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Rookies have notoriously been difficult to predict for fantasy football. For years, managers tried their best to avoid rookies due to the uncertainty and volatility surrounding them.
In more recent years, though, we have seen rookies make an immediate impact. Just last year, we saw C.J. Stroud and Puka Nacua emerge as top fantasy options. It’s rare for rookie players to present league-winning ability, but such instances do occur. So, which rookies possess this kind of upside for 2024?
Make sure you keep up to date with all your fantasy football needs by following RotoBaller on X and checking out RotoBaller.com. Here are five rookies with league-winning upside to target in your 2024 fantasy football draft.
Editor's Note: Our incredible team of writers won two writing awards and received 12 award nominations by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. A big congrats to our very own Byron Lindeque (Golf) and Jordan McAbee (NASCAR) for both winning Writer Of The Year awards! Be sure to follow RotoBaller's analysis and advice all year long, and win more. Win More With RotoBaller!Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
Drafted second overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, Daniels will provide fantasy gamers with immediate upside at the position thanks to his rushing abilities.
85 yards to the house! Don’t sleep on That Kid 👀
LSU up 17-7 in the second quarter
— The SEC Scoop (@TheSECScoop) November 12, 2023
Daniels ran for 1,134 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final collegiate season. If he combines quality passing with this type of rushing ability, then the sky's the limit. Quarterbacks with rushing chops have long been fantasy football cheat codes. If you miss out on the top quarterbacks in your draft, Daniels is a good fallback option. He has a solid floor and could be a huge steal if he hits the ground running.
Kimani Vidal, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
In his final season with the Troy Trojans, Vidal totaled 1,661 rushing yards and finished second in the nation in rushing. The competition in the Sun Belt Conference is subpar, which is part of the reason why he fell to the sixth round of April’s draft. However, the Chargers are a fine landing spot for the rookie.
The competition standing in Vidal’s way is currently Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, and Isaiah Spiller. Dobbins is coming off another devastating injury after tearing his Achilles tendon. Spiller has been a massive disappointment and may not even make the final roster. Edwards is coming off a career year with the Baltimore Ravens but enters his age-29 season and has never handled more than 198 carries in a year.
There is plenty of room for another back to emerge in this offense. Vidal has enough talent to be a fantasy difference-maker if he carves out a role. If injuries strike the depth chart, Vidal could be a potential league-winner. He makes for a good late-round dart throw in all formats.
Blake Corum, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Corum was one of the most talented running backs in the 2024 rookie class.
Michigan Football’s all time leader in rushing touchdowns.
Scored in overtime of the CFP semi finals in The Rose Bowl against Alabama
January 1 2024 to win the game.Watch the jump cut that sucks up 2 defenders who then get blocked by Colston Loveland. pic.twitter.com/DE0sVN0Pt4
— Due# (@JDue51) January 3, 2024
He has great vision and quickness and is an ideal fit for head coach Sean McVay’s scheme. The team has made it known that it wants to lighten incumbent starter Kyren Williams’ workload this season. General manager Les Snead also stated that the team was looking to trade its third-round pick before it saw Corum falling to it. At that point, it decided to keep the pick and take Corum. Based on their words and actions, it sure seems like the Rams have big plans for the rookie.
Despite having a front-row seat to Williams’ amazing 2023 season, the team still felt the need to use a Day 2 pick on Corum. This speaks to its thoughts on both backs. Williams has a history of injuries since he entered the league. He has missed action due to injury in each of his first two seasons. Williams already missed a portion of the Rams' offseason program dealing with a foot injury. While he was able to return toward the end of minicamp, his latest injury serves as a reminder.
We shouldn’t expect Corum to immediately supplant Williams as starter. It’s more likely he slowly carves out his own role in the offense and takes over the majority of touches by season’s end. However, if Williams were to miss significant time, then Corum would be in line for a massive role. At the very least, consider Corum a priority handcuff in all formats.
Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Worthy was selected 28th overall in April’s draft and brings record-breaking speed to an already deadly Kansas City offensive attack.
With an official 4.21, Texas’ Xavier Worthy now holds the NFL Combine’s fastest 40 time 🔥 pic.twitter.com/WHllJpRTP5
— The Players' Lounge (@ThPlayersLounge) March 3, 2024
Xavier Worthy with a great reception downfield for a Texas Longhorns touchdown.
Worthy is a great deep threat target who should be on every teams radar. #CollegeFootball | #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/KlN5thpYeH
— Daniel Adams (@imdjadams) September 10, 2023
Worthy brings a true speed element to the Chiefs offense that we haven’t seen since Tyreek Hill was traded to the Miami Dolphins. Kansas City has stated its preference to bring the rookie along slowly, and he is still a bit raw in terms of his route running.
However, with Rashee Rice’s status for the 2024 season completely up in the air, Worthy could find himself in a position to start sooner rather than later. He could wind up as Patrick Mahomes’ WR1. We have seen that be a very productive role for several years now.
Combining Mahomes' unique arm strength with Worthy’s field-stretching abilities is a match made in heaven. It might be only a matter of time before this duo finds their groove. Whenever they do, Worthy will become a fantasy monster.
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals
Taken fourth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, Harrison is set to take over WR1 duties for the Cardinals.
Masterful late hands from Marvin Harrison Jr. on this TD catch.
— Ian Cummings (@IC_Draft) November 12, 2023
He gives Arizona’s receiving room some much-needed ammunition and should immediately see a large target share. We’ve seen quarterback Kyler Murray previously hyper-target his WR1 when he played alongside DeAndre Hopkins. We should expect Murray to do the same with Harrison.
His draft price is among the most expensive we’ve ever seen for a rookie wide receiver. However, it could end up being worth it. Harrison is one of the most NFL-ready receiver prospects to enter the league. He can easily return a Ja'Marr Chase or Puka Nacua-type rookie season. If he does, then his FFPC average draft position (ADP) of 18.89 overall will be cheap compared to where he goes in 2025 drafts. If you want the rookie who is most likely to produce a massive season, then Harrison is your man.
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