We now have only one game left on this year’s NFL calendar, and that means that dynasty season is already upon us. Fortune favors the prepared in this unique format of fantasy football, so it’s time to start getting ready for those rookie drafts that will be upon us before we know it!
Looking at this special 2024 NFL Draft class, where should players like LSU WR Malik Nabers, Washington WR Rome Odunze, and Oregon WR Troy Franklin be selected?
2024 1QB Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft
1.01) Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
There’s a legitimate chance that Marvin Harrison Jr. is the most complete prospect I’ve ever evaluated. While he doesn’t necessarily have the big-play explosiveness that Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase does, he’s certainly not lacking in this department, and he received an absurd grade in my evaluation process.
He’s an incredibly well-rounded WR who is going to be able to step onto an NFL field and be one of the best options out there from Day 1. His alignment versatility, combined with his size and athleticism, is going to make him highly coveted going into the 2024 NFL Draft, and there’s a very good chance he’s off the board within the first three selections.
If that is the case, the entire scouting profile will be there to signify that Harrison is about as safe of a choice as you can make at the top of your dynasty rookie draft.
With no top-tier RB prospect here to really speak of in this class, there’s really not much debate that needs to be had about who should be the 1.01 selection.
1.02) Malik Nabers, WR, LSU
Yes, Harrison is viewed as the top prospect in this incoming class by the majority of talent evaluators. However, if you want to make the case for Malik Nabers being drafted at the 1.01 over the Ohio State product… you won’t get a significant argument from me.
LSU WR Malik Nabers had an exceptional 2023 season. Does he have a real chance to be the WR1 overall in your 2024 dynasty rookie draft? https://t.co/pDeUv864sb
— PFN Fantasy (@PFNFantasy) January 9, 2024
Nabers’ explosiveness pops off the screen. His fluidity as an athlete, combined with his advanced route-running savvy and release at the line of scrimmage in press coverage, makes it easy to project him as an eventual top-12 WR for fantasy purposes down the line.
Landing spot will matter for Nabers’ production right out of the gate, but the consensus view is that it’s simply Harrison by himself at the top of this talented WR class. In my opinion, that’s not the case. We need to be talking a lot more about Nabers going into 2024.
1.03) Rome Odunze, WR, Washington
Rome Odunze‘s the No. 3 WR in this 2024 NFL Draft class for me right now, but he’s far from a consolation prize for teams drafting at the 1.03 spot. He’s an incredibly versatile WR who has the athleticism — and receiving ability — to make an instant impact in the NFL, which puts him here near the top of this mock draft.
MORE: Dynasty Rookie Rankings 2024
With his ability to operate at every level of the field, Odunze could wind up being a target vacuum for an NFL offense right out of the gate. Even in a deeper WR class that features some talented options that make a fantasy impact, Odunze’s worth a top-three selection in 1QB formats.
1.04) Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia
People will have some scar tissue from the last time they needed to use a top-five rookie pick on a TE in Atlanta Falcons TE Kyle Pitts, but Brock Bowers has the potential to be special at the next level. His versatility, combined with his athleticism and playmaking ability, is going to have NFL teams clamoring to bring him into their offense.
It’s very likely that we see Bowers off the board within the first ten picks of the NFL Draft, which means that he needs to be highly valued in dynasty, too. If he lands in a spot that has a stable QB situation, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Bowers go off the board before someone like Odunze.
1.05) Caleb Williams, QB, USC
It’s rare to see a QB off the board at this spot of dynasty rookie drafts, but when the prospect is being hyped up as much as USC QB Caleb Williams is, it becomes a little bit more understandable.
After watching and evaluating his film, it’s easy to see why Williams is being discussed as a generational QB prospect coming into this NFL Draft. His ability to create off-script and make highlight-reel plays is truly something that makes your jaw drop at times when watching him.
There are things he does on a football field that resemble Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, but he may even be more refined of a prospect coming out of college than Mahomes was. We weren’t discussing Mahomes as the No. 1 overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, remember.
We had to wait all the way until pick No. 10 after a trade-up for the Chiefs to swoop in and select the Texas Tech product. Williams showcases all the talent and ability in the world, but he just needs a more stable and secure situation around him than what he had at USC.
With underrated mobility to his game, Williams could easily wind up being a top-five dynasty QB within a year or two. That’s worth spending an early selection on him here in this mock draft.
1.06) Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU
No one is Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson. He’s 1-of-1, and his playmaking ability is at the top of the game right now.
Yet, Jayden Daniels out of LSU is going to be able to be utilized in a very similar form and fashion to how Baltimore deploys Jackson on a weekly basis at the next level. Daniels has the game-changing speed that allows him to make some spectacular highlight-reel plays and flip the script of a matchup at the drop of a hat.
With solid arm strength and accuracy to go with it, Daniels could easily push for 700+ rushing yards each season for the foreseeable future, and we know the cheat code that mobility is at the QB position. There’s a risk of injury for Daniels — especially with his careless play style — but the upside is certainly there.
1.07) Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
It’s shocking that the first RB comes off the board all the way down at the 1.07. Actually, there’s a very likely chance that you have to wait even longer than this in your actual draft to see one taken, but positional scarcity moved one up here in this mock.
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Florida State RB Trey Benson is far from a perfect prospect, but his ability to generate yards after contact and his top-end speed should have him widely viewed as this class’ RB1 going into this draft cycle. Draft capital will be critical to determine whether or not he can stay in this range, but the talent is there to build on.
1.08) Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU
The 2023 NFL Draft WR class featured many impact players, but the majority of them were “undersized” or failed to reach the criteria that talent evaluators like to see to hand out a WR1 title. That’s not the case with the 2024 class.
Size, speed, and athleticism are not lacking in this class, and LSU WR Brian Thomas Jr. is one of the first players mentioned when discussions break out about the next true X-receiver who can win vertically on the outside.
At 6’4″ and 205 pounds, Thomas has the size to go up and climb the ladder to bring in contested catches over smaller defenders, but he’s also fluid enough of an athlete to be able to create separation consistently, too. We should be watching this situation closely, as he could be a fast riser throughout this pre-draft process.
1.09) Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
As mentioned with Thomas, size isn’t going to be a concern for many players in this class, and that involves Adonai Mitchell out of Texas. Formerly a Georgia Bulldog, Mitchell transferred to Texas this past season and put himself onto the scene with a solid junior campaign.
At 6’4″ and 196 pounds, Mitchell has the size to be viewed as an X-receiver on the outside, but he also possesses the movement ability and fluidity to be able to create separation at every phase of his route. He can win in the underneath aspect of the game with his speed and athleticism, but he can also take the top off of a defense.
That will have value for NFL teams, and it seems likely that he’ll hear his name called on Day 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft. If he does, Mitchell belongs in the first round of dynasty rookie drafts this offseason.
1.10) Troy Franklin, WR, Oregon
There are players that simply move at a different speed on the field than everyone else. It seems ridiculous to say that, given that these are some of the best athletes in the world all competing together, but it’s true. Athletes like Miami Dolphins WRs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are simply different.
Oregon WR Troy Franklin has improved every year of his collegiate career. Where should dynasty managers consider selecting Franklin in upcoming rookie drafts? https://t.co/q6wB3yu3hJ
— PFN Fantasy (@PFNFantasy) January 22, 2024
Troy Franklin has the potential to be put into that same category with how he moves on the field. At 6’3″ and 187 pounds, there were very few players — if any — in college football last year that could keep up with Franklin when he found daylight.
He’s still learning how to tie it all together, but the speed and athleticism are there to shape and mold. If he can land in a situation with a QB that’s not afraid to air it out deep downfield, Franklin could be an impact playmaker right away.
1.11) Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina
From a fantasy football standpoint, North Carolina QB Drake Maye is a tick below Williams and Daniels in my early rankings. With that being said, he’s still a very talented QB that’s worthy of being discussed as a top-10 pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
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While there are concerns regarding his poise and ability to handle pressure, Maye’s accuracy and ability to layer throws when his mechanics are right are among the league’s best already. On top of that, he’s not a statue in the pocket, either.
Maye’s totaled over 1,200 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns over the course of his collegiate career, and he could provide a high enough floor with that additional boost from his rushing production to offset any learning curves right away.
1.12) Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas
In previous seasons, someone like Texas WR Xavier Worthy — who is listed at just 172 pounds — would likely be discredited and written off by the dynasty fantasy football community.
However, with recent productive seasons from players like Houston Texans WR Tank Dell and Baltimore Ravens WR Zay Flowers, there’s room for lighter WRs to succeed in today’s NFL and be productive for fantasy. As long as they can create separation, there’s space for them on the field.
When watching Worthy, there’s no denying that he can play and perform at a high level. He’s shifty after the catch, he has tremendous top-end speed, and he can track the ball incredibly well deep downfield. Put him in an offense that understands how to utilize him, and he can flourish.