With the NFL regular season reaching its midpoint, it’s a great time to begin slowly turning our attention to the class of 2024. And what a class it projects to be!

For the first time in many years, the running backs take a back seat to the other offensive skill positions. This isn’t a knock on the running back position as much as it is a nod to the depth and impact potential of the other skill positions, most notably the wide receivers. Once again, by all appearances and measurements, the quality of receivers emerging from the collegiate game into the NFL continues to rise, and 2024 is no exception.

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On paper, and from my early scouting work, I don’t believe it’s hyperbole to suggest that the 2024 rookie receiver class could be the deepest class ever assembled, given its speed, size and play-making ability. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has updated his 2024 NFL Draft Big Board, and I’m offering my Top 10 receiving prospects projected into the dynasty format as an overlay to his work — eight of my Top 10 receivers appear on his board.

It’s still early, many games are left to be played and things could change, but here’s my current rankings of 2024 rookie wide receivers.

Tier One

Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State

• 6-foot-4/205 pounds — Brugler’s Rank: WR1

With size, dynamic athleticism, hands and a NFL Hall-of-Fame father, Harrison Jr. has been groomed for the NFL from birth. He’s effective at all route depths, able to body-up on short to intermediate routes or take the top off the defense with speed. He’s already assured of being a Top 3 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft as well as the rare No. 1 overall selection in dynasty rookie drafts. There are multiple receivers on his heels, but Harrison Jr. should maintain his top status without much question.

Rome Odunze, Washington

• 6-foot-3/215 pounds — Brugler’s Rank: WR3

I’m already having to split hairs when looking at the next three receivers on my list. Odunze makes it easier to give him the nod as my No. 2 receiver of this class due to his size, physicality and confident hands at the catch point. He possesses the speed to separate and he’s so skilled at using his body in combination with his hands that he will out-physical lesser cornerbacks with ease. Competition will get much more difficult at the NFL level, but Odunze possesses the nuance to expand his game while continuing to utilize his size-hand foundation to be productive in his first season.

Malik Nabers, LSU

• 6-foot/200 pounds — Brugler’s Rank: WR4

Those who follow my work understand that I prefer size as a primary trait and differentiator for ranking rookie receivers. Over the past five years, these parameters have been reduced and Nabers stands to be yet another example of this. LSU ranks behind only Ohio State in my book for producing next-level receivers, but on the heels of Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase, and with similar production, Nabers has every opportunity to be the next big-time impact receiver from LSU. He already possesses speed, route fluidity and intelligence and, while his physicality and release off the line of scrimmage are areas for improvement, he’s developing at an impressive rate. To his credit, I’ve seen improvement again in 2023. Nabers has the potential to line up at all receiver positions, but I expect he’ll start in the slot at the next level. LSU has seen such tremendous recent success that Nabers won’t fall far come draft day, in the NFL and in dynasty formats.

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Keon Coleman, Florida State

• 6-foot-4/215 pounds — Brugler’s Rank: WR2

Coleman came on in 2022 and has placed himself as a top selection in the 2024 NFL Draft due to a ridiculous combination of hands and leaping ability. I’m not exaggerating when I say he’s among the top receivers I’ve scouted for hands in combination with his ability to climb the ladder to secure a high-point reception. He’s long but with lower body explosion and is deadly on go and deep-slant routes. If he can further develop his route tree at the next level to become more than an intermediate and long depth threat, he’s going to have a stellar career and could be the top receiver in this class when looking back 10 years from now. Dane Brugler is obviously keying on Coleman’s ceiling potential in his ranking.

Tier Two

Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State

• 6-foot-1/206 pounds — Brugler’s Rank: WR5

While Egbuka is going to slip in positional rankings due to the sheer size and athleticism of the receivers above him on this list, he’s going to be an excellent mid-first round rookie selection in dynasty. He’s in the mold of other OSU receivers such as Terry McLaurin, Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, crafty and intelligent route-runners who know how to read defenses and project well to the NFL. He’s a natural hands-catcher with sneaky-good speed. He’s not the most fluid in his routes or breaks, but his setups are so good, development in this area will only increase his impact at the next level.

Troy Franklin, Oregon

• 6-foot-3/187 pounds — Brugler’s Rank: WR7

Ask me on another day and Franklin may appear ahead of Egbuka on my rankings based on sheer upside potential in the NFL. Not only is he long with elite hand-eye coordination, able to attack and secure receptions outside of his frame, but he’s a contortionist, able to swivel above his hips to make seemingly impossible receptions. He’s a long strider with long speed able to take the top off a defense, but possesses plus-level agility to sink his hips and be a difference-maker in crossing and dig routes at the next level. He’s just another size-speed candidate in this draft who will fall slightly — potentially to a better team/quarterback situation — possibly paving a path for earlier success.

Tier Three

Xavier Worthy, Texas

• 6-foot-1/172 pounds — Brugler’s Rank: Outside Top 10

I’ll be watching Worthy’s official size closely as he makes his way to the NFL. Currently listed at 6-foot-1, 172 pounds, my belief is that he’ll measure in below 6-foot and present as another weight-concern receiver similar to that of DeVonta Smith and Jordan Addison. That said, as Smith has already shown, and as Addison is currently showing, weight concerns may be fading related to receivers believed to be undersized. Worthy is a fluid and dynamic receiver capable and willing to work at all route depths, using his agility to separate and his confident hands to secure receptions away from his frame. He’ll punish defensive secondaries in open space and projects as a slot-specialist in the NFL. Look for a plus-level quarterback situation for early career success. I’m a little surprised in not seeing Worthy within Brugler’s Top 10 given the success of NFL receivers of similar profile, but size may be of a concern here.

Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington

• 6-foot-2/204 pounds — Brugler’s Rank: WR8

Polk has been somewhat lost in the shadow of my No. 2 prospect, Rome Odunze, but possesses good size matched with a complete profile for the NFL. Polk could elect to return to school to become the Huskies’ WR1 in 2024, but after four collegiate years, his last three with Washington, I expect he’ll declare and be a late second-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. He tracks the ball well, has plus-level route speed in and out of his breaks, and his hands, arguably his best trait, are strong into and away from his frame. He won’t “wow” in any particular area but is well developed in all phases of his game.

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Xavier Legette, South Carolina

• 6-foot-3/227 pounds — Brugler’s Rank: Outside Top 10

Legette is a monster when matched with his speed and surprising agility (for his size). He’s a difficult projection to the NFL but many believe he could sneak into the bottom of the first round.  Before making any such prediction, I want to see a verifiable speed score before raising him on my rankings and am looking for more consistent production to close out this season. He’ll present physicality match-up issues in the NFL and has shown an ability to run-block as well, both traits highly desired at the next level. The 2023 campaign stands as Legette’s only statistically material collegiate season, which may drop his draft stock. In the end, I expect Legette to be a second-round selection in next year’s draft.

Brian Thomas Jr., LSU

• 6-foot-4/205 pounds — Brugler’s Rank: WR6

Another size prospect in a physically huge receiver class, Thomas profiles differently than those above him on this list. While he has broken out in 2023 for the Tigers and could choose to return for his senior season, all eyes will be on his timed speed should he declare for the NFL draft. While most others here are adept at taking the top off a defense, Thomas does much of his work on digs, outs and crossers, then uses his size and speed to pick up yards after the catch. His hands are usually reliable and he’s adept at working across the middle of the field at short and intermediate depths, a desirable ability in the NFL. Thomas presents as a raw prospect, more similar to 2021 draftee, and former Tiger, Terrace Marshall, than he does Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. A pairing with an above-average NFL quarterback and an acceptable timed speed score would make for an intriguing second-round sleeper in dynasty rookie drafts. Brugler’s WR6 ranking is a surprise given the raw nature of Thomas and his questionable athleticism, but there’s no questioning his size.

I hope you enjoyed this look at my first look at the 2024 rookie wide receivers. If you have thoughts or questions, please be sure to leave a comment and also give me a follow on Twitter and Threads: @DLF_Jeff

As always, be well, be happy and, please, be good to each other!

(Photo of Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk: Steph Chambers/Getty Images)