Five 2024 Rookies To Buy In Dynasty Fantasy Football Leagues

Rookies are an essential part of building a consistent contender in dynasty football leagues. They are one of the best ways to replace aging talent on your roster.

Unfortunately, some rookie picks don’t quite work out and that can set your team back a bit. While this does happen often in dynasty football, it’s important to correctly identify which rookies you should buy after a disappointing debut season. Just because a player doesn’t immediately meet lofty expectations, we shouldn't always give up on them. As the great Charles Xavier once said: “Just because someone stumbles and loses their way, it doesn’t mean they’re lost forever.”

Make sure you’re following RotoBaller on X and check out RotoBaller.com for all your fantasy football needs. Here are five 2024 rookies that you should buy in your dynasty fantasy football leagues.

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Rome Odunze - WR, Chicago Bears

Many analysts are ready to write Odunze off as a bust due to poor advanced metrics and per-route data. However, Chicago’s offense was so bad in 2024 that it’s not really fair to judge anyone based on what we saw.

Odunze’s rookie year is a case where we must take all that data and flush it down the toilet as it’s not a fair representation of his play. This is still a highly talented receiver who knows how to get open against NFL defenders.

Caleb Williams' AND Rome Odunze's first career TD!

📺: #CHIvsIND on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/u0ICGLXCz7

— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024

If anyone in your league is buying into the narrative that Odunze is a bust, now is the time to act. The Odunze manager may feel let down seeing so many other rookie receivers post better numbers. Exploit this and get him on your roster now. With Ben Johnson taking over Chicago’s offense, Odunze’s stock will only go up.

Marvin Harrison Jr. - WR, Arizona Cardinals

After a disappointing rookie year, people are already claiming Harrison was overhyped and not a generational prospect. This feels very reactionary after just one season. No, he did not live up to the ridiculously high expectations placed on him as a rookie, but that doesn’t mean he stinks.

Dynasty players have been spoiled in recent years with the amount of rookie receivers putting up big Year 1 numbers. Sometimes, it takes a few seasons for a player to come into their own. CeeDee Lamb is one recent example and had his breakthrough season in Year 4.

Harrison does have some areas of his game that need refinement, but he’s still very talented.

MARVIN HARRISON JR.'S FIRST NFL TOUCHDOWN HAS ARRIVED pic.twitter.com/EFquDWaM8V

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 15, 2024

He also was not deployed in the most ideal way for fantasy football success. Among 133 wide receivers with at least 50 targets, Harrison ran the 13th most routes out wide per Fantasy Points Data Suite. He was used mostly as a pure X receiver, and Arizona was not very creative in how they targeted him. This kind of usage can make a player more boom/bust for fantasy than we’d ideally like to see.

With Drew Petzing returning as offensive coordinator, Harrison’s usage might not be much different in 2025. However, situations can quickly change in the NFL. If an inexperienced manager in your league is panicking on Harrison, now is the time to act. He’s still very talented, and you shouldn’t be discouraged by his rookie year. Just know he might be more of a slow burn, and you may have to wait a year or two before getting those gaudy numbers.

Jaylen Wright - RB, Miami Dolphins

Wright’s rookie season left a lot to be desired. He only carried the football 68 times for 249 rushing yards and averaged 3.7 yards per carry. Wright also failed to score a touchdown in his rookie year.

What makes him a good buy candidate is the fact he could be serving as Miami’s RB2 in 2025. Raheem Mostert struggled to stay healthy last year and didn't play well when he was on the field. Mostert averaged a career-worst 3.27 yards per carry and looked like a player in decline.

Miami can cut Mostert this offseason and only incur a $1M dead cap hit. Given his play last year, the team might decide to move on without him. That would put Wright in a position to capitalize and become the handcuff to De’Von Achane. Wright could also carve out a role in the offense and offer some standalone value.

The sophomore back is more of an afterthought in dynasty leagues right now. The cost of acquisition will be low. Don’t expect him to challenge Achane for RB1 duties, but he could be a nice asset should Achane ever get injured. You could then keep Wright and ride the hot hand or flip him for more than what you paid.

Miami may add another back from the talented incoming rookie class, but Wright would likely have the inside track to RB2 duties given his experience in Miami’s system. A third-round pick might be enough to lock up Wright, and he’s a great throw-in target as part of a bigger deal.

J. J. McCarthy - QB, Minnesota Vikings

McCarthy missed his entire rookie year after tearing his meniscus in training camp.

BREAKING: Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy is out for the 2024 season after undergoing a full meniscus repair this morning. (via @RapSheet, @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/GgpgfiNYRX

— NFL (@NFL) August 14, 2024

Following McCarthy’s injury, Sam Darnold became Minnesota’s defacto QB1 and had an incredible 2024. He threw for a career-high 4,319 yards and 35 passing touchdowns but came crashing down to earth in the season’s final two games.

Cobie Durant with a DIVING interception off Sam Darnold 🤯pic.twitter.com/jNUOzX5Nfq

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 14, 2025

Head coach Kevin O’Connell all but confirmed Darnold will not be with the team in 2025 following Minnesota’s Wild Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams. That means McCarthy is set to take over as the starter.

There is some uncertainty surrounding McCarthy in the dynasty community since he missed his entire rookie season. However, this is still a quarterback with top-10 draft capital who is tied to a strong offensive coach and is surrounded by an abundance of talent. This is as good of a situation that a first-time starting quarterback can enter.

It’s likely the McCarthy owner in your league won’t move him for a discount if they waited out all of 2024, but there might be a manager who sees him as an expendable asset. If you need a quarterback, it’s certainly worth kicking the tires on a McCarthy trade. He is currently the QB22 in RotoBaller’s dynasty rankings. If his 2025 is anything close to Darnold’s 2024, then this could be the ideal time to acquire last year’s 10th overall pick.

Michael Penix Jr. - QB, Atlanta Falcons

Penix took over as the Falcons' starter late in the season when Kirk Cousins began to struggle. He only went 1-2 in three starts and threw three touchdown passes against three interceptions. While the stats don’t blow you away, there are reasons to be encouraged for the future.

Regular season @PFF passing grades for this year's rookie QB class ...

Michael Penix: 87.6
Jayden Daniels: 83.0
Bo Nix: 72.8
Drake Maye: 64.9
Caleb Williams: 62.9

— Jared Smola (@SmolaDS) January 13, 2025

Penix also showcased a big arm and stepped up late in a game against the Washington Commanders with Atlanta’s season on the line.

Michael Penix Jr. to Kyle Pitts on 4th down!! pic.twitter.com/PGbIR4nICx

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 30, 2024

Atlanta will now have an entire offseason to craft an offense catered to his skill set. It will also give Penix time to develop chemistry with Drake London, Darnell Mooney, and Atlanta's other skill players.

This situation is not quite as good as McCarthy’s, but things are set up well for Penix. He is an ideal trade target if you’re looking to tier down off someone like Kyler Murray or C.J. Stroud.

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