Fantasy drafts are in the books, and NFL action has finally arrived. At PlayerProfiler, we have put in a full offseason of work updating player data and rankings to help fantasy gamers dominate in all fantasy formats. It’s time to see how NFL teams’ offseason moves come together and how the 2024 class of rookies gel in their landing spots.
Every week this season, we are going to drop The Rookie Report, detailing rookie performances from each week, as well as usage patterns and rookies to watch in the coming weeks. In this edition – before the season starts – we are going to shine the spotlight on rookies to watch early in the season. Some rookies are going to open the season and make an immediate impact. Others will take some time to earn snaps and become difference makers in the NFL. Stay locked on the Rookie Report every week for rookie breakouts coming in 2024.
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10 Rookies to Watch Early in 2024
Quarterback
Caleb Williams – QB, Chicago Bears | NFL Draft Pick 1.01
Caleb Williams will be a defining player for the 2024 season. Not only is he one of the most exciting quarterback prospects to enter the league in recent seasons, he enters a situation in Chicago with everything he needs to hit the ground running. Williams has one of the best wide receiver trios in the league.
His ability to command Shane Waldron’s offense will determine the value of receivers DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze, drafted in the fourth, seventh and seventh rounds, respectively, in fantasy. Williams himself has been drafted as the QB13 by ADP. It is easy to see him landing in the top six players at the position this season.
Jayden Daniels – QB, Washington Commanders | NFL Draft Pick 1.02
The other rookie QB to watch is Jayden Daniels in Washington. Daniels is a dangerous rushing threat and as such, is a valuable asset in fantasy. He ran for 1,134 yards last season at LSU. He also threw for 3,813 yards and 40 touchdowns and won the Heisman Trophy. Daniels steps into a Kliff Kingsbury offense that will allow him to get the ball out quickly and take advantage of some designed rushing attempts. It will be key to watch how the offensive line holds up and if Daniels can keep himself healthy running, getting out of bounds or sliding instead of taking big hits from NFL linebackers.
Running Back
Blake Corum – RB, Los Angeles Rams | NFL Draft Pick 3.19
Blake Corum was drafted by the Rams in the third round after leaning heavily on Kyren Williams last season. Sean McVay likes to feature one back but has indicated Corum was brought in to take some volume off Williams. Corum is a superior athlete and an accomplished runner, posting two 1,000-plus yard rushing seasons at Michigan. It would not be a shock if Corum shows out as the better runner and usurps Williams. The upside is there if Corum takes over a sizeable part of the workload in a very fantasy-friendly environment.
Braelon Allen – RB, New York Jets | NFL Draft Pick 4.34
Another backfield split to watch is in New York. The incumbent Breece Hall was No. 2 in the NFL in Weighted Opportunities (283.0) last season, but his backfield competition was Michael Carter and a washed up Dalvin Cook.
Braelon Allen is a 235-pound back capable of shouldering a workload in both the run and pass games. Look for him to spell Hall in the run game and steal work on the goal line.
Ray Davis – RB, Buffalo Bills | NFL Draft Pick 4.28
Latavius Murray was the goal line back last season in Buffalo (when it was not Josh Allen). The 33-year-old Murray had 11 carries inside the five-yard line to James Cook‘s four. The Bills drafted Davis in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, and he will look to siphon some of Cook’s workload in both the run and pass games and possibly goal line carries.
Wide Receiver
Malik Nabers – WR, New York Giants | NFL Draft Pick 1.06
Malik Nabers is the Giants offense. Nabers has gone in the fifth round of redraft leagues. No other Giant is going in the top-150 of drafts. Daniel Jones is down at pick 200. It makes sense to fade the Giants offense, but Nabers is the best wide receiver Giants fans have seen since O’Dell Beckham. He may be the best receiver in the 2024 Draft class and a top 10 WR in the NFL by end of season. He will likely also be a league winner in 2024 fantasy leagues at an ADP WR24.
Xavier Worthy – WR, Kansas City Chiefs | NFL Draft Pick 1.28
The Chiefs tend to slow-play rookies, which may be the case with Xavier Worthy even though Hollywood Brown injured his shoulder and is not likely to play in the opening game of the season. Surely the Chiefs saw enough of Justin Watson and Skyy Moore last season. We thought they saw enough of Juju Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman, but those two are back on the roster this season. We may see them early in the season since they know Andy Reid’s system. If Worthy’s snaps are limited early in 2024, he is a monster trade-for candidate.
Brian Thomas Jr. – WR, Jacksonville Jaguars | NFL Draft Pick 1.23
Brian Thomas Jr. boasts 4.33 speed, a productive college season in 2023 (1,177 receiving yards and 17 TDs) and first round draft capital. It is not a stretch to think he would become the most productive Jaguars pass catcher among other mid-level talents Christian Kirk, Evan Engram and Gabe Davis.
Thomas steps into a valuable role in Jacksonville. He has been on the field in two-wide receiver sets. Calvin Ridley, who Thomas is replacing, earned eight targets per game last season and 25 (No. 3) Red Zone Targets.
Keon Coleman – WR, Buffalo Bills | NFL Draft Pick 2.01
The Bills moved on from Stefon Diggs in the offseason making the Bills pass-catching unit one of the most ambiguous in the NFL. Some say Dalton Kincaid will be the target hog. Others say Curtis Samuel will have the most valuable role. Still others say the rookie Keon Coleman. Right now, Coleman is listed behind Mack Hollins on the Ourlads depth chart. It will be interesting to see if he can earn snaps and targets in a Josh Allen-led offense.
Tight End
Brock Bowers – TE, Las Vegas Raiders | NFL Draft Pick 1.13
The Raiders drafted Brock Bowers with the No. 13 pick in the NFL Draft because he was the best player available. Bowers is one of the best tight end prospects of all-time. He was the centerpiece and target hog on a Georgia Bulldogs team that also had second round draft pick Ladd McConkey. Georgia used Bowers in the run game, and it looks like Vegas will look to utilize Bowers’ dynamism in a similar way. The rookie will be the Raiders’ top weapon behind Davante Adams.
For more articles from Joel, click here – Fantasy Draft Targets | Best Offensive Environments in the NFL (playerprofiler.com)
