Year #2 League #2 Sunday Surefire Invitational draft is in the books! Below is a breakdown of my favorite picks, riskiest picks, and sleepers for each team prior to the 2024 best ball season! Good luck to everyone and enjoy!
Pick #1 Hawks74
Favorite Pick – 4.12 Lamar Jackson
The returning MVP of the league and the always dangerous fantasy quarterback Lamar Jackson goes as the 7th QB off of the board. It’s tough to pick six quarterbacks that will finish higher than Lamar with his always high rushing upside on a weekly basis who just came off of a QB4 season a year ago.
Riskiest Pick – 7.1 Jameson Williams
Quite the confidence in the Alabama talent going into his third year in the league. While, Jameson should finally get his chance to be the WR2 in Detroit, will there be enough to go around with St. Brown, Laporta, and the two headed rushing attack? Considering it is best ball, Williams should have a few games this year where he takes the top off of the defense and makes some shiny plays. The question is, will it be enough considering he was picked over fellow wide receivers Jayden Reed, Chris Godwin, and Calvin Ridley in the same round.
Sleeper – 13.1 Khalil Shakir
Shakir’s 39-611-2 2023 stat-line can be overlooked as he was only the 5th option in Buffalo’s offense last year. Fast forward into 2024, the Bill’s offense has many people guessing who Josh Allen will go to primarily. Shakir should be the WR1 or WR2 entering the season and Hawks74 even double downed on this offense with Keon Coleman essentially saying he wants in on Josh Allen and fantasy in 2024.
Pick #2 Awolstatvs
Favorite Pick – 3.2 Deebo Samuel
Two seasons have passed where we saw over 340 ppr points from Deebo Samuel. With only 13 and 15 games played in ’22 & ’23 Samuel has been off fantasy manager’s radar as an injury concerned player. While on the field Samuel still managed over 16 points per game in 2023 in SF’s high powered offense. The duo of Samuel and Bijan can sneak up and accumulate a good chunk of Awolstatvs’s 2024 best ball points this year.
Riskiest Pick 8.11 Tyler Allgeier
Not that I disagree that Tyler Allgeier is a talented back, but picking him in the 8th round may be a bit early considering those who went after. I understand the PTSD that some fantasy managers may have had owning Bijan Robinson in the ’23 season, but the Arther Smith days are over.
Favorite Sleeper 17.2 Tyrone Tracy
Out of all the times to unfortunately let the CPU Autopick, the 17.2 may be the one. The former WR turned RB from Purdue is an interesting prospect to monitor in the Giants backfield currently held by Devin Singletary. Tracy might carve out a role as the Giants 3rd down back that has a potential of playing from behind quite often in 2024.
Pick #3 HappyDadMC
Favorite Pick – 2.10 Travis Etienne
Etienne is coming off of a RB3 season that had one of the worst PFF run blocking grade in the league. Etienne’s 58 receptions that were good for 8 yards per catch is a great metric to gloat about in what should be an ascending offense led by Trevor Lawrence (his college buddy).
Riskiest Pick 9.3 Jordan Addison
Addison was a relief filling in for Justin Jefferson in 2023 with his 70-911-10 stat-line. With Jefferson back and healthy, along with a Sam Darnold led offense, may lead to some TD regression in 2024. Not to mention a potential multi-game suspension for his off the field trouble lurking.
Sleeper – 13.3 Josh Palmer
Someone is listening to Sunday Surefire! A frequent flyer on the show, Palmer looks to carve out being Justin Herbert’s first or second read in the Chargers offense in 2024. The only question is what volume this will lead to in the Greg Roman/Jim Harbaugh run heavy offense.
Pick#4 Brwntwn
Favorite Pick – 6.9 George Pickens
The highlight reel waiting to happen, George Pickens comes into the Steelers ’24 season as the true alpha in this receiving core. Although it is highly noted this is another Arthur Smith led offense to track, it is still hard to pass up Picken’s 18 yards per catch linking up with Russell Wilson who led a top 3 wr in receiving touchdowns with Courtland Sutton in ’23.
Riskiest Pick 4.9 Trey McBride
Although, Trey McBride was a top 5 tight end to end last year’s season, picking McBride in the fourth round can be risky if he does not live up to his expectations in 2024. Although McBride should be Kyler Murray’s 2nd option in the Arizona offense, he needs to put up a top 5 season at tight end for this pick to be worth while.
Sleeper 14.9 Darnell Mooney
With a new life in Atlanta, Mooney looks to be a top three option in the offense featuring London, Pitts, and himself. With Kirk cousins at the helm, Mooney should be able to put up a couple BOOM weeks that could come at the right time for the 2023 Sunday Surefire Invitational Runner-up to look forward to.
Pick #5 Danstr
Favorite Pick – 2.8 De’Von Achane
Is best ball not the safest format to draft De’Von Achane? With Achane posting 5 out of 11 games played with over 20 fantasy points (one of them with a staggering 51 point game) Achane marks a true week to week game breaker in fantasy. No matter your opinion on drafting him in other fantasy leagues, Achane should be a key asset to continue to put up big numbers in Miami’s high octane offense.
Riskiest Pick – 6.8 Terry McLaurin
At the fifth pick Danstr was able to draft a well balanced team. However, Terry McLaurin could be considered risky as we truly do not know how Jayden Daniels will perform in the passing game in his rookie season. For the record, I am in favor of both Daniels and McLaurin’s ’24 season, let’s just hope he comes down with a few big weeks to help secure W’s for Danstr this year.
Sleeper – 10.8 Brian Thomas Jr.
Brian Thomas has been an intriguing rookie asset in the dynasty community. Will he beat out the great Gabe Davis for the WR2 in this offense? WHO CARES!? It is best ball. Brian Thomas should have multiple BOOM weeks with Trevor Lawrence second to only Josh Allen in average depth per target with having more time to throw in 2023.
Pick #6 Jconnollyobbs14
Favorite Pick – 7.6 Najee Harris
Entering Najee’s 4th season in the league, fantasy managers are quick to forget his RB3 300 full point ppr season finish in his rookie year. With Jconnollyobbs14 going wide receiver heavy in his first two rounds, Najee could be his saving grace at running back entering the ’24 season. In what is anticipated to be a run heavy offense featuring Harris and Jaylen Warren, Harris should still be the featured goal-line back in the Steelers offense, who always seem to be a better team if T.J. Watt is healthy on the other side of the ball.
Riskiest Pick 6.7 Rome Odunze
What is not to love in Rome’s game coming into the league as what is perceived to be the 3rd best receiver in the draft? The problem is Odunze may be the 3rd option led by a rookie QB in Caleb Williams. Although, this pick could pay off big time if there is an injury to Keenen Allen or DJ Moore, it can be viewed as a risky pick in the 6th round looking at who was left on the board during the selection.
Sleeper – 16.7 Noah Fant
Another Sunday Surefire longtime favorite. Noah Fant is coming into the season now with a new 2-year $21 Million dollar contract where the days of Shane Waldren’s tight end horror story days are finished. Noah Fant’s upside in best ball is scary in the 16th round as he is one of the few tight ends in the league that take a wheel route to the house!
Pick #7 Spikedrob
Favorite Pick – 9.7 Diontae Johnson
Diontae Johnson in the 9th round is almost criminal in a start eight best ball league. Although Johnson might not have many 150 and two touchdown games on his plate incoming, Johnson should still be highly featured in a Carolina Panthers offense securing plenty of targets. This is the type of upside that helps in best ball when injuries, bye weeks, and dud weeks eventually occur with your top 8 starters during the season.
Riskiest Pick 2.6 Sam LaPorta
The returning TE1 from the ’23 season, Sam LaPorta has plenty of fantasy pressure to reproduce his 86-889-10 TD output from last year. LaPorta should have plenty of red zone opportunities since Detroit still has all of their key offensive weapons that almost led them for a Super Bowl appearance. The question is, can he come near to the 90+ catch - 1k yard years that led Travis Kelce to be a top two round pick in the past 8 seasons to justify the high draft capital.
Sleeper 11.7 Ezekiel Elliot
Fantasy managers have wanted to look the other way of Zeke Elliot the past two seasons. His 300 point seasons are behind him, but it is hard to look the other way while he is back on his beloved Cowboys team, who were the highest scoring team in the league a year ago. With no true RB1 on this team, expect Elliot to handle most of the carries inside the 5 with a top 10 run blocking line. You tell me the outcome of that!
Pick #8 AJsDad112088
Favorite Pick 6.5 Christian Kirk
Another frequent flyer on the Sunday Surefire pod, Christian Kirk should be featured early and often in most of Jacksonville’s games in ’24. Just one year removed from Kirk’s WR11 season, Kirk should command over 130 targets that should lead to a respectable fantasy outcome this year.
Riskiest Pick 5.8 Aaron Jones
Aaron Jones has been a household fantasy name the past five seasons. His receiving upside and breakaway runs have continued to make him exciting to watch. However, on a new team, new offense, and QB chronicles approaching, Jones will have to be a true workhorse back in a Kevin O’Connell offense to withstand this draft capital. The issue is relying on a 29 year old injury prone running back makes his upside risky drafting him at the 5.8.
Sleeper 12.5 Gabe Davis
I know, I know. Another time Downtown Brown brings up Gabe Davis. But we are talking best ball here. If a fantasy God was building a best ball player, Gabe Davis would be the prototype. Truly not knowing what you are going to get week in and week out from Davis, he still has managed to have the most touchdown receptions by ANY player in the past 4 years. Crazy right?!?
Pick #9 Tylermallen
Favorite Pick 10.4 Jayden Daniels
I know, I have been talking trash about rookie quarterbacks. BUT, pairing Jayden Daniels as your backup quarterback next to Joe Burrow could be dangerous. We know you can count on Joe cool, but Daniels rushing upside could be dangerous this year. Especially if he throws for 2 touchdowns and runs one in this year in a particular week (which could be on the table). I just like this ying and yang approach to this draft strategy at the QB position.
Riskiest Pick – 1.9 Puka Nacua
This one tugs at my fantasy heart strings some here. After seeing what Puka did in the ’23 season gave hope that there is always that diamond in the rough out there. However, asking him to reproduce what you saw last year, along with drafting him ahead of Breece Hall is tough to not call this pick risky. We’ll see if a fully healthy Cooper Kupp is enough to keep puka away from a top 7 wideout again in this upcoming season.
Sleeper – 21.9 D’Onta Foreman
Yes, my favorite pick of the last round in D’onta Foreman. This dude has done nothing but produce when he has been on the field. And with Nick Chubb rehabbing that gruesome knee injury, Foreman should be able to find himself in the endzone running behind one of the league’s best rushing offenses.
Pick #10 AndrewSimcox10
Favorite Pick – 1.10 Breece Hall
This is a no-debate, as getting Breece with the tenth pick is outright crazy. The ’23 RB2 in full point ppr should come back reloaded still running behind a solid offensive line and upgraded quarterback play. Breece can beat you on the ground and through the air, so it should be exciting what he has in store for us in 2024.
Riskiest Pick – 6.3 James Conner
James Conner and risk only go together when you bring up injury. Conner has never played more than 15 games in a season and is under that mark six times in his seven year career. Taking injury out of the equation, Conner should still continue to score fantasy output as we still saw 15ppg a season ago. This year he gets a healthy Kyler Murray led offense.
Sleeper 15.10 Jermaine Burton
Does anyone remember a guy named Tyler Boyd? Yes, he is still in the league. Guess who is filling in Boyd’s role as the third offense for the Bengals in ’24? His name is Jermaine Burton. Burton is a big play waiting to happen, which is exciting considering Joe Burrow will be throwing him the ball instead of the disappointing QB play we saw in Alabama. Lookout if Chase or Higgins get into any injury concerns as we could see a Burton takeover in Cincinnati.
Pick #11 Starkofthenorth
Favorite Pick 3.11 Malik Nabers
Yes, the one time watchman of the Sunday Surefire kingdom, Starkofthenorth was able to appoint his beloved Giants #1 draft pick Malik Nabers to hold down his wide receiver army. There is no reason why Nabers should not get at least 140 looks his way from Daniel Jones in this offense as he looks to put up big numbers in his rookie season.
Riskiest pick 10.2 Trey Benson
One of my favorite running backs in this year’s draft class, Trey Benson goes in round ten. I don’t mind drafting Benson this year considering Conner’s health, the only issue I see here is that Starkofthenorth has Benson #2 on his bench right before getting his second and third quarterbacks in both round 11 and 12. Hopefully there are no unfortunate injuries to his competitive top 8 players, therefore he would need to depend on some solid sleepers in the later rounds.
Sleeper 14.2 Brandon Cooks
Fortunately Starkofthenorth came through and picked a solid vet that he can depend on in crucial times this season. Cooks is not as sexy as a pick as he once was, but still saw plenty of red zone targets (11) last year in Dallas’s high scoring offense. With not a whole lot of fire power after Cedee Lamb, Cooks should still see a similar target share as last season.
Pick #12 KevinG18
Favorite Pick 1.12 Garrett Wilson
A solid first round pick with Garret Wilson for this team. Coming off a season 4th in targets, and leading the league in un-catchable targets, look for Wilson to have quite the turn around season with Aaron Rodgers. As mentioned on our podcast, Wilson has a chance being a top 5 receiver this year and going at the end of the first round doubling up with Kyren Williams with this team spells trouble.
Riskiest Pick 6.1 Jake Ferguson
After seeing both Kittle and Kincaid drafted only a few picks before, this pick spells panic for the TE position. Ferguson has a high ceiling for touchdowns as being one of Dak’s favorite red zone threats, but in fantasy, fishing for touchdowns can be scary. This pick could pan out just fine for this manager, although there was a chance he could have been drafted a round later.
