Top 2024 Fantasy Football Projections Picks: NFLSZN on PrizePicks

August 15, 2024

August 15, 2024

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (28) smiles as he runs onto the field during player introductions before an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)

The 2024 NFL season is just around the corner, and PrizePicks has a fresh way for you to get in on the action from Week 1 to 18. With the PrizePicks NFLSZN board, you can build a lineup of your favorite players’ season-long stats and follow their journey all 2024.

Missed out on your top picks in your fantasy football draft? Don’t sweat it. Whether it’s touchdowns, yards, or sacks, you can create the perfect lineup of breakout stars or busts you’re expecting for the 2024 season.

Below, we’ll get into some of the top picks for fantasy football projections for the NFL SZN, including QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs, and defensive players. Let’s rip. 

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What is NFLSZN on PrizePicks?

NFLSZN is the season-long NFL game on PrizePicks, where you can pick more or less on a player’s projections for the entire 2024 regular season, including yards, receptions, touchdowns, sacks, and so many more season-long stats.

While PrizePicks is known for its daily fantasy sports game where you can pick new lineups every day, NFLSZN lineups will be locked in all season long. That means you can set your season-long lineup with your favorite players or breakout stars and sweat it for the entire 2024 season.

NFLSZN Board on Prizepicks NFL Season-Long projections

The NFLSZN board will close and projections and lineups will lock once Week 1 kicks off, so be sure to build your best fantasy football squad from the NFLSZN board before the full Week 1 slate on Sept. 8.

Quarterbacks NFLSZN Picks

Dak Prescott — 4,099.5 Pass Yards: More

Dak Prescott 2024 Fantasy Football Projections NFLSZN on PrizePicks

If you think Dak Prescott is heading for regression after throwing for 4,516 yards last year, you’d be a logical thinker. But here’s the thing: The Cowboys just… aren’t very good, and they’re probably going to trail in a lot more games this year. Keep in mind: Prescott reached this number last year despite the Cowboys winning nine (NINE!) games by 20+ points.

Plus, they don’t have a rushing game; I mean — they’re trotting out Ezekiel Elliott as their RB1 and he hasn’t averaged over 4 yards per carry since 2021.

So what does that lead us to? Prescott throwing the ball. A lot. The Cowboys were already top five in Pass-Rate Over Expectation last year, so even when the game script is neutral, they lean on Prescott to carry. This season should be no different.

Prescott soared past this number in 2021 (in 16 games) and 2023, and was easily on-pace in 2022, where he averaged 260 yards per game in full games.

Josh Allen — 37.5 SZN Pass+Rush TDs: More

Josh Allen 2024 Fantasy Football Projections NFLSZN on PrizePicks

Sure, Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis are gone, and that’s cause for concern. And Josh Allen probably won’t rush for 15 touchdowns again, plus James Cook is expected to handle more of the rushing load, but he isn’t the best around the goal line. 

Josh Allen has an incredible nose for the end zone, and it’s not going to change. He’s never scored less than six rushing touchdowns in a season, and he’s averaged 34.25 passing touchdowns in the last four years. 

The drop-off in talent around him is tangible, but Khalil Shakir showed promise last year, Cook has potential for a breakout, and rookie Keon Coleman can do it all. I simply think this projection overstates the dropoff we’re going to see in Allen’s stats in 2024.

Caleb Williams — 11.5 Pass INTs: More

I’m not a hater, I swear I’m not a hater. But look, even No. 1 picks tend to struggle with decision-making in their rookie year. Let’s just look at the last 11 No. 1 QB picks and how they performed in the INT category.

  • Joe Burrow: 5 INT in 10 games
  • Kyler Murray: 12 INT in 16 games
  • Baker Mayfield: 14 INT in 14 games
  • Jared Goff: 7 INT in 7 games
  • Jameis Winston: 15 INT in 16 games
  • Andrew Luck: 18 INT in 16 games
  • Cam Newton: 17 INT in 16 games
  • Sam Bradford: 15 INT in 16 games
  • Matthew Stafford: 20 INT in 16 games
  • JaMarcus Russell: 4 INT in 4 games
  • Alex Smith: 11 INT in 5 games (16 INT in 16 games in next season)

Noticing a trend? Sure, Burrow limited his mistakes, but other than that, every QB on this list threw more INTs or were on pace to throw more INTs than this projection. 

Williams was very deserving of the No. 1 pick, and I believe he’ll be a franchise QB. But this projection is too low for a rookie QB joining a team that is expected to end up around 9-8.

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Running Backs NFLSZN Picks

DeVon Achane — 774.5 Rush Yards: More

DeVon Achane 2024 Fantasy Football Projections NFLSZN on PrizePicks

I ain’t scared, man. I get that regression on the 7.8 yards per carry is coming for DeVon Achane — that’s for sure. He’s not going to hit this number on 103 carries like he did in 2023. But I also think the Dolphins have no choice but to give Achane the lion’s share of the backfield work; he’s just too good.

So let’s do some basic math. Let’s bring Achane’s yards per carry down to 5.0 (Jahmyr Gibbs, Jaylen Warren, Kyren Williams all averaged this or better in 2023), and assume he plays all 17 games. If Achane averages just 10 carries a game, he’s flying past this number. And 10 carries per game would be just 37 percent of the team’s rushing share in 2023.

It simply comes down to upside versus downside. To me, it’s much more likely that Achane rushes for 1,000+ yards than less than 500 in a healthy season. Plus, Raheem Mostert is 32 years old — if he’s banged up, Achane is going to get fed endlessly.

I truly believe Achane will emerge from 2024 as a consensus top 5 back in the NFL. And that’s enough to take a more pick here.

Josh Jacobs — 949.5 Rush Yards: Less

Josh Jacobs 2024 Fantasy Football Projections NFLSZN on PrizePicks

Sure, Jacobs has been a powerhouse running back in the NFL for the last few season statistically. But the underlying metrics were poor last year, as Jacobs only averaged 3.5 yards per carry  and didn’t crack the top 20 running backs in PFF grades.

Yes, the Packers have a more functional offense than what Jacobs played on in Vegas. And this team should have the lead (and favorable game script) more often. But Jacobs is also probably going to chop up the backfield share more than some expect, with AJ Dillon and third-round pick MarShawn Lloyd in the mix.

Add that to Jacobs only playing one full season in his six-year NFL career and missing this number last year (805 rush yards), I think there are a ton of paths to the less hitting here.

Wide Receivers NFLSZN Picks

Nico Collins — 999.5 Receiving Yards: More

Nico Collins 2024 Fantasy Football Projections NFLSZN on PrizePicks

Yes, Stefon Diggs has entered the chat in Houston. But let’s not forget that Collins was on-pace for 1,470 yards last year, but missed a few games due to injury. And guess what else? Collins is still the WR1 in Houston — regardless of Diggs. At the very least, we can expect him to be on the field for most of the Texans snaps, and be the most complete WR on this team.

Even with the addition of Joe Mixon, the Texans should continue to lean on the pass game with C.J. Stroud under-center.

The underlying metrics on Collins reflect that he can be one of the best WRs in the NFL — third in PFF grade among all WRs, second in yards per route run, third in missed tackles forced … the list goes on. 

Sure, it’s a bit risky since the breakout just came last year. But that’s reflected in the projection. Collins is going for 1,000 yards in 2024.

Tyreek Hill — 5.5 100+ Rec Yard Games: More

Tyreek Hill 2024 Fantasy Football Projections NFLSZN on PrizePicks

Great, another Dolphins pick in a year they’re due for negative regression … unless? Tyreek Hill himself probably couldn’t have dreamed his first two years in Miami would go as incredibly as they have. The thing is, Hill is still a cheat code in the NFL.

Hill may be 30, but he’s still the fastest WR in the NFL (Xavier Worthy may have something to say about that soon). He is also the most efficient WR in the league when he’s not pressed, he generates more separation than any WR in the league, and he absolutely decimates man coverage. 

Numbers wise, Hill had a 30.6 percent target share (third in the NFL) and 42 percent air yard share (fifth in the NFL) last year. He had eight 100 yard games last year — five of which were over 150 yards — and another 99 yard game.

Unlike in Kansas City, Mike McDaniel is not afraid to force Hill the ball, as he’s averaged 10 targets per game and reached this 5.5 100+ yard game mark in each of the last two years. Gotta take more here.

Mike Evans — 1,050.5 Receiving Yards: Less

Mike Evans 2024 Fantasy Football Projections NFLSZN on PrizePicks

For years, there’s been no safer WR pick in fantasy football than Mike Evans. Did you know he was the WR4 last year and he’s reached 1,000 yards in each of his nine NFL seasons? Evans has quietly been a dawg for a while now.

But really, this pick leans into regression coming for Baker Mayfield and this offense. Do you remember how bad Mayfield was in Carolina in 2022? There’s no way we’re done seeing that Baker. Plus, Evans is playing in his age-31 season, which naturally is a cause for injury concern. 

Chris Godwin will return to the slot this year where he has thrived and the Bucs have a legit WR3 in Jalen McMillan — a steal in the draft if you ask me. I’m not sure the pieces line up for another Evans 1,000+ yard season here. 

Bonus Pick: DJ Moore 974.5 Receiving Yards: Less

Moore won’t benefit from the same peppering of targets he did last season. He’s an incredible talent, but the WR room is crowded and he’s got a rookie QB under center.

Tight Ends NFLSZN Picks

Kyle Pitts — 64.5 Receptions: More

The stars are aligned. This is Kyle Pitts’ breakout season. After his 1,000+ yard rookie year, Pitts has disappointed in each of the last two seasons, mostly due to a tight end rotation in Atlanta and an offense that didn’t push the ball vertically. But Pitts has remained one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the league.

Do you remember 2021? That's the kind of potential Pitts has — and he's only become more well-rounded since then.

The Falcons were 25th in pass attempts in 2023 in Arthur Smith’s drab offense with Desmond Ridder under-center. That number should climb with new QB Kirk Cousins and a more aggressive scheme.

Combine that with the fact that Pitts is continuing to play “some tight end, some receiver” under new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, and we could see some fireworks from Pitts in this offense. Pitts reached this number in his big rookie season with 68 catches.

Pat Freiermuth — 3.5 Rec TDs: More

Remove Diontae Johnson’s five touchdowns, enter a competent quarterback (Justin Fields or Russell Wilson) that can open up the offense, and we’ve got a perfect set up for a Pat Freiermuth emergence this year. 

Last year, he missed four games and had his worst career year. But with Fields, he should be in for a bounce back. Kmet had 93, 69, and 93 targets in his three seasons with Fields, and Chicago tight ends combined for 13 targets inside the 10 last year; we should expect much of the same as the only pass-catching tight end in Pittsburgh.

Freiermuth has reached this TD number once in his three NFL seasons, during his rookie season when he had seven touchdowns. 

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Defensive NFLSZN Picks

DaRon Bland — 2.5 INTs: More

Note: This was posted before DaRon Bland was posted on IR/Designated to Return with a foot injury. Bland will miss at least the first four games of the year with his foot injury.

This is just a flat out disrespectful projection for Bland, who was ranked as the No. 31 player in the NFL by his peers after leading the league with nine interceptions last year. Bland is a ball hawk who cleared this number easily in his first two seasons in the NFL, and that’s including a rookie season where he only started for half the season.

Sure, the touchdowns last year were flashy, but Bland is legitimately one of the best all-around corners in the NFL. He gets two matchups with Daniel Jones or Drew Lock, and another two against rookie Jayden Daniels. I fully expect him to reach this number by Week 10.

Kayvon Thibodeaux — 8.25 Sacks: More

Just watch Kayvon Thibodeaux play and you’ll want to take the more on his sacks. Dude is a freak, and is often just too quick for offensive tackles to keep up with.

He crushed this projection last year, totaling 11.5 sacks in his sophomore season — and it feels like he’s just getting started. Now, he’s got Pro Bowler Brian Burns on the opposite end, not to mention All-Pro DT Dexter Lawrence in the middle. This defensive line is absolutely stacked, and they’re going to get constant pressure, freeing up more opportunities for Thibodeaux to get to the QB. 

It doesn’t hurt that he’ll get to face a weakened Cowboys offensive line plus a scramble-happy rookie Jayden Daniels each twice.

All Eyes on NFLSZN: Season-Long DFS on PrizePicks

Don’t be restricted by your fantasy football draft order. Now’s your chance to let your hottest season-long fantasy football takes shine. NFLSZN on PrizePicks isn’t just about weekly picks; it’s a season-long journey.

Make sure your lineup is ready before Week 1 kicks off, and keep an eye on the PrizePicks social channels for surprise NFLSZN discounts rolling out before the season starts.

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