2024 NFL DRAFT AND LATE ROUND ROOKIES FANTASY IMPACT
Now that we have looked at how the first-round draft class performed, let’s look at how the later rounds scored. This year’s draft class featured 41 skill position rookies taken in rounds 2 thru round 5. Out of those 41 rookies only 21 were ranked in the top 300 Fantasy Players PPR by ESPN prior to the season. Let’s look at the break down each round and see how these rookies performed.
SECOND ROUND
While there were some high expectations in this round coming into the season, there was not much to celebrate. Johathon Brooks was the first RB to be selected in the 2024 draft, and many people figured that he would take over as the RB1 in Carolina. However, a knee injury kept him off the field until week 12. He played three games and totaled 22 yards on 9 attempts over those 3 games. His injury coupled with the emergence of Chuba Hubbard, kept him from any production at all. The lone bright spot in the second round was Ladd McConkey he was drafted at 94 overall and WR44 off the board. He had a great year, aside from a couple games at the beginning of the season he produced double digit fantasy numbers 11 of the 17 games he played. After week 11 you could have played him every week with confidence. He finished the season averaging 12 fantasy points a game at an overall rank of 49 and WR13 a great investment on your 9th or 10th round draft pick.
THIRD, FOURTH & FIFTH ROUNDS
These three rounds turned out to be a bit of a dart throw, out of the 35 skill players selected in these rounds only 2 were fantasy relevant during the season. The first of these players was selected in the fourth round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bucky Irving was selected to play behind Rachaad White who had a great year in 2023. Who would have seen Irving taking over to lead the backfield. Irving went from an average draft position of 145 overall and RB49 to finishing at number 44 overall and RB13. If you selected him at the end of your draft as a handcuff or just a flier you scored big. The only other success came in the fifth round with the New York Giants selection of Tyrone Tracy Jr. This was another player who figured to be a backup when the Giants picked up Devin Singletary in free agency and drafted Tracy Jr. They both put up streaky numbers and I would not say that you could have started either of these running backs with confidence. However, the name of the game is the get the most of your investment in the draft. If you invested a draft pick in Tracy Jr. at his ADP of 156 and RB54 he paid dividends by the end of the season. He finished with the season averaging over 9 pts a game and ended up at number 93 overall and RB26. This turned out to be a good investment in the 15th or 16th round of your draft, when other players were picking kickers or defense.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Now that we have looked at this year’s draft class it seems like the first round of rookies turned out to be a good investment with your draft capital. Once you got past the first round there was very little to get excited about. The two biggest success stories out of the later rounds were drafted as handcuffs to RBs coming off good seasons. They were both unlikely candidates to have break out seasons. So, while you risk little with a 15th or 16th round pick, if you get lucky it could pay off big time so do your homework before you invest in a late round rookie.
