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For many years, fantasy football players tried their best to avoid rookies in drafts. Recently, it's become more common for rookies to make an impact. We've seen players like Ja’Marr Chase, Ezekiel Elliott, and Saquon Barkley finish in the top five at their positions. Even last year, we saw C.J. Stroud and Puka Nacua emerge as elite rookie options.
While we saw several rookies make immediate contributions last year, we also had our share of disappointments. It’s nothing to fret over. Not all players enter the league and instantly produce. But which second-year players are primed to make a jump in 2024?
Make sure you keep up to date with all your fantasy football needs by following RotoBaller on X and checking out RotoBaller.com. Here are five sophomore players to target in your 2024 fantasy football draft.
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!Bryce Young - QB, Carolina Panthers
2023 was a complete disaster for Young.
Kenny Moore pick-six off of Bryce Young!
pic.twitter.com/b4Ov8T3cP0— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) November 5, 2023
As bad as things were, there’s reason for optimism in 2024. New Panthers head coach Dave Canales has a strong track record with quarterbacks. In 2022, Canales was the quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks. He worked closely with starter Geno Smith and helped guide him to an out-of-nowhere career year culminating with Smith winning the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Canales then moved on to Tampa Bay where he was the Buccaneers offensive coordinator last year. He worked directly with quarterback Baker Mayfield. Once again, Canales’ signal-caller enjoyed a career season as Mayfield posted career highs across the board.
Carolina has also done its best to add more weapons around Young. It traded for receiver Diontae Johnson this offseason. He is now a legitimate WR1 target for the young quarterback. The Panthers also drafted rookie receiver Xavier Legette and running back Jonathon Brooks in the NFL Draft. The second-year pro is in a much better position for success in Year 2.
Kendre Miller - RB, New Orleans Saints
It was a tough rookie season for Miller. The 2023 third-round pick out of TCU missed time during the season due to knee, ankle, and hamstring injuries. While he struggled to get on the field, Miller did briefly show why the Saints invested a third-round pick in him.
Don’t forget about #Saints RB Kendre Miller in your #fantasyfootball leagues.
Talented player. Could thrive if the opportunity presents itself.
— The Fantasy Football Stallion (@FF_Stallion) May 10, 2024
Alvin Kamara is currently ahead of Miller on the depth chart. However, he turns 29 this year and has shown signs of slowing down. He posted a career low in rushing yards and finished 46th out of 49 eligible backs in Next Gen Stats Rush Yards Over Expectation (RYOE).
If Kamara’s play continues to decline, Miller is in a position to capitalize. He’s lined up for a camp battle with Jamaal Williams for the backup running back job. Given Williams’ struggles last year, it’s a battle Miller can win. This would put him among the top handcuff options for 2024. While his stats underwhelmed, Miller passed the eye test in limited action as a rookie. He’s an intriguing late-round draft pick in all formats.
Anthony Richardson - QB, Indianapolis Colts
Richardson struggled with injuries during his rookie year. He would only play in four games and left two of those games early due to injury. It was a real struggle to stay on the field. However, the few times Richardson did finish a game, he displayed big-time upside.
Anthony Richardson’s second rushing touchdown less than six minutes into the first quarter! 😳
Via: NFL, FOX pic.twitter.com/N0RIQK8bTA
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 17, 2023
In both contests he started and finished, Richardson scored 33.6 and 23.92 fantasy points for an average of 28.76 fantasy points per game. At that pace, Richardson would have finished as the overall QB1 last year. We should not expect these types of numbers for 2024 as we’re basing things on an extremely small sample size. It does, though, give us an idea of the ceiling Richardson provides.
Given all the injuries he suffered last year, it is fair to wonder if his body will hold up over a full 17 games. However, Richardson offers Konami code upside at the position due to his rushing prowess. A top-five quarterback finish is within reach. With a little luck, he could even finish as the overall QB1. Richardson just needs to stay healthy to have a chance.
Zach Charbonnet - RB, Seattle Seahawks
Charbonnet is armed with a smashmouth running style that can be difficult for defenders to handle.
Zach Charbonnet making Marshawn Lynch proud with this run pic.twitter.com/LDwuYBnkdk
— Joel Moran (@joelvmoran) September 24, 2023
He finished higher than running mate Kenneth Walker in Next Gen Stats RYOE and Rush Yards Over Expectation Per Attempt (RYOE/ATT). He’s arguably the better back. A new coaching staff arrives in Seattle this year. They have no loyalty to any of the current players. It’s unclear who this new staff will favor. Charbonnet can provide standalone value if he forces more touches and could eventually emerge as the favored back if he outplays Walker during the season.
Chase Brown - RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Chase Brown’s 2023 got off to a rocky start. Missing time with a hamstring injury, he only received five touches during the season’s first 11 games. The Bengals coaching staff must have seen something they liked as Brown averaged nearly nine touches and 53 scrimmage yards per game from Weeks 13-18.
That would equate to roughly 150 touches and 900 scrimmage yards over a 17-game season. This would be enough to warrant flex consideration in fantasy leagues. His final stats underwhelmed, but Brown displayed big-play ability during the year.
CHASE BROWN TOUCHDOWN 😤
pic.twitter.com/ZmlMAufDku— Barstool Illini (@BarstoolILL) December 10, 2023
Head coach Zac Taylor has hinted at Brown receiving a bigger role this season. While Zack Moss was brought in to be the lead back, he has never handled more than 210 touches in a season nor has he ever been a significant pass-catching threat. There could be room for Brown to carve out a role in this offense and provide standalone value as a flex option in PPR leagues.
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