The 2024 NFL Draft is in the books, and the biggest wave of free agency is over. That makes it a perfect time to take stock of NFL rosters as we head toward the 2024 season. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be looking at the quarterbacks, running backs, and pass catchers for all 32 NFL Teams. I’ll be ranking each unit 1-16 in their conference. When it comes to taking stock of the whole unit, it’s not just about star power but depth.
We’ve looked at quarterbacks and running backs; now it’s time for the pass catchers. In the modern fantasy game, this is the deepest and most fantasy-rich category. For these, we’ll look at wide receivers and tight ends. I’m starting with the AFC and beginning today with my bottom eight group.
No. 16: New England Patriots
WRs on the Roster: Demario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, JaLynn Polk, Javon Baker, Juju Smith-Schuster, K.J. Osborn, Jalen Reagor, and Tyquan Thornton
TEs on the Roster: Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Mitchell Wilcox, and Jaheim Bell
About: The Patriots added what they hope with be their quarterback of the future in Drake Maye. They also have a decent running back room. Unfortunately, I’m not bullish on this group of pass catchers. Thankfully, they brought back Henry, who was a solid TE19 in 2023. With Henry and Hooper, the team has a couple of decent veteran options.
I’m less sold on the receiving group. The team added Osborn as a free agent, but he feels like a role player. The group has a lot of projects or older players, like Reagor, Thornton, and Smith-Schuster, who did little after coming as a free agent last off-season. The leaders are Douglas, a younger player who made a good showing in 2023, and Bourne, a veteran journeyman.
The team did add picks in Polk and Baker, but it remains to be seen how they come along. All this is to say the Patriots have a lot of guys but not a lot of pieces I’m excited to see. Unfortunately, that lands them at the bottom of the list.
No. 15: Los Angeles Chargers
WRs on the Roster: Josh Palmer, Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey, Brendan Rice, D.J. Chark, Derius Davis, and Cornelius Johnson
TEs on the Roster: Will Dissly, Hayden Hurst, Donald Parham, Jr., and Stone Smartt
About: The Chargers aren’t much better than the Patriots. In fact, after they let Mike Williams, Keenan Allen, and Gerald Everett go in free agency, along with running back Austin Ekeler. That leaves the Chargers largely starting over, including bringing in a new Offensive Coordinator in Greg Roman.
That leaves Palmer and second-year man Johnston as the leading holdovers. Palmer is going into his fourth season, having caught 143 passes for 1,703 yards and nine touchdowns. Johnston, a First-Round pick in 2023, struggled as a rookie. He caught 38 passes for 431 yards and two touchdowns. The Chargers will try to get more out of him while also adding this year’s pick, McConkey. There’s some potential here that I like better than what the Patriots have, so that was enough for me to give the Chargers a slight edge.
No. 14: Pittsburgh Steelers
WRs on the Roster: George Pickens, Roman Wilson, Van Jefferson, Quez Watkins, Scotty Miller, Calvin Austin III, Denzel Mims, and Marquez Calaway
TEs on the Roster: Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and Connor Heyward
About: The Steelers have the best receiver and tight end on the list so far in Pickens and Freiermuth. But they don’t have a lot of depth. With a new Offensive Coordinator in Arthur Smith and new quarterbacks in Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, it’s fair to have questions. That, combined with the lack of depth, is what drops a group that had been fairly strong in recent years.
I do like Pickens and his potential. He finished as WR29 last year but split time with Diontae Johnson and, again, had middling quarterback play. As the established WR1, he could be in line for a big year.
Freiermuth, meanwhile, has 155 receptions for 1,537 yards and 11 touchdowns in three seasons. The Steelers also added an interesting receiver in Wilson, out of Michigan. But beyond that, it’s all developmental players and journeyman receivers. And if Pickens or Freiermuth misses time, the group looks even more spotty. So, they couldn’t go any higher for me.
No. 13: Denver Broncos
On the Roster: Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, Troy Franklin, Tim Patrick, Josh Reynolds, Brandon Johnson, Lil Jordan Humphrey, and Devaughan Vele
TEs on the Roster: Greg Dulcich, Adam Trautman, Lucas Krull, and Nate Adkins
About: The Broncos are another team that has a lot of players but also a lot of questions. Sutton is the top guy here, and I like him a lot both as a Broncos fan and for fantasy. He finished as WR35 last year, making some highlight-reel touchdown catches. With Jerry Jeudy gone, he’s by far the team’s best receiver.
Behind him are some questions. Mims wasn’t a big factor as a rookie but is expected to take a step up. Will he? Franklin played with rookie quarterback Bo Nix in college, but still has to learn the offense. Reynolds is a journeyman receiver who will provide depth, while Patrick is a talented receiver who has missed two years with major injuries.
The questions continue at tight end, where Dulcich can’t stay on the field, Trautman is a sturdy veteran with limited upside, and Krull is the young gun that could break big. If things break right, the Broncos could be too low. If they don’t, the team could be too high. So, they land at No. 13 for me.
No. 12: Buffalo Bills
WRs on the Roster: Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, Khalil Shakir, Mack Hollins, Chase Claypool, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Justin Shorter, K.J. Hamler, and Andy Isabella
TEs on the Roster: Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Quintin Morris, and Tre McKitty
About: The Bills saw their top two receivers—Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis—depart this off-season. In their stead, the team brought in a veteran in Samuel and drafted Coleman. The team also picked up veterans Hollins, Claypool, and MVS to provide depth. That gives them some options, but it’s hard to get too excited about this Bills’ receiver group.
I do like tight end. As a rookie, Kincaid finished as TE11, and I like his potential to finish even higher in 2024 as a focal point of the passing offense. Samuel is a solid, veteran receiver. In the mix with the Commanders, he finished as WR42 in 2023 and could be a value.
Coleman is the Wild Card, as is Shakir, who showed some flashes in 2023. It could end up being a good group, but it lacks defined production outside of Kincaid, so I have them lower on the list.
No. 11: Baltimore Ravens
WRs on the Roster: Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Deontez Walker, Deonte Harty, and Tylan Wallace
TEs on the Roster: Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, and Scotty Washington
About: The Ravens are a tough room to read. Flowers had a strong rookie campaign, finishing as WR30. But he seems to be the only sure bet among receivers. Interestingly, the Ravens extended Bateman this off-season and seem bullish about his role in 2024. He was a former First-Round pick, but in his first three seasons, he accounted for just 93 receptions for 1,167 yards and four touchdowns. We’ll see if he takes another step in 2024.
The Ravens do have an excellent tight end in Andrews, who has caught 381 passes and 40 touchdowns in his time with the Ravens. The team also has a solid backup in Likely, who has shown flashes filling in for Andrews. That gives them some solid pieces, filled in by veterans and role players.
No. 10: Indianapolis Colts
WRs on the Roster: Michael Pittman, Jr., Adonai Mitchell, Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, Ashton Dulin, Anthony Gould, Juwann Winfree, and Tyrie Cleveland
TEs on the Roster: Will Mallory, Jelani Woods, Kylen Granson, and Mo-Allie Cox
About: The Colts have a lot of guys, both in the receiver group and in the tight end room. Depth helps with their placement. But there are still questions about the passing game, which is relying on a big bounce back from Anthony Richardson in year two.
The team does have a solid Top 12 option at receiver in Pittman, who finished as WR13 last year and signed a big long-term contract this off-season. Behind him, the team added Mitchell, out of Texas, in the draft and has a strong option in Downs, who was solid as a rookie in 2023. The Colts also have Pierce, who was once thought to be a candidate to be the team’s WR2 when he was taken in 2022.
The same is true of tight end, where the Colts took Woods in 2022, Granson in 2021, and Mallory in 2023. That gives them some options, alongside veteran Cox. I like the mix of players and potential, and I really like Pittman. But the youth and undefined roles have them a little lower on my list.
No. 9: Jacksonville Jaguars
WRs on the Roster: Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, Brian Thomas, Jr., Devin Duvernay, Tim Jones, and Parker Washington
TEs on the Roster: Evan Engram, Brenton Strange, Luke Farrell, and Josiah Deguara
About: The Jaguars made some changes this off-season. Calvin Ridley left in free agency and Zay Jones was released. But the team returns its top two options in receiver Kirk and tight end Engram. Kirk is an underrated receiver who finished as WR47 in 2023, missing the team’s final five games. Davis, who gives them a deep threat, came over from Buffalo and finished WR41 in 2023. The team also spent a high pick on former LSU receiver Thomas, giving them a solid Top 3 at receiver.
The team does lack depth, and it’s still a question of how these new pieces will fit. But Engram is a top option at tight end. He finished as TE2 in 2023, giving the Jaguars’ passing attack a real boost. Given the weapons at the top of the depth chart, the Jaguars worked their way up to the top of this half of the list.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
