This is an early look at 2024 Rookie Draft Rankings!
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.
Quarterback
At QB, Caleb Williams and Drake Maye have now been joined by Heisman-winning Jayden Daniels. As a result, 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.)
Wide Receiver
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.
Tight End
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).
Running Back
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. 7 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 2024 Dynasty Rookie Draft videos at PlayerProfiler YouTube.
2024 Rookie Rankings – 1 QB Leagues
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, possesses an incredible catch radius, is 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 ten selection in the NFL Draft. If you want to make an argument that he should be the 1.01 in Superflex, you will not hear an argument from me (he is my 1.02 in SF).
2- Malik Nabers WR | LSU
Nabers and Brock Bowers are 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.
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 dropoff 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 Round 1 of the NFL Draft. It is very difficult to find any flaws in Odunze’s game.
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 Round 1 of the NFL Draft, and that is where Franklin could be headed.
Franklin is 6-3 but will weigh in the 180s. 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 of the NFL Draft.
6- Emeka Egbuka WR | Ohio State
Egbuka was mega productive in 2022 but dealt with nagging injuries in 2023 and saw his production diminish. Still, Egbuka looks like a great combination of floor and ceiling. He had 13 TDs as a 20-year-old in 2022 and will run the 40-yard dash somewhere in the high 4.3s and low 4.4s with very good size.
7- TreVeyon Henderson RB | Ohio State
There are rumors that Henderson will return to Ohio State on a huge NIL deal, but when all is said and done, I would bet on him playing on Sundays and not Saturdays in 2024. Henderson burst onto the scene his freshman year with one of the best RB seasons ever from a first year Buckeye. He ran for over 2,500 yards and 32 TDs. Additionally, he also caught 50 passes. Henderson projects as a well-rounded two-way player in the NFL. He is the best Buckeyes RB prospect since J.K. Dobbins was selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Expect Henderson to be selected on Day 2. If he lands well, this should be the range he ends up in 2024 rookie draft rankings.
8- 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 at one of the college programs that has continually churned out successful NFL RBs (Jonathan Taylor, James White, Melvin Gordon). At 6-2 and 245 pounds, at only 19 years old, 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 Round 2 is going to view Allen as a plug and play RB who can absorb volume and excel around the goal line.
9- Keon Coleman WR | FSU
Coleman saw his stock rise this year as a transferring 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 Round 1 of the NFL Draft. He is athletic enough that Tom Izzo discussed the possibility of him playing basketball at Michigan State. Some tape grinders worry about Coleman’s ability to separate as a professional.
10- 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 in the low 4.5 range and has a chance to hear his name called in Round 1.
11- Blake Corum RB | Michigan
Corum is a mega producer for an undefeated Michigan team. He nearly declared last season but 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. He should run somewhere in the 4.4s. Corum has not had to catch a lot of passes in his Michigan career, but he is capable of doing so (54 career receptions).
12- Caleb Williams QB | USC
Williams is my No. 1 in Supeflex, and he can be in consideration starting at the 1.07 in single QB leagues. 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. However, make no mistake, Williams would have been selected ahead of Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, and Anthony Richardson if he were draft-eligible in 2023.
13- Xavier Worthy WR | Texas
Worthy has elite speed and will finish his Longhorns career with 26 TD catches. That is the No. 3 most in school history.
He should hear his name called in Round 1 of the NFL Draft. Worthy has a chance to run one of the fastest 40-yard dash times in the entire NFL Draft.
14- 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.
15- 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 in need of a TE. Sanders has 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.
16- 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 in 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.
17- 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 No. 5 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.
18- 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 running back by committee backfields, Irving can be a highly productive per-touch player.
19- 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 and 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.
19- Jayden Daniels QB | LSU
This ranking could be too low. 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. Daniels will run a blazing 40-yard dash – as low as the 4.4s. Along with Williams, Daniels will have a chance to put up QB1 numbers as a rookie.
20- 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 so many boxes and is viewed as a sure thing to be a productive NFL signal caller. Maye has a cannon for an arm and has accuracy. There are reports that he could run a sub 4.7 40-yard dash.
21- 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 shredded Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl with 152 receiving yards and two TD grabs.
22- Ladd McConkey WR | Georgia
McConkey will be selected on Day 2 or higher if he declares for the NFL Draft. 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. Therefore, this ranking could look way too low in a few weeks.
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.
24- 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.
Players to Watch: Rookie Draft Sleepers for 2024
Jonathon Brooks RB | Texas
Brooks is by no means an unknown, but he is a major question mark heading into the draft. He burst out the gate this season and looked like he could be the first RB selected. However, he went on to suffer a season-ending torn ACL. While his injury is concerning, if he declares for the draft, there will be plenty of NFL teams lining up to select him at an injury discount.
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
Laube 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. He has speed, but it will be noteworthy 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.
Dillon Johnson RB | Washington
Johnson has been a one-year standout for an undefeated Huskies team. He could return to Washington, but if he declares for the NFL Draft, he is an intriguing prospect with three down potential. He rushed for 256 yards against USC and 152 against Oregon in the Pac 12 Championship Game.
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.
