Every year, a number of underrated rookies emerge as potential fantasy league winners. Whereas it is unrealistic to anticipate anybody to have a season like Puka Nacua produced for the Los Angeles Rams in 2023, this 12 months’s rookie class options gamers with large fantasy upside who’re going late in drafts.
With that in thoughts, listed here are three rookies who’re being chosen exterior of the primary eight rounds that you simply should not go away your fantasy draft with out.
Operating again Blake Corum | Los Angeles Rams
Though Corum is not the starter in Los Angeles, he is arguably the perfect working again handcuff to focus on in drafts, and his inventory has solely continued to rise.
Regardless of Kyren Williams breaking out final season, amassing 1,350 yards from scrimmage and scoring 15 touchdowns in simply 12 video games, the Rams spent a third-round decide (No. 83 general) to pick out Corum. The Michigan product was a workhorse again for the Wolverines, dashing for two,708 yards and 45 touchdowns on 505 carries over the previous two seasons.
Contemplating the draft capital the workforce invested in him, there was already loads of hypothesis that Corum may very well be an instantaneous issue within the backfield. Los Angeles’ actions throughout the preseason counsel that the suspicions could have benefit, as Corum did not go well with up for any preseason video games — an indication the Rams view him as a beneficial asset. Moreover, Williams was surprisingly named the workforce’s beginning punt returner Tuesday.
Williams served as Rams punter returner early final season, earlier than turning into the full-time featured tailback. Nevertheless, Los Angeles’ choice nonetheless appears weird, given the success Williams had on offense and the very fact he has his share of harm issues.
Corum may need extra standalone worth than initially anticipated, however he presents true league-winning upside if Williams misses prolonged time with an harm, making him a super choice within the eleventh or twelfth spherical of fantasy drafts.
Vast receiver Ladd McConkey | Los Angeles Chargers
Although Los Angeles will depend on a run-first offense beneath new HC Jim Harbaugh, the workforce’s new-look receiving corps has an opportunity of being fantasy-relevant. After parting methods with long-time starters Keenan Allen, Mike Williams and Austin Ekeler this offseason, the Chargers enter 2024 with essentially the most vacated targets amongst groups (395). Fourth-year wideout Joshua Palmer may show to be the most important beneficiary of the roster turnover, however McConkey has the potential to be extraordinarily productive as a rookie.
McConkey, the thirty fourth general decide in April’s draft, may’ve gone off the board within the first spherical if he did not have harm issues. In three seasons at Georgia, the polished route-runner caught 119 passes for 1,687 yards and 14 touchdowns and added 216 yards dashing and 4 extra TDs. These totals won’t appear notably spectacular, although McConkey was undoubtedly an vital contributor on two nationwide championship-winning groups.
With arguably a top-five quarterback expertise in Justin Herbert throwing him the ball, McConkey is coming into probably the most favorable conditions amongst rookie broad receivers. It stays to be seen whether or not McConkey begins in two-wide receiver units, however he is nonetheless able to outperforming his fantasy draft capital if he is solely restricted to fit work.
Vast receiver Ja’Lynn Polk | New England Patriots
Usually, drafting gamers from a bottom-three scoring offense is not a smart strategy to setting up a fantasy soccer workforce. Even so, Polk’s expertise, alternative and price are sufficient to outweigh the potential downsides of choosing him.
New England drafted Polk with the thirty seventh general decide in April’s draft after the 22-year-old loved a breakout 2023 season on the College of Washington. Regardless of being part of a crowded receiver room with eventual first-round decide Rome Odunze and third-rounder Jalen McMillan, Polk caught 69 passes for 1,159 yards and 9 touchdowns for the Huskies final season.
Polk has already secured a beginning function in New England’s offense, and it is doable he may lead the workforce in targets, particularly if rookie Drake Maye secures the beginning quarterback job earlier than later. Throughout Sunday’s 20-10 preseason loss to Washington, we acquired a glimpse of the sturdy connection Polk and Maye have already established. Polk caught two passes for 33 yards and notably had what would’ve been a 13-yard achieve worn out by a penalty.
The Patriots will discover themselves enjoying from behind usually, as they’ve the bottom projected win complete within the NFL (4.5 video games), which provides to Polk’s fantasy worth. You is perhaps higher off staying away from practically each different participant in New England’s offense, however with an ADP of 168.4 on ESPN, Polk is a low-risk, high-reward choice in drafts.
