Predicting 3 Overlooked Fantasy Football Stars in 2024
The NFL has no shortage of big-stat stars.
It's just that the fantasy football world doesn't give all of them their due.
For various reasons, there are always underrated and overlooked players who slip through the cracks despite offering potentially huge production. Getting those players on your roster is a huge step toward taking home the crown, since fantasy success is all about maximizing value.
Let's sniff out some of these values, then, by highlighting three fantasy stars who won't cost a fortune to add to your roster.
Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Injuries held Tee Higgins back this past season, but there's no reason to believe they'll be an issue going forward.
That makes it fairly jarring to see him slipping to the 57th spot (27th at receiver) in average draft position, per FantasyPros. Give Higgins a clean bill of health, and he should zoom past that spot in the scoring ranks.
When he last enjoyed a healthy season in 2022, he turned 109 targets into 74 receptions for 1,029 yards and seven touchdowns. He was the 17th-best fantasy scorer at the position in standard leagues, and remember, that was with Tyler Boyd and Joe Mixon chewing up a sizable chunk of opportunities in the passing game.
Boyd and Mixon no longer reside in Cincinnati, and while top target Ja'Marr Chase is around, he isn't practicing while awaiting a contract extension. Higgins could be as involved in this offense as ever, but for whatever reason, fantasy managers aren't being charged for that potential.
Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Injuries have impacted each of Kyler Murray's last three seasons, and it's not like Arizona has been loaded with weapons over this stretch. So, if you haven't been blown away by his recent production, there are reasons for that.
None of this changes his upside, though, which simply isn't being reflected in his ADP (74th overall, 10th at quarterback). The last time he made it through 16 games, he threw for 3,971 yards and 26 touchdowns, rushed for another 819 yards and 11 scores and was the second-highest scorer in all of fantasy.
Granted, that was back in 2020, but again, that was the last time he made it through a healthy season. If his body cooperates, his talent should be the same. He's only 27 years old, so he should be in the heart of his prime.
He has more playmakers at his disposal, too, like first-round rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., veteran receiver Zay Jones and third-year tight end Trey McBride. Murray's passing production could come back in a big way, and his rushing ability has never stopped being dynamic. A huge year could be in the cards.
Jaylen Warren, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have been cautious about putting too much on Jaylen Warren's plate, but at some point, his consistently explosive production will force their hand.
If that happens this season, he'll be one of fantasy's biggest steals with an ADP of just 82nd (29th among running backs).
Following a productive rookie campaign, Warren saw his workload significantly expanded as a sophomore (from 105 touches to 210) and somehow became even more efficient. His 5.3 yards per carry, which towered over backfield mate Najee Harris' 4.1 by the way, trailed only Christian McCaffrey's 5.4 among running backs with 110-plus carries.
While Harris is still around, Pittsburgh might be less committed to his involvement after declining his fifth-year option. The Steelers invested in their offensive line this offseason and also showed a clear commitment to the running game by hiring new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. If Warren gets that kind of involvement his talent says he should, there's a non-zero chance he entrenches himself among the top 10 fantasy producers at his position.