As the dust settles on the electrifying spectacle that was the 2024 NFL Draft, fantasy football aficionados are already sharpening their pencils and tweaking their draft boards in anticipation of the upcoming season. 

With rookies injected into the league, the landscape of fantasy football undergoes a seismic shift, offering both seasoned veterans and newcomers alike a tantalizing array of fresh talent to consider. 

In this comprehensive article, we delve into the dynamic world of best ball fantasy football, where strategic drafting and astute player selections reign supreme. Armed with insights derived from meticulously curated fantasy football ADP (Average Draft Position) data and best ball fantasy football ADP trends, we navigate through the labyrinth of player evaluations and rankings to unearth the hidden gems and potential game-changers of the 2024 NFL Draft class. 

From explosive playmakers poised to set the gridiron ablaze to unheralded rookies ready to defy expectations, this article serves as your compass in the ever-evolving quest for fantasy football glory. 

So, buckle up and prepare to embark on a thrilling journey through the realms of fantasy football player rankings and best ball fantasy football rankings as we uncover the rookies primed to make a splash in the upcoming season.

Fantasy Football Rookies: Top 10 Players To Target In 2024 Best Ball Drafts

Jayden Daniels,/Drake Maye, 

We did a little study recently. We looked at all quarterbacks that had 80+ carries in at least one of their first two seasons. Which is about 4-5 a game. Since 2000, there were 15 that fit the bill. And 14 of them recorded a top 10 fantasy season (the lone exception was Tim Tebow).

Caleb Williams is a fine pick too but he's being drafted in QB1 range. Mobile QBs are still the cheat code and both Daniels and Maye are expected to start for Washington and New England. It doesn't always translate directly, but both players had seasons in college where they averaged over 13 carries a game. That's more than a guy like Josh Allen ever had. 

Jonathon Brooks, RB CAR

Brooks himself says he will be back by training camp coming off a torn ACL. Which is ambitious but we watched Breece Hall return from a late(ish) torn ACL last year to finish as the RB2. The Carolina Panthers believed in him enough to make him the first running back off the board despite that injury. And another rookie, Trey Benson, goes before him - despite having tougher competition with James Conner. We'll go for Brooks. 

Dylan Laube, RB LV

Every year there is that late riser. And, in many cases, there’s a reason for it. They might come from a smaller school (like the University of New Hampshire, for instance). Or maybe they put on a show at the Senior Bowl (like Laube did). 

Or maybe they crush the combine - especially the interview portion (are you catching on yet?). Dylan Laube is that name for sure this year and, at 5’10”, 210 pounds with unique physical ability, don’t be shocked if he comes “out of nowhere” this year in fantasy football. And he landed with the Las Vegas Raiders where Zamir White and Alexanders Mattison aren't exactly proven commodities. 

Kimani Vidal, RB LAC

Kimani Vidal is an athletic specimen. At 5'8", 213 pounds he has the size we need. And, at that size, he still ran a 4.47 at the combine. In fact, he crushed the combine in nearly every aspect. Which is even more interesting when you consider that he was basically top three in every major stat among FBS backs including rushing yards, first downs, missed tackles, breakaway runs etc. 

Then we look at landing spot. Jim Harbaugh did not get to take his guy Blake Corum. They have a bruiser in Gus Edwards and JK Dobbins coming off another serious injury. If I'm taking late stabs on rookie backs, it's this dude on this team.

Brian Thomas Jr., WR JAX

The knock on Brian Thomas Jr. has been simple - his production wasn't otherworldly. But he was playing with a mobile quarterback in Jayden Daniels alongside Malik Nabers. So what exactly do we expect here? Teammate Score is something we factor into our dynasty rookie rankings for a reason.

As far as the draft, sometimes you just get the right player at the right pick to the right landing spot. That's Brian Thomas Jr. Calvin Ridley got paid an absurd sum by the Titans so they needed a new split end. In walks the 6'3", 210 pound first round pick. They are so confident in Thomas that they already released Zay Jones. And he's fairly affordable in drafts. 

Xavier Worthy, WR KC

This one may seem a little too obvious. He was drafted in the first round to Kansas City after all. And, honestly, he could have a little trouble surpassing Marquise Brown early on. But, if he can get it done down the stretch, this guy is built for best ball. And those last few weeks is when the big tournaments are won.

In best ball we don't have to set a lineup. There are no waivers. Rookie Tyreek Hill never played more than 70% of the snaps in a single game but Patrick Mahomes kept finding him for big chunk plays (or he would return a kick or a punt for a TD). Worthy is quite literally the fastest WR that has ever done the combine so he could have  a lot of chunk pays coming this year. 

Roman Wilson, WR PIT

This one is pretty simple for us as well. A lot of folks are giving JJ McCarthy a pass for his lack of production in college because of the way the Michigan offense operated. It’s hard to blame him for not racking up stats when your team goes undefeated and your running back, Blake Corum, scores 58 touchdowns. 

So why then would we not give a pass to some of McCarthy’s pass-catchers who suffered from the same lack of volume? Like Roman Wilson, for instance. This actually isn’t the first time we’ve seen this either. The best season for Roman Wilson saw 789 yards and 12 touchdowns. 

Nico Collins, at this same Michigan program, had 729 yards and seven touchdowns in his best season. He also slid to the third round. And, with C.J. Stroud, he just finished as a WR1 in fantasy. The Steelers have a decorated history of finding wide receiver values in the draft and, after shipping off Diontae Johnson, there are targets to be had. We’re in on Wilson. 

Javon Baker, WR NE

Someone will spend up on fourth round pick Troy Franklin - I can guarantee that. And that's fine with us. We'll wait and snag Baker. There are two narratives working for us on this front that could pay off big time.

First is Baker's profile. He was recruited to Alabama but left as it was crowded. At Florida Central, despite poor target quality, he was a contested catch master. On tape is body positioning is incredible both boxing players out and keeping his feet in. Plenty of guys with this skill panned out even if they aren't super athletic like Anquan Boldin, DeAndre Hopkins, Keenan Allen, and Rashee Rice.

The second is the landing spot. Some may dog the Patriots but at least it's wide open over there. Who is the best pass catcher? DeMario Douglas? Hunter Henry? We don't mind taking stabs on either Ja'Lynn Polk or Javon Baker but Baker is much cheaper. Uncertainty is your friend in later rounds.  

Brock Bowers, TE LV

It’s Best Ball - live a little. Yes, there is a lot of hype. And no, the landing spot with Las Vegas wasn't ideal. But this is a guy who, like Mark Andrews and Evan Engram, is simply a WR that is better at blocking than virtually every other WR. Michael Mayer will play tight end. This guy is lining up out wide. 

Davante Adams is going to get his targets, no doubt. After that though, it's wide open. Bowers might be just as good as Jakobi Meyers at catching passes right from the rip (and he has that positional scarcity as a tight end). At the right price, I'm willing to dive in on Bowers and see if this guy really is a generational talent.

Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE CAR

This guy has sure hands. He didn't drop a single ball in his last season of college ball on 67 targets. The one thing he lacks is true breakaway speed but his best comparable players, Zach Ertz and Hunter Henry, have been able to get the job done when they get targets.

We were nervous when he didn't go on the first two days but then the Panthers took him with the second pick of the fourth round. He's easily better than any incumbent tight ends the Panthers have so we're willing to throw a very last pick on him. Why not?

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