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Best Fantasy Football Picks

Best Fantasy Football Picks for September (2024)

Now that we’ve had the entire preseason to see how real drafts are shaking out – we asked our Draft Sharks’ analysts to share their best fantasy football picks.

By the term “best fantasy football picks,” we mean players who are going to outperform their ADP.  After all, that’s what smart drafting is all about…

Here’s a quick list for your consideration:

James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals (Matt Schauf’s Pick)

ADP: 6.03

Drafting Conner is going to stop being a good idea at some point …

Probably.

But that point has not come yet. Because he’s poised for another feature role in Arizona, and fantasy drafters continue to hate banking his value.

Do You Like Proven Production?

Conner has spent three years in Arizona now. Here’s how he has ranked in PPR points per game:

• 2021: 9th
• 2022: 10th
• 2023: 13th

And non-PPR:

• 2021: 5th
• 2022: 12th
• 2023: 7th

His first season with HC Jonathan Gannon and OC Drew Pentzing found Conner ranking 13th among RBs in opportunity share.

Any New Issues for 2024?

In case you’re wondering, yes I’ve heard that Arizona drafted RB Trey Benson in Round 3.

I’ve also heard that Benson isn’t even a lock for the No. 2 RB role this season. He’s competing with Michael Carter and Emari Demercado.

We’ve seen no indication that any Cardinals RB is threatening Conner’s lead.

Market Boosts Conner

There’d still be some risk to banking on an age-29 RB … if his ADP weren’t already mitigating that risk. As of this writing, Conner sits:

• RB19 in non-PPR
• RB19 in half-PPR
• RB19 in PPR
• RB22 in best ball ADP

We don’t rank Conner much higher in any set of RB rankings, but he stands out as an ADP Market Index value in every format.

That pricing makes him a fit for any draft plan, as a value RB2-3 or even a late RB1.

And it’ll make it easy for you to build around Conner’s injury risk.

Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos (Jared Smola’s Pick)

ADP: 8.09

When I think of the best fantasy pick, I think of a player who can deliver difference-making upside – particularly relative to his draft cost.

That player in 2024 is Broncos RB Javonte Williams.

Forgive the Inefficient 2023

We all know he was an inefficient runner last year, mustering just 3.6 yards per carry. We also know that he was working back from a multi-ligament knee injury that was expected to take 12+ months to fully recover from.

Good Vibes in 2024

Williams is now 22 months removed from that injury. And – outside of a (misguided?) late-July rumor that he was on the roster bubble – the vibes on Williams have been excellent. He’s been consistently working as Denver’s No. 1 RB in camp. And HC Sean Payton said on August 1 that Williams looks like a "completely different player" this year compared to last.

Prior to that knee injury, Williams was an exciting player. He averaged a gaudy 6.3 yards per carry with elite after-contact numbers across three college seasons. Then he tallied 4.4 yards per carry and racked up 59 catches across his first 21 NFL games.

RB-Friendly Environment

The Broncos will deploy two or maybe even three RBs this season. But Williams is the only RB on the team with the potential to earn big volume on the ground and through the air. 

And he’s back in HC Sean Payton’s RB-friendly offense. Payton produced a top-22 RB in PPR points per game in each of his first 15 seasons as an NFL HC. That streak was snapped last year – but the Broncos as a team ranked sixth in total RB PPR points.

I like Williams’ odds of cracking the top 22 RBs this season. He’s generally drafted outside the top 30 at the position.

Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants (Shane Hallam’s Pick)

ADP: 5.01

Nabers is one of the most dynamic and versatile WRs to come into the NFL in years. He led the rookie class with 3.64 yards per route run and 3.81 yards per team pass attempt. 

Nabers Joins An Elite Group

This was good enough to get him drafted sixth overall, joining fellow rookies Marvin Harrison Jr. and Rome Odunze as top 10 picks, a great indicator of rookie WR performance.

He joins a pretty esteemed group of top-ten pick WRs over the past seven years:

• Drake London
• Garrett Wilson
• Ja’Marr Chase
• Jaylen Waddle
• DeVonta Smith

Upside + Value

We currently project Nabers for over 125 targets, which could mean weekly WR1 PPR upside with his skillset. Playing from the slot or outside will allow HC Brian Daboll to use Nabers uniquely.

Nabers is going well after Harrison Jr. while retaining similar upside. Whether people are scared away by Nabers’ size (6’0 at 199 pounds) or the Giants’ offense, they are missing out on potential value.

In home leagues where rookies fall further than they should, scoop Nabers up for a potential WR1 on the season.

Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders (Kevin English’s Pick)

ADP: 10.03

3,307 yards. 34 TDs.

That’s a snapshot of Daniels’ college rushing production. Most of it came in 2022-2023 (2,012 yards, 21 TDs).

A QB with immense rushing upside should be enough to get you excited. But there’s even more with Daniels…

Advanced Passer

The LSU star earned the Heisman Trophy last season, propelled by a historic passing performance: 3,811 yards, 40 TDs, and only 4 INTs.

Daniels also dazzled with 11.5 yards per attempt and a 71.1% completion rate.

Fast forward to training camp, and the No. 2 overall pick appears ahead of schedule.

Here’s HC Dan Quinn (via The Athletic):

“It’s the decision-making that maybe I’ve been really impressed by, where to go. Not just the throwing but playing the position…This coverage goes to here, this look goes to here. I got a matchup I want, I got to go here.’ So, there’s your skill work and then the processing work, and the processing part for him has been excellent”

Sneaky Good Supporting Cast?

Daniels isn’t surrounded with a Bears-like crew. But I think there’s enough talent here, led by returning No. 1 WR Terry McLaurin.

Jahan Dotson looks like a bounce-back candidate at only 24. Plus, Washington added some young weapons in WR Luke McCaffrey and TE Ben Sinnott. 

On the veteran side, RB Austin Ekeler arrives to fill a pass-catching void. Camp reports have been positive on TE Zach Ertz, although he’s no more than a chain-mover at this stage.

Upside QB on Sale

Daniels’ fantasy football ADP rests at QB15. There’s a chance he drops a bit further in home leagues.

Currently, he slots at QB9 in our fantasy QB rankings. If his rushing upside hits, Daniels will have a shot to approach top-five fantasy production.

Frequently Asked Questions About Best Fantasy Football Picks

What are the top fantasy football picks?

Now that we've seen the entire 2024 preseason, the top fantasy football picks are still RB Christian McCaffrey and WR CeeDee Lamb. These are two of the safest picks you can make if your draft is in early September. 

Who should I draft #1 overall in fantasy?

Who you should draft #1 overall in fantasy is a toss-up between RB Christian McCaffrey and WR CeeDee Lamb. The right answer will come down to various factors, including your league’s scoring rules and lineup requirements.  

What positions to fill first in fantasy football?

The positions to fill first in fantasy football are almost always either RBs or WRs. That’s because those two positions have the greatest positional scarcity both before and as the draft progresses.

Do most fantasy leagues draft in August?

Yes, most leagues do draft in August. But other leagues like to draft in the first week of September. That's because we've been through the preseason, and so we're past any surprise pre-season player injuries.

Discover the Best Fantasy Football Picks For Your League

Developing a round-by-round game plan for your draft is essential. One that accounts for your league scoring rules, lineup requirements, and more.

See how our Draft War Room helps you outsmart your competition:

Lenny Pappano, Co-Founder

Lenny is a pivotal industry player, co-founding Draft Sharks back in the infancy of fantasy football (1999). He also established the World Championship of Fantasy Football in 2002, receiving the inaugural Matthew Berry “Game Changer Award” in 2018 for its profound impact. Additionally, as a founding Fantasy Sports Writers Association board member, he has helped shape fantasy sports journalism.