PlayerProfiler is home to award winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out. Below, Joel Ybarra breaks down the top performances of NFL rookies from the 2024 season.
In what will be the final Rookie Report of the season, we run down the best rookie performances of 2024. As always, rookies made a big impact for their NFL and fantasy teams. The 2024 class boasts multiple rookie quarterbacks who are going to become franchise centerpieces, and other rookies who are going to become big-time contributors for their offenses a long time to come. Below, we review the top 10 rookies of the 2024 class and take a look at their value for fantasy in 2024 and beyond.
Fantasy Rookie of the Year
Jayden Daniels | QB, Washington Commanders
Not only was Jayden Daniels the most productive rookie in terms of fantasy points in 2024, he also recorded the highest ceiling outcomes – 10 weeks of 20 or more points. That was all while having a pre-season ADP around 100 (pick 95 on Underdog). If you waited till late rounds to draft a quarterback and then went with the dual threat rookie, you were rewarded with the No. 8 overall PPG scorer in fantasy and the QB6.
Other Top Rookie Performers
Brock Bowers | TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Most dynasty leagues and redraft rankings had three rookie wide receivers – Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze – going ahead of Brock Bowers in drafts. A pristine tight end prospect out of Georgia, Bowers outscored all rookie pass catchers in total points except Daniels and Brian Thomas Jr. He would have been the WR3 among rookies in PPG behind Thomas and Malik Nabers.
Bowers also outscored all tight ends in total points. George Kittle was the only tight end ahead of Bowers in PPG. Oh yeah, and he also had the greatest real life tight end season of all-time, breaking the receptions record at the position. He is likely to break the receiving yards record in Week 17.
Malik Nabers | WR, New York Giants
There were not many pass catchers in the NFL who were more a centerpiece of their offense than Malik Nabers. Nabers outscored all rookies in fantasy except Jayden Daniels, even while being subject to a rotating cast of backup-level QBs. He was No. 1 in Target Share with a 35.0-percent rate going into Week 16. Without a lot of talent around him, it makes sense the Giants were inundating the rookie with targets, but he made good on his opportunities, finishing as a top-10 wide receiver in PPG as of Week 16.
Brian Thomas Jr. | WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Brian Thomas Jr. may have benefited from injuries to Christian Kirk, Gabriel Davis and Evan Engram, but he is now firmly in the conversation for the best wide receiver in the 2024 rookie class. He posted a quality 2.37 Yards Per Route Run number as of Week 16, with 434 Yards After Catch (No. 4) and being a dangerous red zone threat (eight TDs, No. 5).
Bucky Irving | RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucky Irving is the one running back that emerged from the 2024 class that was a consistently start-able asset most of the season. That’s interesting because he was sixth rookie running back drafted on Underdog and the No. 52 player overall prior to the season. What’s even more interesting is that Irving carved out a role in the Tampa offense just by being good at the game: 5.00 (No. 4) Yards Created Per Touch.
Bo Nix | QB, Denver Broncos
Bo Nix was the sixth quarterback chosen in the NFL Draft, although he was still selected in the top-12. It’s safe to say, however, that it was surprising how quickly Nix made an impact for the Broncos and his fantasy managers.
Nix has the Broncos on the way to a playoff berth and he was QB10 in fantasy PPG entering Week 16. The former Oregon Duck had six QB1 finishes on the season going into Week 17 and looks like a decent NFL starter going forward.
Drake Maye | QB, New England Patriots
The Patriots brought Drake Maye along slowly, likely because they were not serious contenders and didn’t need to feed their shiny new rookie to salivating NFL defenses early in the season. The way Maye settled into the game, however, it makes you wonder if he could have handled it from the jump. The North Carolina product threw for 234.9 yards in his nine full games played, as well as multiple touchdowns in four of those.
Maye is a consummate fantasy quarterback, running for 35.9 (No. 5) yards per game on the season.
Ladd McConkey | WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Ladd McConkey was the clear WR1 for Justin Herbert during the 2024 season. That is a valuable role. McConkey posted a 2.48 (No. 9) Yards Per Route Run number on the season, and was the WR25 in PPG entering Week 16.
Caleb Williams | QB, Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams overcame a difficult situation in Chicago to survive his rookie season and produce some usable weeks for fantasy. The flashes of creative playmaking were on display, as well as the athletic prowess that makes him a dynamic threat to defenses. His desire to create made him a liability at times, however. Williams had six fantasy finishes under 10 points.
Xavier Worthy | WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Xavier Worthy started the season slow, catching four or less passes in his first 11 games in the league. It was clear, however, the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes trusted Worthy as their most dynamic playmaker toward the latter part of the season.
Worthy was targeted 11 times and was given three rush attempts in both Weeks 15 and 16. He scored two touchdowns over those two fantasy playoff weeks and eight total (No. 10) for the season going into Week 16.
Honorable Mention Rookie Performances
Tyrone Tracy Jr. | RB, New York Giants – six double-digit fantasy performances after taking over the backfield in Week 5
Marvin Harrison Jr. | WR, Arizona Cardinals – seven total TDs (No. 10), 34.4-percent (No. 9) Dominator Rating
See all Joel’s PlayerProfiler articles here, including The Rookie Report from every week of the 2024 season.
