We’re finally close to setting the 2024 fantasy football season lineups ahead of Week 1! Finding players for your fantasy roster that can step up can be the critical step in turning a potential loss into an epic win! Ahead of Week 1, Ballers have their numbers on and are looking for a feast of fantasy deliciousness this week at Hungry for More, presented by Uber Eats!

Each week throughout the season, Andy, Mike and Jason will present a selection of players they want to see either take the next step forward in fantasy or who they believe are on the fast track!

Season 2023:

Andy has a plate ready for a portion of the newly extended Brandon Aiyuk. After a summer of rumors that numerous teams – most notably the Browns, Patriots and Steelers – would be willing to trade both players and picks for the chance to sign Aiyuk to a long-term deal, the 49ers signed him to a big-time contract extension just before the start of the season. The concern for fantasy managers must be not seeing Aiyuk on the field at all in the preseason and what that could mean for his impact on their fantasy teams in the early weeks of the season.

Last season, Aiyuk was extremely efficient for San Francisco, scoring seven points on just 75 passes caught. Over the last 10 seasons, there have been 99 WRs who scored seven points on 75 or fewer passes caught, but Aiyuk’s 2023 season was the second-highest receiving yards among that group of players. Andy is excited to see how the 49ers offense changes this season, as the team may be moving on from Deebo Samuel at the end of the year. Fantasy managers who have held onto Aiyuk all summer will be curious to see what San Francisco’s most expensive WR looks like on the field to start the year.

2023 College Season:

From a veteran that fantasy managers would love to see back on the field, to Jason’s choice of a rookie he wants to see more of: Luke McCaffrey. While McCaffrey wasn’t talked about much in the offseason, the Commanders’ moves give Jason reason to be interested in what could happen with McCaffrey in this passing game. Entering the season, there wasn’t much thought given to McCaffrey being a part of Washington’s offense until the Commanders traded Jahan Dotson to the Eagles in late August, giving McCaffrey the opportunity to be the WR2 in their revamped offense.

McCaffrey is considered a fairly inexperienced WR prospect coming into the league, with just two years of college experience at the position after switching from quarterback to quarterback prior to the 2022 season. If there is any hope that McCaffrey will become fantasy relevant as a rookie, it is because of his connection with fellow rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Jason mentions the reports that McCaffrey and Daniels have developed a “breakfast rapport” that has proven valuable in the past. More importantly, McCaffrey is listed as the WR2 on the Commanders’ official roster. With ample opportunities in the Washington offense, McCaffrey could be ready to deliver some fantasy success.

Season 2023:

It’s been a long road in the relationship between Mike and Tee Higgins, but the Fantasy Hitman is excited to see what the Bengals WR can do this season. The uncertainty in Cincinnati could be just what Higgins needs to bounce back after a lackluster 2023 season in which he finished as the WR49. With Ja’Marr Chase’s status for the season opener uncertain due to contract negotiations, Higgins could begin the season as the primary receiving target for Joe Burrow in the Bengals’ offense.

With Higgins and Chase both in the league, we only saw Higgins on the field in five games without Chase, but the results were epic. In those five games, Higgins averaged nearly seven more fantasy points per game with nearly two more receptions and over 40 more yards per game. While we expect Chase and Higgins to be back on the field together at some point this season, Mike believes fantasy managers will be in for a treat with a large chunk of Higgins entering 2024.