Brian Thomas Jr. fantasy football outlook for 2024: Is Jaguars WR a safe pick this year?

Brian Thomas Jr. was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft and will essentially replace Calvin Ridley, who departed during the offseason. This makes him an interesting wide receiver to target during fantasy drafts this season in a favorable role with a solid quarterback.

Rookies often carry more risk than other players in their position, due to the unknowns of how their game will translate to the NFL and what their role will be. Thomas is less risky than most other rookies given his situation, so here's where his fantasy football outlook currently stands.

Breaking down Brian Thomas Jr.'s fantasy football outlook for 2024

Brian Thomas Jr. (image credit: Getty)

Brian Thomas Jr. broke out in a major way during the final season of his college football career with the LSU Tigers. He turned in 68 receptions for 1,177 yards and 17 touchdowns, more than doubling his career totals in all three categories from the previous two seasons combined.

Making his numbers even more impressive is that he served as the WR2 for LSU behind another star wide receiver in Malik Nabers, who was also a first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Thomas will now enter a relatively favorable situation, catching passes from Trevor Lawrence in a role that is expected to be similar to how Calvin Ridley served last year.

If Thomas can capitalize on his opportunity, he could be one of the biggest steals of the 2024 fantasy football season. He has more upside than many of the other wide receivers in his class when factoring in all of the variables, especially his projected role in the Jacksonville Jaguars' starting lineup.

Where should you draft Brian Thomas Jr. this year?

In dynasty fantasy football leagues, Brian Thomas Jr. ranks among the top five wide receivers to target during the upcoming 2024 season. His rookie status gives him more value in this format than in traditional season-long leagues, but he is still a solid mid-round pick (#113 ADP) with plenty of upside in fantasy drafts.

The later you can get Thomas the better, but be advised that he will start appearing on most people's radars around pick No. 70. So if you believe he will be a valuable asset, you should be wary of what else is available and other teams' needs before risking letting him go past pick 100.

Managers considering selecting Thomas in their upcoming fantasy football drafts would be wise to reference Sportskeeda's Who Should I Draft tool. This will help them to compare his season-long projections against the other available options when they are on the clock. This can help them to build a winning roster and ultimately get closer to a league championship.