X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Ryan Kirksey's Bold Predictions for 2024 Fantasy Football

Joe Burrow - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS and Betting Picks

Ryan Kirksey shares six bold predictions for 2024 fantasy football. Read about the players who may bring unexpected success to managers with solid performances.

It's Bold Predictions SZN in the fantasy football world as we approach the 2024 season. Everywhere you turn, there is another hot take on social media or a new piece of content blasting out hot takes on who will be the next Puka Nacua or Sam LaPorta. Just what is a bold prediction, exactly?

Is it something likely to happen? No, that would make it a bland prediction. Alternatively, is it so hot-take-spicy that it's completely outside the realm of possibility? Likely not (those are blazing predictions). Bold predictions are within the range of outcomes for a player, assuming they reach their 95th percentile in all of luck, health, team context, and performance.

This piece will throw darts at some bold predictions that could happen if certain things break right for the players below. Covering each position (quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end), these predictions represent unlikely outcomes, but also bold takes based on facts.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

1. Joe Burrow throws 45 touchdown passes

Forty-five touchdown passes for Joe Burrow not only represent a bold prediction for the player but also for the NFL. The league hasn't seen a quarterback throw for 45 or more touchdowns since Aaron Rodgers in 2020 (48) and it's only happened twice in the last 11 seasons.

However, considering Burrow's past touchdown success (36 in 2022), RotoBaller's projections for the Bengals' passing game (36), and the lack of a true alpha running back, why can't the Bengals unleash a newly healthy Burrow to sling it through the air to his stable of high-powered and elite receivers?

Last season, the Bengals finished the year second in Pass Rate Over Expectation (+6.0%). That was with a strong running back like Joe Mixon in the backfield. Now, the Bengals are going to go to battle with career backup Zack Moss and second-year back Chase Brown. Between them, they have seven rushing touchdowns since the beginning of 2022.

Ja'Marr Chase is healthy, Tee Higgins wants to get paid, and rookie Jermaine Burton caught eight touchdowns in just 39 receptions at Alabama last year.

When Burrow and his receivers were healthy, he threw for 2.1 touchdowns per game in 2022 and had a 68% completion rate. Bump that up to 2.5 per game with a 70% completion rate (which he accomplished in 2021), and Burrow is all of a sudden leading the league in touchdown passes in 2024.

 

2. Khalil Shakir finishes as the WR14 in PPR formats

Maybe you heard, but the Buffalo Bills are missing some wide receivers from 2023. With Stefon Diggs, Gabriel Davis, and Deonte Harty all gone from the team, the Bills are entering 2024 with 317 vacated targets, the second most in the NFL.

Yes, they brought in Curtis Samuel. Yes, they drafted Keon Coleman. But Khalil Shakir is about to step into the Diggs role and lead this team in receiving.

Let's start with the competition. I would feel comfortable giving Dalton Kincaid another 30 targets this year (pushing him up to around 120 for 2024).

I see the Bills using Samuel as the Carolina Panthers did. Let's call it 100 targets and 40 rush attempts. Keon Coleman likely draws 90-100 targets as a rookie. And if you still think Marquez Valdes-Scantling has anything left, it's time to seek help.

That leaves around 80-90 unclaimed targets for 2024. A few of those will trickle to running backs, but Shakir seeing 125 targets in 2024 is well within his range of possibilities. Shakir caught 73.3% of his targets last season (highest on the team) and was No. 1 in the entire NFL in yards per target (13.6).

Shakir had the 13th-most snaps out of the slot last season despite being a part-time player. Give him a full-time role, a whole season with Josh Allen as his quarterback, and only marginal target competition, and this is a bona fide breakout year for Shakir.

 

3. Dyami Brown is second in targets for Washington and finishes as a top-36 WR

There's a way to make a simple argument for this bold take. It's broken down into three steps.

First, Dyami Brown is taking over the Curtis Samuel role for the Washington Commanders. Second, Samuel finished 44th in fantasy points among wide receivers last year. Third, the Commanders make significant upgrades at quarterback and offensive line, so the offense is going to take a couple of steps forward.

Not convinced yet? Let's dive in further. Samuel missed most of three games with injuries last season, so he could have easily jumped into a top-36 wide receiver had he been healthy. With Samuel gone, Dyami Brown is battling Jahan Dotson for the WR2 role in this offense, and Dotson is not having a good training camp or preseason.

In the Commanders' first preseason game, Brown led all starters in receiving yards. In their second preseason game, Brown saw as many targets as Terry McLaurin. The reports out of camp have been glowing for Brown and the brass in Washington is going to give new franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels all the snaps he wants with his favorite guys.

Ben Sinnott and Zach Ertz figure to split reps and targets, so they shouldn't endanger Brown, who could play on 70% of offensive snaps. Last year, the WR36 in half-PPR formats scored exactly 10 fantasy points per game.

That is well within the range of outcomes for Brown considering the step up the offense should take and the shootout potential in their games with that atrocious Washington defense.

 

4. Zamir White finishes as the RB6 in half-PPR formats

Zamir White takes over as a no-doubt-about-it bell-cow running back in Las Vegas where Antonio Pierce wants to establish the run like it has never been established before.

I have seen the hand-wringing over the split usage between Zamir White and Alexander Mattison in the preseason, and I'm here to tell you. I. Don't. Care. We realize the preseason games are for getting players reps, right? When given the chance, White proved he can be a workhorse and that's exactly what he will be.

When Josh Jacobs was out with an injury at the end of 2023, White crushed it. Over Weeks 15-18 (AKA the fantasy playoffs), White was first in rushing attempts, third in rushing yards, sixth in rushing yards before contact, and fifth in broken tackles. He was the RB8 in half-PPR formats after securing 85, 145, 106, and 121 yards in those four games.

It should not be forgotten that those games all came while the Raiders were still trying to grab a Wild Card spot. This wasn't a season is over, let's-see-what-the-kid-can-do role. This is exactly how Coach Pierce wanted it and is exactly how it will be in 2024.

In full PPR formats, I can see how other backs will jump over him with receptions. But White did have 13 targets in those four important weeks last year, so he is far from a zero in that category. Gardner Minshew II is also a nice story, but not a great quarterback. The Raiders want to run, and White is going to carry the Silver and Black this year.

 

5. Tyjae Spears scores twice as many fantasy points as Tony Pollard

After Week 2 in 2023, it took a full 10 weeks of games before we saw anything like the Tony Pollard who was drafted in the first or second round last summer. Pollard scored 38 fantasy points in his first two games and then proceeded to score just 76 points in his next eight games. Pollard looked washed and there were many theories why.

Could he not handle a full workload? Was CeeDee Lamb getting all the high-value touches? Does Pollard prefer outside plays to inside the tackle runs? Did he fall off an age cliff? Whatever the reason, Dallas gave him a Texas-sized boot and he landed in Tennessee after Derrick Henry was let go from the Titans.

For about a day, there was much rejoicing that a hyper-efficient running back might get a lead role with the Titans, but Pollard threw a wrench in those plans. Are we destined for a split backfield here? Whatever ends up being the plan at the beginning of the season, the way I read it, Spears is going to dominate this backfield and the fantasy value.

As a rookie, Spears was fifth in breakaway run rate (Pollard was 25th). Spears was sixth in yards per touch (Pollard was 44th). Spears was seventh in target share (Pollard was 20th). And on the non-fantasy side, Spears was 11th in run-blocking rating (Pollard 43rd). That stuff matters.

Head coaches don't care about making sure everyone gets a chance to play. They care about putting the right players on the field who will help them win games and improve their team in various aspects. Whether new coach Brian Callahan is planning on this or not, Spears is going to separate himself from Pollard early and never look back.

 

6. Evan Engram is the overall TE1

Is this even that bold a prediction? Let's check the tape. Travis Kelce: awesome but old. Sam LaPorta: best season ever by a rookie tight end and we are expecting him to be better? Mark Andrews: oft-injured. George Kittle: Ditto. Trey McBride: now competing with Marvin Harrison Jr. for the top pass-catcher role.

Guess what? Evan Engram had 20 MORE TARGETS than any of those guys in 2023.

Engram's 143 targets were far and away the most among tight ends. He was the only tight end in the top 20 of all NFL players in 2023. He saw fewer than six targets in a game just one time in 2023. Engram is Trevor Lawrence's favorite weapon, and now another alpha in Calvin Ridley is out of the equation.

Engram was second in total fantasy points and sixth in fantasy points per game in half-PPR formats last year. What will it take for him to get to No. 1 in fantasy points per game? Truthfully, the answer lies with better luck.

Engram's target share (23.8%) was second at the position. He was 12th in target separation, 10th in true catch rate, and second in yards after the catch. However, with eight drops, he had the most among tight ends. Those eight drops are likely fluky and cost him the most overall points by a tight end in 2023.

Now with Ridley gone and Lawrence hopefully taking a step up this year, Engram could reach that ultimate level. Currently falling into the eighth round in many drafts, he might be the best value on the board at the tight-end position.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Nikola Jokić34 mins ago

Nikola Jokic Posts 19th Postseason Triple-Double
Anthony Santander36 mins ago

Suffering Through Slow Start To The Season
Kawhi Leonard43 mins ago

Leads Clippers To Game 2 Victory
Wilmer Flores44 mins ago

Crushes Key Homer Monday Night
Jalen Brunson52 mins ago

Leads All Scorers With 37 Points In Monday's Loss
Robbie Ray57 mins ago

Works Five Innings In No-Decision
Tobias Harris58 mins ago

Notches Double-Double In Game 2 Win
Cade Cunningham1 hour ago

Leads Pistons To Victory With 33 Points
Rob Dillingham1 hour ago

Out On Tuesday
Anthony Volpe1 hour ago

Still Hovering Around .200
Maxi Kleber1 hour ago

Remains Out For Game 2
Matt Olson1 hour ago

Extends Hitting Streak To Six Games
GG Jackson II1 hour ago

Available For Tuesday
Evan Bouchard2 hours ago

Dishes Out Three Assists In Postseason Opener
Connor McDavid2 hours ago

Racks Up Four Points In Losing Effort
Nick Taylor2 hours ago

Can Surprise Again In The Big Easy
Phillip Danault2 hours ago

Nets Two Goals In Game 1 Victory
Adam Hadwin2 hours ago

Expects To Contend At Zurich Classic
Mark Scheifele2 hours ago

Bags Two Points In Monday's Win
Alejandro Tosti2 hours ago

Could Get Hot Again In New Orleans
Lane Hutson2 hours ago

Posts Two Assists In Playoff Debut
Joe Highsmith2 hours ago

Struggling As New Orleans Approaches
Dylan Strome2 hours ago

Registers Three Assists In Overtime Win
Karl Vilips2 hours ago

Steps Up To Zurich Classic Of New Orleans
Alex Ovechkin2 hours ago

Scores First Playoff Overtime Goal
Michael Thorbjornsen2 hours ago

Ready To Make Waves In New Orleans
Braden Schneider2 hours ago

Undergoes Shoulder Surgery
Tom Hoge2 hours ago

Ready To Make Some Birdies In New Orleans
Billy Horschel3 hours ago

Has Game To Win Third Zurich Classic
Texas Rangers3 hours ago

Kohl Drake Sharp In Latest Outing
José Castillo3 hours ago

Jose Castillo Makes Season Debut
Jordan Wicks3 hours ago

Optioned To Triple-A
Termarr Johnson4 hours ago

Tallies Two Hits In Return
Zach Dezenzo4 hours ago

Busy In Monday's Victory
Craig Yoho4 hours ago

Allows One Run In MLB Debut
Jackson Chourio4 hours ago

Singles In Loss To Giants
Caleb Durbin4 hours ago

Homers In Loss Monday
Edwin Díaz5 hours ago

Edwin Diaz Earns Save On Monday
Will Vest5 hours ago

Picks Up Save On Monday
Justin Slaten5 hours ago

Picks Up Save On Monday
Otto Lopez5 hours ago

Steals Two Bases Monday
Austin Riley5 hours ago

Drives In Two On Monday
Bryson Stott5 hours ago

Hits Three-Run Home Run On Monday
José Ramírez5 hours ago

Jose Ramirez Homers, Drives In Four On Monday
Spencer Schwellenbach5 hours ago

Notches Quality Start Vs. Cardinals
Tennessee Titans10 hours ago

Titans Have Turned Down Offers For No. 1 Overall Pick
11 hours ago

Saints Targeting Jaxson Dart?
Kirk Cousins11 hours ago

Falcons Have Had Trade Discussions Regarding Kirk Cousins
Atlanta Falcons11 hours ago

Falcons Could Take A Tight End On Day 2 Of The Draft
11 hours ago

Steelers Very Interested In Jaxson Dart, Shedeur Sanders
Sam Howell12 hours ago

Seahawks Open To Trading Sam Howell
Las Vegas Raiders12 hours ago

Raiders Not Afraid To Take A Running Back Early In The Draft
NFL12 hours ago

Shavon Revel Expected Back Around The Start Of Training Camp
Aaron Gordon13 hours ago

Cleared For Action
NFL14 hours ago

Josh Simmons May Not Be Cleared Until August
NFL14 hours ago

Jihaad Campbell A Candidate To Start On PUP List
NFL14 hours ago

Mykel Williams Still Hampered By Ankle Injury
NFL15 hours ago

Will Johnson Could Fall In Draft Due To Knee Injury
15 hours ago

Shedeur Sanders Could Fall Out Of First Round
15 hours ago

Cam Skattebo Visiting With Lions, Titans
Dallas Cowboys15 hours ago

Cowboys Expected To Pick Up Tyler Smith's Fifth-Year Option
Philadelphia Eagles15 hours ago

Cam Jurgens, Eagles Agree On Four-Year Extension
C.J. Stroud15 hours ago

Expects To Be "Running The Show" In New Offense
J.J. McCarthy16 hours ago

"No Limitations" For J.J. McCarthy
San Francisco 49ers16 hours ago

Fred Warner Could Stay Away From Offseason Program
Ousmane Dieng16 hours ago

Still Out On Tuesday
George Kittle16 hours ago

May Not Take Part In Offseason Workouts
Kevin Love16 hours ago

Remains Away From Team
Brock Purdy16 hours ago

Might Not Participate In Voluntary Workouts
Terry Rozier16 hours ago

Hurts Ankle Monday
Damian Lillard16 hours ago

Officially Listed As Questionable For Game 2
Isaiah Stewart16 hours ago

Ruled Out For Game 2 Against Knicks
Trent Frederic17 hours ago

A Game-Time Call Monday
Leon Draisaitl17 hours ago

Returns To Oilers Lineup For Postseason Opener
Jake Walman17 hours ago

Available For Game 1
Brett Kulak17 hours ago

Ready To Play Monday
Aliaksei Protas17 hours ago

Expected To Return During First-Round Series
Miro Heiskanen17 hours ago

Out On Monday
Ross Colton17 hours ago

Uncertain For Game 2
Gabriel Landeskog17 hours ago

Activated From Injured Reserve
Auston Matthews1 day ago

Finishes Game 1 With Two Assists
Mitchell Marner1 day ago

Totals Three Points In Postseason Opener
Matt Boldy1 day ago

Bags Two Goals In Losing Effort
Brett Howden1 day ago

Scores Twice In Sunday's Win
Logan Stankoven1 day ago

Nets Two Goals In Game 1 Victory
Isaiah Stewart2 days ago

Iffy For Monday Night
Aaron Gordon2 days ago

Listed As Probable For Game 2
Jaylen Brown3 days ago

Not Expected To Be Limited On Sunday
Ja Morant4 days ago

Cleared To Play Friday
Brandon Williams4 days ago

Available Against Grizzlies
Anthony Davis4 days ago

Will Play Friday Night
Gary Trent Jr.4 days ago

Available For Game 1 Against Pacers
Ryan Blaney5 days ago

Bold Strategies Fall Flat, Still Musters A Top-Five Finish At Bristol
Lucas Glover6 days ago

Looks To Rebound After Poor Performance
Daniel Berger6 days ago

Looking To Continue Solid Play At RBC
Sepp Straka6 days ago

Looking To Bounce Back At RBC
Justin Thomas6 days ago

Looking To Shake Off Poor Masters At RBC Heritage
Xander Schauffele6 days ago

Still Looking For Year's First Win At RBC Heritage
Austin Dillon6 days ago

Nabs His First Top-10 Finish Of The 2025 Season At Bristol
Maverick McNealy6 days ago

Is An Intriguing Play At RBC Heritage
Shane Lowry6 days ago

Looks To Shake Off Poor Masters Sunday At RBC Heritage
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF