Top 5 Rookies to Watch in Fantasy Football This Season

Every year, a handful of NFL rookies make an instant impact at the next level, and they can be the difference between taking home a fantasy football title and just falling short of the ultimate goal in gridiron fan fiction.

This weekend brings the first full slate of preseason action, and although we may not get a look at every top rookie during this year’s exhibition games, we should still get plenty of in-game snaps from this year’s class of first-year talent that can give us a taste of what they bring to the table.

If you're looking for a rookie who can make an immediate splash and help you win your league this year, these five names should be on your radar heading into your draft:

WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals

If you’re in a dynasty league, there’s a reason Harrison is the clear-cut choice for the No. 1 overall pick in every rookie draft, despite a loaded 2024 receiver class. The No. 4 overall pick in the real NFL Draft, Harrison immediately becomes the No. 1 receiver for Kyler Murray and the Cardinals offense, which would have been the case even if Marquise Brown hadn’t departed in the offseason.

Harrison is one of the most complete and pro-ready receiver prospects to come out of college in recent memory, and he's in line for a massive target share right off the bat. He'll also have a talented quarterback in Murray who will be able to get him the ball, taking full advantage of his skill set.

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QB Caleb Williams, Bears

Few quarterback prospects in NFL Draft history have entered the league with more hype than Williams, who was crowned the eventual No. 1 overall pick from the moment he stepped foot on the field as a freshman at Oklahoma. He’s lived up to the billing after transferring to USC, winning a Heisman Trophy and showing off a rare skill set that made him this year’s top pick.

His arrival caused the Bears to trade away Justin Fields and immediately name Williams the starter, and they’ve surrounded him with a much stronger supporting cast than Fields ever was given. It’s risky to pin your fantasy hopes on a rookie quarterback, but Williams has the talent and the help to put up huge numbers in his first season.

WR Malik Nabers, Giants

In any other draft class that didn’t have another receiver like Harrison or Rome Odunze), Nabers easily would have been the No. 1 receiver off the board, and a top-five overall pick. Instead, the Giants were able to steal him at the No. 6 spot, filling their massive need for a true No. 1 receiver to help Daniel Jones live up to his big contract.

Nabers may not be able to make Jones a franchise passer, but he’s got elite explosiveness that makes him a threat to score on every touch, whether he’s challenging opposing defenses over the top or after the catch. He’s also the most talented receiver on the roster from Day One and should get a truckload of targets as a rookie.

TE Brock Bowers, Raiders

It's rare for tight ends to make a big impact right away in the NFL, but we've seen it happen multiple times in recent years, and Bowers has the kind of elite talent to be yet another exception to the rule. A sharp route-runner with the ability to create consistent separation and make big plays after the catch, Bowers can challenge defenses at every level.

He didn’t end up in the best landing spot in terms of the quarterback situation in Las Vegas, but outside of Davante Adams, the Raiders don’t have another proven pass-catcher who can take advantage of the attention opposing defenses have to pay to their star receiver. Bowers should have plenty of room to work and should see plenty of targets, no matter who’s throwing the passes.

QB Jayden Daniels, Commanders

While Caleb Williams has stolen most of the headlines heading into the 2024 season when it comes to this year’s rookie QB class, Daniels has superstar potential of his own, thanks to a lethal dual-threat skill set. He showed marked improvement as a passer at LSU last season and brings game-breaking speed as a runner that will be frustrating for opposing defenses to contain.

Daniels will have a solid group of offensive weapons that includes Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, and the Commanders will probably end up in plenty of pass-heavy game scripts this season, which means plenty of yards through the air. Throw in Daniels' added fantasy value as a rushing threat, and you've got a recipe for a potential league-winner at quarterback.

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