Impressive NFL rookies for fantasy football this season
Fantasy football players talk about who they like in the NFL rookie class for fantasy teams this year.
Sport in Seriousness
After Week 3, one-sixth of the 18-week NFL season is over. For fantasy football players, the real roster members have separated themselves from the pretenders as the preseason excitement has died down.
In particular, some players have not lived up to the expectations of the previous season. This may be due to injuries, new coaching situations or limited use due to on the dependence of their teams on other players in the rankings.
Regardless of how they got here, there are more than a few players that can be safely cut from fantasy rosters before Week 4 of the 2024 NFL season. Here are five of the easiest candidates to cut as we look at the Week 4 waiver list.
FANTASY FOOTBALL: 5 players you should consider
Players released from the waiver list in Week 4:
Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
Even before Herbert re-injured his ankle in the Chargers’ 20-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, there were signs that his value as a fantasy quarterback was waning. In its first season under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles was a team that emphasized the running game.
The Chargers parted ways with their top two receivers in the offseason, trading Keenan Allen to the Bears and releasing Mike Williams to save salary cap space. The team’s passing percentage dropped dramatically in early 2024 and has declined each week. Herbert has attempted more than 25 passes only once and hasn’t thrown for more than 145 yards in any game this year. Even if he plays in Week 4, his ankle injury will continue to hamper him and the Chargers’ passing attack.
Chase Brown, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Brown has been the subject of some discussion in the preseason and postseason as the incumbent running back on a Bengals team that just parted ways with Joe Mixon. After two games — and before the Monday Night Football matchup with the Commanders in Week 3 — free agent Zack Moss is the clear No. 1 prospect in Cincinnati’s backfield. The former Buffalo Bill has more touchdowns than Brown (24 to 10) and more snaps (84 to 30) through two weeks.
It’s possible Brown’s performance will improve as the year goes on, but right now it’s clearly Moss’ backfield in Cincinnati.
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys
The 29-year-old Elliott is simply not the same running back he was eight years ago when the Cowboys signed him. Anyone who hoped that “Zeke” would improve his career if he returned to Dallas this year was disappointed.
Through three weeks, Rico Dowdle had 31 touches to Elliott’s 24, and the latter’s opportunities have steadily declined week to week. Elliott had 10 touches in Week 1, then 6 in Week 2, and then just 3 against the Ravens on Sunday. Part of that was due to the Cowboys’ play in games they’ve trailed in recent weeks, but Elliott (3.3 yards per touch) also just doesn’t do as much as Dowdle (3.8 YPC) when he gets the ball.
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Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans
Any spark of hope that Spears would provide fantasy value following the departure of Derrick Henry was quickly dashed by two new additions: Titans head coach Brian Callahan and free agent signing Tony Pollard.
Pollard has been productive as a key tailback in Tennessee’s backfield, racking up 158 rushing yards on 39 carries for an average of 4.1 yards per carry. Spears, on the other hand, has just 12 carries for 48 yards in three games for an average of 4.0 yards per carry. While Spears has some upside as a receiving back, he is currently unable to replace Pollard in Tennessee for consistent and meaningful touches.
Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
As in the case of Herbert, it’s hard to justify keeping a Chargers wide receiver on the roster as Los Angeles continues to support JK Dobbins and his rushing offense. It’s even harder to justify keeping a rookie receiver who may have just lost his starting quarterback in this run-first offense, especially as second-year Quentin Johnston appears to be becoming the team’s No. 1 receiver.
McConkey could prove to be a great fantasy receiver down the stretch or in later seasons, but right now there are too many question marks and several more enticing receivers (like Johnston) to claim on the waiver list.
