X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Fantasy Football Rookie Wide Receivers You Must Have In 2024

Rookie Must Haves - WR, 2024 Fantasy Football, Rookies

Top 2024 fantasy football rookie wide receiver draft targets. Jackson dives into the fantasy football rookie wide receiver sleepers you must have in 2024.

Fantasy football drafts take place all year long, but they begin to ramp up even more following free agency and the NFL Draft. 2024 is no different, and drafting four months before Week 1 arrives gives fantasy managers competitive advantages and discounts on potential sleepers.

Being knowledgeable about the incoming rookie class is one of the most significant edges fantasy managers can have, as people often avoid first-year players due to uncertainty and lack of NFL game logs or fantasy football stats to look back on. These rookies are often cheap to acquire, meaning you won't have to sacrifice established studs to select them.

In this article, we'll cover three rookie wide receivers you must have in 2024 fantasy football. While early draft choices like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers have strong fantasy outlooks in Year 1, they're obvious draft targets and are bigger gambles given their costs in drafts. That said, we'll focus more on bargain-bin sleepers with upside. Let's dive in!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers

Despite a mediocre production profile in college, Los Angeles selected former Georgia wideout Ladd McConkey with the 34th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The team was rumored to be in the market for Marvin Harrison Jr. or Malik Nabers thanks to their dire need at the position, but they ultimately invested in Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt in Round 1.

With Mike Williams and Keenan Allen out of town, McConkey can compete for the WR1 role in Justin Herbert's offense right away. Sure, the Chargers are expected to deploy a more run-heavy approach under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, but there's no scenario in which Herbert's go-to receiver will not be a key fantasy contributor.

The 22-year-old is a savvy route runner with above-average explosiveness and his 4.39 forty-yard dash time at the NFL combine proves he is more than just a "quick" and "twitchy" prospect.

While playing in a run-first Bulldogs offense that featured Zamir White and James Cook and sharing the field with studs like Brock Bowers, Adonai Mitchell, and Jermaine Burton at different points of his college career, he was used as a do-it-all offensive weapon for the two-time National Champions. In 39 games from 2021 to 2023, McConkey racked up 1,687 receiving yards, 216 rushing yards, 294 return yards, and 18 total touchdowns.


His versatility resembles that of former Florida Gators star Percy Harvin, and his situation is perfect. He has a high-end quarterback, expensive draft capital, and weak target competition in Quentin Johnson, DJ Chark, and Josh Palmer, and the organization should finally have a sense of stability under Harbaugh.

He's being priced as a mid-level WR5 in early fantasy drafts, but a high-end WR3 finish as a rookie is within reach. He's a strong mid-round option to occupy flex or WR3 slots.

 

Malachi Corley, New York Jets

If you love college production, third-round New York Jets receiver Malachi Corley has what you're looking for. After a quiet freshman season at Western Kentucky, Corley racked up 73 receptions for 691 yards and seven touchdowns as a 19-year-old sophomore.

He then exploded onto the scene in his junior campaign and followed it up with another big season in 2023. Over his last two seasons, he racked up 180 receptions for 2,277 yards and 22 touchdowns and brought his yards per reception figure up thanks to high-end YAC skills.

The two-time First-Team Conference USA selection runs with attitude and refuses to be tackled by the first defender. Although his 4.56 forty-time is far from elite, it's adequate given his overall skill set.

Now, he'll get to line up next to Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams (knee) while catching passes from future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers (Achilles). While it's tough to know what to expect from Rodgers after a devastating injury in Week 1 of last season, he should remain one of the most accurate passers and facilitators in the NFL. Since Corley can do damage from anywhere on the field, his quarterback situation should not be a concern. While Williams is eased into action following his 2023 ACL tear, Corley has a legitimate shot to operate as the No. 2 target behind Wilson.

The Jets were furiously looking to trade up into the second round to acquire Corley before ultimately trading up to the first pick in the third round and landing him. If he had been a second-round selection, the fantasy football community would be higher on him.


He's going outside the top 200 overall players in recent fantasy drafts, so he's a risk-free dart throw oozing with upside.

 

Jermaine Burton, Cincinnati Bengals

Jermaine Burton did not land in an ideal situation for immediate fantasy production, but he's still a must-have as a high-upside "handcuff" wide receiver in traditional fantasy formats. In best ball setups, he sees at least a slight value increase.

The 22-year-old field-stretcher failed to break out as a freshman or sophomore at Georgia, but he became a dangerous weapon in the Alabama offense in 2022 and 2023. Burton caught 79 passes for 1,475 yards and 15 touchdowns during his time in Tuscaloosa, and his whopping 20.5 yards per reception as a senior combined with his elite burst score and 4.45 forty-time likely elevated him into a Day 2 NFL Draft selection.


Like the other players on this list, Burton hit the jackpot in terms of his quarterback situation. Joe Burrow battled injuries all of last season, forcing him to be a limited downfield passer, but as long as he's fully ready to go when the 2024 campaign rolls around, nobody should be concerned.

Everything points toward Tee Higgins remaining with the Bengals in 2024, so Burton is capped in the WR3 role behind him and Ja'Marr Chase as things stand. That said, Higgins has missed nine games over the last three seasons and barely played in a couple more. Chase has missed six games since his stellar rookie season. Injuries always have and will happen, meaning there could be a window where Burton is elevated into the No. 2 role. This is what makes him a great stash in all formats. Higgins could be gone before the 2025 campaign, so he's also a strong stash in dynasty.

Burton is unlikely to command consistent volume and become a "sit and forget" fantasy option, but even with Higgins and Chase on the field, he'll have chances to deliver chunk plays and deep touchdowns that will make him worth a late-round selection in best ball. He's going after players like Elijah Moore and Rashod Bateman in drafts, making him a cheap sleeper and easy drop if he does not deliver by midseason.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Chase Briscoe

Finished Second Despite Being Trapped a Lap Down and Causing Two Wrecks
Brad Keselowski

Arguably Had the Best Drive at Iowa but Finished Third
Austin Dillon

Earns a Quiet Top Ten at Iowa
Kyle Larson

Poor Pit Strategy and Clash with Teammate Foil Kyle Larson at Iowa
William Byron

Stretches His Fuel to His Second Victory of 2025 At Iowa
Ryan Blaney

Continues A Strong Run of Success At Iowa
Ryan Preece

Eventful Race at Iowa Results In A Top-5 Finish
Denny Hamlin

Struggled Massively At Iowa
Daniel Jones

Anthony Richardson Sr., Daniel Jones Will Play on Thursday Night
Marquez Callaway

49ers Release Marquez Callaway
Joshua Palmer

Misses Practice on Sunday
Robbie Chosen

Signing with the 49ers
Tahj Brooks

Continues to Impress
Mike Gesicki

Absent from Camp on Sunday
Tommy Edman

Likely Going on 10-Day Injured List
Rashee Rice

Suspension Status Remains Unclear
Michael Pittman Jr.

Sidelined With Groin Injury
Calvin Austin III

Not Dressed at Training Camp With Undisclosed Injury
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith Continues To Impress at Training Camp
Salvon Ahmed

Suffers "Severe" Leg Injury
Dillon Gabriel

Struggling in Training Camp Practices
Dontayvion Wicks

Absent During Saturday's Practice
Dylan Sampson

Earning Increased Workload?
Harold Fannin Jr.

Earning First-Team Reps
Austin Riley

Leaves With Abdominal Pain
Aaron Judge

on Track to Return Tuesday
James Cook

Now Holding in?
Joe Flacco

Becoming a Strong Favorite to Win QB Competition
Pat Freiermuth

the Unquestioned TE1 in Pittsburgh
Detroit Lions

Taylor Decker Activated From PUP List
DeVonta Smith

Back at Practice on Sunday
Max Muncy

Could Return as Early as Monday
Chase Briscoe

Could Chase Briscoe be A Sneaky Play for Iowa Lineups?
Denny Hamlin

Is A Top Driver to Consider for DFS At Iowa
Ryan Blaney

Is A Favorite to Go Back-To-Back With Iowa Victories
Tyler Reddick

has Plenty of Upside for Sunday's Race at Iowa
NFL

Russell Gage Impressing in Training Camp Practices
Carson Hocevar

What Should Fantasy Players do with Carson Hocevar at Iowa?
Chris Buescher

Is Chris Buescher Worth Rostering For Iowa DFS Lineups?
Ty Gibbs

Could Be A Solid DFS Option for Iowa
Logan Henderson

Recalled, Starting Sunday
Jacob Misiorowski

Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Ryan Preece

Offers Plenty of Upside For DFS Lineups At Iowa On Sunday
NASCAR

A.J. Allmendinger Will Start in the Top 10 for the Second Week In A Row at Iowa
Austin Dillon

Could Austin Dillon Be A Decent DFS Option for Iowa?
Michael McDowell

Is Michael McDowell Worth Rostering for Iowa DFS Lineups?
Zane Smith

Should DFS Players Roster Zane Smith At Iowa?
Justin Haley

Shows Plenty of Speed, but Could Be A DFS Risk at Iowa
NHL

Jakub Lauko Returns to Czechia
Nicholas Robertson

Signs One-Year Contract with Maple Leafs
Alex Laferriere

Kings Re-Sign Alex Laferriere to Three-Year Deal
Duop Reath

Has Salary Guaranteed by Portland
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Agrees to Contract Extension with the Lakers
William Contreras

Goes Deep in Five-Hit Night
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Exits Early Friday, Expects to Play Saturday
Randy Rodríguez

Randy Rodriguez Named New Giants Closer
Jaden Springer

Signs Exhibit-9 Deal with New Orleans
Julian Champagnie

has Salary Guaranteed by San Antonio
Jackson Chourio

Could be Out a Month
Aaron Judge

Yankees Eyeing Return for Aaron Judge Next Week
Juan Soto

Back in Lineup Against Giants
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Reinstated and Starting on Friday
George Springer

Goes on Concussion Injured List
JoJo Romero

the Top Candidate for Saves in St. Louis
Nolan Arenado

Going on Injured List With Shoulder Injury
Conor McGregor

Enters UFC Testing Pool
Grayson Rodriguez

Considering Having Surgery
Devin Williams

Yankees Plan to Keep Devin Williams in Closer's Role
HyunSung Park

Looks To Remain Undefeated
Tatsuro Taira

Set For UFC Vegas 108 Main Event
Mateusz Rębecki

Mateusz Rebecki Looks For His Second Consecutive Win
Chris Duncan

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Elves Brener

Looks For His Fourth UFC Win
Esteban Ribovics

Set For UFC Vegas 108 Main Card Bout
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos

Elizeu Zaleski Dos Santos Aims To Bounce Back
Karol Rosa

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Nora Cornolle

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Neil Magny

Returns At UFC Vegas 108
Kevin Vallejos

Set To Open Up UFC Vegas 108 Main Card
Danny Silva

Set For His Third UFC Fight
Mikal Bridges

Signs Extension with Knicks
Jackson Chourio

Expected to Go on Injured List With Hamstring Strain
Jonathan Aranda

Rays Hope Jonathan Aranda Can Return in September
Shelby Miller

Brewers Acquire Shelby Miller
Connor McDavid

Oilers Hope to Finalize Connor McDavid's Contract Extension Soon
BUF

Devon Levi Re-Signs With Sabres for Two Years
Martin Pospisil

Signs Three-Year Extension
Dario Šarić

Dario Saric Hoping to Have Meaningful Role with Kings
Donte DiVincenzo

to Skip EuroBasket Due to Injury
Ayo Dosunmu

Set to Remain in Chicago
Malevy Leons

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Thunder
Daeqwon Plowden

Kings Pick Up Daeqwon Plowden on Two-Way Deal
Bryce McGowens

Signs Two-Way Deal with Pelicans
Jonathan Kuminga

Declines Latest Offers from Golden State
Gary Woodland

Eyeing Strong Finish to Reach Playoffs
Max McGreevy

Chasing a Miracle at Wyndham
Stephan Jaeger

a Solid Value Play at Wyndham Championship
Max Homa

Fighting to Salvage Disappointing Season
Nicolai Hojgaard

a Sleeper at Wyndham Championship
Rickie Fowler

Riding Quiet Momentum Into Wyndham
Brian Campbell

a Wild Card at Wyndham Championship
Akshay Bhatia

Looking to Flip the Script at Wyndham Championship
Aaron Rai

Finishes Tied For 34th at Open Championship
Andrew Novak

Finishes Tied For 63rd at Open Championship
Hideki Matsuyama

Finishes Tied For 16th at Open Championship
Kurt Kitayama

Wins 3M Open
Tom Kim

Finishes Tied For 28th at 3M Open
PGA

Sungjae Im Misses Cut at 3M Open
Max Greyserman

Misses Cut at 3M Open
Jordan Spieth

Looks to End Regular Season on a High Note at Wyndham Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick

Finishes Tied For Fourth at Open Championship
Eric Cole

Misses Cut at 3M Open
Keith Mitchell

Needs a Big Week at Wyndham Championship
Robert MacIntyre

is the Perfect Kind of Ball-Striker for Wyndham Championship
Charlie McAvoy

Ready to Go for Next Season
Dylan Samberg

Agrees to Three-Year Contract with Jets
Michael Kim

Needs More Solid Finishes
NBA

Thanasis Antetokounmpo Added to Greece Training Camp Roster for EuroBasket 2025
Los Angeles Clippers

Patrick Baldwin Jr. Waived by Clippers
Josh Green

May Not be Ready for Start of Hornets Training Camp
NBA

Thomas Bryant Set to Move to Greece
Cam Thomas

Nets Far Apart in Contract Talks
Kristaps Porzingis

Feeling "Great" Ahead of New Season
Chris Paul

Hints He Could Extend His Career Beyond the 2025-26 Season
Brandon Miller

Close to 100 Percent
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF