In this article, I’ll be covering some more of the top rookie prospects of the 2024 NFL Draft class. These will be players to keep an eye on and get to know for your future dynasty fantasy football or Devy teams. Previously, I broke down the 2024 Top Dynasty Rookie Prospects. Now, I’ll dig a bit deeper and touch on some more of the best college players that you need to know for 2024.
Your 2024’s rookie draft first round is ending. The Caleb Williams and Brock Bowers talents are long gone. Meanwhile, you’re holding multiple seconds and hoping the Braelon Allen slide continues. It doesn’t, and now you’re picking to begin the second round.
The talent is still out there. You maneuver that talent by understanding your format first and foremost. There are receiving backs such as Donovan Edwards and Will Shipley, as well as strong runners in Nakia Watson. Furthermore, speedy wide receivers will dominate the second round in Troy Franklin and Malik Nabers.
As things stand, the 2024 NFL Draft class looks to be strong and fantasy viable along the top end. These are prospects who have the ability to solidify their draft stock from now until next Spring. They may be the ones taking leaps in the case that others above them drop. Continue reading to learn more about these 2024 rookie prospects.
Donovan Edwards – Running Back, Michigan
Had Blake Corum declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, Donovan Edwards would be Michigan’s top backfield option and likely a first round rookie pick in 2024. His abilities and youth could make him a steal in next year’s class. That being said, if he secures a larger role in the passing game, he can build upon his 1,000 all-purpose yards from the 2022 season.
Edwards could operate as an NFL pass-catching back due to his acceleration and creativity with the ball. He runs solid routes out of the backfield and keeps looking to get open for his quarterback. Furthermore, he seemingly has a top gear that he hasn’t had to use in college, but his rushing is brisk and powerful. This player would land in most season’s rookie first rounds, so drafting Edwards anywhere lower than that is exciting for dynasty managers.
Will Shipley – Running Back, Clemson
Clemson’s Will Shipley could become a top running back for the 2024 draft. His skillset should lead to a receiving back role early in his NFL career. He caught 38 balls in 2022 for the Tigers and should post similar numbers in 2023.
Shipley’s elusiveness and agility in tight spaces make him a threat to score always. He’s best within the 20-yard line, he’s very useful in the red zone. Once he evades initial tacklers, his swift movement makes him difficult to bring down in the open field.
Shipley has good vision and decisiveness at the line of scrimmage, allowing him to burst in any direction upon reaching the second level. He may even receive work between the tackles if he puts on weight without losing his speed or decisiveness. Until then, know that he’s got good hands and would fit into most NFL teams’ depth. Maybe even more.
Emeka Egbuka – Wide Receiver, Ohio State
Marvin Harrison Jr. is off the board. Let’s think outside the box and take a look at the guy lined up across from him. Ohio State is producing talented receivers every year, and Emeka Egbuka follows that trend of production and ability all the same. Last year, his breakout was headlined by 10 touchdowns, 1151 yards, and catching 74 balls.
The perk of an Ohio State wide receiver is their versatility. Egbuka can play outside, in the slot, as the X, and as the Y in the offense. Additionally, he’s strong enough to play outside one on one, and his route running is good enough to play over the middle of the field. They’re exposed to good coaching from wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline. This leads to players like Egbuka and Harrison Jr. emerging.
When Jaxon Smith-Njigba missed games in 2022, those two stepped up with that lost production. Egbuka’s terrific route running got him open plenty, and the system he’s in gives him the opportunity to grow and showcase more for the next level. Overall, those abilities to get open and his coaching should make you confident in taking Egbuka.
Troy Franklin – Wide Receiver, Oregon
The second wide receiver after Marvin Harrison Jr. will be a large debate in 2024, and Troy Franklin’s speed can inject him into that conversation. Franklin put up a respectable nine touchdowns last season while wracking up 891 yards on 61 catches.
Franklin is solid in the facets of route running, and his smoothness in the short game could make him a target hog at the next level. Additionally, he can play from the slot and still is strong enough to take on corners and safeties. His ball tracking and speed allow him to win on different routes and also take the top off the defense. Furthermore, his running stride is quite long, and can still move his hips horizontally at any time. All in all, Franklin’s moves are tough to predict in the open field and tough to defend. He’s the ultimate weapon for an offense at every level of the field.
KJ Jefferson – Quarterback, Arkansas
The possible quarterback class in 2024 is an impressive list, while KJ Jefferson is simply a consistent player who should reach an NFL roster. Jefferson isn’t amongst the top quarterbacks in this class currently, but securing himself as 2024’s QB4-5 is within his skill set. In his two seasons as a full-time starter, Jefferson threw 45 touchdowns to 9 interceptions. On the ground, he rushed for over 1,300 yards while adding 15 touchdowns.
Jefferson’s versatility in both passing and rushing should to at least a backup role to someday starting in the NFL. Jefferson has a quick release and calm feet in the pocket. He makes good decisions, evidenced by his third and fourth-year completion percentage(67.3% and 68.0% respectively). His arm will be tested in 2023, with former top options Treylon Burks and Matt Landers moving to the NFL. If he can continue his rushing dominance and continue to extend plays, he’s a quarterback to invest in.
Jarquez Hunter – Running Back, Auburn
Auburn will have a new starting running back in 2023, and Jarquez Hunter may be ready to step up into the role. Brian Battie is an incoming transfer from South Florida who will battle for starter reps in the Tiger’s backfield. However, Hunter’s second and third gears should put him in the driver’s seat. He’s also got some return ability; his greatest attribute is his speed.
Hunter ran for over 550 yards in both his freshman and sophomore seasons and has shown some receiving ability with 17 catches in 2023. Hunter is a playmaker who rushes to the second and third levels of the defense effortlessly. He’s strong through tackles and should start trending up for fantasy, especially when it comes to point-per-reception formats.
Malik Nabers – Wide Receiver, LSU
Malik Nabers was the most productive receiver on the LSU Tigers in 2022. He totaled 1,017 yards on 72 catches while supplying three touchdowns. That’s 14.1 yards per catch, showcasing a playmaking ability even without getting many touchdowns.
That being said, LSU’s quarterback Jayden Daniels is a fine player. However, the only other 1,000-yard receiver he’s supplemented is Brandon Aiyuk in 2019, while at Arizona State. Outside of Nabers, that is followed by a drop-off to 616 receiving yards coming from Frank Darby, also in 2019 for the Sun Devils. Nabers has smooth speed and getting the ball in his hands will make dynasty managers confident. Additionally, his speed and run after catch ability should allow him to be an offensive focal point at the next level.
Antwane Wells Jr – Wide Receiver, South Carolina
One player to transfer and enhance their profile is former James Madison standout Antwane Wells Jr. In his sophomore season, he caught 15 touchdowns on over 80 catches while racking up 1,250 yards through the air for the Dukes. He then would transfer for his junior season, moving to the SEC when joining the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2022.
This past season, he put up an impressive 928 yards while catching 68 balls. With a second offseason at the SEC level, Wells Jr. has the opportunity for growth in his game and draft stock. Going against SEC corners has not stopped him from making strong catches over defenders and being tough to bring down. He’s made a jump to the top level in the college game and still looks to be one of the best players on the field.
Ja’Tavion Sanders – Tight End, Texas
This article is perfect for a player like Ja’Tavion Sanders. It’s a big projection for a large man, a very large man who became the Longhorn’s starting tight end in his sophomore season. He should be a top-two option for returning quarterback Quin Ewers in 2023 and could become the TE2 of the 2024 class. He already caught 54 balls in his 2022 campaign, only six behind top Longhorn wide receiver Xavier Worthy.
Sanders can be a dynamic component in an NFL offense. He’s a truly athletic and smooth route runner at his size, with good hands as well. Additionally, his size and abilities in the rush game will keep him on an NFL field. More importantly, his speed and smoothness catching the ball will keep him in fantasy football lineups. Sanders is a solid player that hasn’t quite actualized his athleticism into statistical consistency, but that should come this upcoming season.
Nakia Watson – Running Back, Washington State
Cam Ward’s backfield running mate is the thunder to his lightning. Nakia Watson is a powerful running back and the second-listed player who transferred. First a Wisconsin Badger for three seasons, Watson moved to the Cougars for the 2022 season and took over the starting running back position. He responded by catching 30 balls and four touchdowns through the air while adding nine touchdowns on 769 yards rushing.
Watson’s unique combination of patience and strength makes his game exciting. His legs are always churning and busting out more yards, and this past season he added a receiving threat not shown at Wisconsin. Furthermore, with a top quarterback going into the 2023 season, Watson should have lanes and be primed to continue building on his role from 2022. Overall, he excelled with a change of scenery in college, which has led to a plausible NFL future for Watson.
Alton McCaskill – Running Back, Houston
Alton McCaskill is returning from a torn ACL suffered in a 2022 Spring practice, ready to play his second season for the Houston Cougars. His freshman year in 2021 was strong, with 16 rushing touchdowns and 961 yards and going for 5.1 yards per carry. He also caught 21 balls in that season, McCaskill is multi-dimensional.
McCaskill’s downhill, strong rushing style leaves defenders punished when he finds contact. He shows no hesitation in his rushing and can brush off defenders. Every run seems like a big run, it may be due to the conference and his physicality compared to the opponents. Even if that is the case, to be the most physical player with the ball in your hand as a freshman is rather impressive.
Rome Odunze – Wide Receiver, Washington
Rome Odunze could’ve declared in 2023 but decided to return alongside Michael Penix and Jalen McMillan in the Huskies offense. Odunze is a tall and fast talent who can win on deep balls. He’s quick against corners over the top, but you’d like him to display a bit more strength working against defenders to get open.
Odunze has a sufficient route tree, with crossers being his best route currently. He can win jump balls against defenders, his physicality is very calculated and he’s good at high-pointing the football with his size. Taking the ball where the defender can’t reach is gonna lead to a lot of big plays. He needs to fill out his body more, but after a year or two of NFL off-seasons, Odunze going to win a lot of one on one matchups.
Conclusion
These talents in 2024 could become staples in fantasy lineups and give depth for the next few years, even the late-round guys. The running back position in the NFL is going through a changing of the guard, these incoming backs will help. More of these young talents will come into the league more refined and ready right away. This is particularly true for running back and wide receiver positions. Those two positions need to contribute immediately or as soon as possible.
Once the highly touted players are gone, acquiring seconds or thirds can still give your rebuilds and retools youth. Getting fluid assets and young talent will influence and improve your team’s available future moves and outlook.
ICYMI – 2024 Top Dynasty Rookie Prospects 1.0
Why You Should Be Targeting 2024 Draft Picks
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