Dynasty Rookie Gems to Target
When drafting rookies in a dynasty league there are only a handful of players who seem incapable of failing at the next level. The majority of them will be drafted in the first round of your rookie-only drafts. After you get to round two or later there are likely to be more misses than hits. This doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t find value in later rounds. Some players who come to mind are third-round draft pick Tank Dell or fifth-round draft picks Kyren Williams and Puka Nacua, who all seem like hits already early into their careers. At the same time, there are undoubtedly earlier-round picks, such as Najee Harris and Kyle Pitts who, thus far, have failed to make good on their high draft capital. But who from the 2024 draft class has the potential to be the next diamond in the rough? Let’s dive in and find out.
RB Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers
There is a lot to like about Vidal, the player, and the situation he has found himself in. Throughout his college career at Troy, Vidal saw a lot of playing time and, over his final two seasons, ran for 2,788 yards and 24 touchdowns. Now he finds himself on a team that will be run by Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman who tends to lean on the run game. On top of that, the depth chart is not as threatening as it may first appear. At the top of it you have Gus Edwards who just turned 29 years old and behind him is the oft-injured J.K. Dobbins who may not even make the roster if he doesn’t prove he’s healthy. As a Day 3 draft pick, Vidal will start his career as a depth piece who occasionally takes the field to give the starter a breather. But Vidal could have the most juice of any of the running backs and, as early as this season, could find himself in a primary role. If that happens he will be an absolute steal and a solid flex with RB2 upside, even in Year 1.
RB Dylan Laube, Las Vegas Raiders
There’s no doubt that Zamir White was a clear winner this offseason with the departure of Josh Jacobs, but other than White, the Raiders have done very little to address the running back position. This is where Laube comes in who should have plenty of chances to earn his way into a meaningful role early on. The Raiders are also a team I expect to run the ball a lot. With Davante Adams, Jakobi Meryes, Brock Bowers, and Michael Mayer the team is not without playmaking pass catchers, but with either Gardner Minshew or Aidan O’Connell under center it’s hard to expect too much out of the passing game. Laube will have to compete with Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah for backup duties. Still, seeing as how Mattison was one of the most inefficient backs in the league last year and Abdullah will be 31 years old at the start of the season, my money is on Laube winning that role. A running back who could have an immediate role and who possesses the ability to grow that role should the starter prove ineffective or get injured, is exactly the type of late-round rookie pick you should be targeting.
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants
This offseason, after losing Saquon Barkley, the Giants brought in the steady and reliable (if unexciting) Devin Singletary, but behind him, there is not much of note. There’s certainly no one who can keep a prospect like Tracy Jr. from being involved as a rookie. He is also the perfect compliment to Singletary. Thanks to his experience as a wide receiver in college and due to Singletary’s lack of production as a pass catcher throughout his NFL career, Tracy Jr. should be able to contribute early on. Barkley was heavily relied on in the passing game and now that he’s gone someone will have to fill that void, and Tracy Jr. is the most likely choice. This will give him value early into this rookie season while he slowly gets integrated into the run game. Tracy Jr. is also an impressive athlete who could eventually win the job outright if Singletary is not the answer. This makes him more than worth his mid-fourth-round rookie ADP.
QB Spencer Rattler, New Orleans Saints
Rattler, while raw, does have an elite blend of mobility and accuracy in the short-to-intermediate game that surpasses even that of Penix Jr. If starting QB Derek Carr falters (a real possibility if recent history is any indication) or the team underwhelms it’s easy to imagine Head Coach Dennis Allen turning to his rookie to see what he’s got, and if he performs well, he could win the job for good. The ceiling for Rattler, if given the opportunity, seems to be quite high. His college career was a bit of a mixed bag. He started his career in Oklahoma where he had a great 2020 season, but was eventually replaced as the starter by Caleb Williams. He transferred to South Carolina where he played with mid-level talent around him and endured constant pressure and drops by his wide receivers. Even so, he finished with a 68.9 completion percentage, 3,186 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. If you have a well-established starting QB on your fantasy roster then Rattler is a great fourth-round pick in rookie-only drafts as a wait-and-see option.
WR Jacob Cowing, San Francisco 49ers
Could Cowing be San Francisco’s slot receiver of the future? There’s certainly a case to be made. Cowing ran a 4.38 40-yard dash and is adept at creating separation downfield. It may be hard for Cowing to earn much of a role in his rookie season. The 49ers have an embarrassment of riches among their pass catchers. Along with established veterans Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey, the team also drafted Ricky Pearsall in the first round of this year’s draft. There are rumors that either Samuel or Aiyuk (or both) could be traded before the season. Still, even then it may take some time for Cowing to develop into anything resembling a consistent fantasy contributor, as he is currently behind everyone I’ve mentioned. However, as he develops, he should be an excellent fit for Kyle Shanahan’s offense. If Samuel and/or Aiyuk do get moved then Cowing could be called upon, but for now, he is a mid-fourth-round target in rookie-only drafts as someone to stash on dynasty taxi squads and wait for his time to come.
TE Erik All, Cincinnati Bengals
Rookie tight ends are not usually a recommended selection. For example, even with the elite talent that rookie Brock Bowers will bring with him to Las Vegas, I plan on letting someone else take the risk of choosing him. That doesn’t mean, however, that there isn’t value to be had later in drafts when the risk is not nearly as great. The Bengals did sign Mike Gesicki this offseason and also have Drew Sample and Tanner Hudson on the depth chart, but from a pure talent perspective, it’s hard to argue with what All will bring to Cincinnati. While at Iowa, All struggled with injuries but he was an elite playmaker when healthy. That big play ability as well as his prowess as a blocker could allow him to climb the depth chart fairly quickly. He also lands in an offense that should be one of the most prolific in the league as long as QB Joe Burrow stays healthy. However, finding consistency at the tight end position has been difficult for the Bengals, so if All proves to be the best of the group, he will play and could be more productive than expected in Year 1. In the middle of the fifth round in rookie drafts, you could do much worse.
WR Javon Baker, New England Patriots
First off, let me say the New England passing game is likely to be one of the least productive in the league in 2024. Still, New England has tried to address the position this offseason as well as through the draft in an attempt to build around rookie signal caller (and third-overall pick) Drake Maye. I’m sure you’ve heard a lot already about second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk, but I’d like to direct you to fourth-round pick Javon Baker. While his production with Alabama left a lot to be desired, after transferring to UCF for his final two seasons he finally reached his potential in his final year with 52 receptions for 1,139 receiving yards and seven scores. Baker is an under-the-radar athlete who runs great routes with fluid movement, makes incredible catches away from his frame, and possesses above-average strength. He just needs to find more consistency in his game. That could be difficult in Year 1 catching passes from a rookie QB, but if Maye develops well, Baker and very little competition ahead of him, to be a solid contributor down the line.
