Jermaine Burton
Ranked just outside of the top 25 rookies, Burton is one of the biggest boom-or-bust prospects from the class. Talent was never in question with Burton during the pre-draft process, as the sure-handed receiver starred for Georgia and Alabama, but off-field concerns dropped his stock. Burton couldn’t have landed in a better situation than Cincinnati, who have established a great culture and are one of the league’s top passing games. There is enough volume for all three starting receivers to produce. In 2021, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins were both top-12 receivers in points per game and Tyler Boyd was a top-32 receiver in total fantasy points. Burton could surprise people with his rookie production, and has the inside track to become Burrow’s number two option in 2025 if Tee Higgins leaves as expected. Burton is a potential fantasy star yet is the 27th player coming off the board in rookie drafts. Take advantage of that value.
FOR MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL CONTENT, CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING LINKS:
–Fantasy Football 2024 Underrated Candidates for QB1, RB1, WR1, TE1
–2024 Fantasy Football Top 12 Running Back Rankings
–Fantasy Football Post-NFL Draft BIGGEST Winners
Kimani Vidal
The Los Angeles Chargers are going to pound their running game this year, and two aging veterans with injury histories in JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards are Vidal’s competition for carries. The secret is out on Vidal, as the pre-draft sleeper is now the seventh-ranked rookie running back by KeepTradeCut. Volume is king in fantasy football, and Vidal landed in an ideal situation. Vidal has a profile that fits perfectly with Greg Roman. He was one of the highest-graded rushers in college football last year at Troy, including a great 79.3 pass blocking grade. Vidal has the potential to be the top scoring rookie back if Dobbins or Edwards can’t stay healthy.
Tyrone Tracy Jr
Tracy was a riser late in the draft process and is a riser in fantasy drafts. The former Iowa wide receiver transferred to Purdue and converted to running back to close out his collegiate career. Sharing a backfield with Devin Singletary and Eric Gray, Tracy has a chance to carve out a sizable role as a receiving back right away while he develops his skills on the ground. Tracy has upside to be a three-down contributor in Brian Daboll’s pass-heavy offense.
Isaac Guerendo
When Kyle Shanahan invests in a running back, it deserves attention. The San Francisco 49ers have found success with late-round and undrafted running backs including Elijah Mitchell, Jeff Wilson, Jordan Mason and most notably Raheem Mostert. Guerendo, a fourth round selection, fits that profile with his blazing 4.33 speed at 220 pounds. He averaged over six yards per carry as a senior at Louisville and is a fit in Shanahan’s trademark outside zone run scheme. Christian McCaffrey is the king of San Francisco’s backfield, but expect Guerendo to compete for carries and pop off explosive runs that can buoy fantasy production.
Dylan Laube
Looking for the next Austin Ekeler? The AFC West has another small-school receiving back with the potential to be a target hog out of the backfield with New Hampshire’s Dylan Laube. Laube caught 68 passes in 2023, the same number as first-round receivers Brian Thomas Jr and Ricky Pearsall. Laube also led the FCS in all-purpose yards since 2022. Zamir White, Las Vegas’s projected starter, is unproven as a receiver in both college and the pros. The Las Vegas Raiders could be playing from behind frequently in 2024, and Laube is the type of back that can eat into White’s usage and become a PPR monster. Laube is KeepTradeCut’s 50th ranked rookie and RB69. He has a clear path to playing time, and if he can convert even a fraction of his collegiate success, he will be a steal in fantasy drafts.
Johnny Wilson
When betting on a sixth-round wide receiver, a size outlier like 6’6, 231-pound Johnny Wilson is the type of player to keep an eye on. Wilson’s size helped him dominate college defensive backs at Florida State, but his unique frame caused a slide to pick 185. The Philadelphia Eagles top wide receivers are locked in as AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, but Wilson could carve a long-term role behind the two. Wilson is a potential red-zone monster with his record 84.5 inch wingspan. He is currently the WR108 on KeepTradeCut and is ranked just outside the top 50 rookies. Wilson is the player on this list I am the least confident in being a contributor, but his skill set and upside are too unique to ignore.
Jared Wiley
For years, Travis Kelce has seemingly been immune to regression, but he started to show signs of his age last season. At 34-years-old, Kelce will not play forever. The Chiefs might have landed his heir at tight end in Jared Wiley. The fourth-round pick out of TCU is an athletic freak that flashed elite receiving ability for the Horned Frogs. His large frame makes him a potential red zone monster with Patrick Mahomes. Wiley is valued as the overall TE40 by KeepTradeCut and is going outside of the top 50 in rookie drafts. He is unlikely to provide any fantasy relevance in his first year or two, but Wiley has the upside to be a future top-15 tight end.
Vaki
One of the biggest surprises of the 2024 NFL Draft was when the Detroit Lions announced their fourth round pick Sione Vaki as a running back. Vaki was a two-way standout at Utah, but primarily played as a safety. He is expected to make his largest early impact on special teams, but the Lions would not have traded three picks, including their 2025 fourth-rounder to not utilize Vaki on offense. In 2023, Vaki averaged 7.5 yards per carry and 18.5 yards per reception on a total of 53 touches. Vaki has been used sparingly as an offensive weapon, but he was one of the most efficient and explosive players in the country when he touched the football. Dan Campbell will love his effort and mentality, which should earn Vaki a roster spot and have a chance to be the RB3 behind Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. The Lions love to split carries throughout their backfield. If either Gibbs or Montgomery misses time, Vaki could slot in as the receiving back or power back and produce. Long-term, Vaki can fill the Jamaal Williams and Montgomery goal line and complimentary role that has been a fantasy goldmine. Vaki is unproven, but as the overall RB97 and a rookie draft ADP of 64, Vaki is worth the dice roll on your taxi squad or bench.
