The 2024 fantasy football season was a wild ride filled with breakout performances, emerging young stars, disappointing busts, and plenty of weekly drama. As fantasy managers reflect on their triumphs and failures from the past year, it’s time to honor the players who defined the fantasy landscape.
The Fantasy Focus Football podcast crew gathered to hand out their annual awards, spotlighting the most impactful fantasy players of 2024. From the no-brainer MVP to the shocking breakout star to the league-winning waiver pickup, these are the names that fantasy managers will forever associate with this unforgettable season.
Fantasy MVP: Josh Allen edges out Saquon Barkley
In one of the closest MVP races in years, Bills quarterback Josh Allen ultimately earned the hardware over Giants running back Saquon Barkley. Both players were the top scorers at their positions by a wide margin, but Allen’s passing prowess and unique rushing ability proved to be an unbeatable combination.
“Allen was a cheat code all season long. Even when the Bills struggled in real life, he was putting up 30-point fantasy performances on a weekly basis. You can’t argue with that level of consistent elite production from the QB spot.”
– Field Yates, Fantasy Focus analyst
Barkley deserves plenty of credit for a monster bounce-back season, re-establishing himself as one of the most dynamic players in the league. But in the end, Allen’s all-around statistical dominance and clutch fantasy playoff performances gave him the slight edge.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Brock Bowers a rarity at tight end
Rookie tight ends rarely make a major fantasy impact, but Falcons first-round pick Brock Bowers was a glaring exception. The athletic freak out of Georgia immediately emerged as a dynamic weapon in Atlanta’s passing game, using his speed and after-the-catch ability to rack up yards in chunks.
Bowers was remarkably consistent for a rookie, scoring double-digit PPR points in all but two games. He finished as the overall TE4, an amazing feat for a first-year player at a notoriously slow-developing position. Lions receiver Malik Nabers and Commanders receiver Brian Thomas Jr. also had impressive debuts, but Bowers was the clear winner.
Breakout Player of the Year: Chuba Hubbard explodes onto scene
After spending his first three seasons as Christian McCaffrey‘s backup, Chuba Hubbard finally got his chance to shine as the Panthers’ lead back in 2024. And boy, did he ever take advantage of the opportunity.
Hubbard showed off the explosive speed and tackle-breaking ability that made him a star at Oklahoma State, routinely gashing defenses for big plays. He ran for over 1,400 yards and added another 500 as a receiver, scoring 13 total touchdowns and finishing as the RB3 in fantasy.
“Hubbard had been an intriguing handcuff for years, but I don’t think anyone expected this massive leap into an elite RB1 in his first season as a full-time starter. He looks like he’ll be a fantasy star for years to come.”
– Daniel Dopp, Fantasy Focus host
Other breakout candidates like Chase Brown, Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba had nice seasons, but none could match Hubbard’s gigantic year-over-year leap and overall fantasy impact.
Comeback Player of the Year: Joe Burrow returns to elite form
After a torn ACL cost Joe Burrow most of the 2023 season, the Bengals quarterback came back with a vengeance in 2024. Burrow re-established himself as one of the league’s brightest young stars, lighting up defenses every week with his pinpoint accuracy and moxie.
- Burrow ranked 2nd among QBs in passing yards (4,658) and tied for the league lead with 38 TD passes
- He added a career-high 355 rushing yards and 5 scores on the ground
- From Week 7 on, Burrow averaged over 26 fantasy points per game, trailing only MVP Josh Allen
Fellow comeback candidates like Terry McLaurin and J.K. Dobbins bounced back nicely from injuries, while Sam Darnold resurrected his career in Seattle. But Burrow was playing at a higher level than all of them, reclaiming his status as an elite fantasy QB1.
Fantasy Bust of the Year: Anthony Richardson hype proves premature
No player burned more fantasy managers than Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson. The raw but talented rookie was one of the most hyped sleeper picks heading into draft season, with his incredible athleticism and rushing upside drawing tantalizing superficial comparisons to Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts.
Unfortunately, Richardson was not ready for the NFL stage. His inaccuracy and turnover woes from college carried over to the pros, as he threw a league-high 19 interceptions in just 12 starts before getting benched. He salvaged some fantasy value with his 504 rushing yards and 5 scores, but his wildly inconsistent production torpedoed many fantasy teams who reached for him on draft day.
“The warning signs were there with Richardson’s flawed profile coming out of Florida. The rushing stats were alluring, but his passing limitations were always going to be tough to overcome as a rookie. This is a harsh reminder that young QBs usually need time to develop.”
– Stephania Bell, Fantasy Focus injury expert
Established stars like Tyreek Hill, Christian McCaffrey and Travis Etienne were also disappointing relative to their high draft costs. But no one busted harder than Richardson after his summer helium.
Waiver Wire Wonder: Jonnu Smith rewards savvy managers
Every season, a few key waiver wire pickups end up swinging fantasy leagues. In 2024, the early bird special was Patriots tight end Jonnu Smith.
Smith, a forgotten man after two quiet years in New England, suddenly emerged as Mac Jones‘ go-to target in the first month. From Weeks 1-4, Smith caught 28 passes and scored 4 touchdowns, making him a priority waiver add and a weekly TE1.
While he slowed down a bit later in the year, Smith still finished as the overall TE8, much higher than where he was drafted (if he was drafted at all). That early-season production was a league-winner in the barren tight end landscape.
“If you were lucky enough to scoop Smith up after that first breakout game, it changed your entire season. Getting that kind of plug-and-play TE production off waivers is like finding a golden ticket.”
– Mike Clay, ESPN fantasy writer
Other waiver heroes like running backs Bucky Irving and Bo Nix and receiver Jerry Jeudy made their mark later in the year. But for pouncing on Smith before he became a household name, savvy fantasy managers earned major kudos.
Parting thoughts on the 2024 fantasy season
As always, the 2024 fantasy football season was a rollercoaster ride that tested the research, instincts and luck of managers everywhere. The players spotlighted above were some of the most impactful names that shaped the landscape, for better or worse.
While the fantasy game continues to evolve, the core principles of success remain the same: Nail your early draft picks, be aggressive on the waiver wire, and start your studs. Easy game, right?
From the Fantasy Focus crew to you, congrats on making it through another wild season. Let’s do it all again in 2025!
