With the 12 owners, head coaches and managers of the league logging in for the esteemed 2024 NPIFL draft, what followed was a haze of reaches, steals, risks and surprises. Let’s take a look at the teams following the 2024 NPIFL draft:
#1, Wardiefence Wins Championships
Coming in at No. 1 saw the WWC pick up the game-wrecking Christian McCaffrey and after a long wait, HC Chris Ward followed that up with some exciting receiver options.
The team will be hoping Kyler Murray can establish good chemistry with rookie superstar Marvin Harrison Jr., and that Drake London can build a similar relationship with Kirk Cousins.
This is a team with high-scoring potential, but some concerns are in the Patriots’ offense with RB Rhamondre Stevenson. However, at No. 72 this feels like a low-risk, high-reward option.
Another interesting talking point was Ward’s decision to draft 49ers WR Ricky Pearsall, who suffered a gunshot wound to the chest this week but has since been released from hospital.
In accordance with franchise tradition, the WWC took a chance on a rookie phenom, this time Bears QB Caleb Williams. The first-overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft looked very solid in preseason and is one to look out for.
Xavier Worthy is another one to watch as he recorded the fastest 40-second dash in NFL history. Could he be the new Tyreek Hill in Kansas City?
Here are the WWC’s picks:
Ward spoke to NFLFantasyQs writer John Maxwell and had the following to say about the draft:
“Iโm happy with my roster. I feel it is competitive whilst upholding our equal opportunity policies by not discriminating against those shot through the chest.”
The WWC kick off their campaign against fierce Metropolitan rivals Santos XI.
#2, Tyreek or Treat
Coming in at No. 2 was great news for ToT HC Jordan Clough, who no longer has to worry about a new team name. Taking Tyreek Hill was a no-brainer for the defending Super Bowl champ and Hill headlines a strong draft featuring another returning familiar face in Travis Etienne.
The sophomore HC will be excited to have one of the most capable QBs in the NFL in C.J. Stroud, especially after 2023 saw a great number of fluctuations in the position.
This is a squad with solid pieces everywhere. While there are some boom-bust options like DeVonta Smith and D’Andre Swift, the overall quality should mean a dependably high enough floor to win any low-scoring matchups.
A potentially huge steal came in the 15th round, where QB Daniel Jones fell. Jones could easily be in the top 10 of his position if the Giants line can keep him upright and he trusts his legs like in 2022.
The best value pick here, however, could be Brian Thomas Jr. The LSU product went to the Jaguars in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft (No. 23) and could be an inspired selection in the 12th.
NFLFantasyQs spoke to Clough on Monday, who said the following:
“Iโm very pleased with my draft! Over the moon to have Tyreek back through the doors for his second season with the club. Looking to keep the 100% Super Bowl record going and go back-to-back.”
Can ToT go back-to-back? It will be interesting to find out. They start the season away at Lloyds Leviathans.
#3, Santos XI
Santos XI had the benefit of another early draft pick (not that anyone is counting) and this time went with the protocol, taking freshly-paid Dallas Cowboys superstar, CeeDee Lamb.
HC Christopher Faulkner followed that up with a similar pickup to last year, trusting the speed of the Dolphins RBs and taking the highly-touted De’Von Achane. Achane is the RB2 in Miami, but is expected to split carries fairly evenly.
Patrick Mahomes is as good a pickup at QB as you can ask for and D.J. Moore should be a reliable option in what could be an explosive Bears offense.
As is the case with a 12-team draft there are some question marks, but NFLFantasyQs loves the tentative and unexpected Chiefs stack Santos added in the 10th with Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. His performance and injury issues will be something to keep an eye on, as will the performance of DeAndre Hopkins, with Calvin Ridley joining the Titans.
David Montgomery and Zack Moss complete a great value RB room as both have high ceilings in 2024.
NFLFantasyQs spoke to the XI HC on Monday:
“We’re pleased with the acquisition of Mahomes, Achane and Lamb. We feel these three backed by some solid players across the roster will take us on another play-off run. The Santos Sports Group has had a productive summer; here’s to a big winter!”
The XI will start their 2024 season with a rivalry game against the WWC, although NFLFantasyQs hear whispers that Santos fans do not view Chris Ward’s team in that way.
#4, Eagles Raid Steelers
The ERS are looking to bounce back after a disappointing collapse following Week 6 in 2023. After being the hottest team in the NPIFL the ERS fell hard. They displayed a solid tactic in the early stages of the NPIFL draft.
Ja’Marr Chase should be the chief beneficiary of Bengals QB Joe Burrow’s healthy wrist and calf, the two issues that plagued him last season. He then landed the stack with Burrow in the seventh, so any big days for the Bengals should mean big points for HC Dan Gittins.
Jahmyr Gibbs will be hoping for an uneven split of carries in his favor with the Lions this year, which will be something to watch. He is, at present, the RB2 in Detroit behind David Montgomery.
Davante Adams in the third at No. 28 is a brilliant pick with potentially great upside. Another steal could be Zamir White, as the RB1 in Vegas. This does mean that the ERS have two stacks in their lineup, so the high-ceiling, low-floor risk is multiplied, especially with one being in the RB-WR form.
Keep an eye out for Rome Odunze, who could be an inspired choice at No. 148.
Gittins will be hoping Mark Andrews can stay healthy, while the ERS also drafted two kickers, which seems like an anomaly and could be the result of an auto-pick.
The ERS HC was not available for comment, however, this may be updated if he does return the message we left with his assistant. The ERS face the Brymbo Miners in Week 1, which promises to be a tense one.
#5, San Wrexham 49ers
The San Wrexham 49ers (formerly known as Bend it like Beckham Jr.) kicked off their draft at the No. 5 spot. They got one of the candidates for WR1 of the year in the sun god, Amon-Ra St. Brown.
They followed this up with the selection of 2023’s QB1 in Josh Allen and then landed Travis Kelce in the third. This is a potentially incredible trio, and Joe Mixon is expected to have a similar role in Texas as he did in Cincinnati.
There are some concerns then on, as the Cardinals drafted Trey Benson in 2024 as competition for James Connor, who will be playing for his place. Keenan Allen is always a terrific pick, but the Bears have rookie phenom Rome Odunze and D.J. Moore as target competition and a rookie QB.
Meanwhile, Brandon Aubrey certainly makes for an interesting kicking option in 2024.
Other ones to watch this season are Tony Pollard and Brian Robinson, who NFL Fantasy Qs think will be splitting carries. They could lose their RB1 spots to Tyjae Spears and Austin Ekeler, respectively, if they do not hit the ground running, forgive the pun.
The 49ers face the Love Train to start their campaign, as big a rival as you can get in the NPIFL. While HC Chris Blockley was not available for comment, we are aware he has been active in trade proposals – more on that later.
#6, Lloyds Leviathans
The Leviathans landed the most exciting stack of the 2024 NFL season in the first two rounds, taking A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts.
While doing this obviously meant a slight reach for Hurts, the consensus is that this will result in the lion’s share of both rushing and receiving TDs in Philadelphia. Very hard to argue with that.
Adding Amari Cooper in the fifth, as well as Rashee Rice and Courtland Sutton, completes a highly capable WR room.
Concerns could be at RB as Rachaad White had an up-and-down season in 2023, and while there were many highlights, there was talk about his yards per carry (3.8) and suitability as a bell cow back.
Najee Harris in the sixth is another RB with some question marks. The Steelers did not pick up his fifth-year option and he has Cordarrelle Patterson and Jaylen Warren (short-term injury) breathing down his neck.
That said, getting him at No. 67 is really good value for what should be the uncontested RB1 for the opening few weeks at least.
We spoke to HC Tom Lloyd, who was pumped about the draft and in particular, his stack:
“The ‘Screaming Eagle’ shall be feared by all.”
The Leviathans take on ToT in Week 1, which could serve as a litmus test for these two teams.
#7, St. Lewis Rams
The St. Lewis Rams repeated their first-round pick from 2023 with Justin Jefferson, this time at No. 7 instead of first overall.
JJ is arguably the best receiver in the NFL, a hot topic for sure, but with the Vikings having QB questions and his injury-hit 2023 season, a slide was expected. Jefferson could push for the WR1 finish this year and seventh overall was a good spot to take him.
Jonathan Taylor is as capable a back as in the NFL, and getting him at No. 18 was right on the money. Jaylen Waddle fell to No. 55 and pairing him with Jefferson, third-round pick Nico Collins and (somehow) ninth-rounder Diontae Johnson gives the Rams a very capable receiver room.
Trey McBride looks like a very good pickup at TE, and the questions here are certainly at RB.
Jonathon Brooks will miss at least four weeks of the season and Jaylen Warren’s hamstring is a potential concern for Weeks 1 and 2 (and he is the RB2 in Pittsburgh). That is the extent of the Rams’ running back room after the draft.
We spoke to Rams HC Lewis Done, who said the following:
“After the spending the summer polishing my 2021 winner ring and getting hyped for the new season it was a joy to see the draft didnโt disappoint.
“Although it is somewhat strange that the commissioner changed the rules last minute and is now projected a near perfect season.”
The Rams will look to defeat the old England Pats in Week 1, which will be no easy task.
#8, Brymbo Miners
The Brymbo Miners (formerly Brymbo Storm) took some big risks in the draft, and for the first time since 2021 were not in the final four picks, although only just.
The Miners just about managed to get on the elite WR train at No. 8 and will be hoping Marvin Harrison Jr. lives up to his college reputation in Arizona. However, it must be said that Harrison is mainly being touted as a second-round pick, so while would not likely have been there at No. 17, was a reach.
The same can certainly be said of Alvin Kamara at No. 32 (48 ADP), as the Miners passed over Green Bay workhorse Josh Jacobs for the Saints RB.
Cooper Kupp was a potentially inspired choice in the second, as he is fully healthy and likely to take the target volume in LA.
Going against the franchise’s norm, the Miners took another highly-touted rookie receiver in Malik Nabers in the fourth, but with the Giants, he represents another risk. Can Nabers be the next elite LSU receiver in the NFL, following in the footsteps of Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson?
Adding Anthony Richardson at QB means that in the first five picks, Brymbo has two rookies and a QB who only completed one of four matches in his 2023 debut campaign.
A lot of questions to be answered, especially with Kyle Pitts, but the Miners feel they have the bench to recover if any of these rookies are busts.
NFLFantasyQs’ John Maxwell spoke to Miners HC John Maxwell (no relation) in a telephone interview on Tuesday:
“Well John, I can call you John, yes? Thanks. Well, I think drafting so close to the end for the last three seasons did dictate the RB-heavy tradition for the team. Which is fine, it’s not like there’s a conspiracy at play or anything. But not making the postseason the last two campaigns was hard.
“So at No. 8, I put my faith in something unknown, as RBs were giving me such sweet nothing. We were tired of hope with nothing to hold, so no more living on such sweet nothing.”
it remains to be seen if Marvin Harrison and Malik Nabers can break through in the NFL. The Miners were predicted a 0-15 campaign by analysts and look to rubbish that storyline against the ERS in Week 1.
#9, Old England Patriots
The Old England Pats took uber-talented Falcons RB Bijan Robinson at No. 9, and with a chip on his shoulder and a new-look offense, Robinson should build on a solid rookie campaign.
The Pats then took some very good weapons in Chris Olave, Mike Evans, Sam LaPorta and Stefon Diggs, rounding out an elite first five picks.
The questions are at RB2, as while Raheem Mostert is an RB1 set to split carries, Austin Ekeler and Tyjae Spears are RB2s with similar upside at their teams.
It does feel likely that at least one of this trio will go big every week, so picking who that will be presents a puzzle. Our bet is on Mostert.
There is arguably a QB battle in Old England already, and who will start between Brock Purdy and Jared Goff is a tough choice. Goff and LaPorta could prove a very formidable stack.
Meanwhile, the Browns defense should be there to stay for the season and Jaxon Smith-Njigba is looking to carve out a bigger role in Seattle.
HC Aminul Hassan spoke to NFLFantasyQs on Monday:
“Old England Pats were left frustrated with technical issues which left them repeatedly kicked out of the draft room, and finding themselves “drafting” kickers in the 7th round. However, we’re happy with our roster and hopeful we can better our 3rd place showing last year.”
#10, The Love Train
The Love Train (formerly Lawrence & the Machine) went for the best RB available at No. 10, and Breece Hall should be in for a very big season. Puka Nacua at No. 15 could be a risk, especially with Cooper Kupp having such chemistry with Matthew Stafford and being the WR1.
Deebo Samuel and DK Metcalf carve out what is one of the most interesting WR rooms in the NPIFL, and these three do feel destined for a lot of endzone activity.
Aaron Jones might prove to be the best value in the entire NPIFL draft as a receiving RB1 at No. 58, and Devin Singletary could be a real steal in the ninth too.
The Love Train feels set to be streaming tight ends, as Brock Bowers has competition at the spot and the Raiders are a puzzle in 2024. Realistically, this team looks to have a very solid floor, but there are some questions about the height of its ceiling, so it will be interesting to see if that is the case.
We spoke to HC Damen Griffiths, who was bullish on his selections:
“Couldnโt be happier with the boys Iโve got in really. Thereโs a great camaraderie in the locker room, and a good blend of youthful talent with a sprinkling of experience to keep the boys on track.
“As the most successful fantasy manager of all time itโs my job to ensure that a team with so much ability reaches their true potential – fantasy Super Bowl winners. I donโt look around the league and see any other team Iโd rather be coaching. All aboard the love train. Choo fuckin choo yeah.
“
The Love Train will be channeling their hate when they take on bitter Plas Coch rivals, the San Wrexham 49ers in Week 1.
#11, Mixon it Up
NFLFantasyQs has been told that Mixon it Up will be Mixon’ up their name this year, but to what is yet to be decided. MIU stepped up and took Saquon Barkley in the first, a very good pick but with the tush-push hurting D’Andre Swift’s numbers last season, a bit of a coin toss.
Derrick Henry and Nick Chubb complete a dominant rushing force, although Chubb’s return date is still an unknown post-Week 4. Lamar Jackson and Henry make for a fascinating stack, and the MIU WR room features some very interesting prospects.
George Pickens is the WR1 in Pittsburgh and finally has a QB and OC who are said to be more inclined to throw him the ball.
Meanwhile, Calvin Ridley is set to play for a much-changed Titans, and the same can be said for Terry McLaurin in Washington.
With Khalil Shakir and Curtis Samuel, there is plenty of depth at the position in what looks like a WR-flex team in 2024.
Add the reliable kicker in “Money Mac” Evan McPherson (not sure about needing a second kicker in Blake Grupe), a potentially high-scoring defense and a dependable tight end, this team will go far if the WRs perform.
We spoke to HC Oliver Bailey on Monday, who answered our questions with a question of his own:
“So whatโs the money on Chris thinking Iโm a stupid b*stard and offering me Mixon for Barkley?”
NFLFantasyQs can exclusively reveal that this was indeed the case:
The MIU kick off the 2024 season against the Brymbo Originals, which should see some trash-talking pre-game.
#12, Brymbo Originals
Brymbo O’s HC Nathan Adams cut a nervous figure at the start of the draft and by the 12th pick was visibly stressed. However, he absolutely nailed his first pick, taking Jets WR Garrett Wilson.
Wilson has put in two good campaigns with questionable QB play in a stagnant offense. So if Aaron Rodgers can stay healthy, Wilson should be in for a huge campaign.
Adams followed that up with another very good choice, taking Rams RB Kyren Williams at No. 13. Williams was impressive in 2023 and was traded to the O’s under interesting circumstances (if you believe HC Chris Blockley’s take, which NFLFantasyQs does not have an opinion on).
Taking Josh Jacobs at No. 36 could be a tremendous selection, and if Kenneth Walker III can put in an equally dominant season, the O’s might have the best running back room in the NPIFL.
Dak Prescott fell to the O’s at No. 61, which is great value considering his QB3 finish in 2023.
TE David Njoku represents the first of a few questions at the Originals, with Deshaun Watson seeming unable to find the obviously talented TE last season.
Other questions are at WR, as while Tee Higgins is probably the best of the WR2s available, he is still behind Ja’Marr Chase on the depth chart. The same goes for Jordan Addison in Minnesota, and Christian Kirk and Josh Palmer are the only WR1s on the team.
Palmer might prove to be an inspired pick, especially as “Mr. Irrelevant” as the 204th selection in the NPIFL draft.
Adams spoke to NFLFantasyQs on Monday:
“The Oโs are confident that the players drafted are not only good enough to beat teams but can go all the way to the Super Bowl.
“Itโs not always about the best players drafted but the whole team, and I think we managed to recruit the right players for the task ahead of us.”
We shall see if that is the case, and the O’s take on MIU in Week 1.