When it comes to drafting your fantasy football team rookies are always a gamble, but that’s what fantasy is about. Nothing is better than hitting on a late pick that becomes a reliable starter. With a bumper class of new faces hitting the NFL this year, there are some truly exciting rookies to pick from. We’ll walk you through some of our favorite rookie sleepers that could take your team from zero to hero!
Starting off with Ladd McConkey, the 2nd pick in the 2nd round of the draft from Georgia. Ladd landed in what might be his ideal spot with a Chargers team that is going through a flurry of changes. The Charge looked to shake it up by hiring Jim Harbaugh for the head coaching role. The veteran coach is inheriting a mess of a team with the departure of veteran talent, the team will be forced to rely on young talent at the wide receiver position. With the equivalent of human artillery in the backfield in Justin Herbert getting the ball won’t be an issue for Ladd. The biggest issue will be what the passing game looks like for the Chargers under new leadership.
With a classically run-heavy tempo, Harbaugh will most likely reel in the number of passing attempts per game. This will likely impact Ladd’s targets per game, but we still believe he’s an excellent sleeper. If everything goes right for the 22-year-old, he could earn a lion’s of the targets making him an appealing option late in fantasy drafts. Keep an eye out for him, especially around the 9th round. He’s a low-stakes bet, but you may find a perfectly serviceable WR with explosive potential.
Staying in the west with Cardinals new running back Trey Benson. The former Florida State RB was selected 2nd in the 3rd round. Joining a roster that has been ailing, the Cardinals look to reverse the trend in the upcoming season. Juicing up the offense with highly-touted Marvin Harrison Jr., the Cards may have a sneaky good offense this coming season. Though Benson won’t be alone in the backfield next to veteran back James Connor, the opportunity for the rookie back to steal touches is there.
Don’t expect to start Benson early in your season. He’s an investment opportunity near the end of the draft. Bank on an overwhelming wave of offense to counteract a predictably weak defense. The Cards may have the offensive bandwidth this year to blow the doors off, and if that happens Benson will be right there. He’s a highly skilled back who, with a couple of lucky breaks could ignite in this powderkeg of raw offensive force!
The Texas back began his career behind breakout star Bijan Robinson before taking over as the lead back in 2023. Though Brooks had a stellar career at Texas he did suffer a torn ACL. This has his current condition for the start of the NFL season in question, however, there is an upside to him. The 14th pick in the 2nd round he’s walking onto a Carolina team that is in the weeds. Following a disastrous trade to move up in the 2023 draft, Carolina is stuck. With little hope this season will look any better, the team is among the most volatile in the league, but this chaos can create opportunity for a guy like Brooks.
Currently stuck behind veteran back Chuba Hubbard, Brooks isn’t alone in his pursuit of touches with Rashaad Penny and Miles Sanders also on the roster. He’ll have to fight his way into opportunity. The payoff for fantasy players is there though. From what Brooks showed at Texas he could become an elite back. For a Carolina team that will have to claw its way to victory, he might be the key to success. Watch for him near the last 2 rounds of your draft. He’s worth a bench spot to see if he’ll break into the lineup.
Drafted in the first round at 23 behind another LSU standout Malik Nabars, Brain Thomas is a physical beast. He’s a rare blend of size and speed that often gets him compared to DK Metcalf. At 6’3 209lbs he’ll be a force to stop on the field, and very well could pull away from the competition. With Trevor Lawrence at the helm, the Jags are looking to make a push this year, and Thomas might fit right into that equation. Even though the Jags do have some capable WRs, Thomas will likely land as the WR3 early in the season. We expect that to change, however. With Christian Kirk coming back from injury, the door is open for Thomas to climb the receiver ladder quickly.
What this means for fantasy is still up in the air. Jacksonville has a solid number of options when it comes to getting into the end zone. With Travis Etienne, Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, and Evan Engram all vying for shots at the endzone. This may limit Thomas’ red zone opportunities making him more likely a flex player at best. Thomas has elite potential though, he’s worth the swing.