The Top-60 Prospects For 2024 Dynasty Superflex Rookie Drafts

Top-60 Superflex Dynasty Rookie Rankings (2024)

It’s officially my favorite time of year—NFL Draft season. We’re just days away from getting to see where these players that we have endlessly debated for weeks (and months) will end up. Not long after that will be our 2024 dynasty rookie drafts. Of course, landing spots and capital during the actual NFL Draft will play a major role in where these players fall in our final rankings, but it’s important to understand who these guys are before we have that final piece of information. I have been constantly updating my 2024 dynasty superflex rookie rankings at Yards Per Fantasy throughout the pre-draft process, but this is my time to actually put some context and analysis behind each player in my top-60.

I hope you enjoy. If you want even more on these rookies, check out our FREE rookie draft guide! Then I want to hear your opinions on these players, so join us on Discord and let’s discuss! I’ll see you on the other side.

1. Caleb Williams, QB, USC

How much do I really have to say here? Caleb Williams is one of the best quarterback prospects we have seen in the last decade. He’s elite within the pocket. He’s elite off-script and on the move. He has a big arm, he’s athletic, and he processes information very quickly. Williams is going to have an instant impact on the Bears, providing them with possibly the best quarterback play they have seen in the history of the franchise. They have done an excellent job of building the team around him with receiving weapons like DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, a solid running back room with D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, and Khalil Herbert, and a quality tight end who just caught 73 balls in 2023. They’ve even invested in the offensive line over the last couple offseasons. This is about as good a situation as we’ve seen a top quarterback prospect go to. They have set him up for success. Williams has a Patrick Mahomes-like ceiling and he could be a cornerstone piece of your dynasty team for the next 10 years.

2. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR,  Ohio State

Marvin Harrison Jr. is about as close to a “can’t miss prospect” as it gets. He is an exceptional route-runner who commands targets and has the versatility to line up in multiple positions across the formation. His top-end speed and impressive acceleration make him a dangerous threat on vertical patterns. What makes him special, though, is pairing that athleticism with incredible ball skills, body control, agility, and natural instincts to make an all-around dominant playmaker who wins in all quadrants of the field. Harrison uses his 6-4 frame to his full advantage, tracking the football, adjusting to the football, and attacking the football at its highest point, making him almost impossible to defend in contested catch and jump ball situations.

There are only a few minor things to point to on Harrison’s profile as areas for improvement. While he is fast off the line of scrimmage, he could still improve and expand on his release packages/techniques. He is also inconsistent versus press coverage. Some of that is due to his somewhat thin frame for his height, some is just lack of extensive experience against tight looks. And lastly, outside of speed and a little wiggle, Harrison doesn’t present much of a threat after the catch. He’ll burn you if you give him space to work with, but once you get hands on him, he’s pretty easy to take down.

Marvin Harrison Jr. checks all the boxes both on tape and from an analytics perspective. He is everything NFL teams want in their top wide receiver. He will be deployed as a team’s alpha, lining up at X, but also getting work from the Z and slot positions as well which will make him a matchup nightmare and headache for defenses to keep track of. He is going to command a high volume of targets from day one. Whoever drafts him will be expected to deploy him as their WR1 from the second he steps on an NFL field. Harrison will be a top-5 pick in the 2024 draft, and it is very possible we see him inside the top-3. In dynasty, Harrison is the locked-in 1.01 in single quarterback rookie drafts and a top-3 selection in superflex.

3. Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina

Drake Maye has all of the physical tools you could want from a franchise quarterback—size, arm strength, accuracy, athleticism. He knows what he has in his arm and he has the confidence to use it to its full ability. The gunslinger mentality is real with Maye, which can be great if he knows when to reign it in—something that wasn’t always the case at North Carolina. For fantasy football, Maye is on the Josh Allen/Justin Herbert spectrum with all the traits and potential to be a difference maker if everything comes together.

4. Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU

Jayden Daniels is coming off a heisman trophy winning season after throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and scoring 50 total touchdowns. Between he and Drake Maye, Daniels certainly has the wider range of outcomes. If he hits, he could have a Lamar Jackson-level career. If things go south, we could be looking at another Justin Fields or even Trey Lance. Maye is the “safer” pick which is why I have him ranked ahead in a superflex format. In a single quarterback league where we are more open to swing for the fences at quarterback, I’m taking Daniels as my QB2.

5. Malik Nabers, WR, LSU

Malik Nabers is among the best wide receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft. He can pretty much do it all. He has decent size at 6-0, 200 lbs. He can run effective routes from the X, Z, and slot positions. His speed allows him to create separation down the field on posts, go’s, and slot fades, but he can also dial it back to win in the short and intermediate areas of the field as well. Then, once he has the ball in his hands he pairs that speed with elite quickness, acceleration, explosion, and strength to make it very difficult for defenders to track him down. He almost always gains additional yardage after the catch.

Nabers is good at just about every part of playing wide receiver. The only areas that could use some work are his release packages off the line of scrimmage, particularly against press coverage, and becoming more consistent in traffic and in contested situations. There are some route concepts we haven’t seen much from him, but there’s little reason to believe he won’t be able to develop his route tree further at the NFL level. Otherwise, he is a complete prospect. He checks the size boxes, he checks the analytics boxes, and he gets the full approval from film scouts as well. 

While he played a ton from the slot at LSU and will certainly get his fair share of snaps on the inside in the NFL as well, Nabers projects as a starting Z-receiver at the next level. But again, he has the versatility and skill set to play from any alignment. NFL teams will love that. They will also appreciate his ability to make explosive plays from anywhere on the field, something that is coveted in today’s game. In many other draft classes we would have Nabers locked-in as the WR1, instead he is looking like the second wide receiver off the board behind Marvin Harrison Jr. It will not be a surprise to see both guys drafted inside the top-10, though. In dynasty, Nabers is a locked-in top-3 selection in rookie drafts and will be a guy you can count on for consistent production for many years to come.

6.Rome Odunze, WR, Washington

Rome Odunze is one of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2024 draft class. He checks just about all the boxes from size, play strength, and athleticism, to route-running and football IQ. Odunze is a smooth operator who uses his full arsenal of tools to win in a variety of ways. He is especially dominant in contested catch situations as he can use his size, strength, and tracking ability to win against the most physical defenders. He could use some work off the line against press coverage but overall his route running is about as good as anyone in college football. Then, once he has the ball in his hands he is difficult to bring down on first contact. Odunze projects as a prototypical alpha WR1 at the NFL level. He will be a team’s x-receiver while also possessing the versatility to move around the formation and contribute in a number of ways. 

Odunze will likely be the third wideout off the board on draft weekend and is likely to hear his name among the top-15 picks. He’s locked-in as a top-5 selection in dynasty rookie drafts with about as high a ceiling as it gets.

7. JJ McCarthy, QB, Michigan 

JJ McCarthy wasn’t often asked to carry the Michigan offense. He was more of a game manager type. However, when he was asked to make plays in key situations, McCarthy seemed to always rise to the occasion. He ran a pro-style offense in college and is well prepared for the NFL because of that. His physical tools aren’t going to knock anyone’s socks off, but he is good enough in all areas to be a quality starting quarterback at the next level. McCarthy is a pocket passer but he has very good mobility within the pocket, plus the tools to escape and make accurate throws when forced to flush out. He is no Jayden Daniels as a runner, but McCarthy is a more than capable tactical scrambler. 

McCarthy’s college career was massively successful, with a 27-1 career record, capped off by a national championship victory. He is still only 21 years old and he enters the NFL with about as high a floor as any quarterback in the 2024 class. The questions come in when talking about his ceiling. He is probably not ever going to be a true difference-making quarterback like a Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen. Instead, we could be looking at Kirk Cousins-level production. That’s not a bad thing, though! Cousins has been about as consistent as anyone in football over the last five years. McCarthy is well worth the draft capital that he is going to get, and it’s not crazy to draft him in the top-6 of a superflex rookie draft either.

8. Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia 

Brock Bowers was a dominant producer from the second he stepped on a college field. He was first-team All-SEC as a freshman, leading his team in receiving and catching 13 touchdowns. He continued to produce at a high level over the next two seasons and now is poised to be the highest drafted tight end since Kyle Pitts. 

Though he didn’t test at the NFL Combine or his pro day, it’s clear that Brock Bowers is an above average athlete with speed and explosion. With that said, without the testing numbers it’s hard to definitively say whether his athleticism reaches the category of “special” that we often see from the league’s most productive tight ends. Anyone who drafts him is doing so with blind faith that he is as dynamic as he looked on a college field.

Bowers commanded targets at Georgia while running quality routes and creating consistent separation. After the catch, he is tough and elusive, making for a difficult tackle.

The concerns are that he is not a good enough or strong enough blocker to warrant true tight end usage. Bowers will be more of a move tight end who is essentially a big slot receiver, rather than a guy with a strong in-line presence who can create the ultimate mismatches. Most of the NFL’s high-end producers at the tight end position have that versatility to their game. We’ve seen how this has played out with Kyle Pitts in Atlanta, and Pitts is a superior athlete to Bowers.

Still, Bowers has a chance to become one of the league’s most productive tight ends if everything hits. He can get open and he is dangerous after the catch. Just be careful with steaming him up the board too high.

9. Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU

Brian Thomas Jr was a late breakout at LSU, but when he hit in 2023, he hit in a big way. Thomas wins with speed, explosion, and elite acceleration. He uses his size and ball-tracking ability to pose a major threat both down the field and in the red zone. Thomas is at his best when running vertical patterns and short crossers, but he has also been known to win on a few simple in-breaking routes like slants and digs. Where he needs to develop his route tree is in the more technical routes that require a bit more nuance and body control. He will also need to improve his ability to get off press coverage and win in traffic. Thomas’ leap from his pedestrian freshman and sophomore seasons to a monster junior campaign gives some confidence that he can continue to develop in those areas.

Thomas has all the physical tools you would want in a playmaking wide receiver. He will make an immediate impact in the NFL as a downfield threat with the upside to develop into a true No. 1. An offense that heavily utilizes the vertical game with a quarterback who’s not afraid to chuck it deep will be the perfect fit for a guy like Thomas. He will likely hear his name called sometime between pick 20 and 32 on draft night. With that assumption, we can project his dynasty rookie draft ADP to settle somewhere around the 1 / 2 turn.

10. Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

The first thing that comes to mind when talking about Xavier Worthy is speed. The dude is a burner. He has elite wheels and acceleration. He will light up the NFL Combine and could very well be the fastest wide receiver in the 2024 draft class. The exciting thing is, he can control that speed to run quality routes in the short and intermediate areas on top of being a vertical demon. Worthy has the versatility to line up in different positions across the formation which will allow NFL play callers to fully maximize his role and find matchup advantages. 

The glaring concern in Worthy’s profile, though, is his size. He’s working with a thin frame and will be lucky to crack 170 lbs when he weighs in at the Combine. Unsurprisingly, that shows up in his game with struggles vs press coverage and physical cornerbacks. He also struggles in contested situations and isn’t exactly a tackle-breaking machine after the catch. With that said, Worthy projects as a complimentary playmaker at the NFL level. His game-breaking speed will keep defensive coordinators and safeties on their toes at all times. He will operate as a team’s primary vertical threat while also offering value in the screen game and on some intermediate routes as well. 

Worthy will likely hear his name called in the early stages of the second round of the NFL Draft. It would not be a surprise, though, if he sneaks up as high as pick 25 of the first round if a team falls in love with his speed. In dynasty, Worthy is “worthy” of a pick in the late first/early second of single-quarterback rookie drafts.

11. Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

Adonai Mitchell is a tall, lanky receiver with good overall athleticism. He has enough speed to win vertically, with the route running chops to consistently win in the short and intermediate areas as well. Mitchell is a smooth operator with high level awareness, technique, and football IQ. He is especially good at identifying zone coverages and finding the open areas to present his quarterback with an open target. He has reliable hands and a wide catch radius and exceptional ball-tracking ability.

Where Mitchell struggles most is getting off physical press coverage. He already takes a few steps to get up to speed so a defender getting hands on him early can really be a problem. He is also inconsistent in traffic and in contested catch situations despite his frame and strong hands. Mitchell will not scare anyone after the catch, either. There are a few concerns analytically as well, as he falls short in a number of thresholds we look for. Some of that can be explained by facing heavy target competition in the names of Xavier Worthy and Ja’Tavion Sanders, but it’s worth noting. 

Overall, Mitchell projects as a complimentary wide receiver at the NFL level. He will be a reliable option for his quarterback who will appreciate his ability to create separation and find the open areas of the defense. He will be best deployed as a Z-receiver with some slot snaps mixed in. An offensive play-caller who will put Mitchell in motion and find ways to get him free releases is something we would appreciate. His combination of size, athleticism, and technical route-running give him the upside to turn into a consistent fantasy producer. He is one of several wide receivers who will garner second-round NFL Draft capital and is worthy of our consideration in round two of dynasty rookie drafts.

12. Michael Penix Jr., QB, Washington 

Michael Penix Jr. is coming off back-to-back wildly productive seasons at Washington which concluded with a trip to the National Championship game. The Huskies offense was one of the most fun to watch in College football as they racked up the yards and touchdowns. A big part of that was Penix’s ability and willingness to push the ball down the field to his playmakers. Penix is a big-armed passer who has impressive awareness and mobility within the pocket, rarely ever taking a sack. He certainly has plenty to work on at the NFL level, but the physical tools are there to become a quality pocket passer. He will be compared to Bo Nix often because they are widely viewed as being in the same tier by both the NFL Draft and fantasy football communities alike. For me, I lean Penix because his ceiling is higher.

13. Bo Nix, QB, Oregon

Bo Nix began his college career backing up Cam Newton at Auburn. Not really, but it sure feels like he’s been around that long. After transferring to Oregon, Nix became one of college football’s most productive passers. He set school records for passing yards and passing touchdowns in 2023 on his way to a third-place finish in the Heisman Trophy voting. Nix certainly enters the NFL with plenty of experience. In fact, his 61 career starts is an NCAA record. The question is whether that will translate to NFL success or not. It’s fair to wonder after playing that much, has Nix already peaked? Will his game really develop much further beyond where it is now? And given that experience, why didn’t he stand out more at Senior Bowl week? 

The bottom line on Nix is, he is likely going to be drafted in the first round and he’s going to get a chance to start games at some point. The floor is high—he should at least be a steady backup in the league for a while—but, the ceiling is pretty low. Bo Nix will never be a difference-making quarterback, in real life or in fantasy football.

14. Trey Benson, RB, Florida State

Trey Benson overcame a brutal injury to begin his college career and went on to have two productive seasons at Florida State. He is a big running back who runs with violence and aggression and is difficult to take down with simple arm tackles, especially once he gets a head of steam. But Benson is not your typical bruising running back. He is an excellent athlete with impressive acceleration and explosion to shoot through holes and get to the next level of a defense. Then he has the breakaway speed to take it to the house. He is a true home-run threat. 

On top of that, Benson displays good patience and vision with lateral agility and a devastating vertical cut to make the most of every running lane. He is elusive enough to make guys miss in the open field, but he will sometimes invite contact more than he needs to. In the passing game, Benson has natural hands and uses his running back skills well to eat up chunks after the catch. However, he will need to improve in pass protection if he is going to become a consistent contributor on passing downs at the NFL level. 

Speaking of the NFL, Benson has all the traits to be a starting running back on a lot of teams. He will bring value on all three downs and he proved at Florida State that he can thrive in multiple rushing schemes. As things stand now, Benson is looking like a third round pick but it would not be surprising to see him come off the board in the second. In dynasty, he will make for an excellent pick in round two of rookie drafts. Benson my pre-draft RB1. 

15. Jonathon Brooks, RB, Texas

Jonathon Brooks is an all-purpose back who runs with good patience and vision, and uses a variety of tactics to work his way to the second level of a defense. Once he finds the lane he wants to hit, Brooks will quickly cut vertically up the field with impressive lateral agility and then use his top-notch acceleration to burst through the hole. That, combined with his physicality and power make him a solid fit in any rushing scheme. Brooks has good enough speed to pick up chunks on the ground, but he’s not quite fast enough to be considered a home-run threat. He does get caught from behind time to time. In the passing game, Brooks still has some work to do as a route runner, but he can get there. He possesses natural hands and a reliable option out of the backfield. He will also be a trusted pass protector which will only help his case to get (or stay) on the field for third downs.

At the NFL level, Jonathon Brooks projects as a committee running back who can be deployed on all three downs. Given his little time as a lead back, thanks to being stuck behind Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson for multiple seasons, Brooks is still somewhat of a “green” prospect, meaning he still has plenty of room to develop and showcase skills that maybe we didn’t get to see in his handful of games as the starter. The team that drafts him is definitely banking on him hitting that upside.

However, the late season ACL injury forced him to miss all pre-draft workouts and will threaten the start of his rookie season. Depending on how teams feel about the medicals and his limited resume, Brooks could slide down the draft board further than expected. As it stands now, though, he projects as a Day 2 pick. In dynasty, he will make for a high upside, yet somewhat risky, selection in the second round of rookie drafts.

16. Braelon Allen, RB, Wisconsin 

Braelon Allen is a massive running back, standing at 6-2, and nearly 240 lbs. Unsurprisingly, his game is built around a downhill running style, utilizing his strength and power to physically dominate defenses between the tackles. Allen runs with good vision and is decisive on choosing a lane and blasting through the hole. He may lack in explosion, breakaway speed, and open field elusiveness, but he makes up for it with his tackle-breaking ability and knack for falling forward for additional yardage after contact. 

Allen is built for a heavy workload at the NFL level. He has a frame that can handle 20+ carries week in and week out. He will need to land on a team that runs a rushing scheme that will fit his skill set. He’s certainly not the run to the tackles, put a foot in the ground and go type guy that you would see in Miami, for example. A more of a gap/power scheme would be perfect. Allen projects as a team’s primary between the tackles grinder and goal line back. He will be best paired with a fast/quick backfield mate who can come in on passing downs because Allen is below average across the board when it comes to the receiving game. 

Braelon Allen will likely hear his name called on Day 2 of the NFL Draft. His performance at the Combine will likely determine whether it’s round two or round three. He has a shot to be the first running back drafted but could fall as far as RB4 or RB5 with no clear top backs in this class. The same could be said for dynasty where Allen will have a wide range of potential draft slots in rookie drafts. He could go as high as the middle of the first in single quarterback leagues or as low as the late second. His ADP will settle somewhere in between. His fantasy football ceiling is somewhat capped given the lack of receiving game usage and the athleticism to create breakaway runs. He is a young prospect, though, so his dynasty lifespan will likely be longer than most.

17. Blake Corum, RB, Michigan 

Blake Corum is one of the better running backs in the 2024 NFL Draft class. He is a natural runner who displays good patience, vision, and discipline behind the line of scrimmage. He uses his blockers well to work his way to the second level of a defense but he is also creative enough to make something happen on his own as well. Corum is a high-energy runner who has requisite speed plus exceptional lateral agility and acceleration. At Michigan, Corum gained experience in both zone and gap schemes so he will be a fit in just about any offense that drafts him.

While Corum has the toughness and willingness to get physical, he wasn’t the most effective short-yardage and goal line guy in college. He was also not used a whole lot in the passing game. However, Corum flashed skill and upside in terms of both hands and route running ability. Perhaps that is an area of his game that he will be able to expand on at the next level.

In the NFL, Blake Corum projects as a mid-level starter/high end RB2 who can beef up a backfield in need of a plug-and-play running back. He is likely to come off the board in the second round of the NFL Draft with a real shot to be the first running back drafted. Draft capital and landing spot will determine his dynasty ADP, but Corum is looking like a top-5 back in the class and could find his way into the back-end of the first round of rookie drafts.

18. Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon 

Troy Franklin is one of the fastest wide receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft class. He has no trouble getting open deep or out-running defenders after the catch. While his game is built around that speed, Franklin is more than just a burner who only runs straight lines down the field. He is a quality route runner with a great feel for defenses and finding ways to get himself open in the short and intermediate areas as well. He uses a variety of effective release tactics to get off the line quickly and into his routes. 

With a bit of a slim frame, Franklin does tend to get thrown off by physical defenders in press coverage. He is also not known for winning in traffic and in contested catch situations. While he is good at tracking the ball down the field, Franklin does have a tendency to let the ball come to him, rather than meeting it at its highest point. This opens it up to be played by the defender, and leaves potential chunk plays on the field.

Franklin projects as a high-end WR2 in the NFL. He will primarily line up at Z, with some slot looks as well. Teams will be apt to put him in motion to help him avoid contact off the line and to fully take advantage of his speed threat both vertically and horizontally across the defense. 

While his somewhat slender frame will limit him in some areas, it’s less of a concern in today’s NFL, especially after seeing guys like Devonta Smith, Jordan Addison, Tank Dell, and others have such immediate success. That will also give NFL teams the confidence to call his name as early as the first round. Franklin is likely to come off the board sometime between picks 25 and 40–hopefully to a team looking to add an outside playmaker for a big-armed quarterback. In dynasty, he’s absolutely in consideration beginning as early as pick eight or nine in rookie drafts. 

19. Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan 

Roman Wilson had a breakout 2023 season that included 12 touchdowns, a national championship, and concluded with an impressive performance at the Senior Bowl. Despite three underwhelming seasons prior to 2023, Wilson was able to showcase his exceptional speed, reliable hands, and quality route running during his senior season. Wilson proved versatile enough to work from both the slot and out wide. He uses his speed to stretch the defense vertically and horizontally and uses his high football IQ and awareness to find the holes in the defense to create a consistent target for his quarterback. Wilson is a smooth runner who often eats up defenses on crossing routes, both shallow and deep.

Wilson shined at the NFL Combine that included a 4.39 40-time. He is an overall exceptional athlete. However, there are plenty of concerns across his profile. The most glaring of which is the underwhelming production and late breakout. Michigan was a low volume passing offense but his team share numbers were still not up to snuff until his senior season. There are also concerns about how he will hold up against physical play at the NFL level, given he didn’t usually fare well when he found himself challenged at the line of scrimmage at Michigan. Finally, Wilson is not a guy who is going to gain a bunch of yardage after the catch. Outside of just pure speed, he is not hard to bring down in the open field.

In the NFL, Roman Wilson projects as a starting slot receiver who can bump out to Z when needed as well. He will use his speed and separation skills to work himself open on all three levels. Wilson is looking like an early Day 2 pick. In dynasty, he will be a second round target in rookie drafts with the hopes he develops into his athleticism to become a playmaker and reliable fantasy producer.

20. Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia

Ladd McConkey had an underwhelming college career from a production standpoint. You could say that the Georgia offense was run-focused, but that still doesn’t explain away the poor team share metrics. Still, when you watch Ladd McConkey it’s hard not to think he has a chance to be a contributor in the NFL. He’s one of the more complete route runners in the 2024 class. He uses his combination of speed, acceleration, quickness, and agility to create easy separation. McConkey is a reliable underneath option who can quickly turn up field and gain chunks of yards after the catch. He also possesses the speed to win vertically.

McConkey is a smart player who quickly identifies coverages and finds the open holes in the defense to create a target for his quarterback. He does tend to struggle in more physical situations, though. With an undersized frame, McConkey has a hard time dealing with press coverage and physical defenders. He is also not going to win a lot of balls in contested situations.

At the NFL level, McConkey projects as a complementary receiver who will line up both in the slot and out wide at Z. He will work himself into space, be a reliable target for his quarterback, and eat up yards after the catch. McConkey is likely to come off the board in the second round of the NFL Draft. In dynasty, his athleticism and toughness will make him a tempting pick in early round two, but his prospect profile indicates the back-half of the second would be more appropriate.

21. Jaylen Wright, RB, Tennessee

Jaylen Wright possesses the requisite size and traits to be a quality running back at the NFL level. He has elite speed, as evidenced by his 22.2 MPH top speed clocked in 2023 which is the fastest of any of the running backs in the 2024 class. Wright has the patience to let hit blocks develop in front of him with the burst to explode through the hole and get to the next level of the defense. Most of his runs at Tennessee came from the shotgun and were directed between the tackles, but Wright’s skill set leaves little doubt he can be a quality runner on outside concepts as well.

Wright may have the speed to outrun defenders but he lacks the lateral agility to be a true cut-back threat and isn’t the most difficult to bring down once you’ve got hands on him. He also doesn’t create much on his own if the lanes aren’t available for him. In the passing game, Wright was a zero in his first two seasons before adding receiving skills to his repertoire in 2023. He still has work to do in this area to become a weapon as a pass-catcher, but he showed enough to believe he can be an effective check-down, swing pass, and screen game option at least. He will also add value with his quality pass protection skills, something we don’t see from a lot of running backs straight out of college. This will help him find an early role in the NFL.

Speaking of the NFL, Jaylen Wright projects as a rotational running back who can add value on third downs as well as be an explosive change-of-pace back in a two or three man committee. With a 210-pound frame it’s certainly possible he becomes the leader of said committee. Wright is likely to be drafted sometime in the middle rounds, probably in the third or fourth. In dynasty, he is a fun pick in the third round of rookie drafts with the hopes his elite speed translates to a fantasy relevant role.

22. Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State

Keon Coleman is a physically gifted wide receiver. Standing at 6-3, 213 lbs, he has the body of a prototypical X-receiver in the NFL. He has good hands with incredible ball skills, and impressive lateral movement for a guy of his stature. Coleman thrives in contested catch situations. He presents his quarterback with a target that can be trusted to win the 50-50 balls like he’s not even covered. That makes for a dangerous weapon in the red zone and on vertical patterns. Coleman also puts his size and physicality to good use at the line of scrimmage, easily shaking press coverage more often than not.

While he can run the full route tree and win on all three levels, Coleman does have room to grow in the routes department. Some wasted movement and unharnessed footwork, paired with the lack of true deep speed can sometimes make creating separation difficult. His raw physical tools and already signs of improvement from his sophomore to junior seasons, do provide some hope that he can continue to develop this area of his game, though.

Scouts drool over Coleman’s athleticism, size, and overall physical traits of the wide receiver position. But, the production numbers don’t seem to match the scouting reports. If all you do is read the film grades and watch the highlight clips, you’re going to love Keon Coleman. But the numbers tell a different story. Coleman was an underwhelming producer in both of his seasons as a starter—one at Michigan State and one at Florida State. He combined for just 1,506 receiving yards in his three collegiate seasons. To put that into perspective, LSU WR Malik Nabers had 1,569 receiving yards in 2023 alone. And sure, you could place blame on subpar quarterback play, an offense that isn’t built around the passing game, etc. That may explain the lack of raw numbers, but it still doesn’t answer why he accounted for just 18% of the team’s receiving yards in 2023. Or had just 1.51 yards per team pass attempt. Or 1.9 yards per route run for the duration of his career. This is a problem.

Some analysts are obsessing over his incredible contested catch ability. And while I agree he is phenomenal in those situations and his spectacular catches sure are fun to watch, it begs the question, why is he in so many contested situations? Can he not create separation? Because if you’re struggling to create separation at the college level, it’s certainly not going to get easier in the NFL. Take this quote from Sam Monson of PFF: “If making contested catches is a part of your skill set, that’s great. If it’s the best thing you bring to the table? We might have a problem.” I think we might have a problem. 34% of Coleman’s targets were considered contested in 2023, per PFF. In comparison to the other top prospects in the class, Marvin Harrison Jr had a 26.3% contested target rate, Rome Odunze 20.6%, and Malik Nabers 17.2%.

Coleman is certainly a polarizing prospect. The upside is absolutely there, though. He is great at the catch point and he gets a lot out of his natural athletic ability. And we have to remember he is still just 20 years old with time to develop his game further. Truthfully, his ceiling is about as high as it gets if he puts it all together. There is no doubting that. But the concerns are fair. Like I said, the scouting reports will make you think this guy is the next star wideout in the NFL. In reality, you can’t make a facts and numbers-based case that makes this guy look like a great prospect.

Still, the draft capital is likely going to be there with some NFL team falling in love with the upside and raw talent. In dynasty, I would love to take a shot on a guy like this in the late second round of rookie drafts. However, I expect his rookie draft ADP will wind up somewhere between picks 10-14 which will make him a fade in my book.

23. Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida

Ricky Pearsall is a crafty route runner with a high football IQ and full field awareness. He is a reliable target for his quarterback with good hands and the ability to win in traffic. He consistently finds the holes in the defense and sits down to create an open target. While he can line up at multiple positions on the field, Pearsall is destined for a slot role in the NFL. That will allow him to maximize his skill set as a route runner and chain-mover while also avoiding physical man coverage. Pearsall will live in the short and intermediate areas of the field as he poses little threat to win vertically. NFL draft capital will likely come in the third round. In dynasty, Pearsall will be a play in round three with a chance of becoming a top-36 fantasy producer if he develops into a steady starting slot.

24. MarShawn Lloyd, RB, USC

MarShawn Lloyd is one of the best running backs in the 2024 draft class from a raw talent perspective. He has good size at 217 lbs, he has the speed and explosion to create breakaway runs, and the lateral agility to work his way through traffic with ease. Some scouts have expressed concern about his vision behind the line of scrimmage, though it was an area he showed improvement on in 2023.

Once he finds the hole he wants to hit, Lloyd uses his exceptional explosive traits to burst through the hole and quickly get to the next level of the defense. At that point, Lloyd becomes his most dangerous. He is elusive enough to make guys miss in the open field with the speed to take one to the house at any time. He is also difficult to bring down with just arm tackles once he gets a head of steam.

In the passing game, Lloyd was underwhelming from a production standpoint during his career. However, he has flashed enough ability to think he could expand his game in that area at the next level. In fact, while he only caught 13 passes in 2023, Lloyd averaged almost 18 yards per reception. At minimum, he will be a check-down and screen game option that can turn up the field and create a splash play.

Lloyd was never able to emerge as a true feature back at the collegiate level. He may not get that opportunity in the NFL, either, but he has the upside to be a significant contributor in a committee backfield. It’s hard to pinpoint where NFL teams will decide to draft him, considering a big part of the evaluation on Lloyd will be based on the “potential” of his raw athletic traits. However, if he continues to impress throughout the pre-draft process like he did at the Senior Bowl, Lloyd will wind up a Day Two pick. That draft capital will go a long way in determining his rookie draft ADP as well. But as things stand now, Lloyd is looking like a high upside pick around the 2 / 3 turn.

25. Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina

If we only looked at Xavier Legette’s 2023 season statistics and his athletic traits, it would be hard to not rank him as one of the top wide receivers in the 2024 class. But that’s not the reality. It took Legette until his fifth year in college to put up any sort of meaningful production. At that point, he was 22 years old and leaning on pure raw athletic talent.

Let’s give him some credit, though, his athleticism is off the charts. At 6-1, 223 lbs, he should not be able to run as fast as he does. In fact, Legette reached a top speed of 22.3 MPH in 2023. Only three NFL players reached 22 MPH last year. But he’s not just a speed guy. Legette does not shy away from contact. He will happily run through you after the catch, an area where he thrives. He will also use his size and strength to dominate in contested catch situations, both vertically and in the red zone.

And even looking at just the final season, Legette looks great on paper. His 3.05 yards per team pass attempt is elite. He averaged six receptions per game which is among the best in the class. He accounted for a third of his team’s receiving touchdowns and had a dominator rating over 35%.

Where he struggles, though, is in the more technical areas of playing wide receiver. He is not great off the line of scrimmage, and his routes— the few that he runs—are far from refined. He will need to continue to develop the details of route running and expand his route tree if he is to become a more well-rounded wide receiver that commands volume at the NFL level. As it stands now, Legette projects as a situational vertical and red zone threat early in his career with the hopes he can develop into more. He may be able to work his way into a big slot role —he took about a third of his snaps in 2023 from the slot—as a complimentary receiver. His raw physical traits scream outside X, but I’m not sure he will ever get there, given how long it took him to develop at the college level and his struggles to create consistent separation.

Still, some NFL team is going to get excited about this guy and draft him in the second round. That draft capital plus the intriguing traits and final season will make him a tempting pick in the second round of our dynasty rookie drafts as well. As things stand now, though, there are several other players in that ADP range that I am far more confident in their ability to become fantasy relevant assets that I will be targeting instead.

26. Dylan Laube, RB, New Hampshire

Dylan Laube is one of the funner running back prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft class. He was wildly productive over the last two seasons, albeit at UNH in the FCS. Still, Laube showed he can be a quality runner between the tackles with good vision, patience, and a knack for finding the cut-back lanes. He has enough speed and burst to create breakaway runs. Where he really shines, though, is in the passing game. He creates matchup problems from the backfield as well as lining up in the slot or even out wide. Laube is a legitimately good route runner with good hands and the athletic profile to make plays after the catch. His willingness and ability in pass protection will help him carve out a role on passing downs early in his NFL career.

NFL teams are going to appreciate Laube’s versatility on offense and experience in the return game. That will help him not only get drafted but make a 53-man roster as a rookie and work his way into a role that could eventually make him fantasy relevant. That will likely be as a change-of-pace guy and primary option in passing situations. Draft Capital will come in the middle rounds to a team looking to add a receiving threat to its backfield. In dynasty, Laube is a fun pick in the third round of rookie drafts with the longshot hope that he becomes the next Austin Ekeler.

27. Ray Davis, RB, Kentucky

Ray Davis is quietly one of the more complete running back prospects in the 2024 NFL draft class. He has excellent size at 5-8, 211-pounds, with the requisite speed and athletic traits to fit into any rushing scheme. Davis is an efficient runner with good patience and decisiveness to find the hole and hit the hole. In the passing game, Davis is well-rounded with reliable hands and the skills to run a number of routes out of the backfield. He has one of the better receiving profiles in the class. It’s one of several analytics boxes he checks, including elite numbers in the big three—reception share, yards per team play, and touchdown share.

Where he needs to improve, though, is in pass protection. Davis flashes ability but is inconsistent. He will need to become more reliable if he is to carve out a true three-down role at the next level. While Davis has good speed, it takes him a minute to reach his top gear. He also lacks the burst to be an explosive play threat in the NFL. When he does reach the open field, Davis is not the most elusive. He will run through arm tackles but he’s not making many guys miss with his moves.

Overall, Ray Davis projects as a quality No. 2 running back in the NFL who will provide value on all three downs. He’s your classic “jack-of-all trades, master of none.” He is a big, north-south runner who can also run routes and catches passes. He is experienced and ready to make an impact right away. Davis may not have the highest ceiling, but teams that like a safe pick and want to add a steady presence to their backfield are going to favor him over some of the other backs in the class. Draft capital will likely come in the middle rounds—round four or five. In dynasty, he will make for a nice floor play in the third round of rookie drafts.

28. Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington

Ja’Lynn Polk played second-fiddle to Rome Odunze, and even Jalen McMillan at times, over the last couple seasons at Washington. But that doesn’t mean he should be overlooked during the NFL Draft process. Polk is a talented receiver in his own right. He has good size, athleticism, and possibly the best hands of any wide receiver in the 2024 class. He may not be the fastest, but he has good enough speed to win down field and to create plays after the catch. Polk is also a quality route runner who consistently wins against man coverage and has little trouble creating separation. He can sometimes get held up at the line of scrimmage but that is something that he can work on at the next level.

Where Polk is the most dominant is in contested catch situations. He tracks the ball well down the field and uses his size, strength, and wide catch radius to beat defenders to the catch point. But Polk is far from a one-trick pony. He is a threat on all three levels and can move around the formation—taking snaps from both the slot and out wide. He is a very well-rounded wide receiver who quarterbacks will look to in clutch situations thanks to his reliable hands. Polk projects as a team’s No. 2 wide receiver at the NFL level who will take snaps at Z and from the slot. Polk will be one of many wide receivers drafted on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, with a real shot to crack the top-50. In dynasty, Polk feels like a high-floor, almost “safe” pick in the third round of rookie drafts.

29. Will Shipley, RB, Clemson 

Will Shipley is an undersized back who can add value as both a runner and a receiver. He is a mismatch out of the backfield who can run any route from the running back position as well as kick out to the slot. He has the skill set to create separation versus linebackers and safeties and natural hands to be a reliable target from any depth. As a runner, Shipley displays good vision and patience with the lateral agility, acceleration, and instincts to use his blocks effectively and to create on his own. He’s not quite a home-run threat, but he has the requisite speed to pick up chunk plays and to beat defenders to the edge. Once he’s in the open field, Shipley has enough elusiveness to make defenders miss.

Where he is lacking, is in short yardage and goal line situations. At sub-210 lbs, Shipley doesn’t quite possess the size or strength to consistently win with power. He’s good enough to break through some arm tackles, but he’s not the guy you want on the field when you need to pick up a few tough yards.

At the NFL level, Shipley projects as a quality No. 2 running back who will be a nice complement to a big-bodied, between-the-tackles grinder. He will add a ton of value on passing downs while serving as a change-of-pace runner. Teams will value his versatility as a runner, receiver out of the backfield and the slot, as well as the ability to be an effective kick returner. That should be enough to garner round four draft capital. In dynasty, Will Shipley is a solid pick in the third round of rookie drafts who can become a high-floor play in PPR formats.

30. Javon Baker, WR, UCF

Javon Baker is an above average route runner who particularly thrives in the deep and intermediate quadrants of the field. He doesn’t exactly have “burner” speed and he takes a minute to get going, but that doesn’t stop him from making plays vertically. His ball skills and ball-tracking ability are exceptional. When the ball is in the air, Baker uses his natural instincts to find the football to attack it at its highest point. After the catch, Baker’s lateral agility and explosion kick-in to help him gain additional yards. At the NFL level, Baker projects as a team’s third or fourth option who will primarily play out wide at Z or X. Draft capital won’t come until Day 3, but that won’t prevent him from being one of the more intriguing sleeper wide receivers in the third or fourth round of dynasty rookie drafts.

31. Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas

Ja’Tavion Sanders is a high-upside receiving tight end who was highly productive in the face of fierce target competition (Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell) over the last two seasons. Sanders has the speed and playmaking ability to be a downfield threat. He routinely separates from linebackers and safeties and is a beast after the catch. While he is inconsistent at this time as a blocker, Sanders has the tools to develop into a true all-purpose tight end with the versatility to line up in-line, in the slot, and occasionally at the boundary. That should be music to the ears of dynasty gamers who are looking to add a tight end who could grow into a top-10 option at the position.

32. Isaac Guerendo, RB, Louisville

Isaac Guerendo is an intriguing running back prospect despite his lack of college production. His combination of size and raw athletic traits—speed, explosion, agility, etc—is about as impressive as it gets. Guerendo was a little-known player prior to the NFL Combine. That was until he ran the fastest 40-time of all the running backs (4.33), and jumped out of the stadium. It’s no surprise, then, that Guerendo is a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the football. Guerendo is a decisive runner who hits the hole with purpose. He has the explosion to get to the next level quickly. He’s not one to make a defender miss with his open-field elusiveness, but at 221-pounds, he’s not exactly easy to take down when he gets a head of steam.

While his speed makes him a constant home-run threat, Guerendo can sometimes try too hard to find that big play. He has good vision to find the hole, but he tends to bounce things outside more often than he needs to. In the passing game, Guerendo is serviceable as a check-down option out of the backfield. He has good hands and is a quality pass protector.

The glaring hole in Guerendo’s profile is the lack of production. He played sparingly at Wisconsin while backing up Jonathan Taylor and Braelon Allen. He then continued to play the No. 2 role at Louisville behind Jawhar Jordan. That will likely be his role in the NFL, as well. Guerendo will be a team’s No. 2 or No. 3 running back who can provide value on all three downs. He can act as a change- of-pace guy and an explosive element out of the backfield. However, if he is to ever develop his game to the point where a team makes him their primary ball carrier, Guerendo would become one of the most dangerous running backs in the league. He certainly has the frame and athleticism to do it.

Despite his underwhelming production profile, Guerendo is likely to garner heavy attention on draft weekend. It’s hard to see a guy this athletic fall beyond the middle rounds. Some NFL team is going to call his name with the hopes he develops into his athleticism and they get a steal in the fourth or fifth round. In dynasty, Guerendo is worth a similar shot in rookie drafts based on the tantalizing upside of a 100th-percentile athletic specimen.

33. Kimani Vidal, RB, Troy

Kimani Vidal was a highly productive runner over his final two seasons at Troy. He has good size to be an NFL workhorse with impressive size-adjusted speed and burst. He is a between-the-tackles runner with the explosive traits to break off chunk plays. He follows his blockers well and is rarely tackled for loss yardage. Once he’s in the open field with a head of steam, Vidal is difficult to bring down. And even when you get hands on him, Vidal is always driving his legs and pushing forward to squeeze out one extra yard or two.

In the passing game, Vidal is a very capable receiver, but you won’t mistake him for a receiving weapon. Instead, he’s a reliable target on swings, screens, and check-downs. He will need to improve in pass protection if he is to become a true three-down option, however.

At the NFL level, Vidal will have to fight for a roster spot, but assuming he makes a team, he has a shot to develop into a solid RB2/RB1b, a la a Jaylen Warren type. He has the traits to be a workhorse back if ever given the opportunity, too.

34. Malachi Corley, WR, Western Kentucky

Malachi Corley’s game is built on yards after catch. At 5-10, 215 lbs, he has the frame of a running back. And that’s exactly his mentality when he has the ball in his hands. He wants to run around you and he wants to run through you. He is always looking for ways to squeeze out every last yard he can get. His size and strength, paired with speed make him difficult for the average defensive back to take him down on first contact. The Hilltoppers took full advantage of his skill set, manufacturing touches for Corley in the form of screens, jet sweeps, shallow crosses, etc. However, outside of those types of routes, Corley wasn’t asked to do much else. His route tree had only a few branches and he wasn’t exactly the most savvy route runner, either. It wasn’t often he was asked to run more than 10 or so yards down the field.

That raises concerns for his potential role in an NFL offense without further development in areas like footwork, release, and technique. It’s always worrisome when a guy’s best trait coming out of college is picking up yards after the catch. So often we see that doesn’t translate to the NFL nearly as well as people hope. We have to remember that in college, guys are often playing against defenders who may never even sniff the NFL. That’s especially true when you’re talking about a smaller school like Western Kentucky. Corley, who calls himself the “YAC King,” may be in for a rude awakening when he faces NFL size, speed, and skill. Scouts want him to be Deebo Samuel so bad, and that’s the style he plays, but Deebo is such a rare breed it’s hard to make that bet.

Still, Corley will have a chance to carve out a role early in his career as an underneath slot guy with good hands and playmaking ability. That may not bring enough volume for fantasy football purposes if Corely doesn’t develop into a more well-rounded wide receiver, though. It’s expected he will be selected sometime in the third or fourth round of the NFL Draft and will be a solid third round selection in dynasty rookie drafts.

35. Devontez Walker, WR, North Carolina

Tez Walker is one of several wide receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft class sporting elite level speed. To pair with that, Walker has exceptional acceleration and explosion to make him a true vertical nightmare. He reaches his top speed very quickly which allows him to speed past defenders early in the route. Once the pass is in the air, Walker tracks the ball well and uses his wide catch radius and body control to make the play downfield. With the ball in his hands, Walker is able to speed through the defense, thwarting arm tackles and becoming a true home- run hitter.

Where Walker will need to develop at the NFL level is in his route running. He’s great on the vertical stuff, but otherwise his route tree is quite limited. He struggles off the line versus press and is just simply inexperienced and unrefined in most of the underneath and intermediate patterns. That is something he will need to improve upon if he is going to become a well-rounded playmaker. Still, Walker managed to command volume at both Kent State and during his cup of coffee with the Tar Heels.

In the NFL, Tez Walker projects as a field stretcher early in his career. He might be one-dimensional initially, but there is plenty of development potential in his game. He could eventually become a team’s starting Z-receiver who opposing teams will need to gameplan for. NFL offenses will utilize his explosive traits to stretch defenses vertically and horizontally, and get him into space with screens and jet sweeps. He will be perfect for an offense that likes to utilize motion and isn’t afraid to aggressively target their playmakers down the field.

36. Malik Washington, WR, Virginia

Malik Washington is one of the most fun wide receiver prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft class. He is severely undersized at 5-8, but he is quick and shifty with great ball skills and an intriguing production profile. Washington is a quality route runner who pairs that with his athletic traits and high football IQ to consistently create separation and get open. He has natural and reliable hands and he works well in traffic, making him a go-to target for his quarterback in just about every situation. And that’s how things played out for him in his one year at Virginia. The Cavaliers made Washington the focal point of their offense and found ways to get the ball in his hands in as many ways as they could.

Despite his size, Washington is a tough tackle in the open field. Not only does he use his elite quickness to make guys miss, but he is more than willing and capable to break through arm tackles as well. He has a running back mentality with the ball in his hands and he will fight for every inch.

In the NFL, Malik Washington projects as a depth wide receiver who could compete to be a team’s starting slot. He will thrive in the quick game and underneath routes and be a reliable option in must-have situations. Washington is likely to be a fourth round pick on draft weekend. He will make for an intriguing option, yet low(ish) upside play, in the later rounds of dynasty rookie drafts.

37. Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama

Jermaine Burton is a playmaking wide receiver with exceptional top-end speed and acceleration to get open vertically quickly and consistently. He bursts off the line of scrimmage, burning past his defender early in the route. Then when the ball is in the air, Burton is excellent at tracking it down and adjusting to the throw as necessary. Even when he is challenged at the line of scrimmage, Burton does an excellent job of fighting through that and getting into his route.

While Burton was primarily asked to run vertical patterns at Alabama, he showed enough to instill confidence that he can become a more well-rounded route runner at the next level. He won’t be just a one-dimensional deep threat, even if that is what he does best. In the NFL, Burton has the upside to become a team’s No. 2 or No. 3 option in the passing game, while serving as the primary vertical guy.

38. Isaiah Davis, RB, South Dakota State 

Isaiah Davis is a big running back who runs with power and physicality. He displays good patience and vision behind the line of scrimmage as he sets up his blocks and works his way to the second level. His strength and constant leg churning makes him difficult to bring down on first contact as he seems to always gain additional yardage. Davis does have a tendency to try to bounce runs outside more often than he should which is something he will need to work on at the next level, especially where his athleticism will not translate nearly as well to the NFL as it did at South Dakota State. He has the requisite traits, but his speed and explosiveness are not going to blow anyone away.

Davis showed enough in the passing game to believe he could add value as a check-down option in the NFL. He won’t be a “receiving weapon,” but he has the hands to catch swing passes, screens, and dump-offs.

Davis projects as a back-up running back at the next level. His size and history as a workhorse will give teams the confidence he can handle a heavy workload when needed, plus the versatility to play on all three downs. They will also trust him to protect the football, given he fumbled just three times on nearly 700 carries in college. He will be a mid-round pick in the NFL Draft and will be about the same in dynasty rookie drafts. Select him with the hopes he lands a backup job and can find himself in a fantasy relevant role in the case of an injury to his team’s top back.

39. Spencer Rattler, QB, South Carolina 

Spencer Rattler is an experienced passer who has four years of starts under his belt, across two schools. He is a tough quarterback who isn’t afraid to hang in and make a tough throw under pressure. Rattler isn’t going to scare anyone with his running ability, but he is a quality tactical scrambler who can pick up a first down when things open up for him. As a passer, the name of the game for Rattler is consistency. It’s something he has struggled with. Sometimes he looks deadly accurate, other times not so much. Sometimes he’ll read the defense well and make his way through his progressions, other times he locks onto a target for far too long.

Rattler’s game will be mostly limited to the short and intermediate areas, as his arm strength is lacking to be a true downfield killer at the NFL level. That can also pop up when making tight window throws— the drive on the ball just isn’t there.

In the NFL, Rattler projects as a high-end backup quarterback who may get a chance to be a starter at some point in his career if he develops.

40. Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington

Jalen McMillan is a well-rounded wide receiver with the versatility to play both outside and from the slot. He has good enough speed to beat defenses vertically, plus the route running savvy to create separation in the short and intermediate areas of the field as well. McMillan is a proficient route runner who especially thrives versus zone coverage. He runs just about the whole route tree. He may struggle against physical defenders and press coverage but he has the strong hands and toughness to make plays over the middle of the field.

McMillan projects as a versatile receiver in the NFL who will be at his best from the slot where he can fully maximize his skill set (and cover up his weaknesses), but he will certainly kick outside and take snaps at Z. This is a pro-ready wide receiver. He will factor into a team’s wide receiver rotation early on with the upside to develop into a steady starter. He may not have the highest of ceilings but it’s hard to see him not succeeding. Some team is likely to identify him as a plug-and-play option and snag him in the third round of the NFL Draft. In dynasty, he is one of many wide receiver options to consider in the third round of our rookie drafts. If you like a safe pick in those rounds, Jalen McMillan might be your guy.

41. Jacob Cowing, WR, Arizona

Jacob Cowing is an undersized slot receiver who was massively productive during his five year college career. Cowing has 4.38 speed with impressive acceleration and lateral agility. He checks several key analytical boxes like breakout age, yards per team pass attempt, dominator rating, and receptions per game. Cowing proved his skill set is valuable across different offensive styles and can fit multiple roles. In fact, his yards per reception average was 18.4 during his three seasons at UTEP. At Arizona, it was 10.8 as the Wildcats chose to use him as a close to the line of scrimmage guy whereas UTEP liked him as a downfield playmaker. That versatility, plus his added value in the return game, will be appealing to NFL teams.

The concerns in Cowing’s profile are centered around his ability to create consistent separation and how he operates in traffic and versus physical defenders. It’s not often that we see Cowing win a contested catch which is especially concerning if he is not a big separator. To help combat that, Cowing would be best to land in an offense that likes to spread the field and utilizes motion and other tactics to help their receivers get into space. Draft capital will likely come on Day 3. In dynasty, Cowing is a fun pick in the later rounds of rookie drafts.

42. Audric Estime, RB, Notre Dame

Audric Estime was a dominant runner at Saint Joseph Regional High School in New Jersey. As a senior, he amassed more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage and 24 touchdowns. He was named the New Jersey Football Player of the Year in 2020. As a four-star prospect, Estime received 18 offers, including Michigan State, Arizona State, Louisville, Pitt, and others. He originally committed to Michigan State before pivoting to Notre Dame in the summer of 2021. He played minimally as a freshman, touching the ball just seven times in 12 games behind starter Kyren Williams.

Williams left for the NFL in 2022, though, which left the RB1 job up for grabs. No one really seized the role as Estime and Logan Diggs split the carries with some help from Chris Tyree. Still, it was Estime who was the most efficient runner, leading the team with 920 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. He also caught nine passes for an additional 135 yards.

Estime took charge of the backfield in 2023, starting all 12 games and toting the rock 210 times—over 100 more than any other running back on the team. His 1,341 rushing yards were good for fifth-most in Notre Dame history and his 18 touchdowns broke the school record which had stood since 1984. Estime showed a bit in the passing game as well with 142 yards on 17 receptions. It was enough to earn second-team All- American.

43. Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, Purdue

Tyrone Tracy is one of the more interesting prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft class. He began his college career at Iowa where he played wide receiver for four seasons before transferring to Purdue and making the switch to running back. Despite his inexperience at the position, Tracy proved to be a quality runner in 2023. He runs with a good combination of speed and power with open-field elusiveness and impressive balance. He’s a bit indecisive behind the line of scrimmage and his vision comes and goes, but everything he showed last season laid the foundation for potential development.

Of course, being a former wide receiver, Tracy is an above-average pass-catcher who will add immediate value on passing downs. That versatility, plus his experience and skills as a kick returner will not only help him get drafted, but will help him make a roster and get on the field while buying enough time to develop his running back skills.

With less than 150 career carries, drafting Tracy is a bet on his athletic profile. He has requisite size with impressive size-adjusted speed, plus elite explosion and lateral agility. If you like drafting for upside in the late rounds of rookie drafts (you should), then Tyrone Tracy Jr should be high on your list of targets.

44. Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State 

Ben Sinnott is a former walk-on at Kansas State who developed into back-to-back first-team all-conference player. He is an athletic player who can do a little bit of everything, but doesn’t have any real strengths or standout traits to point to. It feels like he is so close to being a really strong all-around player but he comes up just short in all phases. Still, with some development, he could become something. The athletic traits and size are surely there. More than any other position, athleticism is critical for tight ends to become high-end fantasy producers. Sinnott checks that box.

He is a quality route runner who can win on all three levels. He is good at the catch point, as well as creating yards after the catch. He was a decent blocker at Kansas State but he will need to become stronger and more physical at the point of attack if he is going to translate that to the NFL level. It might take some patience, but Sinnott has a chance to develop into a fantasy relevant player.

45. Theo Johnson, TE, Penn State

Theo Johnson has the size and athletic tools to be a playmaking tight end at the NFL level. He didn’t have a ton of production at Penn State, but production is far less important when predicting fantasy football performance for tight ends than it is for the other positions. Instead, athleticism is the name of the game for this group, and Theo Johnson checks that box with ease. He ran 4.57 at the NFL Combine, which, at his size, is elite level size-adjusted speed. He also performed well in the explosion drills. We know the ceiling is there for Johnson to be a starting tight end in fantasy football. It’s far from a guarantee, but it is in his range of outcomes and makes him a worthwhile dart throw at the end of rookie drafts it you’re in need of tight end help.

46. Brenden Rice, WR, USC

Brenden Rice is a physical wide receiver who uses his combination of size and speed well to win down the field. He’s not as fast as some of the other wide receivers in the 2024 class, but Rice is fast enough that he can pair that speed with nuance to create vertical separation. In the event that he is unable to get open, Rice uses his size and strong hands to win at the catch point. That wide catch radius makes him a safety valve for his quarterback to turn to when he gets in trouble. Where Rice struggles, is in the underneath stuff. He is not as consistent winning on routes in the short areas, especially when he is challenged at the line of scrimmage.

Rice was an underwhelming producer at the college level, especially considering he had the privilege of playing with elite quarterback prospect Caleb Williams. Rice never reached 800 receiving yards and his team share metrics fall short of the desired thresholds. He certainly doesn’t project to follow the career path of his father. Still, Rice will bring some value to an NFL team as a vertical player who brings size and physicality to the field. Rice projects a a rotational depth receiver who could be called upon in the red zone due to his wide catch radius. In dynasty, Rice is a low-upside option in the late rounds of rookie drafts.

47. Bucky Irving, RB, Oregon

Bucky Irving is a fun running back to watch. He is quick and shifty with impressive lateral agility and the creativity to make plays even when nothing is there. He is a patient runner behind the line of scrimmage who displays good vision and instincts to work his way to the next level. Once he gets to the open field, Irving is one of the more elusive running backs in the class. Not only can he make you miss with wiggle, but he has great contact balance that makes him harder to tackle than your typical 195-pound back.

With that said, Irving is not necessarily a true home-run hitter. His 4.55 40-time at the NFL Combine was very underwhelming considering his size. If you’re going to be a small running back in the NFL, you better at least be fast. He is also not the guy you’re going to call upon in short-yardage and goal line opportunities. His lack of size and power make him less than effective in those situations.

Irving makes up for that, though, in the receiving game. He displayed excellent hands and versatility at Oregon. He got a lot of check-downs and swing patterns, but he did move out wide or to the slot on occasion. Irving is comfortable running routes from any alignment. He will need to improve his pass protection, though, if he is to become a featured player on passing downs at the next level.

In the NFL, Bucky Irving projects as a rotational back who is capable as both a runner and a receiver. It’s hard to see a clear path to fantasy relevance, though, with the undersized frame and disappointing athletic testing. Irving won’t be much of a consideration in rookie drafts.

48. Joe Milton III, QB, Tennessee 

You’re drafting Joe Milton strictly based on physical tools. He’s a massive 6-5, 235-pounds with an incredibly strong arm. He can throw the ball as deep as anyone with incredible velocity at the other depths. The issue is, he’s often inaccurate and doesn’t work his way through progressions well. His passes have very little touch and he’s been known to miss his target by a wide margin. Given that he spent six seasons in college, he probably doesn’t have much more development left. For that reason, it’s unlikely we ever get more than a couple “wow” moments from Milton during his career. Still, the tantalizing upside of his physical gifts will get him drafted in the middle rounds of both the NFL Draft and our superflex rookie drafts. He is not worth consideration in single quarterback leagues.

49. Frank Gore Jr., RB, Southern Mississippi 

Frank Gore Jr. is a tough runner with good vision and balance. He proved at Southern Mississippi that he can handle a heavy workload despite his 201-pound frame. He brings value to all three downs as he caught 75 passes during his college career. Where he lacks is in overall athleticism. Gore’s lateral agility and explosion are underwhelming and he will never be mistaken as a home run hitter. Still, he does a lot of things well and had a productive career. He will be given every chance to fail at the NFL level thanks to being the son of an all- time great.

50. Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State 

Johnny Wilson is a massive 6-6, 231-pound wide receiver. He presents his quarterback with a huge target, given his wide catch radius and towering size over every defender on the field. Unfortunately, however, Wilson is not nearly as automatic in contested catch situations as you would think. In fact, he’s actually quite underwhelming in his ability to go get the ball in traffic for a guy of his size. He lacks the ball skills, body control, and overall essential traits of playing the wide receiver position. Instead, it seems like he has mostly gotten to this point in his career by leaning on his size advantage and freakish athleticism. And even then, his production profile is lacking across the board.

Some have suggested that Wilson switch to tight end at the NFL level. It’s feasible, given he wouldn’t have to add a ton of weight and he would instantly be one of the best athletes at the position. He even showed at Florida State that he is already a willing and skilled blocker. He could be a Darren Waller type. The mismatches vs linebackers and safeties would be much more impactful than lining him up against cornerbacks on the boundary. Wilson has refused to consider the change so it is unlikely to happen, but it may be in his best interest.

In the meantime, we have to continue evaluating Wilson as a wide receiver, where he is still a work in progress. At the NFL level, Wilson will be used as a situational red zone and vertical threat in an attempt to use his size to create matchup advantages. He could also he asked to catch some screens and underneath targets to exploit his size after the catch versus smaller defenders on the outside. In dynasty, his rookie draft ADP will likely settle into the late third or early fourth round.

51. Luke McCaffrey, WR, Rice

Luke McCaffrey plays exactly how you would expect Christian McCaffrey’s little brother to play football. He’s tough, he’s smart, he’s versatile, and he doesn’t shy away from contact. McCaffrey began his career as a QB/WR hybrid who barely saw the field. Since transitioning to wide receiver full-time over his final two college seasons, he became a productive outlet for the Rice football team. He has reliable hands and is excellent at adjusting to the football and making the difficult catches in contested and high-traffic situations. His experience playing quarterback shows up often with high football IQ and awareness.

McCaffrey’s routes will need continued development as he makes the transition to the NFL. There are also concerns about how well he will do versus press coverage at the NFL level and if he will be able to separate against pro cornerbacks.

McCaffrey has the size, athletic traits, and the genes to give him every chance to succeed in the NFL. He tested extremely well at the Combine with 4.46 speed, plus elite-level agility. McCaffrey projects as a depth receiver and special teamer who could develop into a quality big slot or Z-receiver.

52. Jamari Thrash, WR, Louisville 

Jamari Thrash is a smooth operator who runs quality routes and has enough speed to make plays down the field. He does struggle against physical defenders and in contested catch situations. His lack of play strength leaves him vulnerable to get pushed around a bit throughout his route. Thrash had some strong collegiate seasons from a production standpoint, particularly during his time at UTEP. He tracks the ball well down the field and can change direction on a dime. In the NFL, he projects as a rotational depth wide receiver who can line up at either the slot or Z positions. He doesn’t have any dominant traits that would make you think he has the ceiling to become a starting-caliber fantasy asset. Therefore, is best left for the late rounds of rookie drafts.

53. Cade Stover, TE, Ohio State

Cade Stover began his college career as a two-way player, playing as a reserve defensive end, linebacker, and tight end. Just a few years later, he was a finalist for the John Mackey award, given to the nation’s top tight end. If his trajectory continues at its current rate, we could see Stover become a starting tight end in the NFL within a couple years. Stover’s size and athleticism make him a dangerous weapon both before and after the catch. He creates a mismatch for slower linebackers and smaller safeties/cornerbacks, where he can create separation on all three levels. Once he has the ball in his hands, Stover will eat up yards by running through guys and or utilizing some wiggle to run around them. Stover is a sleeper tight end in the 2024 class with a lot of upside. It might not happen right away, but we might be starting him in our fantasy lineups two or three years down the line.

54. Jaheim Bell, TE, Florida State 

Jaheim Bell is more raw athlete than polished tight end. He has the speed and athleticism to win vertically and to create yards after the catch, but his overall play is inconsistent and unrefined. He doesn’t possess the size, play strength, or technique to make an effective in-line blocker. And while he can make some impressive contested catches, Bell doesn’t have the most reliable pair of mitts. Bell is a “tweener” tight end who may struggle to establish a role at the NFL level unless he makes significant strides to develop into his raw athletic traits.

55. Dillon Johnson, RB, Washington 

Dillon Johnson is a between-the-tackles grinder running back. He is a physical runner who runs with good vision and decisiveness behind the line of scrimmage. He has the frame to handle a heavy workload and he can wear down a defense over the course of a game. Where he lacks is in overall athleticism. Johnson has 4.68 speed so he is not running away from many NFL defenders or turning the corner on outside carries. He’s also not the most agile or explosive runner.

In the passing game, Johnson is a quality receiver who has a ton of experience catching passes out of the backfield during his time in college. He’s not a weapon, necessarily, but he can certainly be a reliable option in the progression. In the NFL, Johnson projects as a team’s No. 2 or No. 3 running back who will do especially well in short-yardage and goal line opportunities, with the versatility to play on third downs as well. A team looking for a tough runner with size and a physical play style will happily use a Day 3 pick on Dillon Johnson. In dynasty, he is a low-upside play in the final rounds of rookie drafts. The hope would be that he ends up with a workhorse role due to an injury or two ahead of him.

56. Cody Schrader, RB, Missouri

It was quite the journey, but it ended with an 1,800-all-purpose yardage season in the SEC for Cody Schrader. Shrader is a jack of all trades, master of none type of running back. He can do a bit of everything but he doesn’t have any elite traits. Schrader has good vision and he is decisive when picking a lane behind the line of scrimmage. He is a tough runner despite barely cracking 200-pounds. He can handle a heavy workload and tire out a defense over the course of a game. Where Schrader is lacking is in overall athleticism. He runs in the 4.6s and doesn’t have the explosive traits to be a home run hitter at the NFL level. He showed enough in the passing game, including in protection, to believe he can add value on all three downs. Schrader projects as a team’s No. 2 or No. 3 running back.

57. Jaden Shirden, RB, Monmouth

Jaden Shirden is an undersized running back who is coming off back-to-back highly productive seasons at Monmouth. Shirden runs with good vision and is decisive when choosing a lane. He is elusive in the open field with enough speed and acceleration to rip off long runs. He doesn’t bring much to the table in terms of strength or power, as he profiles as more of a change-of-pace runner at the next level. Shirden also has the receiving chops to add some value as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. He will be a late round pick if he is drafted at all, but he is at least worthy of being on the dynasty radar in deep leagues in the event that he develops into his upside.

58. Anthony Gould, WR, Oregon State 

Anthony Gould isn’t your typical 4.39 speed guy who just runs straight lines down the field. He is a well- rounded wide receiver who can win on all three levels with quality route-running and some nuance to his game. Of course, that’s not to say he isn’t excellent as a vertical threat. He will surely burn most cornerbacks with his elite speed and acceleration. And when the ball is in the air, Gould does a great job of locating it and tracking it down. Where he struggles, is in traffic and contested situations. A lot of that is due to his 5-8, 174-pound frame that severely hinders his play strength and catch radius. Still, Gould is a tough player who is not bound to the slot despite his size. In fact, most of his snaps at Oregon State came on the boundary. With that said, Gould will likely get more looks in the slot at the NFL level, but it’s good to know he has the versatility.

59. Jha’Quan Jackson, WR, Tulane

Jha’Quan Jackson is an undersized slot receiver with the explosive traits to make him a big-play threat. Jackson can stretch the field vertically by running slot fades and deep crossers. He has the versatility to be a gadget guy and a target on screens and jet sweeps. While Jackson proved capable of winning on all three levels at Tulane, he lacks the technique and nuance, particularly in the underneath areas, to confidently project that to translate to the NFL level. His inconsistent hands and shortcomings in traffic are concerning given the area of the field he is projected to play as a primary slot receiver.

Still, Jackson can provide an explosive element to an offense as well as value as a punt returner. He will be a late round pick in the NFL Draft, to a team wanting to add that skill set. It’s unlikely he will ever be a reliable option in fantasy football, given he likely won’t command enough volume—he averaged fewer than three receptions per game in every season at Tulane.

60. Raheen Ali, RB, Marshall

Rasheen Ali is an underrated running back in the 2024 class. He runs with good patience but is decisive when a lane becomes available. His lateral agility makes for an effective vertical cut up the field, particularly on outside concepts. Where Ali is lacking is in play strength, breakaway speed, and overall elusiveness. However, he makes up for it, though, with above average receiving skills. Ali is one of the more productive running backs in the passing game among the 2024 class. He has the skill to catch passes out of the backfield as well as line up in the slot or even out wide. That’s where he will have to make his way in the NFL if he’s going to have a career at the pro level.

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