Fantasy Football: Rookie Wide Receivers Who Are Set Up for Success in 2024

Having an influx of rookie wide receivers who are immediate contributors in fantasy football has been a common occurrence in recent years. Similar to most positions, situations matter for incoming rookie receivers.

Catching passes from a capable quarterback, a path to an expanded role, and an offensive scheme that is effective all factor into whether or not a rookie wideout can produce instantly. Sometimes, certain receivers are just put into better environments than others.

With another exciting class of rookies set to begin their careers in the NFL, let's look at which ones are set up for success in fantasy football for the 2024-25 campaign.

Rookie Wide Receivers Fantasy Football Outlook

Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals used the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Marvin Harrison Jr. out of Ohio State, and he's expected to immediately become the top pass-catching option for Kyler Murray. Harrison could very well be the next rookie wideout to finish as a WR1 in fantasy football.

According to PFF, Harrison recorded the ninth-most yards per reception (18.1) and the fifth-most yards per route run (3.44) among college receivers with 80-plus targets last season. Arizona's passing attack should be much-improved this year with the arrival of Harrison and the emergence of Trey McBride a season ago.

Currently, Harrison is carrying an average draft position (ADP) of 16 while being the 9th receiver off of the board in half-PPR leagues, per FantasyPros' consensus ADP. numberFire's fantasy football projections envision Harrison having a noteworthy rookie campaign, finishing as the WR11 with 97 receptions, 1,231 receiving yards, and 7.2 receiving touchdowns.

There's a good chance Harrison garners a target share somewhere between 25% and 30% while double-digit touchdowns are a possibility in his debut season with the Cardinals. Being the No. 1 target for a healthy Murray is why Harrison's ADP is justified.

Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs

Xavier Worthy turned heads at the NFL Scouting Combine by running a 4.21 40-yard dash, which is now the record to beat for future prospects. When Worthy ran the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL history, everyone joked that the Kansas City Chiefs would be clamoring to get him in this year's draft.

Those jokes became reality as the Chiefs promptly used the No. 28 overall pick on the Texas product, giving Patrick Mahomes a vertical threat in Kansas City's revamped offense. Even though Worthy had the second-lowest yards per route run (2.14) of the wideouts in this article last season, Quinn Ewers -- the quarterback at Texas -- had a dismal 34.0% completion percentage on throws 20-plus yards despite having just one drop across 47 attempts.

Even with first-round capital and being attached to Mahomes, Worthy has an ADP of 92 and is the 44th wideout being taken. numberFire's model predicts Worthy slightly outperforming his ADP with a WR38 finish, posting 57 receptions, 866 receiving yards, and 5.6 receiving touchdowns.

Marquise Brown and Worthy are the new faces in Kansas City's receiver room, forming a dynamic pass-catching unit alongside Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice. With uncertainty surrounding a potential Rice suspension and Kelce turning 35 years old this upcoming season, there is room for Worthy to earn a decent-sized role with the best quarterback in the NFL.

Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

The Calvin Ridley experiment didn't go as planned for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and he's now a member of the Tennessee Titans. Besides bringing in Gabriel Davis via free agency, the Jaguars selected Brian Thomas Jr. out of LSU with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to help replace Ridley.

Amid Jayden Daniels' Heisman campaign in 2023-24, Thomas logged the 16th-most yards per reception (17.3), 25th-most yards per route run (2.61), and the most receiving touchdowns (17) of the receivers with 80-plus targets in college football last year. Despite measuring in at 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds at the combine, Thomas ran the second-fastest 40-yard dash (4.33), putting him behind just Worthy.

The only reason Thomas has an ADP of 103 and is the 48th wideout selected in fantasy football drafts is the fact Christian Kirk and Evan Engram are already proven target-getters in Jacksonville's offense. Thomas is another candidate to outperform his ADP with numberFire's model forecasting a WR42 finish with 68 receptions, 841 receiving yards, and 5.2 receiving touchdowns.

While Kirk and Engram will see plenty of targets from Trevor Lawrence, neither of them had an average depth of target of 10-plus yards in 2023-24, per NextGenStats. Thomas tallied the 19th-highest average depth of target (13.9) among college receivers last season, and he now has a quarterback who is more than capable of pushing the ball down the field.

Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills

After trading Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans and watching Davis sign with the Jaguars, the Buffalo Bills lost two wideouts who combined for a 44.4% target share and 62.3% air yards share a season ago. Among the moves the Bills made to replace the lost production of Diggs and Davis, they took Keon Coleman out of Florida State with the No. 33 overall pick in this year's draft.

Coleman produced just 1.74 yards per route run in his final season with the Seminoles, but Jordan Travis -- the quarterback at Florida State -- had a middling 54.7% completion percentage on intermediate throws (throws between 10-19 yards) while Coleman had the 39th-highest average depth of target at 12.4 yards. Even though accuracy was a concern for Josh Allen when he entered the NFL, he was tied for the eighth-best completion percentage over expected (1.9%) last season.

Coleman is in the same range as Thomas, carrying an ADP of 101 while being WR47 in half-PPR drafts. Likely due to his lack of production in college, numberFire's model projects Coleman to be the WR57 in fantasy with 55 receptions, 689 receiving yards, and 4.8 receiving touchdowns.

Curtis Samuel, Khalil Shakir, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling have all yet to show they are worthy No. 1 options at the wide receiver position, which opens the door for Coleman to earn a larger role than expected. While Coleman never eclipsed 800 receiving yards in college, his size and strong hands should keep him on the field in a high-octane Buffalo passing game.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.