The 2024 NFL Draft featured seven first-round wide receivers and 10 total wideouts picked within the opening 37 selections. The draft was said to feature a historically impressive class of receivers and that promise did not disappoint as they flew off the board. That's going to make this year's chase for the 2024 rookie receiving yards leader particularly exciting.
DraftKings responded by updating the betting odds for the 2024 campaign rookie receiving yards leader. Several exciting contenders are listed throughout. The odds are as follows:
- Marvin Harrison Jr. (+175)
Malik Nabers (+550)
Keon Coleman (+600)
Xavier Worthy (+900)
Ladd McConkey (+1100)
Brian Thomas Jr. (+1100)
Rome Odunze (+1300)
Brock Bowers (+2200)
Adonai Mitchell (+2500)
Jermaine Burton (+3000)
THE FAVORITE AND MY PICK: Marvin Harrison Jr.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is understandably the favorite. He projects as a target-hog in an Arizona Cardinals offense that should be playing catch-up fairly consistently throughout the 2024 campaign. The Cardinals entered the draft with the worst wide receiver room in the league. Harrison Jr. will immediately address a major need.
The secondary pass-catching options include Michael Wilson, Chris Moore, and Trey McBride. Those three players combined for under 200 targets last season, or just 11.7 targets per game. A total of 206 targets departed the Cardinals this offseason in Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, Rondale Moore, and Zach Ertz. The likes of McBride and Wilson will be involved, but Harrison Jr. will receive the bulk majority of Kyler Murray's attention. It should lead to a 1,000-yard debut campaign for Harrison Jr.
THE NO. 1 CONTENDER: Malik Nabers
Malik Nabers is in a similar position to Harrison Jr. The former LSU standout should immediately end a years-long drought for a No. 1 go-to playmaker in East Rutherford. A healthy Daniel Jones will pepper Nabers with targets.
The Giants fielded the league’s 31st-ranked passing offense last season, averaging just 169.8 air yards per outing. Upgrading an anemic passing attack was a priority for head coach Brian Daboll this offseason. Darius Slayton led the Giants in receiving yards last season with a league-wide 46th-ranked 770.
Veteran tight end Darren Waller is still mulling retirement. If Waller opts to walk away, the Giants will have lost their third and fourth-most-targeted players this offseason, with Waller and Saquon Barkley combining for 134 opportunities last season. Nabers is going to inherit a significant workload.
A WORTHY UNDERDOG: Keon Coleman
A second-round receiver would rarely find himself in such an excellent position to contend for the rookie receiving yards leader, but Keon Coleman has landed in the ideal situation. The Bills shockingly parted ways with Stefon Diggs this offseason. Coleman is a legitimate contender to lead the Bills in targets this season, given the competition includes Khalil Shakir, Dalton Kincaid, and Curtis Samuel. Coleman has the highest ceiling.
The Bills have fielded a top-10 passing offense for four consecutive seasons. Josh Allen is among the most productive, pass-happy quarterbacks in the NFL. Coleman is an instant starter as the X-receiver in Buffalo's offense. Allen is going to trust his new alpha receiver to make big-time plays on the boundary.
