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Mike's dynasty fantasy football outlooks and 2nd-year player rankings. He analyzes last year's NFL rookies and re-ranks them for fantasy football dynasty leagues.
While the fantasy football world is focused on the 2025 rookie class, let’s look back to last year’s group.
The 2024 rookie draft class might be the best in history. Several rookies became fantasy superstars in their first year in the NFL.
Now that we have a year’s worth of data in the books, let’s redraft the 2024 rookie class using a 12-team and single-quarterback format.
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Round 1 - Redrafting Last Year
1.01 – Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
While New York’s quarterback situation was a nightmare last season, Nabers had an outstanding rookie year. He finished as the WR7, averaging 14.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, his seven receiving touchdowns were the most by a Giant since Darius Slayton (eight) in 2019.
Malik Nabers! Tightrope TD on his 109th catch of the season
📺: #NYGvsPHI on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/Ozbj6YkmhA— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
1.02 – Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Many had low expectations for Thomas as a rookie. However, he was the top rookie wide receiver in 2024, ending the year as the WR4, averaging 14.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Thomas had over 100 receiving yards in three of the final four games despite having Mac Jones under center.
1.03 – Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Bowers slipped in dynasty rookie drafts after landing with the Raiders. Yet, the former Georgia star was outstanding as a rookie despite an awful quarterback situation. He finished the year as the TE1, averaging 12.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.
1.04 – Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals
Fantasy players had high hopes for Harrison as a rookie. Unfortunately, the Cardinals’ passing attack was inconsistent, leading to him finishing as the WR29, averaging 9.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Yet, he is still a top-four pick in their dynasty re-do mock draft.
1.05 – Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
While the Chargers were a run-first offense, McConkey was the star of the team’s passing attack. He finished his rookie year as the WR12, averaging 12.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, leading the team in receptions (82), targets (112), and receiving yards (1,149) while ranking second in touchdowns (seven).
Herbert to Ladd McConkey for the 40-yard TOUCHDOWN.
📺: #LACvsNE on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/YDRjYmV4e9— NFL (@NFL) December 28, 2024
1.06 – Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Worthy was outstanding in his NFL debut, totaling two touchdowns and 19.8 half-point PPR fantasy points on three touches. While he had some ups and downs throughout the season, the former Texas star was Patrick Mahomes’ most reliable weapon by the end of the year, averaging 17.5 fantasy points per game during the fantasy playoffs.
1.07 – Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
The former LSU would be the clear-cut 1.01 pick in this re-do mock was a superflex league. Daniels won the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award after finishing the 2024 season as the QB5, averaging 20.9 fantasy points per game despite leaving two contests early.
1.08 – Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Unfortunately, the 2024 running back draft class struggled as rookies. However, Irving was the lone bright spot. He finished as the RB14, averaging 13 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The former Oregon star was a league-winner, averaging 19.3 fantasy points per game over his final six healthy contests.
1.09 – Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears
Fantasy players knew to limit their expectations for Odunze as a rookie. He was never going to replace DJ Moore and Keenan Allen in the passing game pecking order in 2024. However, the former Washington star flashed superstar potential, totaling three receiving touchdowns.
Caleb Williams' AND Rome Odunze's first career TD!
📺: #CHIvsIND on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/u0ICGLXCz7— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024
1.10 – Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears
While Williams didn’t live up to expectations as a rookie, the former USC star flashed superstar potential. He had four games with 22.8 or more fantasy points, including a four-touchdown performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Expect him to be significantly better with Ben Johnson on the sidelines.
1.11 – Jalen McMillan, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay had one of the top fantasy rookie classes in 2024. Bucky Irving and McMillan were mid-round picks during dynasty rookie drafts. However, both were league winners at the end of the year. McMillan was the WR7 over the final five weeks, averaging 1.4 touchdowns and 17.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game.
1.12 – Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, New York Giants
Tracy was a popular late-round sleeper during dynasty rookie drafts after landing with the Giants. Devin Singletary started the 2024 season as the starter before the rookie became the featured running back. He ended the year as the RB26, averaging 9.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game despite playing on a dysfunctional offense.
Round 2 - Redrafting Last Year
2.01 – Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
While Maye started his rookie season on the bench, the former North Carolina star flashed superstar potential. He averaged 18.2 fantasy points per game in his nine healthy starts, making multiple impressive plays for the Patriots.
DRAKE MAYE! Rhamondre Stevenson! @PATRIOTS TIE IT UP! pic.twitter.com/ThCEJxhA0b
— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024
2.02 – Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Unfortunately, Pearsall got shot in an attempted robbery before the start of the season, forcing him to miss the first six games. However, he ended his rookie year on fire, totaling 210 receiving yards, two touchdowns, and 40.6 half-point PPR fantasy points over the final two weeks.
2.03 – Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills
The Bills used a wide receiver by committee approach in 2024, leading to a quiet rookie season from Coleman. However, he could become Josh Allen’s No. 1 weapon in the passing game next year.
2.04 – Xavier Legette, WR, Carolina Panthers
Legette had a quiet rookie season, totaling double-digit half-point PPR fantasy points in only three games. However, the former South Carolina star should head into next year as the Panthers’ No. 1 wide receiver.
2.05 – Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos
While Jayden Daniels was the top rookie quarterback, Nix wasn’t far behind. He finished as the QB7, averaging 18.6 fantasy points per game, totaling 29 passing touchdowns. While Nix is the fourth quarterback selected in this re-do mock draft, that could change a year from now.
BO NIX ABSOLUTE CINEMA.
📺: #DENvsCIN on NFL Network
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/LpdaNr6sVi— NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024
2.06 – Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona signed James Conner to an extension during the 2024 season, throwing a wet blanket on Benson’s dynasty outlook for next year. However, the former Florida State star is the clear-cut backup to an injury-prone veteran, making him, at worst, one of the NFL’s top handcuffs.
2.07 – Jonathon Brooks, RB, Carolina Panthers
Unfortunately, Brooks suffered a torn ACL in his final year at Texas. After playing 2.5 games as a rookie, the former Longhorns star re-tore the same ACL, likely forcing him to miss all of next season.
2.08 – Adonai Mitchell, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Mitchell had limited fantasy impact as a rookie, struggling to earn consistent playing time behind Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce. Yet, he flashed upside, averaging 8.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game in the two contests with six or more targets.
2.09 – Ray Davis, RB, Buffalo Bills
While James Cook has made his contract demands public, Davis played well as a rookie. He finished as the RB38, averaging 6.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, Davis totaled six touchdowns despite having a limited role on offense.
Ray Davis takes it in for the TD! Time for snowballs in Buffalo ☃️
📺: #SFvsBUF on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Mny7SZpama— NFL (@NFL) December 2, 2024
2.10 – Jaylen Wright, RB, Miami Dolphins
Miami limited Wright’s role on offense as a rookie. He finished as the RB90, averaging 1.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game, totaling 3.3 or fewer in all but one contest. However, Wright should have a fantasy-relevant role in 2025 after the Dolphins released Raheem Mostert.
2.11 – Michael Penix Jr., QB, Atlanta Falcons
Everyone expected Penix to ride the bench for a few years with Kirk Cousins under contract. However, the rookie took over as the starter late in the season. He ended his rookie year with his best performance, totaling two passing touchdowns, a rushing score, and 25 fantasy points in Week 18.
2.12 – Jalen Coker, WR, Carolina Panthers
Despite going undrafted in 2024, Coker had some fantasy success as a rookie. He averaged more half-point PPR fantasy points per game than first-round pick Xavier Legette (7 vs. 6.3). If the Panthers release Adam Thielen this offseason, Coker could have a larger role next year.
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