Fantasy Football 2024: 3 Rookie Sleepers Undervalued in Drafts (2024)

NFL rookies are the most fascinating players in all of fantasy football.

That's a subjective take, obviously, but it feels objectively accurate.

These players have no track record and seemingly limitless possibilities because of that. It's a mystery box phenomenon, sure, but the potential payoff is enormous.

That's why you're already seeing some first-year players getting pushed up the draft board, like Marvin Harrison Jr., Brock Bowers and Malik Nabers. They aren't the only NFL freshmen who could make fantasy noise, though.

We're looking further down the draft board here and highlighting three sleeper rookies who shouldn't cost you a top-75 pick based on average draft position (ADP) data from FantasyPros.

There's a reason Jonathon Brooks is almost getting pushed out of the top 100 picks. He had ACL surgery in November, and he won't be available to start the season.

Forward-thinking fantasy managers could be rewarded for their patience with him, though. Because once he is good to go, Carolina might just give him a neon-green light.

He is an explosive rusher with the vision to find holes, the burst to zip through them and the long speed to take any carry the distance. He's also an NFL-ready pass-catcher. In other words, he's a really talented back, and not the kind you'd expect to have too much trouble wrestling backfield control away from the likes of Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders.

In other words, Brooks could be Carolina's three-down back sooner than later. The potential reward here is enormous, more than enough to absorb the risk that he won't see the field for a while.

Jayden Daniels has a great chance to hit the ground running as a rookie. Literally.

As soon as he takes his first NFL step, he'll rank favorably among the league's most explosive athletes at the position. His 2023 Heisman Trophy-winning performance featured a whopping 1,134 rushing yards and 10 rushing scores.

His running ability alone might raise his fantasy floor into solid-starter territory. Yet, he could be equally electric as a passer. This past season, he threw for 3,812 yards on 72.2 percent passing with 40 touchdowns against just four interceptions.

He steps into what appears like a solid situation, too. Kliff Kingsbury knows how to maximize the impact of a dual-threat quarterback with a big arm. This offense features a number of explosive playmakers, like receivers Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson and running backs Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr. Daniels has a real chance to post the kind of big production that simply isn't being reflected in his draft cost.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is one of the most prolific passers you'll find. When he has played 15-plus games, he's thrown for at least 4,336 yards and 25 touchdowns.

And he just so happens to be in the market for new primary pass-catchers since all of his previous favorites are gone. The mass offseason exodus of playmakers out of L.A. means this club is now missing its top three leaders in targets from last season (Keenan Allen, Austin Ekeler and Gerald Everett), plus a former first-round pick with a couple of 1,000-yard campaigns on his resume (Mike Williams).

In other words, opportunity loudly knocks for Ladd McConkey, whom the Chargers traded up to take with the 34th overall pick. He may not even have lasted that long if injuries hadn't derailed his 2023 season. The last time he was healthy, he turned 65 touches (58 receptions and seven carries) into 896 scrimmage yards and nine scores.

McConkey blends impressive athletic ability with precise route-running, forming a package that could easily wind up as Herbert's favorite. The Chargers have some alternatives—like Joshua Palmer, DJ Chark Jr., tight end Will Dissly and running back J.K. Dobbins—but they went and got McConkey for a reason.

"He was the guy that we targeted," general manager Joe Horitz told reporters. "He's a guy that all of the scouts targeted. He was a guy that all of the scouts and coaches looked at, and all of the scouts and coaches loved."

If Herbert become similarly enamored, McConkey could emerge as one of this draft season's biggest steals.