RADIO
As the dust settles on the 2024 NFL Draft, it's time to shift our fantasy football focus to the fresh faces entering the league who are ready to shake up your dynasty rosters. This year's rookie class is brimming with talent that could immediately impact fantasy leagues. This draft has everything from speedster wideouts who can stretch the field to bruising running backs destined to become goal-line vultures.
Whether you're in rebuild mode or just a piece away from your championship run, understanding the top prospects is crucial for navigating your rookie drafts. Let's dive into the crème de la crème of this year's crop, breaking down who you should be targeting to either kick-start a dynasty revival or push your squad over the championship line.
Quick heads up, we’re talking standard 1QB leagues here, not Superflex. If we were diving into Superflex waters, Caleb Williams would be the undisputed top dog, no questions asked. But since we're keeping it traditional, let's break down to see how the board might shake out. A lot of long-existing dynasty leagues are 1QB, so don't thumb your nose up at them in disgust either as it would be nearly impossible to convert a 1QB dynasty league into a Superflex one.
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!1.01: Marvin Harrison Jr. - WR, Arizona Cardinals
Harrison Jr., rocking the scales at a solid 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, is a true hybrid on the field, mixing it up with both the physicality of an X-receiver and the nimble moves of a speedster. Talk about a factory of wide receiver talent as Ohio State's been pumping them out like it’s their job, but Harrison Jr. could be the cream of the crop, potentially outshining even Ja'Marr Chase's killer 2021 rookie season. With the way he blends size with agility, Harrison's not just playing the game; he’s setting a whole new level for rookie WRs.
1.02: Malik Nabers - WR, New York Giants
Roll out the red carpet for Malik Nabers, who turned the 2023 season into his headline tour: 86 catches, a staggering 1,545 yards, and 14 trips to the end zone that felt like encore performances at a sold-out concert. It's not just fans tuning into his highlight reel; top scouts, like NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, even had Nabers a notch above Harrison Jr. in the draft charts.
Malik Naber's landing spot to #NYGiants has created a HUGE BUY
He’s still a SMASH at 1.03/1.04 but the insulation I’m seeing is Wild
1.02 for 1.03 1.08 👀
1.02 for 1.03 25 1st & 2nd ⬇️I expect a Garrett Wilson esque year 1-2 w the Quarterback play but the ceiling & upside are 🚀 https://t.co/P8xbhqPTdr pic.twitter.com/2VakLRSrLU
— Dynasty Dad (@DynastyDadFF) May 5, 2024
1.03: Rome Odunze - WR, Chicago Bears
Step up, Rome Odunze! With a season stat line that reads like a dream -- 92 receptions, an eye-popping 1,640 yards, and 13 touchdowns -- Odunze is shouting from the rooftops that he's ready for the big leagues. His phenomenal body control and knack for turning contested catches into highlight reels make him a game-changer. The Bears, an offensive-starved franchise, may just have snagged their next marquee star. Chicago's WR room is currently crowded, but long-term Odunze will be Caleb Williams' top option.
1.04: Brock Bowers - TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Brock Bowers has been dominating the college gridiron, sitting high on the throne of tight end royalty for a couple of seasons now. This guy's on-field exploits are straight out of a football fairy tale -- racking up 175 catches, bulldozing his way to 2,541 yards, and hitting paydirt 26 times, all while averaging a hefty 14.5 yards per snag. Get this, his 2.64 yards per route run? That's not just good, it's groundbreaking. While the Raiders landing spot is troubling, it's likely much worse for Michael Mayer, who is now regulated to being the team's in-line tight end stuck with all the dirty work and blocking duties.
1.05: Brian Thomas Jr. - WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Thomas just exploded onto the football scene and man, does he look like he's got the chops to tear it up in the NFL. Freshly 21, he's already lit up the scoreboard with a mammoth season -- hauling in 68 passes for 1,177 yards and dancing into the end zone 17 times. Here's the kicker: the guy was all about basketball until he hit 10th grade, only then did he switch to the gridiron. Talk about untapped potential -- Thomas is just scratching the surface!
1.06: Jayden Daniels - QB, Washington Commanders
I know, you just did a double-take, like what? Just hear me out: in Superflex leagues, Caleb Williams has the type of floor that can be a steadying force for your weekly lineup, but in 1QB leagues, I'd argue that Daniels has more upside due to his rushing upside.
Daniels torched the field this year, snagging the Heisman Trophy with a performance that was nothing short of spectacular. Imagine this: 40 aerial touchdowns with just a mere four picks, coupled with a whopping 3,811 passing yards. And that’s not all -- toss in 1,250 yards on the ground and another 10 TDs just for good measure. This guy was on fire and has the potential to break fantasy scoring on a 2019 Lamar Jackson-type level!
Kliff Kingsbury: I would like a quarterback who can demolish defenses with draws
Jayden Daniels: I got you, coach. pic.twitter.com/07m2OCquEq
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) May 5, 2024
1.07: Jonathon Brooks - RB, Carolina Panthers
If not for the injury that ended his 2023 college season at Texas, there's a good chance Brooks ends up much higher than this. He didn't play a lot in his first two years after sitting behind star RB Bijan Robinson, but Brooks shined in 2023 when healthy and showcased his ability to be a solid three-down back in the NFL. He's a shifty runner with glue for hands out of the backfield.
1.08: Xavier Worthy - WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Worthy just scorched the turf at the NFL Combine, clocking a blistering 4.21 in the 40-yard dash. But hey, let's not get all dazzled by the stopwatch alone. This guy's not just a speed merchant; he's a top-tier wide receiver who just happens to have afterburners. Sure, the main rap against him is his size -- 5-foot-11 and tipping the scales at just 165 pounds. Yet, with guys like Tank Dell and DeVonta Smith tearing up the league, it's clear the era of the "big receiver" is getting a run for its money. Picture DeSean Jackson, but in today's high-octane NFL. That's the kind of game-breaking ability Worthy brings to the table.
Xavier Worthy is so smooth out of his cuts. He is going to be a problem! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZduP9bl1Qv
— Brad Henson Productions (@BradHensonPro) May 5, 2024
1.09: Trey Benson - RB, Arizona Cardinals
Another player who had his college career cut short due to injury, Benson transferred to Florida State for the 2022 season and shined during his time in Tallahassee. Benson set the PFF record in 2022 for the highest forced missed tackle rate at over 51 percent and should get the chance to become the Cardinals' full-time running back in 2025. He'll have to wait behind veteran RB James Conner, but given Conner's injury history, Benson could see the field sooner rather than later. He's got all the potential to be a three-down back at the next level.
1.10: Caleb Williams - QB, Chicago Bears
Williams has been evading sacks and snapping necks with the grace of a Hollywood stunt double since his rookie season at Oklahoma. This guy isn’t just playing football; he’s practically reinventing the escape act, keeping plays alive with a next-gen flair that’s off the charts. He might not fit the traditional QB mold in terms of size, but with an arm strong enough to fling satellites into space, he’s nothing short of a gridiron force. In an NFL where quarterbacks reign supreme and potential is gold, the Bears offense could soon become a high-octane, unstoppable unit.
1.11: Ladd McConkey - WR, Los Angeles Chargers
A player with a relatively high floor but maybe not the same type of ceiling as some of his other rookie WR counterparts, McConkey received a lot of comps to former WR Emmanuel Sanders during the scouting process. With WR Keenan Allen and WR Mike Williams along with RB Austin Ekeler having now departed, there won't be a lot of target competition for McConkey, who should be able to hit the ground running immediately and potentially lead the Chargers in targets as a rookie.
Pairing Ladd McConkey with Justin Herbert is like adding nitro to the engine. This guy moves with the quickness of a jackrabbit while spotting holes in the zone with ease. Ladd is set to make waves from day one #BoltUp pic.twitter.com/qPQTuBl9va
— Kyle Lindemann (@LuckIsMadeFF) April 29, 2024
1.12: Keon Coleman - WR, Buffalo Bills
Coleman, a gem in this year's wide receiver class, slid a bit after clocking a 4.61 at the NFL Combine -- yes, that might have some teams sweating a bit. But hold up, his on-field speed during drills tells another tale; the dude hit 20.3 mph in the gauntlet, outpacing any receiver from the last two cycles.
And get this, he's not even hitting 21 until the candles blow out post-draft. Coleman's got a catch radius that's off the charts and can churn out yards after the catch like nobody's business. The big puzzle is his separation skills at the NFL level, but make no mistake, the raw talent is there and ready to be unleashed. Alongside QB Josh Allen, that's a potentially lethal combo.
Round 2 of Dynasty Rookie Drafts (1-QB Leagues)
2.01 - Xavier Legette - WR, Carolina Panthers
2.02 - Adonai Mitchell - WR, Indianapolis Colts
2.03 - Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers
2.04 - Ben Sinnott - TE, Washington Commanders
2.05 - Blake Corum - RB, Los Angeles Rams
2.06 - Roman Wilson - WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
2.07 - MarShawn Lloyd - RB, Green Bay Packers
2.08 - Troy Franklin - WR, Denver Broncos
2.09 - Jaylen Wright - RB, Miami Dolphins
2.10 - Ja'Lynn Polk - WR, New England Patriots
2.11 - Ray Davis - RB, Buffalo Bills
2.12 - Ja'Tavion Sanders - TE, Carolina Panthers
Be sure to stay tuned here at RotoBaller all summer long for all things dynasty!
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