1 to a still-pretty-high 12.8. Even though he worked downfield a lot, he was targeted on more than one-fourth of his routes both years, easily leading the Saints in targets, receiving yards and air yards. The 24-year-old should be at his physical peak, and the situation around him looks somewhat improved after the Saints hired Klint Kubiak to replace long-time offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael and drafted OT Taliese Fuaga with the 14th overall pick. Olave is an ascending talent, and one who won't be stuck in Carmichael's stale offense anymore, but he's nonetheless unlikely to have the benefit of high-quality QB or O-line play. Most of the other receivers drafted in Olave's range come from passing games with higher expectations overall, which means he'll probably need a dominant target share well above 25 percent in order to push for WR1 status in fantasy.

2024 Rank: 34 - 2023 Rank: 34

Metcalf has mostly been an excellent player for the Seahawks but only had top fantasy numbers to show for it once, back in 2020 when he finished his second pro season with 1,303 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He's scored 26 TDs in three subsequent years, but the other stats have been far from dominant, with Metcalf averaging 77 catches for 1,043 yards on 129.7 targets (with 13.5 yards per catch, 8.0 yards per target and a 59.4 percent catch rate). His career season was the same year Russell Wilson had career highs for pass attempts (558) and pass TDs (40), which was also the last time the Seahawks didn't have Shane Waldron as their offensive coordinator. Waldron directed mostly competent offenses the past three years, but he spread the ball around and didn't play at a fast pace. Metcalf needed a change in order to take his production to the next level -- commensurate with his ridiculous athleticism -- and he now gets that opportunity with Ryan Grubbs taking over as Seattle's coordinator and playcaller. Metcalf's fantasy value will partially depend on how Grubbs envisions the target distribution between his talented trio of wide receivers -- Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba -- and Geno Smith's play at QB will also be a big factor.

2024 Rank: 46 - 2023 Rank: 46

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.

2024 Rank: 38 - 2023 Rank: 38

Pittman had his best season yet in 2023, his fourth pro year, recording career highs for targets (156), catches (109) and receiving yards (1,152). He scored only four touchdowns and had efficiency numbers right around his career averages, but his target volume increased for a third year in a row, in part because dual-threat rookie QB Anthony Richardson missed most of the season with a shoulder injury. Richardson is back to lead the offense, which likely means more run plays and fewer passes, but it might also lead Pittman to more deep targets and better per-target efficiency, eventually. That's perhaps a big ask for Richardson's first season as a starter, especially with the Colts having 2023 third-round pick Josh Downs and 2024 second-rounder Adonai Mitchell as alternatives at wide receiver. Neither is likely to challenge Pittman for the team lead in targets, but the gap between him and the team's other receivers could close some. After initially getting a franchise tag this offseason, Pittman reached agreement on a three-year contract that takes him through 2026 with Indianapolis.

2024 Rank: 938 - 2023 Rank: 938

Franklin gained a full-time role on the defensive side of the ball in 2022, coinciding with the serious back injuries suffered by Shaquille Leonard. Franklin then maintained that role in 2023, tallying his second straight season with over 1,000 defensive snaps while also racking up 179 total tackles. Thanks to that production, Franklin was rewarded with a three-year, $31.3 million contract this offseason that also includes $17.6 million in guaranteed money. There's no doubt that Franklin will remain the centerpiece of the Colts' linebacking corps in 2024, and he'll also benefit from arguably the best defensive line in the league freeing him up to make more tackles. Don't expect much in terms of pass rush or production in coverage, but Franklin should be among the league's top tacklers in 2024.

2024 Rank: 1782 - 2023 Rank: 1782

2024 Rank: 1777 - 2023 Rank: 1777

2024 Rank: 426 - 2023 Rank: 426

2024 Rank: 214 - 2023 Rank: 214

The Eagles underwent significant changes this offseason, appointing veteran defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to fix last year's disaster under Sean Desai and Matt Patricia. After ranking top eight in points allowed, yards allowed and D/ST scoring in 2022, the Eagles plummeted to bottom eight in each category last season, despite retaining many key players. The cornerbacks were an especially big problem, with James Bradberry declining in his age-30 season and injuries limiting Darius Slay and Avonte Maddox to just 14 games combined. The Eagles responded loudly, drafting Toledo CB Quinyon Mitchell in the first round and Iowa CB Cooper DeJean in the second. They also re-signed S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (after he wandered to Detroit for a year) and bolstered their linebacker corps by signing veterans Devin White, Zack Baun and Oren Burks. Transitioning to a 3-4 defense under Fangio, the Eagles have depth both on the defensive line and off the edge, with Bryce Huff replacing Haason Reddick as the main speed-rushing threat. The Eagles could be headed for a big rebound on defense, especially if young DTs Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis continue to develop and look the part of top-15 picks (which both were).

2024 Rank: 236 - 2023 Rank: 236

Bass is entering his fifth season as Buffalo's kicker and the first year of a contract extension, having perhaps lost some goodwill after three missed kicks in two playoff games last season. He's generally been a good kicker, converting 84.9 percent of career FG attempts and 97.6 percent of PATs despite playing two or three winter games in Buffalo each year. The Bills' stadium is one of the two or three toughest to kick in, and Bass has mostly been quite good at it. He was only 16th in fantasy scoring last season, but there's reason to expect solid results moving forward, especially earlier in the season when weather is less likely to limit his range.

2024 Rank: 419 - 2023 Rank: 419

James is among the most electric performers on the defensive side of the ball in the entire league when he's on the field. The problem has been keeping him there, as he's missed at least one game in each of the last four seasons. James was relatively healthy in 2023, playing in 16 games and 971 defensive snaps, both of which were his highest marks since his rookie campaign. As a result, he tallied a career-best 125 total tackles while continuing his playmaking ways, breaking up seven passes, delivering two sacks and recovering a pair of fumbles. Heading into 2024, there should be plenty of reason for optimism about James' ability to put up another stellar stat line with defensive whiz Jim Harbaugh taking over as the Chargers' head coach. Even after baking in some missed time, James is among the best picks among secondary-eligible players and even among all IDP options, regardless of position.

2024 Rank: 82 - 2023 Rank: 82

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.

2024 Rank: 128 - 2023 Rank: 128

Schultz had at least 577 receiving yards and 14 red-zone targets each of the past four seasons while averaging 5.5 touchdowns in that span. The first three of those campaigns came in Dallas prior to an intrastate move to Houston, where he had 635 yards and five TDs in 2023. Schultz re-signed for three years and $36 million in March, ensuring the Texans are committed to him as their starting tight end, but he's now overshadowed by one of the league's best WR rooms. The Texans traded for Stefon Diggs to form a Big 3 with Nico Collins and Tank Dell, and they may even have the best group of backup WRs in the league. A rising tide lifts all boats, however, and second-year QB C.J. Stroud could have that effect on Houston's offense. Schultz is more of a midsize cruiser than a yacht, but he could put up decent numbers again if he's playing a lot of snaps in a top offense, even if he's somewhat of an afterthought within that offense.

2024 Rank: 162 - 2023 Rank: 162

The Browns traded for Jeudy this spring and gave him a three-year, $52 million extension shortly thereafter, apparently believing he's capable of much more than what he did in Denver the past four years. There were flashes of him living up to his billing as a 2020 first-round pick, but Jeudy played in three different offensive systems over four seasons and never quite got to 1,000 yards in a year. He did have 67 catches for 972 yards and six touchdowns over 15 games in 2022, only to slip back to the No. 2 receiver role in Courtland Sutton last season. Broncos coach Sean Payton didn't seem to be a big fan, so Jeudy should be happy with the fresh start and new contract heading into his age-25 season. He'll likely bump Elijah Moore back to the No. 3 role and operate as Cleveland's No. 2 wide receiver opposite Amari Cooper. The Browns also have TE David Njoku demanding targets, but it could work out for Jeudy in fantasy if QB Deshaun Watson has a big year or Cooper/Njoku miss a lot of time.

2024 Rank: 133 - 2023 Rank: 133

It wasn't long ago that Herbert looked like a perennial top-five fantasy QB. The last couple years, though, he's been hampered by injuries and inconsistent performance. Last year, he struggled for much of the season before a finger injury ended his campaign with four games remaining. His 6.9 YPA ranked 21st among qualified passers, and he finished with career lows for passing yards per game (241.1) and completion percentage (65.1). This season, he'll look to get back on track with a revamped offense under new coach Jim Harbaugh, but that might be easier said than done. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman is known for directing run-first offenses and figures to put Herbert well below his career average of 39.1 pass attempts per game, which means any fantasy gains will need to come from superior efficiency and/or rushing stats. The team no longer has RB Austin Ekeler or WRs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, having replaced them this offseason with cheaper alternatives (J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards in the backfield, with journeyman DJ Chark and second-round pick Ladd McConkey at wide receiver). The Chargers lack major receiving threats at running back and tight end, likely leaving McConkey and returning starter Joshua Palmer as Herbert's top weapons in the new-look offense. It's a suboptimal setup for fantasy production, with the only real positives being Herbert's talent and an improved offensive line.

2024 Rank: 997 - 2023 Rank: 997

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.

2024 Rank: 210 - 2023 Rank: 210

Brian Flores made strides in his debut season as Minnesota's defensive coordinator, elevating the unit to 13th in points allowed and 16th in total yards after dismal, bottom-five finishes the previous year. Despite lacking standout talents aside from DE/OLB Danielle Hunter -- who departed for Houston this offseason -- Flores orchestrated improvements. The Vikings addressed the losses of Hunter (16.5 sacks) and D.J. Wonnum (8.0 sacks) by signing Jonathan Greenard (12.5 sacks) and Andrew Van Ginkel (6.5 sacks), later drafting edge rusher Dallas Turner at 17th overall. The linebacker corps, featuring Blake Cashman, Kamu Grugier-Hill and 2023 breakout player Ivan Pace, adds depth and talent to Flores' 3-4 defensive front. The secondary looks much weaker, but they mostly held up alright last season even with Minnesota leading the league in blitz rate last year (51.5% of dropbacks). Flores' aggressive approach hints at potential for strong sack and turnover production in fantasy even if the Vikings remain about average in preventing points and yards.

2024 Rank: 144 - 2023 Rank: 144

Watson's 2023 season was marred by shoulder injuries, with a season-ending fracture in Week 10 limiting him to six games for the second consecutive year. His numbers were similar to the poor stats he posted in 2022, although he went downfield more often last season. His air yards per attempt climbed to 9.2, third in the NFL, as he threw deep on 12.3 percent of his attempts after just 5.3 percent traveled at least 20 yards the previous year. Unfortunately for the Browns, not much changed in Watson's results. Perhaps he'll have more success with the deep ball this season, as he certainly has the receiving crew to be successful. The Browns traded for Jerry Jeudy this offseason, creating a strong WR trio with holdovers Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore. Tight end David Njoku returns after a career season, and running back Nick Chubb is said to be making good progress in his rehab from an ACL tear. Another thing going for Watson is his rushing ability -- he averaged 26.5 rush yards per game the last two years, only a 15 percent drop from his 31.1 ypg in four seasons with the Texans. Better health would go a long way, even if a full return of his peak Houston form is a long shot at this point.