Fantasy Football 2024: Top 5 Rookie Wide Receivers

The best rookie wide receiver in fantasy football is, to no surprise, the fourth overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals, Marvin Harrison Jr. The Ohio State product has the potential to be a league winner this year with uncapped upside. MHJ should be considered WR10 to WR14, with early second-round potential. 

Marvin Harrison Jr has an elite ability to beat press coverage off the line of scrimmage and is a long rangy runner leading him to be a solid deep threat, making him virtually unguardable. MHJ enters the league with a solid quarterback in Kyler Murray, who will look for him early and often, much like he did with Deandre Hopkins. Marvin Harrison Jr will also be the unquestioned number-one target for the Arizona Cardinals.

Reaching for Marvin Harrison Jr is a risk that can reap league-winning rewards in fantasy football in 2024.

Rookie Wide Receiver 2: Malik Nabers, New York Giants

The next best rookie wide receiver in fantasy football is Malik Nabers of the New York Giants. The Giants have been desperate for a wide receiver since Odell Beckham Jr.’s departure, and it appears they have finally found their guy. Nabers should be considered a low-end WR2, high-end WR3, or flex. 

Malik Nabers is an elite athlete who will be able to separate at the next level. He is also a versatile receiver with the ability to make plays on the outside, from the slot, and after the catch. The main factor preventing Nabers from being higher in the overall wide receiver rankings is the inconsistency of his quarterback Daniel Jones. However, Nabers is the unquestioned top target of the offense and should receive the bulk of the targets. 

Given Nabers projected target share, he has plenty of upside and should be looked at as a top-25 wide receiver in fantasy football.

Rookie Wide Receiver 3: Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills

The best rookie wide receiver in fantasy football is Keon Coleman of the Buffalo Bills. After trading Stefon Diggs the Buffalo Bills had no choice but to address the wide receiver position in the draft and they did so with their first selection drafting Coleman out of Florida State. Keon Coleman can be viewed as a solid WR3 or flex.

Coleman is a big physical athlete who can develop into a solid NFL receiver once he expands his route tree. With his elite level of athleticism, the Bills can manufacture ways to get him involved in the offense early and often. The big factor here is that his quarterback is Josh Allen. Being Allen’s number one target has been a massive plus in fantasy football as we have seen with Stefon Diggs in the past.

With Coleman’s projected target share, he is an undeniable fantasy football wide receiver, regardless of his not being as polished as a route runner as others at his position. Coleman ranks in the range of WR32 to WR36.

Rookie Wide Receiver 4: Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers

The fourth-best wide receiver of the 2024 draft class is Los Angeles Chargers second-round draft pick Ladd McConkey. With the departures of Kennan Allen and Mike Williams, the Los Angeles Chargers vacated a large number of targets from 2023. Stepping right into that role, McConkey should be viewed as a WR3 option or flex play.

Ladd McConkey is a playmaker and can thrive in the slot as well as outside given his speed and quickness. McConkey can also turn short routes into solid gains with his exceptional YAC (yards after catch) ability. Justin Herbert’s slot wide receiver has been a solid option for fantasy players throughout Herbert’s career, and that is exactly what we can expect McConkey to be.

Given his projected role and target share McConkey ranks anywhere from WR34 to WR41.

Rookie Wide Receiver 5: Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears

Rounding out the top five rookie wide receivers in fantasy football this season is Chicago Bears’ top ten pick Rome Odunze out of Washington. To surround rookie Caleb Williams with as much talent as they can, the Bears created a loaded wide receiver trio including DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze. The rookie Oduzne can be viewed as a flex option in fantasy this season.

Rome Odunze is an elite route runner at his size and complements his route running with great hands, being a quarterback’s best friend. Odunze should have no issue adjusting to the NFL and can line in both the slot and on the outside. The only concern with Odunze from a fantasy perspective is his target share. Odunze will be competing with two Pro Bowl wide receivers for targets and we saw that negatively affect rookie wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba a season ago.

Odunze ranks in the range of WR36 to WR43.

Rookie Wide Receiver Honorable Mentions

Other rookie wide receivers that will be fantasy-relevant are Brian Thomas Jr (Jacksonville Jaguars). Xavier Worthy (Kansas City Chiefs). Adonai Mitchell (Indianapolis Colts).

All information given is in the context of the PPR scoring format.