Fantasy football managers are finally starting to get their first full glimpse at this talented crop of rookies as training camps opened across the NFL this past week.
Whether it be due to injuries or multiple reports of either positive or negative performances at camp — the dynasty rookie draft rankings board can be very fluid this time of the fantasy year.
Here is how our dynasty rookie mock draft shook out at the start of training camp. Please keep in mind this mock was conducted in a 1QB non-PPR format.
1QB Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft
1.01) Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals
Hype trains surrounding the top incoming rookie prospects can tend to get a little out of hand during this time of the year. Yet, Marvin Harrison Jr. joining forces with Kyler Murray in Arizona feels like a great starting point for fantasy success in 2024.
It’s early in the training camp process, but Harrison has already started to flash some of his playmaking ability through some of his first days on a professional field.
Fans excited to see this connection here at the first open practice of #CardsCamp pic.twitter.com/K76pFaKgHH
— Craig Grialou (@CraigAZSports)
One reason why fantasy managers are excited about Harrison in 2024 is due to the fantasy situation he is entering in Arizona. TE Trey McBride is his biggest competition for targets in his rookie year — which shouldn’t impact his role very much as an outside vertical threat in this offense.
Combine Harrison’s stellar physical profile with his exceptional route-running nuance, great release package, and formation versatility, and you have the chance for something truly special at the position.
Not to mention, Harrison’s pairing with Murray is also ideal when you consider Murray’s track record of peppering an alpha X-receiver on the outside with targets if you recall his chemistry with DeAndre Hopkins a few years ago.
One could attempt to make an argument for another player, but Harrison feels like the sure-thing 1.01 selection in 1QB leagues, even in a non-PPR format.
1.02) Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants
In case you aren’t prone to scouring the internet for training camp highlights, Malik Nabers has been absolutely terrorizing the entire New York Giants secondary from the moment training camp started.
Nabers 😮💨🔥 pic.twitter.com/WkQMJDvuZG
— New York Giants (@Giants)
Unfortunately, many other highlights from Nabers’ first days at training camp have been paired with multiple underthrows from QB Daniel Jones, which highlights the skepticism surrounding his projected fantasy ceiling in 2024.
Landing spots can often be very subjective when trying to project fantasy expectations early in a player’s career. A bad offense could be viewed as a terrible situation or, conversely, an opportunity for a dynamic prospect to be the featured player early in his career.
To be honest, I totally get it. New York’s passing offense has been mostly atrocious during the Jones era, with the former No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft never topping 3,300 passing yards in any season of his career.
Could some of it have to do with the lack of talent at WR? After all, no Giants WR has topped 70 receptions or 800 receiving yards since Odell Beckham Jr. back in 2018. Darius Slayton has mostly been the top receiving threat over the last five years, and he doesn’t hold a candle to the upside Nabers possesses.
Nabers’ elite separation skills, vertical playmaking prowess, and dynamic run-after-catch (RAC) ability make him the featured weapon in New York’s offense in 2024. He should be heavily involved from the moment he steps on the field. Whether his presence will elevate Jones’ performance under center remains to be seen.
1.03) Rome Odunze, WR, Chicago Bears
Just in case you forgot, there is a third top-tier pass-catching prospect at wide receiver in this draft class. Rome Odunze undoubtedly has the most target competition of the top prospects on this list but has still flashed his top-shelf playmaking ability early in training camp.
Caleb Williams hits Rome Odunze in the end zone for a touchdown!
Beautiful. #Bears pic.twitter.com/TrnGbik71A
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24)
On the flip side, Odunze landed in an ideal long-term situation in comparison to Nabers, being paired with top rookie QB prospect Caleb Williams for the foreseeable future. Yet, he has not one but two excellent receivers he’ll be competing for targets with in 2024.
Odunze will have DJ Moore and Keenan Allen on the roster trying to gobble up looks from a first-year quarterback. This certainly will cap his fantasy ceiling in his rookie year.
Odunze’s prospect profile as a contested-catch ace with an incredibly well-rounded skill set while entering the NFL with no glaring weaknesses should make him a contributor to this revamped Bears’ offense in 2024. His speed, strength, route running, and formation versatility could make him a top-five fantasy WR in the future, but fantasy managers will likely have to be patient with frustrating returns early in his career.
1.04) Brock Bowers, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
The fantasy community has been split on Brock Bowers‘ fantasy outlook entering the NFL because of the presence of Michael Mayer as a competent in-line blocking tight end and subpar options at quarterback. Good thing I’m here to remind you Bowers is an elite weapon at the TE position who can be deployed in a variety of ways to make an instant fantasy impact.
#Raiders CB Nate Hobbs says Brock Bowers' speed can make the former Georgia star TE a matchup nightmare.
"I had no clue. Usually when I get on a tight end I could let off or jog a little bit. With him, you got to be locked in because he's different." pic.twitter.com/VVq8XUlhv0
— Nick Walters (@nickwalt)
Bowers is the best tight end prospect I’ve ever seen come from the college game. He possesses exceptional RAC ability and has the elite athleticism to be a mismatch against the vast majority of linebackers and safeties trying to check him in man coverage, which gives him a long-term ceiling of TE1 overall in dynasty formats.
Yet, his questionable quarterback play (apologies to the Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew II truthers out there), tough target competition with Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers around, and the presence of a quality tight end in Mayer means Bowers’ immediate fantasy profile in 2024 isn’t quite as exciting as some of the players ranked below him on this list.
In dynasty, we are playing chess, not checkers. I still believe in Bowers’ elite talent from a long-term perspective, but his immediate fantasy outlook drops him below both Nabers and Odunze in this mock.
1.05) Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears
Most quarterbacks selected at No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft have a multitude of baked-in excuses not to produce early in their careers because of shortcomings on the roster. That doesn’t feel like the case for Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams. I mean, has there ever been a better situation for the No. 1 overall draft selection to walk into his rookie year? I don’t recall one.
Greetings from Rome pic.twitter.com/70qV5BmXTV
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears)
The collection of great receiver prospects landing in ideal landing spots makes it very difficult to select a quarterback with the 1.05 selection in a 1QB format. Nevertheless, Williams’ situation and fantasy upside in Chicago’s offense feel impossible to ignore.
With his roster, he could very well produce QB1-type fantasy numbers in Year 1. While he isn’t Lamar Jackson-level dynamic, Williams is still a dual-threat weapon who can excel in off-script scenarios and plays within structure enough to competently run an NFL offense.
If Williams can limit the negative plays that appeared a bit too frequently during his final days at USC, then his fantasy upside certainly warrants this selection, even in a 1QB format.
1.06) Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
I have a quick confession to make … I really want to rank Ladd McConkey higher than this. I can’t quite justify it, but I’m fighting my impulses at the moment.
Ladd McConkey vs Derwin James #ChargersCamp pic.twitter.com/fJlkVSSKia
— Chargers Country (@ChargersCountry)
I truly believe there is a universe that exists where McConkey could lead all rookie receivers in receptions and yards this season. The departures of Allen, Mike Williams, Gerald Everett, and Austin Ekeler vacate an insane amount of production — 320 targets, 229 receptions, and 2,339 yards — from last year’s roster. McConkey also has the best separation skills of the other receivers on the roster, playing alongside Joshua Palmer and Quentin Johnston.
RELATED: Dynasty Fantasy Football Trade Chart
McConkey’s exceptional separation skills, elite RAC ability, and vertical speed should lead to a heavy target share from the moment he steps on the field in 2024, but his pairing with the young and talented Justin Herbert leads to a long-term fantasy outlook that rivals most any player ahead of him on this list.
1.07) Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Want to know another receiver who landed in an excellent fantasy spot and has flashed plenty of playmaking ability through the first few days of training camp? Well, the answer is Xavier Worthy.
This was noteworthy.@PatrickMahomes x @XavierWorthy pic.twitter.com/9p0eq5iVSO
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs)
These glimpses of Patrick Mahomes instantly clicking with the fastest player in NFL Combine history should strike fear into the hearts of opponents for the foreseeable future.
Worthy’s size makes him a bit polarizing in the fantasy community, potentially limiting him to a third or fourth option in the Chiefs’ offense, but the upside is just too glaring to ignore in this circumstance. Yes, Worthy isn’t just small by NFL standards; standing at 5’11”, 165 pounds, you could doubt that he is a professional football player if you saw him out in public.
Yet, Worthy’s dynamic vertical ability, paired with underrated route-running skills and overlooked RAC production, gives Kansas City’s offense a moveable weapon to thrive with Mahomes for years to come.
1.08) Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Through no fault of his own, Brian Thomas Jr. fell down the board in comparison to his pre-draft ranking as WR4 because of McConkey and Worthy’s exceptional landing spots. However, Thomas being paired with Trevor Lawrence is far from a poor situation.
In fact, it’s the same type of ideal long-term scenario if Lawrence can make the leap into the elite territory that many have hoped for over the last two seasons.
Surprisingly, of all the top receiver prospects selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Thomas’ preseason hype has been the quietest of the bunch.
This isn’t a great start because Thomas does have some decent competition for targets in this offense with Christian Kirk, Evan Engram, and Gabe Davis all on the roster. Yet, Thomas’ fantasy ceiling as a vertical threat with exceptional size, length, and movement skills still makes him a great WR prospect in this class with a great long-term fantasy ceiling.
1.09) Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
If you’re selecting a signal-caller in your 1QB dynasty rookie draft, you better be investing in a player who you believe has QB1 overall upside.
Well, Jayden Daniels‘ elite upside as a runner, paired with his development as a passer in college, is the recipe that led the Ravens’ Jackson to QB1 overall heights in 2019.
Daniels will enter a Commanders’ offense that can utilize his legs with RPO concepts and boasts a decent amount of pass-catching talent, such as Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Luke McCaffrey, and Ben Sinnott.
If he can stay healthy, Daniel’s fantasy upside is well worth a pick in the back half of Round 1.
1.10) Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals
It still doesn’t feel quite right mocking a talented running back prospect like Trey Benson this late in Round 1 (especially in a non-PPR format). But the stacked nature of the QB and WR positions paired with unfavorable landing spots for the top RB prospects has made this a very unique board.
Benson was the best running back on my board heading into the draft process and fell into the Cardinals’ laps in the third round. He could see plenty of touches in his rookie year, but he’s far from guaranteed a feature role in 2024.
Optimistically though, Benson still projects favorably as the RB of the future behind veteran James Conner. Benson is a big play waiting to happen and can contribute on all three downs — which gives him some stand-alone value as an explosive complementary piece to start his career with a projected leading role as early as 2025.
1.11) Jonathon Brooks, RB, Carolina Panthers
For many dynasty managers, Jonathon Brooks becoming the first running back off the board after tearing his ACL last year validates him as the fantasy RB1 of this class. If you’re in that camp, you won’t hear a huge argument from me.
Yet, there’s a real possibility that Brooks won’t be available for the start of his rookie season, with an outside shot that he won’t see the field at all in 2024. Unfortunately, Brooks was unsurprisingly placed on the physically unable to perform list to start camp — which makes his outlook for his rookie year a bit cloudy at this time.
no timeline for #Panthers rookie RB Jonathon Brooks returning to practice with the team, per Dan Morganpic.twitter.com/U7zFgYMqrU
— =͟͟͞Blande (@JustBlande)
Running back data suggests many of the best years of players at the position come early in their careers, which is a little problematic for me regarding Brooks’ profile.
He also didn’t land in the best of situations with the Carolina Panthers, who are still very much a work in progress while trying to retool the offensive scheme around Bryce Young.
Sure, with Chuba Hubbard in the final year of his rookie deal in 2024, there is certainly a path to a bell-cow role in 2025. But that’s assuming Brooks’ recovery from surgery goes well and Carolina doesn’t fire its head coach for a third straight year.
The upside is there for Brooks, but his profile carries some red flags this season.
1.12) Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills
Despite some of the potential separation skills on his prospect profile, Keon Coleman has managed to make a handful of big plays early in Buffalo Bills training camp. Since the WR1 role is completely up for grabs in Buffalo entering this season, this is an outstanding development.
17 ➡️ 0. #BillsCamp@JoshAllenQB | @KeonColeman6 | @Ticketmaster pic.twitter.com/RHyGq8qnp8
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills)
The fact the Bills moved on from both Stefon Diggs and Davis this offseason means there are theoretically 241 targets completely up for grabs between Coleman, Dalton Kincaid, Khalil Shakir, and Curtis Samuel. All three of the other options are best suited for slot work, which makes Coleman the best outside option the team has on the roster. When Josh Allen is your quarterback, that is a very valuable fantasy position to find yourself in.
Coleman’s upside does come paired with some separation concerns — namely, his ability to beat press coverage and a lack of vertical speed. But his contested-catch ability certainly makes him a red-zone threat on Day 1, with the potential to develop into a true WR1 if the rest of his game blossoms over the next few years.
2.01) Ricky Pearsall, WR, San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers didn’t have Ricky Pearsall on the football field to start training camp, but his recent activation from the non-football injury list should help put fantasy managers’ minds at ease entering rookie drafts.
The decision to select Pearsall at the end of the first round in this year’s NFL Draft did feel a bit confusing with Deebo Samuel Sr. and Brandon Aiyuk already on the roster. However, in today’s NFL, you can never have too many playmakers out on the perimeter.
At this time, Aiyuk is holding-in regarding his contract situation — which has been tied to potential trade rumors for the star receiver all offseason. If Aiyuk gets traded before the start of the season, then I would feel comfortable bumping him ahead of Coleman and possibly even Brooks — but if everything stays status quo, Pearsall just won’t have enough opportunities in 2024 to make a big impact.
2.02) Adonai Mitchell, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Adonai Mitchell was my WR5 heading into the pre-draft process and still managed to find a quality landing spot with the Indianapolis Colts in the second round.
Mitchell immediately provides Anthony Richardson with a huge upgrade in the vertical weapon department, but he’ll still have to compete with Michael Pittman Jr., who saw 156 targets last year, and slot dynamo Josh Downs for targets.
Mitchell is a candidate to be a significant upgrade to Alec Pierce, who produced a rough 0.87 yards per route run with one of the best snap shares at the WR position of last season.
If Mahomes or Allen were the quarterback throwing Mitchell these deep shots down the field, I’d feel a bit more comfortable projecting better numbers. But Richardson is still a bit of an unknown as a pure passer, which gives Mitchell a wider range of outcomes over the next two years operating as a second option.
2.03) Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, New England Patriots
The Patriots did a good job of finding quality receiving talent to put around Drake Maye this offseason, with the highlight being their second-round pick, Ja’Lynn Polk.
Polk enters a WR room with just DeMario Douglas currently locked into a starting role. Thus, Polk could become a candidate to return top-25 WR production as a rookie and potentially become Maye’s go-to guy for years to come.
Polk’s exceptional ball skills, sticky hands, and ideal formation versatility make him one of the biggest WR draft winners from a fantasy perspective.
2.04) Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
Remember when I said upside matters when trying to determine taking a quarterback in a 1QB format?
Drake Maye has all the physical tools to become a fantasy star if he can improve his throwing mechanics and accuracy issues. Some may argue his situation with the New England Patriots is awful.
However, I would argue the organization did a good job finding quality receiver talent in the 2024 NFL Draft — Polk and Javon Baker — to surround Maye and help him grow into an elite difference-maker under center beyond 2024.
2.05) Malachi Corley, WR, New York Jets
From a route-running refinement perspective, Malachi Corley is far from a finished product. Yet, he possesses one of the most valuable skill sets a fantasy receiver can have: exceptional RAC ability.
Once Corley has the ball in his hands, he essentially becomes a running back with exceptional contact balance, great short-area burst, and creative instincts. Can we trust Nathaniel Hackett to scheme up Corley to best utilize his elite skill set? That remains to be seen.
If you were asking Corley to be your alpha receiver, then he would be a bit lower on this list. But his skill set fits perfectly alongside Garrett Wilson and gives Aaron Rodgers a great checkdown weapon in 2024.
2.06) J.J. McCarthy, QB, Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings managed to get their quarterback of the future without having to give up a king’s ransom to select J.J. McCarthy at No. 10 overall. McCarthy is in a great situation with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson to throw the ball to and Kevin O’Connell orchestrating the offensive game plan.
McCarthy’s athleticism as a runner feels a bit underrated. He flashed plenty of processing ability and arm talent at Michigan. However, some questions about McCarthy’s game make projecting him for immediate fantasy success a bit murky.
If you are investing in McCarthy in a 1QB format like this, he is more of a long-term play than someone you want to have big expectations for in 2024.
2.07) Xavier Legette, WR, Carolina Panthers
Speaking of Panthers with red flags on their profile, Carolina made South Carolina WR Xavier Legette the last pick of the first round to help give Young a vertical weapon who can dominate smaller DBs at the catch point.
It’s definitely a bit concerning that Legette had just one year’s worth of noteworthy production during his five years in college. Nevertheless, he steps into a WR room with plenty of opportunity to earn a hefty target share alongside Diontae Johnson in 2024 and beyond.
Legette has the speed (4.39-second 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine), size (6’1, 221 pounds), and ball skills to be a big-time difference maker as an outside X receiver in the NFL. Yet, his fate may very well be tied to how well Young performs in new Panthers head coach Dave Canales’ offensive scheme.
2.08) Jalen McMillan, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Another player turning heads in training camp is Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie WR Jalen McMillan. He has already made a handful of plays in 11-on-11s and caught multiple touchdowns from Baker Mayfield while running with the starters.
#Bucs ran a simulated 2 minute drill and who else catches the game winner other than Jalen McMillan.
Fantastic day today for the rook. pic.twitter.com/1lmXiFBuvE
— James Hill (MrBucsNation) (@MrBucsNation)
McMillan’s versatility was his calling card at Washington, but an injury-plagued 2023 campaign saw his stock drop a bit behind Odunze and Polk. The flashes of great route-running timing, formation versatility, and RAC ability all make him a player who should be on your radar at the end of the second round.
2.09) Javon Baker, WR, New England Patriots
One final riser from the early days of training camp has been Patriots WR Javon Baker, who has made multiple acrobatic snags operating mostly on the outside of the formation.
Javon Baker the stud that you are. pic.twitter.com/oXfAwjeIWB
— Dom (@DomDoesNFL)
The Patriots’ passing offense may not have much experience, but this could be a far more productive bunch than fantasy managers are expecting if the Maye experiment under center goes well in 2024.
2.10) Jaylen Wright, RB, Miami Dolphins
One player who potentially saw his dynasty value take a big hit was Miami Dolphins RB De’Von Achane. This after the team selected Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright.
Wright ran into an obnoxious number of light boxes in the unique Vols offensive scheme, which could actually play out similarly in Miami, with both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle consistently threatening opposing defenses vertically to create soft seven-man fronts.
Sure, Wright may not be guaranteed a huge volume of work in 2024 working in tandem with Achane. Yet, just as Achane proved last year, it doesn’t take many touches from an explosive runner to make a big fantasy impact in Miami’s wide-open offense.
2.11) Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, New York Giants
One of the most intriguing prospects in this class is Purdue’s Tyrone Tracy Jr., who successfully transitioned from wide receiver to running back toward the end of his collegiate career.
The move proved to be an excellent decision. The vision was a bit inconsistent, but his burst, lateral agility, contact balance, and creativity all flashed as a running back.
Tracy also provides an ideal pass-catching skill set due to his experience as a receiver and even put some nice pass-protection reps on tape. He enters a New York backfield with just Devin Singletary firmly ahead of him, making him a nice late-second or early-third-round option in rookie drafts.
2.12) Roman Wilson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Speaking of Johnson, the Pittsburgh Steelers may have found his replacement by selecting Michigan WR Roman Wilson in the third round.
Wilson has all of the explosive athletic tools to be a great vertical complement to George Pickens in this offense, but he’ll have to beat out players like Quez Watkins and Van Jefferson early in his career to get on the field.
Sure, the No. 2 option in an Arthur Smith offensive scheme hasn’t traditionally offered much in the way of fantasy-friendly production, but the opportunity to compete for a healthy target share in what could be an improved offense makes for a nice value in the middle of the second round.
Rookie Mock Draft | Rounds 3-4
3.01) Jermaine Burton, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
3.02) Ray Davis, RB, Buffalo Bills
3.03) Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos
3.04) Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams
3.05) Troy Franklin, WR, Denver Broncos
3.06) MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers
3.07) Malik Washington, WR, Miami Dolphins
3.08) Devontez Walker, WR, Baltimore Ravens
3.09) Ben Sinnott, TE, Washington Commanders
3.10) Kimani Vidal, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
3.11) Michael Penix Jr., QB, Atlanta Falcons
3.12) Luke McCaffrey, WR, Washington Commanders
4.01) Rasheen Ali, RB, Baltimore Ravens
4.02) Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Carolina Panthers
4.03) Dylan Laube, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
4.04) Jalen Coker, WR, Carolina Panthers
4.05) Audric Estimé, RB, Denver Broncos
4.06) Johnny Wilson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
4.07) Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4.08) Isaac Guerendo, RB, San Francisco 49ers
4.09) Jaheim Bell, TE, New England Patriots
4.10) Blake Watson, RB, Denver Broncos
4.11) Will Shipley, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
4.12) Mason Tipton, WR, New Orleans Saints
