Every 2024 NFL skill-position group, ranked

Josh Palmer will have several new handshakes to memorize this season, and it is worth wondering if the former third-round pick will be a trade chip in his contract year. The versatile wideout is by far the most dependable Charger pass catcher, with the seven-year Keenan Allen-Mike Williams duo gone. The Bolts added Georgia slot Ladd McConkey in Round 2, and they will need more from 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston. On a fourth team in four years, D.J. Chark adds a deep threat post-Williams. L.A. will replace dual threat Austin Ekeler with ex-Greg Roman Raven cogs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. This group is far less talented than in 2023.

Beyond the recently extended Rhamondre Stevenson, the Patriots have little to bank on here. The team added second- and fourth-round wideouts (Ja'Lynn Polk, Javon Baker), hoping these investments will turn the tide for a team that has struggled at WR evaluation for much of the century. The Pats received concerningly minimal production from JuJu Smith-Schuster, and the re-signed Kendrick Bourne is coming off an ACL tear. Hunter Henry remains talented, and it is reasonable to write off the past two seasons — at WR and TE — to a degree based on how poorly Mac Jones played. But Stevenson's $9 million-per-year deal reflects his importance to this group.

Marvin Harrison Jr. is poised to fill a glaring void in Arizona, which hobbled through a largely irrelevant 2023 season. The Cards lost Marquise Brown and will hope third-rounder Michael Wilson builds on his quietly intriguing rookie year (565 yards). Adding Zay Jones as well, the Cardinals have Trey McBride positioned — until Harrison is up to speed —  as their aerial centerpiece. Despite Zach Ertz's early-season presence, McBride broke the long-TE-starved Cards' Arizona-years receiving record last season. James Conner remains tied to a $7M-per-year deal, but third-rounder Trey Benson looms as a threat to his vice grip on the RB1 role.

Frank Reich lost his job 11 games in; the team's alarmingly thin skill-position corps contributed to the unraveling. Bryce Young had few places beyond Adam Thielen to turn. Free agent Miles Sanders underwhelmed post-Philly, and Jonathan Mingo added little value as a rookie. The Panthers augmented the group by trading for shifty Steelers route runner Diontae Johnson and trading up for one-year South Carolina wonder Xavier Legette. The Panthers also moved up for Texas' Jonathon Brooks, this year's first RB drafted. Tight end remains a question mark, but the Panthers have given Young a better chance — with two high-priced guards in place as well — in Year 2.

Saquon Barkley's subtraction defines this Giants group, which also has a gaping hole at tight end after Darren Waller's retirement. Barkley carried the Giants' skill group for years as WR investments repeatedly failed. Durable but diminutive Devin Singletary is this roster's only back of note. While the 5-foot-7 cog delivered decent production in Buffalo and Houston, the gap between him and Barkley is wide. The Giants will need first-rounder Malik Nabers to provide an impact that Kadarius Toney and Kenny Golliday could not. Nabers is by far the best WR talent in the Daniel Jones era, and he could bump Darius Slayton to a more fitting sidekick role. 

Davante Adams' decision to seek a Green Bay exit can be scrutinized, as the Packers offered more money in 2022. The Raiders have cycled through QBs during Adams' tenure, and their timeline does not seem to align with the All-Pro talent's. Jakobi Meyers remains a decent sidekick, though Josh McDaniels led the charge in signing the ex-Patriot. The Raiders will hope Zamir White can perform a decent enough Josh Jacobs impression at a rookie deal rate. The team's tight end combo (Michael Mayer-Brock Bowers) offers the most intrigue, as the team's best-player-available pick will require either heavy 12 personnel looks or keep a 2023 second-rounder sidelined. 

Alvin Kamara's extension quest will almost definitely fail, as the Saints need flexibility — by Saints standards, at least — to move on in 2025. The once-electric dual threat is in decline, ranking near the bottom in rushing yards over expected last season. The Saints have Kamara positioned as more of a supplementary piece in a Chris Olave-fronted skill group. UDFA discovery Rashid Shaheed remains an underrated wingman, as the Saints have not generated much on-field interest post-Sean Payton. Taysom Hill remains ready to spoil fantasy GMs' hopes and dreams, but this looks like another thin contingent in place to aid Derek Carr.

On the subject of thin cadres, the Steelers seem a man short. George Pickens took a step forward last year, and despite Russell Wilson's decline, the third-year WR should be in a better position to produce compared to the Kenny Pickett years. Beyond Pickens and Pat Freiermuth, the Steelers — post-Diontae Johnson — have a hole in the passing game. The team's draft acumen at receiver should not be disputed, but asking third-rounder Roman Wilson to deliver immediately may be a bit much. The Najee Harris-Jaylen Warren duo will also boost Wilson (and eventually Justin Fields), complementing each other well, but it would be a surprise if Pittsburgh went into the season with this receiver setup. 

WR-needy teams will monitor the Broncos, who have not budged as Courtland Sutton angles for a contract adjustment. Even after boosting Wilson's stats with acrobatic TD grabs last season, Sutton does not have much leverage. Signed through 2025, the Broncos' nominal WR1 should be monitored in trade rumors. Sean Payton has added some help, though younger wideouts Marvin Mims and Troy Franklin are unproven. The WR group's progress could mean Sutton follows Jerry Jeudy out of Denver. The Broncos have next to nothing at tight end, and Javonte Williams did not look himself following a 2022 ACL tear. For now, the team's Bo Nix acclimation mission needs Sutton.

The Chargers passed on an eighth year with the Keenan Allen-Mike Williams pair, but the Bucs will run back the Mike Evans-Chris Godwin duo. Since 2017, the Evans-Godwin tandem has bolstered Jameis Winston, Tom Brady, and Baker Mayfield. The Bucs have a $33M-per-year QB contract and two $20M-AAV receivers, a rare roster blueprint. They are not spending notable money at running back or tight end. The team's decision to try again with Rachaad White is interesting, seeing as he ranked last in RYOE in 2023. Fourth-round rookie Bucky Irving looms in this top-heavy weaponry array.

In a league that prioritizes three-down running backs, Austin Ekeler curiously found little trade interest last year and secured barely $4 million in free agency. Although Ekeler is coming off an injury-plagued year, the NFL's TD leader in 2021 and '22 provided tremendous value in the passing game. He should be a major upgrade on Antonio Gibson, but this collection still centers around Terry McLaurin. The perennial 1,000-yard receiver has played with a different primary QB in each of his five seasons; Jayden Daniels will be No. 6. Washington needs more from first-rounder Jahan Dotson, and Kliff Kingsbury will see what ex-Cardinals charge Zach Ertz has left.

Stefon Diggs disappointed for most of last season's second half, culminating with the Pro Bowl regular dropping a well-placed deep ball on a do-or-die drive against the Chiefs. Diggs, though, only missed one game over the past four seasons. It is difficult to gauge the Bills without him. But the team saw a Year 2 breakout from James Cook. It will be interesting to see if the pass-happy Bills will truly lean on the run game. With this receiver situation in an odd place, Dalton Kincaid will be expected to take another leap. Buffalo may be expecting too much from Keon Coleman (zero 800-yard college slates) and gadget weapon Curtis Samuel, but Khalil Shakir was Allen's most reliable target by season's end.

CeeDee Lamb is one of the NFL's best players, dominating in an All-Pro breakthrough. As a monster Lamb payday — if the team is up to it — resides as a central storyline, Dallas still has questions at most other skill spots. Brandin Cooks is going into his age-31 season, and the team truly looks like it will use Ezekiel Elliott (2,421 career touches, most among active players) as its starting RB. The Cowboys continue to find TE solutions with midlevel investments, as Jake Ferguson totaled 761 yards in his first year replacing Dalton Schultz. Lamb and Ferguson's presences only elevate this crew so far, however. 

Arthur Smith's insistence on Tyler Allgeier's incorporation enraged Bijan Robinson's fantasy GMs. Robinson only out-carried Allgeier by 28 last season, making it curious why Atlanta used a No. 8 pick on the dynamic Texas product. Kirk Cousins should unshackle the other part of the Falcons' skill collection, as the team's poor QB plans over the past two years held down Drake London and Kyle Pitts. The team should get a true evaluation on both top-10 picks this season. Despite the Bears' shaky passing set up holding back Darnell Mooney, the deep threat generated a market. More will be expected of the former 1,000-yard receiver in 2024.

Josh Jacobs has not delivered in the passing game the way Aaron Jones has, though the 2022 rushing champion has displayed more as a pure runner. Still, the Pack may have taken some options off the table with their backfield switch, as AJ Dillon offers little as a receiver. As far as actual receivers go, the team has four rookie-contract options — Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks — that intrigue. Though deep, this contingent has seen Watson's hamstring injuries provide limitations. The Packers have already seen Watson miss 11 games. Until their preferred WR1 stays healthy, this group's ceiling will be low.

A Lamar Jackson-Derrick Henry combo looks tantalizing, bringing one of the more memorable speed-power duos in NFL history. But the Ravens will be relying on a 30-year-old back who has led the league in carries in four of the past five seasons. The team seems unconcerned, but the two-time rushing champ's mileage is obviously in a precarious place. Mark Andrews still anchors Baltimore's pass-catching group, and more should be expected of Zay Flowers in Year 2. Jackson has never been prolific targeting wideouts, and a Rashod Bateman-Nelson Agholor duo leaves questions about Flowers' support. Amid ACL rehab, speedy RB Keaton Mitchell looms as an explosive wild card. 

For a fifth season, Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman Jr. will be the lead chain movers (as long as the chain gang survives) in Indianapolis. Taylor was disappointing during a contract- and injury-marred 2023, but his 2021 dominance and reasonable odometer reading still reveal elite potential. Pittman will provide Anthony Richardson with a proven possession target; will Richardson progress enough to capitalize? Gardner Minshew did well to boost Pittman and rookie slot target Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce has quietly shown flashes as a deep threat. Adonai Mitchell enters the fray, giving Indianapolis its deepest skill corps since at least the Andrew Luck years.

Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall are two of the best at their respective positions. While Hall's rebound post-ACL surgery was encouraging, Zach Wilson's unwanted, Pete Davidson-level cameo restrained Garrett Wilson. The frustrated wide receiver could give Aaron Rodgers a near-Davante Adams-level presence, but the Jets will depend on boom-or-bust Mike Williams to deliver support that did not arrive — as the Rodgers-driven Allen Lazard addition faceplanted last year. The Jets are still a bit thin at WR, though Tyler Conklin (621 yards in 2023) obviously will bring more upside at tight end with Rodgers targeting him. 

This might be a tad high, but these rankings do not factor in QB play. Will Levis' weaponry assortment features significant experience. DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley, and Tyler Boyd have combined for 11 1,000-yard seasons. The Titans probably overpaid Ridley, but they are gunning to build around Levis' rookie deal. Ridley still brings a big upgrade alongside Hopkins, and Boyd is accustomed to producing as a third option in the slot. D'Onta Foreman effectively replaced Derrick Henry in 2021; here is betting Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard — behind an improved O-line — will prevent Tennessee from regressing too far in the run game.

Despite having Christian Kirk, Evan Engram, and Gabe Davis on eight-figure-per-year contracts, the Jaguars still aggressively pursued Ridley. Re-signing Ridley would have been odd given the payments earmarked for Trevor Lawrence and OLB Josh Hines-Allen; it makes more sense a first-round contract (to Brian Thomas Jr.) is part of the equation. Thomas (Division I-FBS-high 17 TD catches in 2023) and Davis will give Lawrence better long-range options, even if Ridley is a more well-rounded wideout. Travis Etienne has eclipsed 1,400 scrimmage yards in each of the past two seasons. The Jags having him at a rookie rate is crucial for their updated payroll.

Jerry Jeudy showed glimpses of Amari Cooper-level route running in Denver, but he rarely meshed with his QBs. Granted, the Broncos have famously struggled there for many years. Still, the Browns are betting (via a $41 million guarantee) that Jeudy will show another gear in Year 5. Cooper and David Njoku played the lead role in Joe Flacco's shocking Comeback Player of the Year offering, and Elijah Moore posted a quiet 640 yards (a career-high) in his Browns debut. The upside is there, but Deshaun Watson has been a shell of his Texans tenure. Cleveland's top two RBs (Nick Chubb and Nyheim Hines) are coming off severe injuries. The Browns will hope Chubb looks close to his elite version after two knee surgeries. 

After keeping the car in neutral for three years, GM Nick Caserio is smashing the throttle. C.J. Stroud's emergence and rookie-deal control through at least 2025 opens a window for a Texans team that now has some big-ticket contracts on its payroll. Three of those went to skill cogs, with Nico Collins' $24 million-per-year extension following the Stefon Diggs trade and Dalton Schultz re-signing. The Texans oddly lopped three affordable years off Diggs' deal, a move labeled a motivator for a player already making more than $20M per season, but the route-running maven — diva tendencies aside — should make a big difference for a Houston team returning deep threat Tank Dell from injury. Is Joe Mixon (1,854 touches) an upgrade on Devin Singletary?

They have not quite been in place as long as Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but the Tyler Lockett-D.K. Metcalf duo has helped multiple QBs. The Russell Wilson weapons drove Geno Smith to a Comeback Player of the Year showing. While Lockett is entering his age-32 season after failing to hit 900 yards in 2023, this is still an upper-crust duo. The Seahawks will need Jaxon Smith-Njigba to take a step forward, and it is worth wondering if the first-rounder will be Seattle's WR2 by 2025. For now, he and Noah Fant — re-signed despite not being used like he was in Denver — are the clear second-tier options. The team should also get more out of the Ken Walker-Zach Charbonnet RB duo this year.

Rome Odunze's rookie-year form will determine if this is too high, but after the Bears struggled to complement D.J. Moore in a situation that involved Justin Fields' passing limitations, they covered their bases this offseason. Keenan Allen has been one of this era's most reliable receivers. Arguably the NFL's best route runner, the ex-Charger should give Caleb Williams a regularly open target. Moore has regularly thrived regardless of quarterback, and the Bears also added ex-Allen teammate/Shane Waldron charge Gerald Everett to go with Cole Kmet. Chicago has some good RB depth (Khalil Herbert, Roschon Johnson), which complements UFA pickup D'Andre Swift as well. This could be one of the best Bears skill groups ever.

It is difficult to remember a Super Bowl champion whose pass-catching corps received more scrutiny. Attempting to rely on inconsistent wideouts last season, the Chiefs got what they paid for (only to be saved by an elite defense, a future Hall of Fame tight end, and the NFL's best player). This year, Patrick Mahomes will have more options. Though a Rashee Rice suspension looms, the Chiefs operated with a clear intent to upgrade around him by adding Marquise Brown and Combine 40 record-holder Xavier Worthy. Brown and Worthy together are a bit unusual due to their size limitations, but Rice can help mitigate that. Travis Kelce may be load-managed, but he showed in the playoffs his prime is not over.

Justin Jefferson's record-smashing start earned a non-backloaded extension that shattered positional guarantee records. A healthy version of the elite talent will help Sam Darnold (and maybe J.J. McCarthy soon after). Darnold's practice work in San Francisco aside, the underwhelming top-three pick has never played with a skill cadre like this. Jordan Addison is out to an early lead on the 2023 first-round WR class, and Aaron Jones has been one of this NFL period's best RBs. Jones ripped off five straight 100-yard rushing games to close last season. Once T.J. Hockenson returns from his late-season ACL tear, Darnold and/or McCarthy will have a dangerous core to target.

Tyler Boyd is out of Cincinnati after eight seasons, but the team predictably franchise-tagged Tee Higgins to ensure a fourth year of him playing alongside Ja'Marr Chase. The Bengals are gunning for an elusive Super Bowl title, and Higgins remains a central part of the mission. The two-time 1,000-yard playmaker appears a rental at this stage, with Chase on track for Jefferson-level cash. The Bengals also look to have upgraded at tight end, signing Mike Gesicki to a low-cost deal. Joe Mixon had amassed 1,571 carries; replacement Zack Moss is at 484. Joe Burrow's injury hindered this group in 2023, but it remains one of the NFL's best.

Somehow, the NFL's most recent triple-crown winner will not enter 2024 as the Rams' most dangerous receiver. Puka Nacua's historic rookie season will at least give the Rams a 1A-1B situation, with Cooper Kupp an overqualified wild card. Kyren Williams joined Nacua as a fantasy league winner last season; two years remain on the Pro Bowl RB's rookie contract. Tyler Higbee is on his third Rams deal, but the ninth-year tight end is likely to start on the reserve/PUP list due to an ACL tear. That weakens L.A.'s TE spot, as Colby Parkinson has not proven much as a pro. The team is ready to roll just about everywhere else, though.

Now that Jameson Williams is finally clear for Week 1 participation, the Lions need him to take a step forward. If the 2022 first-round speedster is truly ready to contribute on a WR2 level, the Lions do not have a clear weakness. As strange as that sounds for Detroit, the team identifying Sam LaPorta as a ready-made standout — in a league featuring rampant tight end unreliability — separates its skill corps from most. Now tied to a $30M-per-annum accord, Amon-Ra St. Brown highlights a group. But the Lions, who should still feature an elite O-line, formed one of this period's more promising thunder-lightning tandems, with David Montgomery-Jahmyr Gibbs reminding of Mark Ingram-Alvin Kamara from the jump.

Running wild with void years and option bonuses, the Eagles have managed to pay just about everybody. This meant deals for Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith this offseason, a year after Jalen Hurts' $51 million-per-year extension. As a top-shelf talent who played behind poor Giants O-lines throughout his New York run, Barkley could bring a major upgrade to an Eagles team with a perennially strong OL. Philly has rolled out a 1,000-1,000 receiving duo for the past two seasons, and Dallas Goedert is one of the game's best all-around tight ends when healthy. Only tertiary matters — like the WR3 spot — are concerns here.

Rostering the NFL's scariest deep threat, the Dolphins continue to invest in speed. Jaylen Waddle, who is not too far behind Tyreek Hill's gear, is now on a top-five WR contract. Hill is 2-for-2 in All-Pro seasons as a Dolphin, cinching up Hall of Fame honors. The team also will give Odell Beckham Jr. a more suitable role, but the former star still totaled 565 yards last season. The NFL's 2023 TD leader, Raheem Mostert, can be called a young 32 due to a delayed start that has him on just 674 career carries. He teams with De'Von Achane -- he of a 10.1-second 100 time -- in one of the fastest backfields in NFL history. Jonnu Smith will also aid a team that received little from its TEs last season.

For at least one more season, the 49ers will reign here. Brock Purdy's historic 9.6 yards per attempt came largely from the seventh-round revelation having the chance to target three All-Pros and a 1,300-yard wideout (Brandon Aiyuk) who led the team in receiving by a wide margin. Deebo Samuel, who may well be in his 49ers finale, still offers unmatched run-after-catch skills. Travis Kelce's production aside, George Kittle — now a two-time first-team All-Pro — remains the NFL's best all-around TE. Christian McCaffrey is a true outlier who has earned his two top-market contracts. An era overlap will bring first-rounder Ricky Pearsall into the mix. A tier gap exists between the 49ers and the field for skill-position threats.