Fantasy Sports

Buried behind Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba on the depth chart his first year in Columbus in 2021, Harrison (6’3/209) got to work in 2022, ultimately piling up 144 grabs for 2,474 yards and 28 touchdowns in 25 games over the past two seasons. Special stuff. An incredible down-field receiver, Harrison excels in contested-catch situations and has an excellent drop rate. He lacks elite high-end speed, but his “play speed” is off the charts. Although not known as a tackle-breaker or YAC specialist, Harrison simply dominates man coverage and is ready to do work at every level of the field in the big leagues. Only 21 years old, Harrison still has room for projection despite a game that appears close to a finished product. One of the most complete receiving prospects of the past decade, Harrison will deservedly go off the board at either No. 1 or 2 in nearly every Dynasty rookie draft.

Standing in with a more traditional quarterback frame and game, Maye (6’4/223) nevertheless offers the running ability and big-play threat the modern NFL increasingly demands of its signal callers. A willing deep passer, Maye looked down the field at UNC and found success when doing so, posting PFF’s highest deep passing grade for 2023. He was also prudent and cautious in the process, generating 32 “big-time throws” to only three “turnover worthy plays.” That being said, overall passing inconsistency does show up on tape, particularly with his touch and placement. Although Maye handles pressure well, he is merely solid as opposed to exceptional off-script. A former basketball player, he does boast excellent body control, and looks athletic in the open field. Solidly built, Maye can absorb a hit without heading to the sideline. There is enough projectability to the 21-year-old’s game to justify a top-three pick at American sports’ most important position. The Pats may also give him some time to develop behind journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett. Though Brissett won’t hold him off for long, Maye could spend the first few games of his career on the bench.

The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner enters the league as one of the most polarizing — but high upside — elite prospects in recent memory. Already 23 years old, Daniels (6’4/210) was a 2019, pre-pandemic enrollee at Arizona State, largely muddling through his three campaigns in Tempe before a transfer-infused step forward at LSU in 2022. He then went supernova for the Heisman, posting a ludicrous 40:4 TD:INT total through the air while churning up 135/1,134/10 with his legs. Those absurd numbers speak to a boom/bust skill-set that focuses on deep passing and tucking-and-running whenever possible. Daniels handles pressure well but also invites it with his play style, and has shown blatant disregard for his body. The highlight-reel hits he took all too often in the SEC will threaten to land him on the injury report in the NFL. Daniels is going to have to rein in his game without losing the wild hair spark that makes him special. It can be done, though it is the kind of transition that has proven difficult to pull off. Either way, Daniels’ dual-threat game should make him an instant fantasy superstar as long as he can stay on the field. Real-life progress doesn’t even need to follow for the time being, but if Daniels can clean up his game, he’s in rarefied air when it comes to ceiling. In Washington, Daniels will operate in Kliff Kingsbury’s horizontal raid offense. He could easily lead all QBs in rushing yards this season. Daniels’ propensity to run will hurt target volume for Terry McLaurin and the rest of Washington’s pass catchers.

The consensus No. 1 overall pick for the better part of two years and arguably the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck, Williams (6’1/214) enters the NFL coming off a “down” season where the Trojans’ line and supporting cast woes “limited” him to 3,633 yards and 30 scores in 12 games after those numbers were 4,537 and 42, respectively, in 2022. Despite his protection problems, Williams continued to look down-field when flushed from the pocket and remained lethal off-platform. Although by no means an elite runner, Williams can do damage with his legs — he rushed for 21 scores over the past two seasons — and is difficult to take down due to a thick build a la Kyler Murray or arguably even Jalen Hurts. Despite a 2023 environment and setup that created nits to be picked, Williams was never in any danger of falling beyond the No. 1 spot. A genuine franchise-changing type talent for a long-beleaguered Bears quarterback room, Williams is one of the most important players to enter the NFL this decade. He will threaten for QB1 status right off the bat.

Brown’s deal includes $84 million in guarantees and make him the NFL’s highest paid receiver one day after the Lions made Amon-Ra St. Brown the league’s highest paid wideout. The Eagles this offseason extended DeVonta Smith with a three-year deal worth up to $75 million, locking up their outstanding wideout duo for the long term. Entering his age-27 season, Brown — one of the league’s most physically dominant pass catchers — has more than 1,400 yards in each of his first two seasons with the Eagles, along with 18 receiving touchdowns. He’ll remain the Eagles’ most important offensive player outside Jalen Hurts.

It appears the Vikings’ dreams of trading up with the Patriots to No. 3 overall have been dashed, and that if they want one of the draft’s “big four” at quarterback, it will have to be McCarthy somewhere outside the top three. There are so many moving parts — including a potential Broncos trade up, or the Giants selecting McCarthy at No. 6 — but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Michigan product does “fall” after months and months of uncertain draft speculation.

The Pats’ intentions have been the source of much intrigue, but they need a quarterback as badly as anyone. It would have taken a truly irresponsible offer on someone else’s behalf to move down — we are looking at you, Minnesota — and it evidently did not arrive. We’ll know for sure in roughly 90 minutes.

“The Chiefs have really been working to see if they can get up from 32,” Palmer said. “The thought around the league is it’s would be for one of the speedy wide receivers.” It’s the second report today that the Chiefs would like to move up amidst their receiver uncertainty as they await word on Rashee Rice’s suspension. A “speedy” wideout was also a dire need even before Rice’s legal woes. Texas burner Xavier Worthy would fit the bill better than anyone, but the Chiefs would maybe have to move up too far to get him.

In other words, they are doing everything they can to find a way to draft UNC QB Drake Maye. The Vikes’ accumulation of extra first-round capital was a transparent play to move up, though it was probably always going to come down to draft night and the right offer either materializing or trade-up competition fading away once the true price was known. Thankfully, we only have to wait a few more hours to find out.