In less than a week, we will have NFL games that count and, therefore, Fantasy football results to track. I hope it lasts forever and everyone has an opinion on which player will do it and which team will do it. Who loves being a fan, right?
With that in mind, we asked ESPN’s fantasy football analysts for their thoughts on the world. If something happens, don’t be surprised.
Don’t be surprised if…
Adonai Mitchell finished as a top-35 fantasy WR
Currently being drafted as WR61, the Indianapolis Colts rookie has the size and speed (4.34 40-yard dash was third fastest among wide receivers this year at the combine) to provide a deep threat in this offense. And with Josh Downs now sidelined because of a high ankle sprain, Mitchell has a chance to build rapport with QB Anthony Richardson in camp. Mitchell flew under the radar in Georgia but came out in Texas to provide a glimpse of what he could be — and the Colts liked what they saw, drafting him 52nd overall. If Downs has a long absence and/or Mitchell makes a strong case for playing time, he could provide a big return on investment for Fantasy Managers. — Stephanie Bell
Travis Etienne Jr. finished as a top-five fantasy RB
Etienne averaged 16.6 points per game last season and scored 12 goals. He’s a volume runner (267 carries) with dual-threat skills that will carry him in the pass game, as Etienne caught 58 of 73 targets in 2023. Although he’s seen a slight drop in total touches this season, his deployment has resulted in consistency every week. volume as both a runner and a receiver while also creating scoring opportunities in the red zone less. There is real upside here for Etienne in a Jacksonville Jaguars offense that has the pieces — and the scheme under head coach Doug Pederson — to produce explosive numbers in 2024. — Matt Bowen
Kyren Williams finished as a top-five fantasy RB
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Will Kyren Williams returning punts affect his fantasy potential?
Mike Clay’s fantasy confidence in Kyren Williams isn’t surprising given reports that he will return punts for the Rams.
Williams’ stock is down after recent “news” that he will be the Los Angeles Rams’ starting quarterback. Note that Williams handled that role during Weeks 1-3 last season (he was responsible for all three of the Rams’ punt returns) while also playing 86% of the team’s offensive snaps during that span. Williams actually opened the 2023 season with time with Cam Akers, but went on to handle 14 of the team’s first 24 RBs while playing 67% of the snaps in a comfortable Week 1 win over Seattle. He found the end zone twice in the game and, before Austin Trammell handled punt return duties in Week 4, sat fifth among rushers in fantasy points. We’ve been overestimating Williams’ usage with rookie Blake Corum in the mix, so counting twice now that he’ll return one or two punts per game seems like a mistake. A year after joining Christian McCaffrey as the only backs to average more than 18.0 Fantasy PPG, the 24-year-old Williams is also positioned for another solid RB1 campaign. — Mike Clay
The Denver Broncos passing game posted incredible fantasy numbers
In particular, Marvin Mims Jr. is a breakout star in our game so many expect him to be around in 2023. Bo Nix being crowned as the starting quarterback is a big plus, as he looked comfortable in the pocket and was error-free in his two preseason games. The release of Tim Patrick streamlines the pecking order so that the targets for Courtland Sutton and Mims are safer than they were a few weeks ago. Sutton, who is the No. 1 wide receiver on average. -from-no surprise – top-12 quarterback. — Tristan H. Cockcroft
Kyle Pitts is the TE1 this season
The first three seasons of Pitts’ career have been frustrating for fantasy managers. Even Pitts’ new season, which became only the second tight end in the history of the league to debut with 1,000 receiving yards, was a bit disappointing because he scored only one goal. Injuries, quarterback play and scheme design were co-conspirators the last two years. This season is finally coming together. Pitts will play in an Atlanta Falcons offense that has tremendous talent and is run by a competent QB in Kirk Cousins. This time next year, we’ll see Pitts as a Round 2-3 fantasy pick. — Tyler Fulghum
Derrick Henry rushed for 20 touchdowns
Perhaps this is not bold enough. Twenty-five scores? Henry has reached double digit rushing touchdowns in six consecutive seasons, but even in the season of 2000 meters, he has “only” 17. That is in the season of 16 games. Now he’s 17 games into it, and the Baltimore Ravens offense provides the perfect setup, with a stronger offensive line, an elusive quarterback with elite skills and creative playcalling. After all, if Gus Edwards can score 13 goals, what can Henry do? Yes, he’s 30, but he still destroys defenses and piles on the yards after contact. More touchdowns than receptions in the play as well. — Eric Karabell
Roma Odunze leapfrogged Keenan Allen as Caleb Williams’ No. 2 target
It’s a question of when, not if. Odunze will be Williams’ second favorite target behind DJ Moore before the end of the season. Odunze has exuded Alpha energy throughout his college career (10 games with at least 100 receiving yards in 2023 and a Biletnikoff Award finalist) and from the jump was drafted ninth overall by the Chicago Bears. He and Williams have shown instant chemistry. Both were hooked up in the out-of-structure play that resulted in a handsome 45-yard connection during the team’s third preseason outing against Cincinnati. A player with Odunze’s frame, route savvy and catch radius cannot be assigned to No. 3 WR duties for a long time. His stat line may have been a bit boom or bust to begin with, but he was a very good pick in the 10th round (an astonishing three rounds after Allen was selected). — Liz Loza
Travis Kelce finished outside the top five TEs
Kelce is still one of the best (if not the best) tight ends in the game, but the gap between him and the rest of the field has shrunk a lot. Since 2016, Kelce has finished as the sixth-best tight end and has never ranked lower than a TE3 during that span. His dominant run has been impressive, but now Kelce has competition, not only in his own offense, but from a bunch of other diverse fantasy-relevant tight ends. Consider Sam LaPorta, Trey McBride, Mark Andrews, Dalton Kincaid, Evan Engram, David Njoku and (now that they have a real QB) Kyle Pitts, just to name a few. Kelce turns 35 this year and also has to deal with Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Marquise Brown stealing targets in the Kansas City Chiefs offense. Kelce had the second-fewest targets of his career last season, and that’s before the Chiefs add another weapon to the offense. Neither gold is sustainable, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a changing of the guard at the top of the tight end position this season. — Daniel Dopp
Caleb Williams threw for over 4,000 yards and was a top-10 fantasy QB
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Why Field Yates is ‘all-in’ on Jayden Daniels, Caleb Williams in fantasy
Field Yates explains why he’s so excited for the top rookie QB class in fantasy football.
The Bears are the only team to never have a quarterback pass for 4,000 yards in a season. Surrounded by an impressive supporting cast, Williams is well-positioned to end that drought. No. 1 Pick will be the first new player selected in the top five to throw to some players who have at least 1,200 yards receiving the previous season (Moore, Allen). He will also have an additional target in fellow first-round freshman Odunze, who led the FBS with 1,640 yards receiving in his final college season at Washington. Williams’ rushing potential gives him a high Fantasy ceiling. — Eric Moody
Jayden Daniels finished as a top-five fantasy QB as a rookie
Daniels checked in at QB12 in my preseason rankings, one spot ahead of Caleb Williams among all rookie signal-callers. Daniels has plenty of ingredients to deliver a big season out of the gate, as he has elite mobility for the position (he led all FBS players in yards per rush attempt last season, minimum 100 rushes), as well as talent. thrower and will be powering a quick offense that will often play from behind this season. While we often harp on the importance of rushing for quarterbacks as it pertains to creating a high floor, Daniels also has a major upside. — Yates Field
