The NFL regular season is in the books, and so is the fantasy football season. This year’s fantasy football awards are headlined by Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry as superstar runners that dominated with new teams.
Team of the Year
QB: Lamar Jackson, BAL
Jackson had one of the greatest fantasy seasons of all-time with 5,087 total yards, 45 total touchdowns, and just four interceptions—averaging 25.3 points per game to lead all scorers. He also came through in the fantasy playoffs with fantasy-point totals of 36.1, 20.48, and 29.42 from Week 15 through Week 17, and Jackson provided a perfect combination of floor and ceiling in 2024.
RB: Saquon Barkley, PHI
The first season for Barkley in Philadelphia was a resounding success, as he became the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season—turning 345 carries into 2,005 yards (5.8 YPC) and 13 touches to finish as the overall RB1. Barkley had five monster outings with at least 31.4 fantasy points (including a high of 44.2 in Week 12), and he was basically unstoppable behind the Eagles’ offensive line.
RB: Jahmyr Gibbs, DET
Gibbs’ season has not gotten the recognition it deserves, but he led the NFL in touchdowns (20) and totaled 1,929 yards while further establishing himself as perhaps the scariest player in football. And in the fantasy playoffs, Gibbs was an absolute force with David Montgomery (knee) injured—going for fantasy-point totals of 25.9, 23.4, and 24.3 (plus 43.5 for those who play in Week 18).
WR: Ja’Marr Chase, CIN
Chase claimed the receiving triple crown with another big performance to close out the season, and his ceiling was on full display for Cincinnati—going for team-carrying games of 36.3, 49.9, and 38.1 fantasy points (with plenty of other huge games scattered throughout the year). We would fully expect Chase to be locked up with a record-breaking extension this offseason and be a top-five pick in drafts over the summer.
WR: Justin Jefferson, MIN
The overall production for Jefferson in 2024 may not have quite matched the historical expectations he’s set to begin his career, but it was another high-end WR1 finish with 103 receptions, 1,533 yards, and 10 touchdowns. Jefferson has now gone for 1,400+ receiving yards in all four fully healthy seasons to begin his career, and it won’t matter if it’s Sam Darnold, J.J. McCarthy, or someone else under center in Minnesota next season.
TE: George Kittle, SF
A case could certainly be made for Brock Bowers here (he’ll get deserved recognition later), but Kittle actually averaged a full fantasy point per game more than the rookie (13.2 compared to 12.2)—catching 78 passes for 1,106 yards and eight touchdowns. Kittle also did it on 59 fewer targets, and he came through in the fantasy championship with 106+ receiving yards in both Week 16 and Week 17.
FLEX: Derrick Henry, BAL
Henry remained arguably the best running back in football after joining the Ravens—rushing 325 times for 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns, including a career-best 5.9 yards per carry. Overall, the transition to Baltimore couldn’t have gone any better for King Henry, and there is zero reason to believe he’ll slow down in 2025.
D/ST: Denver Broncos
Denver finished comfortably atop the D/ST ranks with 9.8 fantasy points per game this season, and the playmaking of Vance Joseph’s unit was on display all year with 15 interceptions, nine fumble recoveries, two safeties, and five touchdowns—not to mention an NFL-leading 63 sacks.
K: Chris Boswell
The only complaint fantasy owners can have about Boswell is that he slowed down over the final four weeks with Pittsburgh struggling on offense—but he nailed 41-of-44 field goals this season to average 11.0 fantasy points per game. In particular, Boswell’s accuracy from 50+ yards was remarkable (13-of-15).
Value of the Year: Bo Nix
Any number of options could have been chosen here, and quarterback was filled with big-time values in terms of both late-round picks and waiver additions. We’ll give the nod to Nix after he was given little to no respect among NFL and fantasy analysts alike—as he had the third-most total touchdowns by a rookie in league history (34) and finished as the overall QB7 for fantasy purposes.
Rookie of the Year: Brock Bowers
Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix, Bucky Irving, Malik Nabers, and Brian Thomas Jr. were among the very worthy candidates, but Bowers led all tight ends in fantasy points—racking up a rookie record 112 receptions for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns on a whopping 153 targets. While the Raiders might spread the wealth more if they can in 2025, Bowers will be the centerpiece of the offense and can benefit from improved quarterback play.
2024 Fantasy MVP: Saquon Barkley
Revisionist history will say otherwise, but Barkley had plenty of doubters in the summer months—causing him to be available at the Round 1/2 turn in most leagues despite entering the best situation of his career. Leaving the Giants only reminded everyone just how much of a difference-maker Barkley is with a career-high 21.2 fantasy points per game to easily lead all non-quarterbacks, and he’s the early favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in 2025.