This list easily could’ve included Malik Nabers. But he was more expensive than every other player and we’re looking for great value. Jaxon Smith-Njigba was a polarizing player this season, as his lack of rookie production was concerning. Yet, a sophomore year breakout was definitely on the table. Well, it happened. Fantasy managers drafted JSN in the seventh round got 14.9 ppg and a WR17 finish.
Fantasy managers should take note of how many players on this list are rookies or sophomores. It’s not a coincidence. Ladd McConkey averaged 15.1 ppg as a rookie. And, as rookies typically do, he got better as the season wore on. Week 8 is when McConkey really started to shine. From that point forward, he averaged 17.8 ppg. He was a ninth round pick.
There was really no reason no to write off Jerry Jeudy. He averaged 8.9 ppg in 2023 and had Deshaun Watson as his quarterback. It was the right move for half the season. Then, Jameis Winston took over and Jeudy took off. From Weeks 8-15, Jeudy averaged 21.1 ppg. The rest of the season was a disaster, but getting seven games of elite WR1 production from a throwaway double-digit round pick is superb value.
James Conner was 29 years old on a mediocre offense that just drafted a rookie in the third round. Easy fade. Not so fast. Conner averaged 15.9 ppg, finishing as the overall RB15, and that includes his 2.8-point dud from Week 17 when he left early due to injury. Conner just kept on keeping on as a sixth round pick.
Dec 29, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Looking purely at Bucky Irving’s 14.9 ppg, RB19 finish, you wouldn’t think he was all that special. Well, it took him about half the season to completely overtake Rachaad White. Once he did, beginning in Week 10, Irving averaged 18.3 ppg from that point forward. Given that he was drafted in the double-digit rounds as a handcuff, Irving was the definition of a smash.
Jan 12, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) throws during the second quarter of a NFC wild card playoff against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
The only QB on this list, Jayden Daniels couldn’t do much better as a rookie. He averaged 21.5 ppg, which included two games in which he left early. Drafted as a back-end QB1, Danies was a league winner in every sense of the term, posting games of 32.4, 28.6, 23.6, 36.4, and 32.8 from Weeks 12-17 (excluding his Week 14 bye).
Dec 22, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) scores in overtime to win the gqme at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Drafting Chuba Hubbard was a savvy move for fantasy managers looking to get a hot start. Undervalued because of the inevitable Jonathon Brooks takeover, Hubbard was set to be a fantasy RB2 for the first month or so before giving way to Brooks…until he wasn’t. Not only did Brooks never threaten Hubbard, the veteran was an RB1 for most of the year. He averaged 16.1 ppg. It doesn’t get much better than that from a 10th round pick.
Nov 17, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) scores a touchdown past Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland (8) in the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Sam LaPorta’s status as the greatest rookie TE in fantasy history lasted one season. Brock Bowers was drafted as a back-end TE1 in the late single-digit rounds. He averaged 15.3 ppg, finishing as the TE3. He was the only TE this season to have multiple 30-point games.
Unquestionably the best value at the WR position, Brian Thomas Jr. averaged 16.7 ppg, finishing as the WR11. Given the subpar quarterbacks he played with, it’s a truly astonishing feat. What really made Thoms so incredible is he understood the assignment for fantasy managers. His three best games of the entire season came in Weeks 15-17. He was the overall WR1 over that span, carrying fantasy managers to championships. Not bad for a rookie.
It doesn’t get much better than this. Even based on Chase Brown “only” averaging 15.9 ppg on the season, that’s a smash from a Round 8-10 pick. But he was so much better than that. He started his backfield takeover in Week 4. From that point forward, Brown was a true bellcow, averaging 18.3 ppg. He had seven games with 19+ fantasy points.
