This year's rookies have just gotten their first taste of minicamp, and it will be weeks before we see them going full-speed in NFL preseason games. But there is much to be learned by examining the prospect profiles of the 2024 rookie class in search of this year's rookie sleepers. 

Here are the first-year players to keep an eye on as the preseason unfolds, according to Fantasy Life's Dwain McFarland and Jonathan Fuller. 

Dwain McFarland's Rookie Sleepers for 2024 Fantasy Football

WR – Ladd McConkey | Chargers

McConkey wasn’t a highly lauded recruit, and it took time before he made his mark at Georgia. But he made a difference in a tough conference when he got opportunities, posting the third-highest targeted QB rating in the class.

While some may think of McConkey as an underneath slot weapon, he played outside most snaps (69%) and demonstrated an ability to attack every field depth. Per PFF data, he was above average against man coverage (23% target rate) and lethal against zone (25%).

Under Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers will be a run-oriented offense, but there is little target competition. Joshua Palmer is a WR3, Quentin Johnston was dreadful as a rookie, and D.J. Chark has had plenty of chances to break out before now. 

While we can't expect 125-plus targets from McConkey in Year 1, seeing him lead the team and eclipse 100 won't be surprising. Given that he pairs with a good young QB in Justin Herbert, we could see McConkey broach WR3 territory.

Since 2018, 41% of prospects who graded in McConkey's range of the Super Model posted a top-36 finish by Year 2, while 27% found their way into the top 24.

WR – Keon Coleman | Bills

Coleman slipped down NFL draft boards after running a 4.61 in the 40-yard dash at the combine. However, Buffalo didn't let him last long after the first round, scooping up the 6-foot-3 receiver with the first pick in the second round.

The big-bodied WR never became an elite target earner at the level of Harrison, Nabers and Odunze, but he still posted strong marks, with a 25% target rate against man and 23% versus zone. Scouts have concerns about his ability to separate at the NFL level, and his adjusted contested-target rate echoed those worries at six percentage points over expected.

He was primarily targeted short (38%) and deep (27%), which is concerning considering his archetype as a non-burner chain-moving prospect. Only 21% of his targets came in the intermediate range (10 to 19 yards). 

To unlock his potential in the NFL, he must improve in that aspect of his game to take advantage of soft zone defenses trying to take away deep shots. If he fails to improve, he could be a bust because he doesn't possess elite deep speed and doesn't have the quickness to win on a diet of underneath targets.

While Coleman carries bust potential, if things click for him playing with an elite QB1 in Buffalo, the upside is there. I like him as a boom-bust WR4 option this season.

RB – Trey Benson | Cardinals

Benson checks the boxes that NFL teams love. He registered the No. 1 Speed Score in the class thanks to his 4.39 40-yard dash at 216 pounds and was slippery to bring down on the field. No other back in the class forced more missed tackles per attempt (0.39), and he ranked fifth in average yards after contact (3.97).

Florida State Seminoles running back Trey Benson (3) rushes with the ball during the first half against the Florida Gators at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, November 25, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]

The third-round pick immediately projects as the No. 2 option behind James Conner in Arizona. If he has a strong camp, he could carve out a role as Conner's change-of-pace counterpart on early downs. Given Conner's propensity to miss games, at some point this year, Benson could get his chance to shine as the lead back.

Benson profiles as one of the more fun RB4 handcuff options this preseason but could deliver RB2 value if Conner misses time.

WR – Ja'Lynn Polk | Patriots

After going to New England at pick five in the second round, Polk is one of my biggest post-draft climbers — up 12 spots in the rookie rankings.

Polk demonstrated an ability to attack all layers of the field for the Huskies, but he was particularly good at unlocking deep and intermediate shots down the field. Below is his target profile and how it compares to the NCAA average for a WR.

  • Behind the line of scrimmage: 14% (+0 percentage points)
  • 0 to 9 yards: 29% (-10)
  • 10 to 19 yards: 32% (+4)
  • 20-plus yards: 25% (+5)

He didn't post dominant target rates against man or zone coverage, but target competition was fierce at Washington with Odunze and Jalen McMillan on the roster. That could be a very different story in New England, where Polk will compete with one of the softest depth charts in the NFL.

With Drake Maye on board as the new QB1 in New England, Polk could surprise in 2024. He comes off the board almost 75 picks after guys like McConkey and Coleman, who were also early Round 2 picks.

FL Mag

WR – Jermaine Burton | Bengals

Burton stood out as one of the most underrated receivers in the Rookie Super Model, ranking in the same tier of WRs that went earlier than him in the NFL Draft. His closest data comps in the model were George Pickens and Nico Collins.

He demonstrated that he could stretch the field, with 28% of his targets coming 20-plus yards downfield. However, his ability to earn targets in the intermediate range of the field was even more impressive. No other WR in the class earned more of their targets than Burton (40%) between 10 and 19 yards downfield.

He could be the perfect option to take over the slot role in Cincinnati, giving Joe Burrow a vertical slot option that could add a new dimension to the attack. Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are the clear-cut top two options, capping Burton's upside to WR3 territory. However, if either misses time, we could get WR2 spike production out of the rookie.

Jonathan Fuller's Rookie Sleepers for 2024 Fantasy Football

Jayden Daniels | Commanders

Running quarterbacks used to be more of a cheat code for fantasy football because they were perpetually undervalued. That isn't usually the case these days but I think all the hype around Caleb Williams has caused Jayden Daniels' fantasy upside to fly a bit under the radar. The Commanders may not have been the most desirable landing spot but he does have weapons to work with and Daniels plays the perfect style for accumulating fantasy points. He is a dynamic runner who is willing to throw the ball deep, exactly what we want in a fantasy QB. 

During his 2023 Heisman winning season Daniels had the following ranks among Division I QBs:

  • 22 deep passing TDs (20+ air yards): 1st
  • 99.2 PFF Passing Grade on deep attempts: 1st
  • 1,250 rushing yards (excluding sacks): 1st
  • 1,347 passing yards on deep attempts: 4th

Despite racking up more than 2,300 rushing yards and 21 rushing TDs during his two seasons at LSU Daniels isn't really talked about in the same way other elite rushing QB prospects like Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray were. 

The Commanders also traded away a bunch of their key defensive pieces last year. They could be real bad on that side of the ball which would lead to plenty of trailing game scripts for the offense. Playing from behind will mean more dropbacks which in turn means more scrambles and deep pass attempts. 

Daniels should be the starter from day one so as long as he can stay healthy he has a good chance to be a top 12 QB on a weekly basis. Don't be surprised if Daniels is the highest scoring rookie QB this season.

MarShawn Lloyd | Packers

One of my favorite prospects in a relatively weak RB class, Lloyd is an explosive rusher who can make defenders miss, create yards after contact, and contribute in the passing game. He got pretty solid draft capital (88th overall) and landed with one of the league's most exciting young offenses in Green Bay. 

Lloyd never received a huge workload in college with just 289 career carries, but at 220 lbs he has the size to handle more volume if needed. He likely won't get that opportunity right away as the Packers gave Josh Jacobs a decent contract to be their lead back, but I expect Lloyd to slot in as the number two back ahead of AJ Dillon who was ineffective last season. The rookie will be a much more dynamic change of pace back who will bring more juice when he's on the field and also create plays in space, an area where Dillon leaves a lot to be desired. 

Green Bay Packers running back MarShawn Lloyd (32) runs through drills during rookie minicamp on Friday, May 3, 2024, at the Don Hutson Center in Green Bay, Wis. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

During the 2023 season Lloyd flashed in a few key areas. He led all RBs with 17.8 yards per reception, ranked 5th nationally in elusive rating (177.0), and was 26th in yards after contact per attempt (3.97). All of these stats point to his ability to create yards for himself, a valuable skill for both fantasy and real football. 

The Packers have always been pretty committed to using multiple backs so Lloyd should have standalone value but his real upside comes if Jacobs misses time. He is one of my favorite late round picks to stash on my bench so I can see how he looks through the first few weeks. If he flashes the ability I believe he has, I'll view him as a premier handcuff for the rest of the season.

Roman Wilson | Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a tremendous track record of finding stud receivers in the middle rounds of the NFL Draft and I think they may have done it again with Roman Wilson. His college production won't blow you away but he was very efficient on a per-route basis (2.1 YPRR or better each of his final three seasons) and was the leading receiver for Michigan's national championship campaign. He profiles as a slot receiver in the NFL but don't let that fool you, Wilson is a dynamic athlete (4.39 second 40 yard dash) capable of creating explosive plays.

What Wilson does well should mesh perfectly with the Steelers offense. I'm expecting Arthur Smith to lean on the run game and throw off of play action a lot which should help get the most out of their new QBs. Roman Wilson will thrive running crossing routes and deep posts where he can use his speed to separate from defenders. He has strong hands and isn't afraid of contact which should make him a reliable target over the middle.  

With Diontae Johnson no longer in the offense the only proven pass catcher in Pittsburgh is George Pickens and he isn't the type of receiver that will soak up all the targets. I think there's a good chance Wilson can step in and be the second target in the offense for most of the season. 

Bucky Irving | Buccaneers

We're getting into deep sleeper territory here, so depending on your league size Irving may not necessarily be a draft target, but he is definitely someone to keep an eye on throughout the season. He was ultra-productive in college but fell to the fourth round of the NFL Draft due to poor athletic testing numbers. Despite that, he still landed in a great spot with minimal competition in the Tampa Bay backfield. Rachaad White is locked in as the starter, but Irving should easily win the number two job and can earn a role right away as the Bucs look to lighten White's workload from last season.

One of the most productive college backs over the last two seasons, Irving put up 2,256 rushing yards and 692 receiving yards. During the 2023 season his 6.4 YPC ranked in the top 20 nationally and his 55 receptions were the most among RBs. Despite being a bit undersized, Irving rarely missed time and handled 428 total touches over his final two college seasons. 

Although Rachaad White has been valuable for fantasy football purposes since joining the NFL, he has been one of the least efficient rushers in the league. He has ranked 46th and 52nd in yards per carry among qualifying RBs over the last two seasons and the eye test backs up the fact that he is a better receiving back than rusher. Irving may not be the most explosive player but he is very reliable and could easily be a more effective rusher than White. Look for him to emerge over the course of the season and be ready to grab him off waivers a week ahead of your league mates.