Fantasy football season is fast approaching, and now it's time to be bold.

Sure, you see the cheat sheet and try to follow it as best as possible to win at your draft with the sleepers who are undervalued and the busts who are overvalued, but sometimes, you need to swing for the fences and either hit a dinger or strike out.

That could mean zigging where others zag with a pick that surprises your fellow managers, or skipping a top name left on the board.

So here are a bunch of what I think are bold predictions this year. If not? Well, then they're just predictions. But here are a handful of takes I have ahead of the 2024 season:

1. Patrick Mahomes will finish as QB1 this year

It's not the hottest of takes. But when you have Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson all vying for the top QB spot in fantasy and they use their legs more than Mahomes does, maybe it is.

Here's the thing: Mahomes tossed 14 interceptions last year, which was a career-high. I think that number comes down and his 4,183 passing yards last year goes up thanks to the receiving help he got in the draft and free agency.

2. Chris Godwin will finish as a top-20 wide receiver

With a new offensive coordinator and maybe Mike Evans finally slowing down a bit, it'll be Godwin who will benefit with a more full-time role in the slot.

3. Jake Ferguson will be this year's breakout tight end and will finish in the top 3 of the position

Dude saw six or more targets in the final six games of the season, and with a lack of a true second option behind CeeDee Lamb, I could see Ferguson breaking out with lots of yards and red zone usage.

4. Chris Olave will be a WR1

He's being drafted like a WR2, but in Year 2 with Derek Carr, he's going to have more than the five 100-yard games he notched last year.

5. Derrick Henry won't be an RB1

It's truly hard to bet against Henry year after year. Somehow, he's continued to show he's ageless with the Titans, and now he's a member of the Ravens.

Here's my thing: he HAS to slow down at some point. And now he's on a team with a running QB who scored five times on the ground last year. I think Henry ends up in the RB2 range but not a top-10 guy.

6. Stefon Diggs won't be a top-30 WR

He wasn't his usual top WR self last year, and now he's in a crowded receiver room with Nico Collins in the top spot, and Tank Dell has chemistry with CJ Stroud. I'll pass.

7. Tyjae Spears will outscore Tony Pollard

I don't care that the Titans just handed Pollard a sizeable contract. Spears is the more explosive back.

8. Devin Singletary will be a top-20 running back

Yeah, that's right. Remember last year how Rachaad White wasn't that efficient for the Bucs but he caught everything and was used a lot? Singletary will be that guy -- he knows the scheme and there might be dump-offs aplenty.

9. Khalil Shakir, not Keon Coleman, will be WR1 for the Bills

Simple: Shakir knows Josh Allen, the rookie does not. Dalton Kincaid will be good but will split time with Dawson Knox. So here's your top Buffalo receiver.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: 9 bold fantasy football predictions for 2024, including 1 big Patrick Mahomes take