NFL's top 25 games of 2024
Wed May 15 2:01pm ET
Field Level Media
Christmas Day for NFL marketing and ticket sales departments finally arrived Wednesday with the release of the 2024 season schedule.
With subplots and peripheral angles multiplying before our eyes - hello, Netflix, welcome to NFL holiday football broadcasts - Field Level Media's football-minded contributors assembled the top 25 games of 2024.
24. Cardinals at Jets, TBD: We're grabbing our popcorn for one matchup, and one matchup alone: Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner. Top five draft picks likely to be near the top of the pecking order at their position for a decade.
23. Colts at Patriots, TBD: Drake Maye, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft, meet Anthony Richardson, drafted fourth overall in 2023. Indianapolis appeared to have a hit on its hands before Richardson was shut down to undergo shoulder surgery. If he can stay healthy and Maye isn't relegated to clipboard duty behind former Colts starter Jacoby Brissett, we're eager to make early evaluations of purported franchise QBs.
22. Jaguars at Eagles, TBD: Young QBs and strong pass rush are common bonds, sure, but the plotline we're looking at is the reception for Jacksonville head coach Doug Pederson. He played for the Eagles (1999) but was essentially a coach-in-training for Donovan McNabb, then served as an assistant for Andy Reid and came back from a stint in KC for a five-year run that included a Super Bowl.
21. Bears at Texans, TBD: The Bears also get a meeting with the Carolina Panthers for the second consecutive season. With all due respect to Panthers 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young, the top rookie quarterback last season was Houston's C.J. Stroud. His numbers would have been the best ever single-season passing total for a Bears QB (4,108 to Erik Kramer's team record of 3,803). Stroud had 26 TD passes including the playoffs despite missing time with a concussion). The Bears hitched their wagon to No. 1 pick Caleb Williams with the rookie carrying massive talent - and expectations - in Year 1.
20. Vikings at Giants, TBD: All of the QB uncertainty one can handle on the undercard, LSU products Justin Jefferson (Vikings) and Malik Nabers (Giants) in the main event.
19. 49ers at Seahawks, TBD: Maybe you overlooked it. There's not a chance Brock Purdy did. He knows new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald's defense - that of the Ravens - had him seeing ghosts in a five-interception laugher on Christmas Night last season. Macdonald's new club has a bunch of cross-training chess pieces determined to unseat the 49ers from the NFC West perch.
18. Jets at 49ers, Sept. 9: Week 1 on "Monday Night Football" is a familiar refrain for the Jets, who are hoping Aaron Rodgers has some magic left following a season-ending injury four snaps into his first start with the team in 2023. Rodgers is local - Chico, Calif., Butte JC and Cal - and went 6-3 against the 49ers with the Packers. Now 40 years old, he'll try to tip the scales toward the Jets, who are 3-11 all-time in the series with San Francisco. Jets head coach Robert Saleh has known 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan since breaking into the NFL as a low-level assistant with the Texans 15 years ago and was defensive coordinator on his staff before taking over with the Jets.
17. Cowboys at Commanders, TBD: Dan Quinn gets his second chance as a head coach in Washington and to be the champ in the NFC East, he'll have to take down his previous employer and boss, the Cowboys and Mike McCarthy. Given the amount of time Quinn spent with McCarthy and Dak Prescott, don't discount the level of concern the Cowboys have entering two games with Washington.
16. Eagles vs. Packers (Brazil), Sept. 6: The youngest roster in the NFL last season belonged to the Packers, and nobody can fault what Green Bay did in the offseason. Head coach Matt LaFleur debuts his offense with Josh Jacobs at running back and a new-look defense. It'll also be a big reveal game for the Eagles, unleashing their own big-ticket offseason item, Saquon Barkley, and a number of new faces on defense.
15. Falcons at Vikings, TBD: Welcome back, Kirk Cousins, congratulations on finding a team that didn't want to invest in a young quarterback to insure its $100M guarantee to a 35-year-old starter coming off an Achilles injury. Oops. Cousins could be hailed or hated for bailing on the Vikings in free agency following 50 regular-season wins in six seasons of Skol-ing.
14. Ravens at Chargers, TBD: Los Angeles and new hire Jim Harbaugh welcome John Harbaugh and the Ravens with entertainment expected to be rich before, during and after a matchup of AFC heavyweights. John Harbaugh won the last meeting and survived a brief power outage at the Super Bowl in New Orleans to take home the Lombardi and deal Jim's 49ers a painful defeat.
13. Steelers at Broncos, Week 2: Revenge games bring out the spirit and emotion you might not otherwise find in games that don't include Mike Tomlin. Pittsburgh picked up Russell Wilson after he was scrapped at a cost north of $80 million to Denver by second-year head coach Sean Payton. Payton, of course, is still in town and brought in a rookie, Oregon's Bo Nix, to train in the system that helped make Drew Brees a legend. Don't look now, but Pittsburgh had a sneaky excellent offseason while the Broncos shed leaders and linchpins on both sides of the ball (Wilson, Justin Simmons, Jerry Jeudy). If reunions are your thing, Payton also heads back to New Orleans this season.
12. Jets at Bills, Week 17: We know they'll get an earlier go at each other on "Monday Night Football" In October, but let's give the season time to breath and Aaron Rodgers time to round back into form. He'll be recently removed from his 41st birthday but should know the names of all of his wide receivers, a task Josh Allen might need more time to complete.
11. Ravens at Cowboys, TBD: Dak Prescott was great at home last season and Dallas fortified the offensive line through the draft. Whether new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer has an answer for mobile quarterbacks - namely Lamar Jackson - might be the hot-button issue for the Cowboys. Baltimore's No. 1-ranked defense in 2023 also traveled well last season, battering Brock Purdy, Trevor Lawrence and Justin Herbert and limiting those three teams to a combined 36 points in Ravens' road wins.
10. 49ers at Packers, Nov. 24: Week 12 and the start of a pivotal, NFC-dominated, primetime featured stretch for Green Bay with nighttime marquee matchups at Detroit (Week 14) and Seattle (Week 15) ahead. Jordan Love's two interceptions stopped the Packers short of an upset at San Francisco in the divisional playoffs in January.
9. Texans at Cowboys, TBD: C.J. Stroud appears to be special and the Texans made sure his supporting cast wouldn't be a reason for a sophomore slump. But one warning: only the Bills and Patriots have a more difficult schedule based on 2023 results and offseason moves. Among the appealing underlying matchups: Houston wide receiver Stefon Diggs vs. Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs.
8. Bears at Packers, Jan. 5: The Week 18 finale was meaningful for Green Bay last season, and Jordan Love guided the Packers into the postseason to sweep the Bears and continue the trend Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers started. No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams makes his first foray into the likely frozen tundra. Will the Bears be playing for more than a spoiler token?
7. Dolphins at 49ers, TBD: It was Dec. 4, 2022, and far more meaningful than we knew at the time when a seventh-round rookie - 49ers QB Brock Purdy - made his first career start with two TD passes in a 33-17 home win over the Miami Dolphins. Back to the scene come the Dolphins with former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel a solid bet to share some unknown intel about old boss Kyle Shanahan in the game week buildup.
6. Ravens at Chiefs, Sept. 5: Had this one been bumped back a couple months to multiply the meaningfulness in the standings and AFC playoff picture, it had an angle on a top three game of the 2024 regular season. Lamar Jackson vs. Patrick Mahomes remains must-see for all the right reasons.
5. 49ers at Bills, Dec. 4: The week-after-Thanksgiving primetime game on Sunday of Week 13 should be meaningful for teams with Super Bowl aspirations.
4. Rams at Lions, TBD: Two franchises on schedule to combine for more than $350 million in deposits into Jared Goff's bank account are back at it with Detroit out to duplicate their playoff win in January over one-time Lions QB Matthew Stafford.
3. Ravens at Eagles, TBD: Star power on display? Check-check. Potential Super Bowl preview? Sure thing. Saquon Barkley (Eagles) and Derrick Henry (Ravens) add firepower to a pair of offenses with explosive potential.
2. Lions at 49ers, TBD: Other than tackle eligible, think of another phrase that could spike Dan Campbell's temperature more than "at San Francisco." Didn't think so. The Lions were halfway to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl leading the 49ers handily in the NFC Championship but coughed up a 17-point lead and bowed out of the playoffs in a 34-31 defeat instead. If Campbell circled this game on the schedule in ink, we're guessing you can't read it.
1. (tie) Chiefs at 49ers, TBD: Familiar enough to be rivals, the Chiefs left with the jewels in recent games that really mattered between teams with a combined 50-18 record the past two regular seasons. San Francisco took a lashing from the Chiefs, 44-23, at home in Oct. 23 before the dawning of the Brock Purdy era.
1. (tie) Bengals at Chiefs, TBD: Don't forget Joe Burrow, he's more than the highest-paid player in 2024. The Bengals quarterback is 3-1 against the Chiefs but was sidelined with a broken wrist when the teams played in 2023. Don't look for a warm reception in Kansas City, where fans aren't soon to forget Burrow's boys calling the Chiefs' stadium "Burrow-head" based on his success at the home of Patrick Mahomes.
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The Paur Report
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen told reporters on Thursday that second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson (shoulder) is dealing with some soreness in his surgically-repaired right shoulder. Steichen inferred that it wasn't a big deal, though, saying that Richardson could play in a game if needed. The 22-year-old made it through only four games in his rookie campaign in 2023 before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury, but the former fourth overall pick in 2023 out of Florida has been fully cleared this offseason and will be ready to go for the start of the regular season this fall. It's not out of the ordinary for a player in Richardson's situation to have some normal soreness during his recovery. Richardson is going to need to improve as a passer, but his elite rushing ability and physicality make give him high-end QB1 upside going into Year 2.
From RotoBaller
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed to terms with veteran free-agent wide receiver Sterling Shepard on an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, according to a source. After eight seasons with the New York Giants after he was drafted in the second round in 2016 out of Oklahoma, Shepard will reunite with former Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield. The 31-year-old veteran pass-catcher played in 15 games (two starts) in 2023, but he was on the field for a combined 10 games in 2021 and 2022 due to serious injuries, which have sapped his fantasy value heading into 2024. He caught 10 of his 22 targets in a limited role with New York last year for just 57 yards and a touchdown. With better health, Shepard could find himself with a bigger role, but he'll merely be competing for a depth role behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Trey Palmer.
From RotoBaller
According to The Athletic's David Lombardi, San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell is the team's clear No. 2 back behind All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey. Mitchell is an all-around back, but his health is the key. If training camp this summer yields a productive backfield logjam, Lombardi points out that the 49ers have previously traded Matt Breida and Jeff Wilson Jr. when they have an excess of depth at the position. As of right now, the 26-year-old Mitchell is the best handcuff option for fantasy managers that take McCaffrey first overall in fantasy drafts this fall. Mitchell has produced 4.7 yards per carry in his three years in the NFL in the Bay Area, but he's also played in just 27 games in a three-year span. If CMC misses time with an injury in 2024, Mitchell will become a hot commodity.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (hamstring) was limited to just 12 games in 2023 after dealing with a hamstring injury during the summer and averaged just 61.4 yards per game, the second-lowest mark of his career. He finished with 737 yards and five touchdowns, the second-fewest totals since he entered the league in 2017. Kupp did have four 100-yard games, but it was clear that he was never fully healthy last year. But the 30-year-old says he's fully healthy in 2024 and it's the first time in a while he's felt 100% during the offseason program. Kupp should be able to rebound with better health this year, but he's also no longer a spring chicken and will have to deal with the emergence of fellow receiver Puka Nacua, who had a phenomenal rookie campaign. It's hard to imagine Kupp returning to peak form when led the league in catches (145), yards (1,947) and touchdowns (16) in 2021.
From RotoBaller
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (foot) didn't take part in mandatory minicamp this week as a precaution after his foot was stepped on in practice last week. It's a minor injury for Pierce, who should be a full-go for training camp at the end of July. The 24-year-old wideout will be competing for the No. 3 job in Indy this year with rookie second-rounder Adonai Mitchell behind starters Michael Pittman Jr. and Josh Downs. The former second-rounder in 2022 out of Cincinnati hasn't really been on the fantasy radar in standard 12-team leagues in his first two years in the NFL, catching a total of 73 passes for 1,107 yards and four touchdowns, although a healthy Anthony Richardson at quarterback could change that if Pierce beats out Mitchell for the No. 3 job in training camp and the preseason.
From RotoBaller
Sports Illustrated's John Shipley writes that he won't leave Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington off any roster projections moving forward after he had a good offseason from what the media observed during offseason organized team activities. Washington only had 16 receptions on 21 targets for 132 yards and two touchdowns in nine games (one start) in his rookie campaign in 2023 after the Jaguars selected him in the sixth round out of Penn State. Most of Washington's production came after the team lost Christian Kirk to a season-ending injury in the second half of the year. He's a name to keep an eye on, but as long as Kirk, rookie first-rounder Brian Thomas and Gabe Davis stay healthy, it's hard to envision Washington having a role begin enough to warrant a roster spot in standard 12-team fantasy leagues.
From RotoBaller
Veteran quarterback P.J. Walker is signing with the Seattle Seahawks, according to NFL.com. The 29-year-old spent last season with the Cleveland Browns, completing just 48.6% of his passes for 674 yards, one touchdown, and five interceptions in six game appearances. Overall, the 2017 undrafted free agent has racked up 2,135 passing yards, six passing touchdowns, six interceptions, and 80 rushing yards in 21 career games with the Browns and Carolina Panthers. With Geno Smith and Sam Howell already on the Seattle roster, Walker is likely capped at being the team's QB3 this offseason. He could become the team's emergency third quarterback in the regular season.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants wide receiver Gunner Olszewski (foot/ankle) left practice last week after suffering a foot and ankle injury, and head coach Brian Daboll told reporters he is likely out for the rest of OTAs. The 2019 undrafted free agent out of Bemidji State has caught just 15 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown in 65 games with the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Giants, but he was named a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2020 as a punt returner. The 27-year-old has returned 98 punts and scored two touchdowns as a returner, including a 94-yard return last season for the G-Men. Although an injury in OTAs is never ideal, he is expected to be ready for training camp later this summer.
From RotoBaller
Detroit Lions defensive tackle D.J. Reader (quad) could miss the start of training camp later this summer due to the torn quad he suffered in Week 15 of last season, according to head coach Dan Campbell. The 29-year-old signed a two-year, $22 million contract to join the Lions this offseason after spending four seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. While the Clemson product has not been named to a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team, he is viewed as one of the better run-stopping interior defensive linemen in the NFL. Through his first 106 NFL games with the Texans and Bengals, he has accumulated 277 tackles, 9.5 sacks, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries, eight pass deflections, and 32 run stuffs. Although it's not ideal to miss any training camp action, he should be ready for the start of the regular season.
From RotoBaller
The Indianapolis Colts signed 2024 second-round pick Adonai Mitchell to his rookie contract on Thursday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 21-year-old spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Georgia before transferring to Texas ahead of the 2023 season. While playing in an offense with Xavier Worthy, Ja'Tavion Sanders, and Jonathon Brooks, he racked up 55 receptions for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was rumored to be a potential first-round pick, but he ultimately fell to the No. 52 slot. In all likelihood, he'll be stuck behind Michael Pittman Jr. in the target pecking order, so he'll have to compete with Josh Downs for the WR2 role. The Colts are likely to have a low-volume passing offense in the first full year of Anthony Richardson at quarterback, so he has limited upside in traditional lineup fantasy leagues in Year 1.
From RotoBaller
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (undisclosed) is expected to participate in mandatory minicamp practices next week, but head coach John Harbaugh didn't commit to him being a full-go. Humphrey missed seven games last year while dealing with a calf injury, so the Ravens are likely to be extra cautious with the 27-year-old this offseason. Humphrey, a three-time Pro Bowler, has racked up 373 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, 13 interceptions, and 76 pass deflections through his first 100 NFL games. He remains a starter for Baltimore heading into his eighth season with the team, but first-round rookie Nate Wiggins could eat into his or Brandon Stephens' snaps in 2024.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants wide receiver Jalin Hyatt has made "tremendous improvement" in knowing what to do out of the huddle and pre-snap, according to head coach Brian Daboll. The 2023 third-round pick had a quiet year with the G-Men as a rookie after a monster final season at the University of Tennessee in 2022. While catching passes from Daniel Jones, Tommy Devito, and Tyrod Taylor, Hyatt caught just 23 passes for 373 yards. It's a good sign that Daboll noted his improvement, but it's tough to find a path toward fantasy upside in 2024. Jones remains the starter at quarterback, and No. 6 overall pick Malik Nabers is expected to be the team's WR1 right away. That said, Hyatt can stretch the field and become a deep threat, making him an interesting late-round flier in best ball formats. He's narrowly on the fantasy radar in traditional "start 'em, sit 'em" leagues.
From RotoBaller
Tennessee Titans quarterbacks Mason Rudolph and Malik Willis are competing for the backup role behind Will Levis this offseason, according to head coach Brian Callahan. Rudolph was signed to a one-year, $2.87 million deal during free agency after leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to the playoffs behind a 74.3% completion percentage, three passing touchdowns, and no interceptions. Willis was selected by Tennessee in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft and has thrown for 350 yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions in 11 game appearances. Willis has looked overwhelmed in his limited action so far, making Rudolph the likely favorite to open Week 1 in the QB2 role. Both players are stash considerations in deep Superflex dynasty leagues.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (foot) was previously working with trainers during OTAs and doing some uptempo workouts. As shown by the Rams' official account on X, the lead back was back on the practice field and participating in on-field workouts on Thursday. Williams is set to open the year as the top back on the depth chart, but the team did bring in rookie Blake Corum who will likely see at least some snaps in each game. Williams does have a bit of an injury history with his foot, so he'll be one to monitor as we get closer to training camp.
From RotoBaller
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton was a no-show at voluntary workouts as he continues to seek a new contract. During an appearance on the DNVR Broncos Podcast, however, Sutton said that he will be reporting to mandatory minicamp. If he skipped minicamp as well, he was facing a fine of up to $100k. After Jerry Jeudy's departure, Sutton is the defacto number one receiver and he shouldn't have an issue commanding targets in this offense. The biggest question mark is playing with a rookie quarterback in Bo Nix, so fantasy managers may see Sutton take a step back in fantasy production.
From RotoBaller
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay (back) participated in a team minicamp practice on Thursday and ran with the first team on defense. Cayden Steele of NJ.com reports that Slay was the one consistent cornerback who remained with the first team in 7-on-7 and full-team scrimmages. The rookies rotated in and out of the lineup around him, and the defense didn't seem to force too many turnovers despite the offense still adjusting. Slay is going to be an important piece on the defense to lead the rookies to where they'll need to be to compete. This unit has a lot of potential but will be quite risky with all of the youth on the roster.
From RotoBaller
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is still seeking more guaranteed money in the final two years of his current deal, but despite that, he is expected to attend mandatory minicamp next week. Stafford has also been in attendance for voluntary workouts all offseason. He is signed through the 2026 season but only has $15 million guaranteed in the final two years of his deal and none beyond 2024. The 36-year-old veteran played in just nine games in 2022 due to injury but apparently wants to continue playing for at least the next three years. The former first overall pick by the Detroit Lions in 2009 out of Georgia played in 15 regular-season games last year and threw for 3,965 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions to finish as the QB15 in fantasy. Stafford has plenty to work with in the passing attack with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, but he's going to need to be very efficient and stay healthy to be in play as even a low-end QB1.
From RotoBaller
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy has agreed to terms to sign his rookie contract, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero. The 21-year-old out of Texas saw his fantasy football stock skyrocket after posting an NFL-record 4.21 forty-yard dash and being drafted by Kansas City with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The speedster has intriguing upside playing with Patrick Mahomes, but injury risk could be present since he is under 170 pounds. Worthy already suffered a minor hamstring injury this offseason, which is concerning given the numerous wideouts that have missed games with lingering hamstring issues over the last few seasons. Nonetheless, he's a clear first-round pick in rookie drafts.
From RotoBaller
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (shoulder) is wearing a non-contact jersey at summer practices due to a shoulder injury he suffered in the weight room a few weeks ago. However, head coach Dennis Allen said the former first-round pick has been going through full practices anyway, so this minor ailment shouldn't cause much concern. The 23-year-old has been fantastic through his first two NFL seasons, securing 159 of his 257 targets for 2,165 yards and nine touchdowns in 31 games. While Derek Carr isn't viewed as a high-level quarterback, he's been good enough to support fantasy WR1s throughout his career. New Orleans failed to add significant target competition this offseason, meaning Olave remains a WR1 candidate in his third NFL campaign.
From RotoBaller
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver N'Keal Harry is reportedly up to 240 pounds in preparation for his attempted move to tight end. The 2019 first-round pick by the New England Patriots out of Arizona State has not found success at receiver through his first five NFL campaigns, and there have been a few success stories of players moving to tight end. Harry said heard "whispers" during his career about moving to tight end, but the Vikings were the first team to broach it with him with the idea. With T.J. Hockenson (knee) likely out of action to begin 2024 after a late-season ACL tear last year, it will be interesting to see if Harry can carve out a role in the new-look Vikings offense led by Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy. He's not on the fantasy radar in regular leagues, but deep-league dynasty fantasy managers could take a flyer on him.
From RotoBaller
