The 2024 NFL season has come to an end, leaving some fantasy managers celebrating, while some were left scratching their heads.
The 2024-2025 fantasy football season was one for the ages, several NFL stars continued to cement their legacy as all time greats with consistent fantasy production while others stumbled to the finish line. Some surprise rookies proved themselves to be stars right out of the gate, while some seasoned veterans hit their stride once again. No matter which NFL stars filled up lineups on draft day, the end of the fantasy season certainly left some fantasy managers in awe of their championship squad, with others left only to question all that went wrong. To get a closer look at both sides, let’s dive in and look at some NFL stars who both exceeded and fell short of their fantasy expectations.
Beginning on a more positive note, many NFL stars proved themselves considerably to their fantasy managers this season. The first of these select players was Ja’marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals, who in 2024, put up one of the greatest seasons by a wide receiver in recent NFL history. Despite the Bengals falling short of a playoff berth at the end of the season, Chases’ historic numbers cannot be disregarded. Chase won the receiving triple crown in 2024, putting up a monster statline of 127 receptions for roughly 1700 total yards and 17 touchdowns. In addition to playing all 17 games for the bengals in 2024, Chase totaled 403 total fantasy points, ranking number 1 across all wide receivers. He was also remarkably consistent throughout the season, with some monster performances against the Ravens in week 10 as well as the Cowboys in week 14. Chase put up 55 and 45 points in these games respectively, being the focus of the Bengals offensive game plan. Ultimately, if fantasy managers were lucky enough to snag Chase with a high draft selection, they would have a consistent yet overachieving wideout at the core of their roster.
Similar to Ja’marr Chase, Saquon Barkeley had a MVP type season for fantasy managers, producing a statline on the year that rivaled that of Chase’s triple crown. Barkley played in 16 out of Philadelphia’s 17 games during the regular season, rushing for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns, and came just shy of breaking Eric Dickerson’s all time single season rushing record of 2105 yards. Barkley ranked number one out of all fantasy running backs in terms of points with 355.0, proving the doubters wrong that he could stay healthy and consistently produce with a new team. Along with Chase, Barkley was a human highlight reel all season long, also putting up some ridiculous fantasy performances in the process. Performances such as week 12 performance against the LA Rams where he rushed for 255 yards and totaled 46.5 points proved why Barkley was so highly regarded by fantasy managers this season.
On the other hand, not all players were this dominant, with some having very inconsistent and even disappointing 2024 seasons. Most notably is Christian McCaffery, a player that was heavily pursued by many to be the first overall pick in most fantasy drafts but ultimately fell short. After a dominant 2023-2024 season, with over 2,000 yards from scrimmage (combined rushing and receiving), McCaffery was able to win Offensive Player of the year, causing his fantasy value to further skyrocket. This season however, was completely different for McCaffery, as he only played a total of 4 games, rushing for only a minimal 202 yards and 0 touchdowns. McCaffery’s season was plagued with several injuries, most notably a PCL injury that ended his 2024 campaign in week 12. McCaffery’s injuries left a vacant hole at running back for most teams, ultimately causing a popular number one overall pick to be put to waste.
However, at the very top of the list of disappointments from the 2024 fantasy season was Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson. The expectations surrounding Richardson going into the regular season were sky-high, with many willing to draft high on his dual threat quarterback abilities. Many believed that Richardson would make large strides in 2024, as he had been given time to become accustomed to the supporting cast around him, while simultaneously becoming a more accurate and consistent passer. Despite Richardson doing damage on the ground with his legs, rushing for 500 yards and 6 touchdowns, his passing numbers left a lot to be desired. Richardson posted a statline of 8 touchdowns to 12 interceptions, culminating the season with a completion percentage of 47%. Due to these abysmal passing numbers, Richardson only averaged 14.9 fantasy points per game, totaling 163.4 on the season. Richardson also struggled with some injuries and benchings throughout the 2024 season, only starting 11 games due to an oblique injury along with Joe Flacco being started in his place in weeks 9-10. As a result, Richardson finished as the 28th ranked quarterback in the league, a finish dangerously close to the bottom of the NFL. For a player believed to have such a high ceiling in 2024, Richardson has only plummeted through quarterback rankings, leading many to question his future as a starting quarterback altogether.
All in all, the 2024 NFL season was a roller coaster ride filled with many players feeling the effects of it. Many players overachieved and emerged as superstars, while others crumbled to injuries or just disappointing performances altogether. Players such as Ja’marr Chase, Saquon Barkley and several others all carried their fantasy managers to victory whereas draft picks like Anthony Richardson and Christian McCaffery left a lot to be desired. Ultimately, the performances of these athletes in 2024 will leave fantasy managers with a lot to reflect on, while also having a large effect on where they will stand come the 2025 season.
