Are you looking for the NFL rookies fantasy tips? The 2024 NFL Draft has come and gone. Now, teams shift to the season ahead and attempt to assemble a roster that will be better than years past. While the hope is to stay healthy and get through the season, teams look to the rookie draft picks from the NFL Draft to see who can have the biggest impact.
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The offseason is full of speculation as we gear up for the NFL season. From fantasy football, teams will analyze each depth chart, look at the college career of each draft pick, and try to make the right choices for fantasy purposes. When it comes to 2024 fantasy football, which rookie players will make the biggest impact?
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NFL Rookies: Fantasy League Impact
A rookie in the NFL can have an impact even if it doesn’t translate to fantasy football. Look across the league and you will find a guy like Will Anderson Jr. from the Houston Texans that doesn’t register on the same level that someone on offense would in the fantasy rookie rankings. Let’s break down what kind of 2024 fantasy football impact a rookie in the NFL could have.
Potential Impact
With their college career in the rearview mirror, a rookie can make their way up the depth chart in the offseason to have an immediate impact. The higher up in the NFL Draft a player is picked, the bigger the impact they are supposed to have on the team.
From a 2024 fantasy football perspective, you’re not going to hear about the offensive line even though there may be impact players. The focus in fantasy football tends to be on offense and those are the names that will become the focal point of dynasty drafts, non-PPR leagues, and any other type of fantasy football league.
High Risk, High Reward
When a player is drafted, it can be all too easy to forget that it is tough to make a major impact in the league as a rookie. A dominant college career may not immediately transfer to the league the next season. While it may seem like a slam dunk to take guys like Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Rome Odunze, Marvin Harrison Jr., or Malik Nabers, not every rookie is going to hit it big in their first season.
Taking a player too high in a fantasy draft could wind up hampering your team. A dynasty rookie is slightly different, but the key is to find the most impactful players for your roster. Taking a rookie too high in the draft can hamper your team and make it difficult to recover.
Historical Relevance
For fantasy football purposes, we’re going to focus on players on offense who have had a historical impact. Not every impactful player was drafted in the first round, though there have been more than a few drafted near the top that have turned out to be exceptional players.
In the past two seasons, an Ohio State draft pick has won AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. WR Garrett Wilson won the honor in 2022 while quarterback C.J. Stroud captured the award last season. In more than the past two years, a rookie has managed to play his way not only to the top of the rookie rankings but also the top of their position rankings.
This season, offense is loaded around the league. Guys like Brian Thomas Jr., Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Rome Odunze, Adonai Mitchell, Xavier Leggette, Ricky Pearsall, Keon Coleman, Drake Maye, Xavier Worthy, and Brock Bowers will make up the top rookie rankings. Who will stand out as the best player on offense remains to be seen.
Key NFL Rookies to Watch in 2024
We have some time before rookies play a significant role in the coming season. Which guy will defy the rookie rankings and their NFL Draft status to become a 2024 fantasy football hero? Which top name will take the NFL by storm and justify where they were drafted? Let’s break it down.
Top Picks
From a fantasy football perspective, the most recent NFL Draft provided more offensive rookie talent than perhaps ever. The first 15 picks were offensive players, littered with talented wide receivers and quarterbacks. Here are the names most likely to stand out.
Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears
It’s hard to ignore Williams, the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. With all due respect to other top draft picks like Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye, Williams is in a class of his own. When it comes to fantasy rookie rankings, Williams should be at or near the top of the list.
Williams also has a litany of weapons to work with. The Chicago Bears now have a group of wide receivers that can compare with everyone. They traded for Keenan Allen, drafted Rom Odunze, and already had D.J. Moore. If there is going to be a team that is greatly impacted by a rookie, it is most likely going to be the Chicago Bears with Williams at the helm.
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Though the rest of the list includes top NFL draft picks, Brian Thomas Jr. comes in toward the end of the first round. He dazzled at the NFL combine and has been a stud at LSU for the past two seasons. Thomas has the route running and dynamic playmaking ability to climb the rookie rankings quickly.
Playing with Trevor Lawrence, Thomas Jr. has a chance to create one of the better QB-WR duos for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Of other late-first-round and early-second-round picks like Adonai Mitchell, Ben Sinnott, Xavier Legette, Ricky Pearsall, Keon Coleman, Ja’Lynn Polk, Xavier Worthy, etc., Thomas Jr. should have the biggest impact on his team.
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals
An Ohio State rookie has won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award the past two years. Marvin could easily make it a third. Harrison Jr. is not only a top option for his team, the Arizona Cardinals, but in the fantasy football rookie rankings.
Harrison Jr. didn’t have to attend the NFL combine because his work spoke for itself. With QB Kyler Murray returning, the Arizona Cardinals could have a dangerous offense in 2024. Though they have been a taboo fantasy football pick in recent years, the Arizona Cardinals could have two of the most dangerous offensive players in the league.
Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
If you’ve seen the HBO show “Hard Knocks,” you would see that the New York Giants had Nabers on their mind the whole time. There was talk about trading up with the New England Patriots to the third overall pick to take QB Drake Maye, but that never materialized.
The New England Patriots took Maye, and the Giants were more than happy to land the dynamic Nabers. The rookie rankings will be comprised largely of receivers and Nabers should be near the top. Like Williams with the Chicago Bears, Nabers could be one WR that has an immediate impact on his team.
Brock Bowers, TE/WR, Las Vegas Raiders
A bit of a wild card in the draft, Brock Bowers was taken by the Las Vegas Raiders, one of the best teams in the AFC west, despite another talented tight end being on the roster. It is hard to dictate where Bowers will fall in the fantasy rookie rankings, especially with so much depth at WR.
Bowers is simply a dynamic player, the kind that can change a game from anywhere. As the New England Patriots demonstrated with Rob Gronkowski, a tight end can be a difference-maker. Bowers could split out and become a mismatch anywhere he lines up.
Underrated Gems
We know the picks at the top of the draft. Which players slip through the cracks to make an impact as a rookie? Who will be the next Russell Wilson, Lamar Jackson, or Patrick Mahomes? These are the names that could wind up climbing the rookie rankings quickly.
Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills
With all due respect to other second/third-round WR/TE picks like Ben Sinnott, Addonai Mitchell, Ricky Pearsall, Ja’Lynn Polk, Troy Franklin, Jaylen Wright, and Roman Wilson, Coleman has the potential to make the biggest impact of any WR outside the first round.
QB Josh Allen is in need of a new WR1 and may have found his guy. From a fantasy angle, Coleman could potentially fill the void left by the departing Stefon Diggs. He has big play potential and Allen has the skill to get it to him anywhere on the field.
Ricky Pearsall, WR, SF 49ers
Noticing a trend yet? There is a boatload of talent that came out of the 2024 NFL Draft and Pearsall has some of the most interesting potential of the bunch. With WR Brandon Aiyuk demanding a trade, there may be room for Pearsall to step in and fill the void as soon as this season.
If Aiyuk remains, touches are going to be difficult to come by for Pearsall. He already has to share the ball with TE George Kittle, RB Christian McCaffery, and WR Deebo Samuel in addition to Aiyuk. The 49ers may use Pearsall in a Swiss-army-knife role to begin but Aiyuk leaving the team could open the door for a fantasy steal.
Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
When Xavier Worthy fell to the Chiefs at the end of the first round, everyone had the same thought: “Great, Patrick Mahomes has another weapon.” From a fantasy football outlook, Worthy has incredible potential as a deep threat for Mahomes.
He set an NFL combine record for the 40-yard dash and Mahomes can throw it the length of the field. Though there will no doubt be some growing pains, there may be no more enticing WR in the rookie rankings than Worthy. NFL fans might see him already in the kickoff game as the Chiefs face the Ravens.
Positional Breakdown
How does each position stack up? What will the most impactful rookies look like? Teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, SF 49ers, Washington Commanders, and Indianapolis Colts are just a few teams with enticing fantasy football rookie talent.
- Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears), Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders), Drake Maye (New England Patriots), Michael Penix Jr. (Atlanta Falcons), J.J. McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings), Box Nix (Denver Broncos)
- Jonathon Brooks (Carolina Panthers), Trey Benson (Arizona Cardinals) Jaylen Wright (Miami Dolphins), Blake Corum (Los Angeles Rams), Ray Davis (Buffalo Bills)
- Marvin Harrison Jr. (Arizona Cardinals), Malik Nabers (New York Giants), Rome Odunze (Chicago Bears), Xavier Worthy (Kansas City Chiefs), Brian Thomas Jr. (Jacksonville Jaguars), Keon Coleman (Buffalo Bills), Ja’Lynn Polk (New England Patriots), Ricky Pearsall (SF 49ers), Roman Wilson (Pittsburgh Steelers), Troy Franklin (Denver Broncos)
- Brock Bowers (Las Vegas Raiders), Ben Sinnott (Washington Commanders), Ja’Tavion Sanders (Carolina Panthers), Erick All (Cincinnati Bengals)
- Dallas Turner (Minnesota Vikings), Laiatu Latu (Indianapolis Colts), Jer’Zhan Newton (Washington Commanders), Jared Verse (Los Angeles Rams)
- Payton Wilson (Pittsburgh Steelers), Trevin Wallace (Carolina Panthers), Junior Colson (Los Angeles Chargers), Edgerrin Cooper (Green Bay Packers)
- Terrion Arnold (Detroit Lions), Cooper DeJean (Philadelphia Eagles), Kool-Aid McKinstry (New Orleans Saints), Javon Bullard (Green Bay Packers), Nate Wiggins (Baltimore Ravens), Mike Sainristil (Washington Commanders)
- Cam Little (Jacksonville Jaguars), Will Reichard (Minnesota Vikings), Joshua Karty (Los Angeles Rams)
Drafting Strategies for Rookies
When it comes to your fantasy football outlook, the key is to know when to strike out for a rookie pick. It is critical to look at the factors that impact each roster, how each position plays into one another, and to try to find that rookie who can make the most immediate impact on your roster.
When to Draft Rookies
The simple fact of the matter is that there is no perfect time to take a rookie in your fantasy draft. With the depth at WR this year, you might be able to avoid one of the big names early and get someone like Troy Franklin or Roman Wilson later who could be potentially impactful.
For the most part, there are only a handful of rookies worth taking early in your fantasy draft. The key is to find fantasy value in the later rounds of the draft. Taking a flyer on a guy like Trey Benson, Blake Corum, Jaylen Wright, or Ray Davis could make sense, especially given the relatively thin depth at RB.
At the end of the day, you have to go with your gut. Rookies pop up out of nowhere all the time – hello, Puca Nakua – so there is no science to it. Look at the potential involvement that rookie will have on their team to extrapolate their role. It’s just like taking one of the top proven names in the draft – you just hope it works out.
Balancing Risk and Reward
The ultimate key to fantasy football is balancing risk versus reward. That much is true when it comes to drafting rookies. You are more likely to find a WR in the early part of the draft to have a big fantasy impact than you are to find a quarterback who will.
Take your rookie WR early if you must. Odunze, Harrison Jr., and Nabers will all be top picks. As the fantasy draft unfolds, you will need to take more calculated risks. The further into the fantasy draft you get, the easier it becomes to take a chance on someone.
Taking a rookie like Jaylen Wright or Trey Benson is a lot easier to stomach in the latter rounds of the draft when everyone is trying to find a depth RB. Basically, you’re looking for the guys who most seem like a sure thing and trying to gauge potential later on in the draft.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Fantasy football players know first-hand that winning is difficult. If you want to be the king of your fantasy league, there are a few common pitfalls to avoid, especially when it comes to rookies. Check out these tips and you may avoid a fantasy landmine.
Overvaluing Rookies
The NFL Draft comes with a boatload of hype, especially if you are a fan of a team that is picking near the top. As the offseason progresses, it can become all too easy to buy into the hype and think that a certain player is the next coming. But that can be the biggest fantasy mistake that you make.
A handful of rookies each year stand out and make a real impact. Past that, it is flashed potential and inconsistency at best (ask people who drafted Kyle Pitts). For the most part, rookies are trying to get acclimated to their team and the league, as a whole. There will be struggles and they may not be consistent enough to be a viable fantasy football option.
A few of the wide receivers taken at the top of the 2024 NFL Draft will find their way to the top of some fantasy football drafts. Being patient and trying to find value will be key. There are other proven commodities out there that might not be as sexy but will likely deliver more consistent results for your team.
Ignoring Team Context
It can be all too easy to be enamored with a player’s college career or physical tools. How often have we seen a player dazzle at the NFL Combine only to have a disappointing career? From a fantasy standpoint, it can be easy to fall in love with the player without taking their team into consideration.
For instance, scouts and fantasy pundits love mid-round receivers Roman Wilson and Troy Franklin. That said, both teams have quarterback problems. Can we really depend on Russell Wilson to consistently deliver the ball to Roman? Will Bo Nix be the guy in Denver, and can he routinely make proper use of Franklin?
The same can be said of top picks, especially quarterbacks. There are growing pains to be had and a team that lacks in talent or experience can wind up hurting rookies. Though there is no perfect formula for projecting a player’s fantasy football role, it is all too easy to ‘get lost in the sauce’ and let a player’s talent entice you into making an ill-advised pick.
Patience
A lack of patience is a killer in fantasy football. Falling in love with a player will more often than not result in a foolhardy pick. The key to having a good fantasy football draft is to wait patiently and try to find value with each pick. Jumping the gun will make you regret your choice before long.
It happens in virtually every fantasy draft. One team values a player above others and takes them far earlier than their average draft position indicates. More often than not, that reach comes at the expense of not only a better player but a better potential value overall.
Having patience in your fantasy football draft can be a tough thing, especially at positions that are thinner on talent like running back and tight end. No one has a perfect selection process but staying disciplined is the best way to find a solid player who will consistently deliver for you throughout the course of the fantasy season.
Mock Drafts
In this day and age, there are a plethora of pre-draft tools at our disposal. Anyone can look at the litany of draft guides, listen to talking heads, and follow along with fantasy football podcasts. You may know ball, but it takes a lot of time and dedication to get a good idea of where players will fall when the picks start rolling.
One of the best things you could do to prepare for the draft is to check out mock drafts. Though they are far from a science, there is usually a consensus regarding the top players. Even that much information can help you to plan out the early stages of the draft and determine which sleeper names to keep an eye on further down the list.
Mock drafts are also great at uncovering potential gems. Perhaps you haven’t had your eye on a rookie like Keon Coleman but notice that he’s going fairly high in fantasy drafts. Rather than missing out on an impact-maker, you can put yourself in position to grab a gem. The experts definitely miss from time to time, but they are generally approaching the situation with more data than the average fantasy football player.
Final Thoughts
Finding the next C.J. Stroud, Garrett Wilson, Ja’Marr Chase, or Justin Herbert is the goal but it is so much tougher than it looks. Fantasy players are looking for the “sure thing”, especially at premium positions like QB, RB, and WR. With a deeper class at WR, it may be easier to find a hidden gem later than ever before.
Part of fantasy football is just being lucky. You need the right guy at the right time and that guy has to remain healthy. There is often one great anchor player with value picks surrounding him. If you want to find yourself in the fantasy playoffs, there is a good chance that you will need to add a rookie or two who can make an impact.
