For those who take a break from football during the offseason, there are some things you'll need to know as you begin preparing for 2024 fantasy drafts. We have the most important details for you.
Here's a quick summary of the last four months.
Arizona Cardinals
Rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. immediately becomes the Cardinals' WR1. Fantasy investors can expect elite production. Third-round RB Trey Benson has the size (216 pounds) and speed (4.39 in the 40) to be a difference-maker. With James Conner entering his age-29 season, Benson's future is bright.
Atlanta Falcons
QB Kirk Cousins offers hope for those invested in WR Drake London, TE Kyle Pitts, and RB Bijan Robinson. From 2015-2022, Cousins averaged 4,263 passing yards and 31 total touchdowns annually. Before an Achilles tear last season, he was on pace to beat both those numbers. Cousins should be ready Week 1.
Baltimore Ravens
RBs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins are gone, Keaton Mitchell is recovering from a torn ACL, and Derrick Henry, who led the NFL with 280 carries last year, joins an offense that boasted the NFL's best rushing attack in three of the past five seasons.
Buffalo Bills
WR Stefon Diggs was traded to Houston, and WR Gabe Davis left in free agency. The Bills landed WR Keon Coleman in April's draft and signed veteran WR Curtis Samuel. They join WR Khalil Shakir and TE Dalton Kincaid to give QB Josh Allen a revamped receiving corps.
Carolina Panthers
New HC Dave Canales has one priority: Get QB Bryce Young on track. To help him accomplish that objective, the Panthers added veteran WR Diontae Johnson and the top RB in April's draft, Jonathan Brooks, to go with athletic rookie WR Xavier Legette and TE Ja'Tavion Sanders.
Chicago Bears
The Bears drafted Caleb Williams as their QB of the future. They also added veteran WR Keenan Allen and rookie Rome Odunze, one of this year's top-three wideouts, to go with star DJ Moore. The team also signed RB D'Andre Swift to help get the Williams Era rolling in style.
Cincinnati Bengals
QB Joe Burrow returns from last year's wrist surgery. RB Joe Mixon is gone, and Zack Moss was signed to join speedy second-year man Chase Brown in the backfield. At WR, the team drafted Jermaine Burton, who replaces Tyler Boyd as the No. 3 behind J'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Cleveland Browns
QB Deshaun Watson, coming off shoulder surgery, is on track to start Week 1. The same can't be said of RB Nick Chubb, who's coming off a severe knee injury. The Browns signed D'Onta Foreman to pair with Jerome Ford until Chubb is ready. Cleveland also traded for WR Jerry Jeudy.
Dallas Cowboys
With RB Tony Pollard gone, the Cowboys didn't draft his replacement. Instead, they signed Ezekiel Elliott. In New England, Elliott finished 2023 as fantasy's RB30 -- but he was RB7 while handling a featured role from Weeks 13 through 18. WR Michael Gallup is also gone, but Jalen Tolbert is ready to replace him.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos moved on from QB Russell Wilson before drafting Bo Nix, who has 61 collegiate starts, to replace him. At WR, Nix's Oregon teammate Troy Franklin and second-year man Marvin Mims Jr. will join Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick in a receiving rotation without Jerry Jeudy, who was traded to Cleveland.
Detroit Lions
The Lions rewarded three stars -- QB Jared Goff, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, and OT Penei Sewell -- with $444 million in contract extensions. Given that focus, the story beyond those extensions is one move that might matter: WR Josh Reynolds moving on clears a path for Jamison Williams to make good on his lofty draft status.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers replaced RB Aaron Jones with Josh Jacobs. While he's best known for working between the tackles, Jacobs is an underrated receiver. In fact, he's one of four players with 50-plus rushing yards and 20-plus receiving yards per game each of the last three seasons (others: Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, Jones).
Houston Texans
Houston hopes to build on QB C.J. Stroud's rookie success with the addition of Stefon Diggs, who joins Nico Collins and Tank Dell at WR. The team also acquired RB Joe Mixon from Cincinnati. Volume will make Mixon a value, but Diggs, who averaged 161 targets annually in Buffalo, will struggle to draw nine looks per game here.
Indianapolis Colts
With RB Zack Moss gone, the path is clear for Jonathan Taylor to get the volume necessary for RB1 production. The team drafted WR Adonai Mitchell to work alongside recently-extended Michael Pittman Jr. and provide more downfield weaponry for second-year QB Anthony Richardson, who is on track to be 100 percent after last year's season-ending shoulder surgery.
Jacksonville Jaguars
WRs Calvin Ridley and Zay Jones are out; Gabe Davis and Brian Thomas Jr. are in. While the newcomers are both values, fantasy managers should be mindful of Christian Kirk's 84 targets during his fully healthy 2022 season and Evan Engram's 143 targets last year, the most for any TE.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs added speed to the receiving corps. Bringing in rookie WR Xavier Worthy, with his 4.21 speed, to work alongside free-agent addition Marquise Brown, who also boasts sub-4.3 speed, should help QB Patrick Mahomes and TE Travis Kelce hit stride -- especially with WR Rashee Rice's off-field issues almost certain to result in a suspension.
Las Vegas Raiders
Josh Jacobs is gone, and Zamir White is in a position to be a 20-plus touch-a-game RB in a run-heavy offense with questions at QB, where Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew will battle for the starting spot. The team will be creative in getting rookie TE Brock Bowers involved.
Los Angeles Chargers
Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler, Mike Williams, and Gerald Everett are gone. With Jim Harbaugh as the new HC, expect a run-heavy offense with a backfield led by RBs Gus Ewards and J.K. Dobbins. But don't underestimate QB Justin Herbert working behind an upgraded O-line and with rookie WR Ladd McConkey. RB Kimani Vidal could also contribute.
Los Angeles Rams
Aside from the retirement of powerhouse DT Aaron Donald, there has been little turnover here. The team retained WR Demarcus Robinson, who is easily overlooked despite an impressive late-season run. Rookie RB Blake Corum has the resume and skill set to cut into Kyren Williams' workload. While that's not a given, it has to be a concern.
Miami Dolphins
Having three players -- Tyreek Hill, De'Von Achane, and Raheem Mostert -- post six of the 10 fastest speeds in the NFL last season isn't sufficient for HC Mike McDaniel. So Miami added WR Odell Beckham Jr., TE Jonnu Smith, and rookie RB Jaylen Wright (who ran a sub-4.4 forty at the combine) to the offense.
Minnesota Vikings
Justin Jefferson is now the NFL's highest-paid WR, but he'll have a new QB, whether it's rookie J.J. McCarthy or Sam Darnold. RB Aaron Jones, who was impressive down the stretch (RB11 from Weeks 15 through 18) last season after missing six games due to injury, was signed to handle a featured role in the backfield.
New England Patriots
There is a new coaching staff and starting QB in New England, whether it's Jacoby Brissett or rookie Drake Maye. The team also added a pair of rookie WRs, Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. Savvy fantasy managers, however, will focus on two players who re-signed with the team this offseason: Rhamondre Stevenson and Hunter Henry.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints added much-needed help on the offensive line in Round 1 of April's draft, but new OC Klint Kubiak, formerly with the 49ers, offers hope that Alvin Kamara will get a Christian McCaffrey-level workload. That said, SI.com believes second-year man Kendre Miller offers "tantalizing possibilities" after flashing excellent potential down the stretch.
New York Giants
Malik Nabers, the Giant's first-round draft pick, can play all three WR spots. He's head and shoulders above the rest of the talent on the roster, especially after RB Saquon Barkley moved on to Philadelphia as a free agent and TE Darren Waller retired. Devin Singletary was signed to replace Barkley, while tight end is an open question.
New York Jets
QB Aaron Rodgers is on track to start Week 1 behind an upgraded O-line. That's excellent news for RB Breece Hall and WR Garrett Wilson. New addition Mike Williams, coming off a torn ACL, isn't a lock to be ready Week 1, so another WR -- possibly third-round rookie WR Malachi Corley -- could benefit.
Philadelphia Eagles
Can RB Saquon Barkley excel in an offense led by Jalen Hurts, who scored 15 rushing touchdowns last year? Yes, he can. It's not only that Philadelphia has arguably more offensive talent than any team in the NFL. It's more that, for the previous six seasons, Barkley has produced in one of the league's least-talented offensives.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Newcomers Russell Wilson and Justin Fields will compete for the starting QB job, but Wilson is the clear leader heading into training camp. New OC Arthur Smith has a solid backfield with Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren. However, with Diontae Johnson shipped off to Carolina, WR George Pickens and TE Pat Freiermuch are the most proven receiving assets.
San Francisco 49ers
The Niners' front-line personnel are unchanged. RB Christian McCaffrey, WRs Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, and TE George Kittle are the weapons of choice in QB Brock Purdy's arsenal. The team added WR Ricky Pearsall and RB Isaac Guerendo in April's draft, but neither will be a factor this year if all goes according to plan.
Seattle Seahawks
A new coaching staff featuring pass-heavy play caller Ryan Grubb should make a difference for WRs DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is expected to move ahead of Lockett this fall. However, success for all involved will require Geno Smith to return to the form that made him Comeback Player of the Year in 2022.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Can rookie RB Bucky Irving cut into Rachaad White's workload? Incoming OC Liam Cohen has suggested as much, although that might have been an effort to motivate White to hit his holes faster. Rookie WR Jalen McMillan has generated some buzz, but Trey Palmer remains ahead of him for the WR3 spot.
Tennessee Titans
QB Will Levis gets a new coach and scheme. WR Calvin Ridley and RB Tony Pollard could be limiting factors for holdovers DeAndre Hopkins and Tyjae Spears. Pollard and Spears will work in tandem to replace Derrick Henry. WR Tyler Boyd will be in the mix; his knowledge of new HC Brian Callahan's offense will be a plus.
Washington Commanders
Rookie QB Jayden Daniels should start immediately under new OC Kliff Kingsbury. Kyler Murray delivered top-10 production in his first two seasons under Kingsbury in Arizona, including a QB2 finish in his second season in 2020. Austin Ekeler signed with the Commanders in March; he'll handle the receiving role vacated by the departure of Antonio Gibson.
You can follow Bob Harris on X @footballdiehard. Listen to him every Saturday at 3 pm ET on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio's The Football Diehards show. That's Sirius Channel 210.
