This is the 2024 Dynasty Rookie Rankings UPDATED!
NOTE: I did not intend to write an update to my initial rankings so quickly. The plan was to release my initial rankings, follow up with a SuperFlex ranking, and then take a few weeks off before dropping volume two. I released this article right around the New Year 2024 Rookie Draft Rankings | Top 24 Rookies in 1 QB Leagues (playerprofiler.com).
But with two of my projected top 10 players returning to school, my plan unraveled, and I am back at it. The combination of chasing a Big Ten and National Title, coupled with a healthy dose of NIL resulted in TreVeyon Henderson and Emeka Egbuka remaining Buckeyes and returning to Ohio State. They are now out of this ranking, and we will have to wait to draft them on our Fantasy teams until 2025.
There were also some updates with players declaring for the NFL Draft, providing further clarification on this upcoming class.
Introduction
There is a great deal of steam surrounding the 2024 Draft Class. While the 2024 class lacks the depth of 2023, there is star power at the top and true difference making players.
At QB, Caleb Williams and Drake Maye have now been joined by Heisman-winning Jayden Daniels, and Superflex managers have multiple options at the top. There are several other players such as Bo Nix, Michael Penix, and J.J. McCarthy that strengthen an already strong position. (Look for these players when I release the Superflex version of this article.)
WR is loaded. This class does not have a Puka Nacua type that will be selected on Day 3 and dominate, but there are multiple potential Alpha WR1 types. There are multiple players with elite size who project as true outside threats. Draft Capital is not going to be a problem for these WRs either, as there will most likely be multiple players selected within the top 10.
Lack of Depth at TE
TE lacks the depth of the 2023 class, but is propped up by Brock Bowers. Bowers has even more buzz than Kyle Pitts did at this stage of the draft process. He is a true elite difference maker and should be drafted in a similar range to Pitts and T.J. Hockenson (top 10 overall picks).
The only position that drafters are not enthusiastic about with this class is RB. Unlike Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker in 2021, and Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs in 2022, do not expect a rookie RB within the top three picks of single QB leagues. My rankings are somewhat bullish on RB compared to some other analysts, but even I do not have an RB listed until No. 6 overall.
There will be a lot of movement with my rankings over the next few months, so make sure to check PlayerProfiler for updates. Also check out my Fantasy 2024 Dynasty Rookie Draft videos at PlayerProfiler YouTube.
2024 Dynasty Rookie Rankings – 1 QB Format
1- Marvin Harrison Jr. WR | Ohio State
This is the no-brainer of all no-brainers. Harrison Jr. is a generational prospect. He is an elite athlete with an incredible catch radius, was highly productive, and has an elite pedigree. Harrison Jr. is one of the best WR prospects of all time and will be a lock top 10 selection in the NFL Draft. If you want to make an argument he should be the 1.01 in Superflex, you will not hear an argument from me (he is my 1.02 in SF).
UPDATE: Dynasty Managers breathed a collective sigh of relief when Harrison Jr. declared for the draft- especially after Egbuka and Henderson returned. Now all of fantasy football has to wait to see where his landing spot will be. With a player of Harrison Jr.’s ability, it really does not matter.
2- Malik Nabers WR | LSU
Nabers and Brock Bowers are in an elite tier of their own behind Harrison Jr. Nabers is a tremendous consolation prize for fantasy managers holding the 1.02 or 1.03.
There is no landing spot that Nabers could not make an impact in. He is incredibly versatile and can be lined up anywhere.
UPDATE: Nabers unsurprisingly declared for the NFL Draft. He leaves LSU as the Tigers all time leader in receptions and receiving yardage. He will join Harrison Jr. in the top 10 of the NFL Draft.
3- Brock Bowers TE | Georgia
Bowers will be selected at the 1.02 in TE premium scoring formats and for good reason. He is one of the best prospects ever at the TE position. He has scored 31 TDs in three seasons as a Georgia Bulldog and has been the offensive focal point on two national championship teams.
4- Rome Odunze WR | Washington
There is a drop off for me from the Harrison Jr/Nabers tier down to Odunze, but he is still an instant impact addition for Dynasty managers. Odunze has elite size, athleticism, and production. This season, Washington won the Pac 12 and finished the regular season undefeated with Odunze leading the way. Odunze caught 13 TD passes and has had 151 receptions over the past two seasons. He is a lock to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. It is very difficult to find any flaws in Odunze’s game.
UPDATE: Odunze caught five passes for 84 yards in Washington’s loss to Michigan in the National Title Game. Odunze’s game could have been much better, but Michael Penix missed him on two potential TD catches.
5- Troy Franklin WR | Oregon
It’s flag plant time. I will be ahead of the consensus on Franklin. We have seen several highly successful low BMI WRs enter the league and have immediate success. Devonta Smith, Tank Dell, and Jordan Addison all entered the leagues with some questioning their low BMI numbers, only to have them immediately contribute. In the case of Addison and Smith, both were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, and that is where Franklin could be headed.
Franklin is 6-3, but will weigh in the 180s, and unlike other big WRs like Odunze, Adonai Mitchell and Keon Coleman, he is on the slighter side to say the least. Still, that did not stop Franklin from being a mega producer at Oregon. He is electric in the open field and one of the best deep threats in the class. He will run somewhere between 4.35 and low 4.4s in the 40-yard dash. Expect Franklin to be selected in the first round or very early second round.
6- Braelon Allen RB | Wisconsin
Much like Franklin, I will flag plant with Allen. Allen is a beast. He is a physical runner with elite production. Allen shined at Wisconsin. Wisconsin is one of the college programs that has continually churned out successful NFL RBs (Jonathan Taylor, James White, Melvin Gordon). At 6-2, 245-pounds, and at only 19 years of age, Allen will immediately be one of the biggest RBs in the NFL. In three seasons as a Badger, Allen ran for almost 3,500 yards and 35 TDs. I do not think Allen would have declared early without the guarantee of a Day 2 selection. Some team in the second round is going to view Allen as a plug-and-play RB who can absorb volume and excel around the goal line.
UPDATE: Allen moves up to RB1 in my positional rankings from No. 8 to No. 6 overall.
7- Blake Corum RB | Michigan
Corum is a mega producer for an undefeated Michigan team. He nearly declared last season, but ultimately returned to Michigan and was a major part of their dream season. If you squint hard, you see some Kenneth Walker to his game. He has short compact size that should hold up in the NFL. Corum should also test well with a 40-yard dash somewhere in the 4.4s. He has not had to catch a lot of passes in his Michigan career, but he is capable of doing so (54 career receptions).
UPDATE: Corum moves up from No. 10 to No. 7. His incredible play during the College Football playoffs (40 carries for 217 yards and three TDs, plus a receiving TD in two games against Alabama and Washington) was a major catalyst to Michigan winning a National Title. He is an older prospect (will turn 24 as a Rookie) but an intriguing one.
8- Keon Coleman WR | FSU
Coleman saw his stock rise this year as a transfer from Michigan State. Coleman dominated LSU in Florida State’s opening game with a three-TD performance. He went on to finish the season with 11 TD catches. NFL teams will value Coleman and select him in the first round. He is athletic enough that he played basketball for Tom Izzo at Michigan State. Some tape grinders worry about Coleman’s ability to separate as a professional.
UPDATE: Coleman moves up to No. 8 overall in my rankings. Draft capital will not be an issue with him, as some have him projected to be drafted within the top 15 picks of the NFL Draft. He is a polarizing prospect right now with some fantasy analysts, but not with NFL Teams.
9- Adonai Mitchell WR | Texas
I love Mitchell. He has a Tee Higgins like profile with size and athleticism. Mitchell caught 29 passes on a loaded Georgia team as a true freshman. This season, Mitchell has caught 10 TDs in his first season as a Texas Longhorn. He should run a low 4.5 40-yard dash and has a chance to hear his name called in the first round.
UPDATE: Unsurprisingly, Mitchell declared for the NFL Draft. A big, physical, and fast WRs with Mitchell’s production rarely make it out of the top 40 in the NFL Draft. He will be a very appealing option for some of the teams picking in back third of the first round.
10- Caleb Williams QB | USC
Williams is my No. 1 in Superflex, and he can be in consideration anywhere from the 1.07 on in single QB. He is that special of a prospect. The statistics are staggering- 93 TD passes in three seasons at Oklahoma and USC. Some are trying to poke holes in his game, but make no mistake, he would have been selected ahead of Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, and Anthony Richardson if he were draft-eligible in 2023.
UPDATE: Williams moves up to No. 10 overall. There are grumblings that he does not want to play in Chicago, but we need to tune those out as fantasy managers. He is going to be selected with the first pick and be an NFL starter from day one. Williams has immense fantasy potential and could be more of an opportunistic scrambler than some project.
11- Xavier Worthy WR | Texas
Worthy has elite speed and will finish his Longhorns career with 26 TD catches- the third most in school history. He should hear his name called in the first round of the NFL Draft. Worthy has a chance to run one of the fastest 40 times in the entire NFL Draft.
12- Brian Thomas WR | LSU
Thomas is another Alpha sized outside WR. With Nabers setting the college football world on fire, Thomas had one of the quieter 15 TD seasons ever. Wideouts with this sort of profile and production in the SEC profile well at the next level.
UPDATE: Thomas declared for the NFL Draft and left LSU fans a nice lasting memory on the way out. He caught two more TD passes in LSU’s New Year’s Day Bowl win over Wisconsin. Thomas finished the season with 17 TD catches- the fifth most in SEC history, and the third most in LSU history behind a pair of players you may be familiar with- Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson.
13- Ja’Tavion Sanders TE | Texas
Sanders is under the radar right now because of Bowers, but he is a tremendous prospect and an exciting long-term answer for fantasy managers needing a TE.
Sanders has an outstanding size/speed combination. Only 20 years old, Sanders broke the Texas record for TE receptions in his sophomore season with 54. This ranking could look too low in a few months.
14- Trey Benson RB | FSU
I love Benson’s game and expect him to be a player that Dynasty managers get more excited about throughout the draft process. He has prototypical size and had big time production. He was the first Seminole to run for over 200 yards in a game since Dalvin Cook. Benson was clocked at 22 MPH in a game this season and has a chance at a sub 4.4 40-yard dash. Benson showed improvement as a receiver this season, with 20 receptions.
15- Audric Estime RB | Notre Dame
Estime is an early declare with size and big play ability. Look for Estime to gain steam heading into the NFL Draft. He is only 20 years old, has great size, and was highly productive. Estime leaves Notre Dame with the fifth most rushing TDs in program history and is top 10 all time in rushing yards. His 18 rushing TDs were a single season record for the Fighting Irish. Estime has home run hitting ability. Look for him to hear his name called on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
16- Bucky Irving RB | Oregon
Much like Cowing, expect Irving to be referred to “this year’s version of” pick your favorite sub 200-pound RB (Gibbs, Achane, Keaton Mitchell). Irving is electric, able to make plays in space, and is exciting with the ball in his hands. He had over 1,400 combined yards this season for the Ducks. The most enticing aspect of Irving’s game is his receiving ability. He had 84 catches over the past two seasons, including 53 this season. In the age of RBBC backfields, Irving can be a highly productive per-touch player.
17- Xavier Legette WR | South Carolina
Legette is steaming up draft boards after an impressive senior season. While not an early-entry candidate, there is a lot to like about Legette. He was a big-time producer this season and has alpha size at 6-3, 225-pounds. The devil’s advocate argument is that he did not do much of anything before this season, and he will be 23 years old at the time of the NFL Draft. He will be a Day 2 selection and a second-round pick in Rookie Drafts.
18- Jayden Daniels QB | LSU
Daniels could be ranked higher. His fantasy potential is vast due to his exceptional rushing ability.
The Heisman Trophy winner had over 2,000 rushing yards and 21 TDs over the past two seasons. This past season he passed for 40 TDs. His 40 time is reported to be in the 4.4s. Along with Williams, Daniels will have a chance to put up QB1 numbers as a rookie.
19- Drake Maye QB | UNC
Three QBs being selected in the first two rounds of a non-Superflex draft is rare, but in 2023, it seems to be a lock. Maye lacks the mobility of Daniels but is still athletic and has the ability to maneuver in the pocket and be an opportunistic scrambler. He checks off many boxes and is viewed as a good bet to be a productive NFL signal caller. Maye has a cannon for an arm and is accurate as well. There are reports that he could run a sub 4.7 40-yard dash.
20- Jonathan Brooks RB | Texas
UPDATE: Brooks debuts in my rankings for the first time. Despite tearing his ACL this season, the Redshirt sophomore declared for the NFL Draft. ACL injuries are scary, but they are less of a daunting situation than in the past, and there will be plenty of NFL teams excited about a player with Brooks’ potential. Brooks has size, vision, and explosiveness. He is a talented receiver and projects to be a solid receiver out of the backfield. If Brooks had not gotten hurt, he would have been inside my top eight.
21- Ladd McConkey WR | Georgia
McConkey is a lock to be selected on Day 2 or higher. He is an elite route runner who broke in as a freshman for a loaded Georgia team. Many have mocked McConkey as a first rounder, and this ranking could look way too low in a few weeks.
UPDATE: McConkey did in fact declare after playing in Georgia’s blow out Bowl win over FSU. After some speculation he was going to return, he now heads to the league and with probable high draft capital. There is no chance McConkey falls outside of the second round of the NFL Draft, and he has a good chance of being selected in the first. There is buzz with McConkey. Despite a deep WR class, there is a great deal of NFL interest in McConkey.
22- Jacob Cowing WR | Arizona
Cowing projects as an immediate contributor out of the slot. Expect multiple Tank Dell comparisons this offseason. Cowing is small, but highly productive. He absolutely shredded Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl with 152 receiving yards and two TD grabs.
UPDATE: Cowing is one of the most intriguing players at the Senior Bowl. A big week there could solidify this ranking.
23- Ja’Lynn Polk WR | Washington
Odunze is not the only Washington Huskie to make this list. Polk has great size and hands. There are question marks about his speed, but he can immediately step onto an NFL team and contribute.
UPDATE: Polk continues to be projected as an early Day 2 selection. He caught a TD pass in Washington’s College Football Playoff win over Texas.
24 TIE- Marshawn Lloyd RB | USC
Lloyd only spent one season at USC, but it was a highly productive one.
He has a physical running style and low tread on the tires (less than 300 career rushing attempts). Lloyd has a compact frame and averaged nearly 18 yards per reception this season.
24 TIE- Will Shipley RB | Clemson
There is a lack of buzz with Shipley now, but he can be a productive back. Expect Shipley to immediately slot in as third-down back plus for whatever team drafts him. Shipley is highly effective in the screen game, and if he lands correctly, he could immediately put up solid reception numbers. As a runner, he broke out as a true freshman and has rushed for 2,748 yards and 31 TDs in his three-year Clemson career.
Players to Watch: Rookie Draft Sleepers for 2024
Malachi Corley WR | Western Kentucky
There is some buzz in NFL Mock Draft circles that Corley could be selected as high as Round 2. Corley is built like an RB at 5-11, 210-pounds and is expected to run the 40 in the mid 4.4s. Additionally, He scored 11 TDs this season for the Hilltoppers.
Johnny Wilson WR | FSU
Wilson does not have an NFL comparison because he breaks the mold in terms of size and speed. There is a very good chance that he simply becomes a role player who is a threat in the red zone and a deep threat, but there is also a chance that an offensive coordinator says “Okay, I can work with this.” He is an outlier, but an intriguing one.
Dylan Laube RB | New Hampshire
Hogue is an FCS megaproducer heading to the Senior Bowl. He led the nation in all-purpose yardage as a junior and caught 68 passes as a senior. If he has a strong Senior Bowl, expect to hear his name a lot.
Jermaine Burton WR | Alabama
Burton has NFL speed and could be drafted as high as the second round. His production never caught up with his athleticism. It will be interesting to see just how fast he runs the 40 yard-dash. He was clocked at 4.43 in a Nike event after his senior year of high school.
UPDATE: Burton declared for the NFL Draft. He projects as a deep threat with athleticism and has a good chance at Day 2 draft capital.
Dillon Johnson RB | Washington
Johnson has been a one-year standout for an undefeated Huskies team. He is an intriguing prospect with three down potential. He rushed for 256 yards against USC and 152 against Oregon in the Pac 12 Title Game.
UPDATE: Johnson played through nagging injuries in the College Football Playoffs, displaying grit and toughness. He also caught five passes in the two games combined. I am open to moving Johnson up in the rankings, but I want to see how he performs at the NFL Combine.
Theo Johnson TE | Penn State
I will debut my 2024 Dynasty Rookie Top 5 TE article this month, and Johnson will be a part of it. After Bowers and Sanders, Johnson has a chance to establish himself as the No. 3 TE selected. He has elite measurables and caught seven TD passes for the Nittany Lions this season.
Additionally, Johnson could be an NFL Combine star. He has size (6-5, 260-pounds) and reportedly will run the 40 somewhere in the 4.5s.
Tez Walker WR | UNC
Walker has great size (6-2, 200-pounds) and the potential to be selected on Day 2- as early as Round 2. He only spent one season at UNC after transferring from Kent State and caught seven TD passes for the Tar Heels.
OVERALL RANKINGS- MID JANUARY
1 Marvin Harrison JR. WR | Ohio State
2 Malik Nabers WR | LSU
3 Brock Bowers TE | Georgia
4 Rome Odunze WR | Washington
5 Troy Franklin WR | Oregon
6 Braelon Allen RB | Wisconsin
7 Blake Corum RB | Michigan
8 Keon Coleman WR | FSU
9 Adonai Mitchell WR | Texas
10 Caleb Williams QB | USC
11 Xavier Worthy WR | Texas
12 Brian Thomas WR | LSU
13 Ja’Tavion Sanders TE | Texas
14 Trey Benson RB | FSU
15 Audric Estime RB | Notre Dame
16 Bucky Irving RB | Oregon
17 Xavier Legette WR | South Carolina
18 Jayden Daniels QB | LSU
19 Drake Maye QB | UNC
20 Jonathan Brooks RB | Texas
21 Ladd McConkey WR | Georgia
22 Jacob Cowing WR | Arizona
23 Ja’Lynn Polk WR | Washington
24-TIE Will Shipley RB | Clemson
24-TIE Marshawn Lloyd RB | USC
Players to Watch: Dillon Johnson RB Washington, Theo Johnson TE Penn State, Malachi Corley WR Western Kentucky, Dylan Laube RB New Hampshire, Jermaine Burton WR Alabama, Johnny Wilson WR FSU, Tez Walker WR UNC
