Rome Odunze vs Malik Nabers fantasy outlook: Which rookie WR should you draft?

Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers are two of the best overall rookies to target in fantasy football drafts this year. They were first-round picks in the 2024 NFL draft and are expected to be major contributors to their team's offenses. They both hold plenty of fantasy value, but here's which one makes for a better pick for the 2024 season.

Is Rome Odunze a good fantasy pick in 2024?

Rome Odunze (GETTY)

Rome Odunze increased his overall output in each of his four college football seasons with the Washington Huskies. This resulted in a career-best season in his final year with the team, including 92 receptions for 1,640 yards and 14 total touchdowns. He was selected as an All-American for his dominant performance and helped the Huskies reach the National Championship game.

The prospect quickly became one of the most coveted wide receivers in the 2024 NFL draft class, and it didn't take long for him to be picked. The Chicago Bears used their ninth-overall pick in the first round to land Odunze and pair him with Caleb Williams, who they selected with the No. 1 overall pick.

The Bears used the offseason to completely redesign their offensive roster, with Odunze joining Keenan Allen as a new addition at the wide receiver position. They also already have DJ Moore, so the rookie will surely have competition for playing time and passing targets.

The crowded offense makes Odunze a bit risky in fantasy football this year, but his elite talent gives him plenty of upsides. If he can carve out a large enough role for himself, he has the skill set to quickly emerge as a top wide receiver.

Is Malik Nabers a good fantasy pick in 2024?

Malik Nabers (GETTY)

Malik Nabers spent all three seasons of his college football career with the LSU Tigers. He increased his overall production every year, which resulted in him being selected as an All-American in his final collegiate season. His career-best performance included a massive 89 receptions for 1,569 yards and 14 touchdowns.

His size and athletic abilities, paired with his impressive stats, made Nabers one of the highest-rated wide receivers ahead of the 2024 NFL draft. The New York Giants wasted no time selecting him with the sixth overall pick in the first round.

The Giants have been in desperate need of help at the wide receiver position as they have lacked a truly elite option for the entire duration of quarterback Daniel Jones' career as a starter. Improving this area was clearly a priority for them, and they may have accomplished this with the LSU product.

One of the most valuable factors in Nabers' fantasy football in 2024 is that he is fully expected to serve as the number-one wide receiver for the Giants. They lack established offensive weapons, so he is projected to get a huge workload this year. If he can capitalize on this ideal opportunity, he has some of the highest upside of any rookie this season.

Rome Odunze vs Malik Nabers: Who Should I Draft?

Who Should I Draft (Image via Sportskeeda)

According to Sportskeeda's Who Should I Draft tool, Malik Nabers makes for a better pick in 2024 fantasy football drafts than Rome Odunze. This valuable tool allows managers to compare fantasy projections and helps them make better picks during their drafts. In this case, they recommend Nabers in favor of Odunze.

Nabers holds superior projections in all receiving categories, including an additional 17 receptions for 255 yards and 1.4 touchdowns. This is partially due to their expected roles with their NFL teams this year. Odunze has much more competition for targets with Keenan Allen and DJ Moore on the Bears' roster, while Nabers is expected to be the clearly featured wide receiver for the Giants.

Malik Nabers currently ranks as the 51st overall player and WR24, while Rome Odunze is the 94th overall player and WR39, according to their current ADP. This reflects their overall fantasy outlook for their rookie seasons, though both will carry elite upside into the 2024 season.