I can’t say I’m excited about a repeat of Super Bowl LVII, won by the Chiefs 38-35 over the Eagles. I’m tired of both teams. To quote my daughter Grace, (and with apologies to K.C. and Philly fans), “Is there any way they can BOTH lose?”
Let’s turn our attention back to the season that was. A happier time when all our favorite NFL teams still had a chance at a championship. Welcome to the Fourth Annual Fantasy Billboard Awards, recognizing the NFL players that brought our Fantasy Football teams glory, shame, or surprise.
BILLBOARD BESTS
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals QB — After a frightening start to the season, throwing for 164 yards and no TDs in a loss to the Patriots, Burrow kicked into high gear and was miraculous down the stretch, averaging an unheard of 35 Fantasy points per game from Week 9 on.
Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles RB — Look away, Giants fans. Barkley was Jim Brown, Barry Sanders and Eric Dickerson all rolled into one unstoppable running back this year. His 2,005 rushing yards for the season (only eight players have ever done this) included 10 games over 100 yards rushing, 15 total TDs and a trip to the Super Bowl.
Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals WR — Chase had almost 100 more fantasy points (421) than his nearest competitor. He was the only non-quarterback to finish in the top seven in scoring. CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson and Cooper Kupp are the only other WRs to match that feat in the last five seasons. The next time Fantasy Guru Jeff Mans tells you to make Chase the No. 1 pick in the draft, do as he says.
Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals TE — McBride finished second in scoring for TEs, averaging 16.18 per game. He saved his best for last as he notched a career-best 33.3 Fantasy points in Week 17, securing Fantasy championships for thousands of his owners.
BILLBOARD BUSTS
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers QB — What a difference a year makes. After finishing as the QB4 in a stellar 2023 season, everyone was in love with Love. Instead, he left us broken-hearted with 10 fewer total TDs, 770 fewer passing yards and 100 fewer Fantasy points in 2024. Even the 23-year-old Caleb Williams and the 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers had more points than Love.
Breece Hall, New York Jets RB — Questions surrounding Christian McCaffrey’s health caused many Fantasy players to draft Hall No. 1 overall this year. That was a huge mistake. Who knew that his 80 yards in Week 8 would be the highest rushing total he’d have in any game the rest of the year? Hall was a microcosm of everything that was wrong with the Jets in 2024.
Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins WR — For the first time in his nine-year career, Hill did not have a 1,000-yard season (excluding 2019 when he was injured). Excuses can be made that Hill suffered without the services of QB Tua Tagovailoa, but rookie WRs Brian Thomas Jr. and Malik Nabers were both Top 10 wideouts with much worse quarterback play from the likes of Mac Jones and Drew Lock .
Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills TE — I hate to kick a man when he’s down, but Kincaid regressed in a big way his sophomore season. With 31 fewer receptions and 225 fewer yards, the Bills dropped the ball choosing Kincaid with a 2023 first round pick. He has been a huge disappointment.
BILLBOARD WAIVER WIRE GOLD
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos QB — Nix was taken in the later rounds of some 2024 drafts but was cut from most Fantasy rosters after throwing one TD pass in the first four games. The wise guys that summarily swooped him up were rewarded with 10 multiple-TD games and a QB8 finish on the year.
Tyrone Tracy, New York Giants RB — Tooting my own horn, I recommended Tracy in this paper before the season commenced. He was in my starting lineup from Week 8 on, scoring more Fantasy points than Rhamondre Stevenson, Kenneth Walker III and Travis Etienne.
Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers WR — Picking up where the injured Brandon Aiyuk left off, Jennings rallied to finish as the 26th best WR in all of Fantasy. This waiver wire addition was just 25 yards short of a 1,000-yard season. Jennings is still a kid at 27 and has a bright future in Frisco.
Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins TE — The fourth-best TE in Fantasy points, Smith had eight double-digit games in a row to end his season. It’s a shock he wasn’t added from the waiver wire until Week 10 in most leagues. Perhaps I was too dismissive of Arthur Smith’s preference for Jonnu over the massively disappointing Kyle Pitts in Atlanta last year.
Next Week: Final thoughts on the 2024 Fantasy season and our Super Bowl Giddy Ups! and Whoa Downs!
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Bill Reinhard is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and a columnist for FantasyGuru.com.