Fantasy Football: Target Sleepers in late 2024 Dynasty Rookie Draft | Fantasy Football News, Rankings, Predictions

• Opportunities and paths to snaps are always the biggest keys. A third-day pick could emerge, especially at the running back position.

• Kimani Vidal Maybe the hype is what keeps him awake. After creating a pre-draft sleeper list, Los Angeles Chargers A sixth-round pick is still eligible to be on this list.

• Late-round wide receivers who could make an impact: Devontez Walker and Jacob Cowing He would be an interesting player candidate for each offense.

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

The real dart throw in the dynasty rookie draft usually comes after the third round (pick 37 and beyond) of the 12-team standard league. Although the hit rate is still low, a few selected people emerge as fantasy stars every year. puka nacua, who made it this list from last year. Each player listed below is at best his third day pick of the NFL Draft, and he is listed as a fourth round pick or higher based on the below. Fantasy Pro Consensus ADP.

A deep dive into the best data available on PFF can help late picks in the rookie draft identify players worth trying out on a dynasty roster.

R.B. Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers – FP consensus ADP: 38th overall (RB11)

Vidal's turnaround will have to start with the fact that he's already moved away from sleeper territory, as evidenced by the sixth-round pick's ADP moving to RB11 since the NFL Draft.That being said, there is quite a bit to like about Vidal, and that is why he predraft sleepers I'm also on this list, so I don't feel too bad about contributing to this hype.

Vidal received a lot of playing time in his college career and has performed well over the past two seasons, posting back-to-back 90.0+ rushing grades with 2,788 yards and 24 rushing touchdowns in that span. Vidal will face a proven NFL veteran with the Chargers. Gus Edwards and JK DobbinsHowever, Vidal has room to make an impact as a rookie, as Greg Roman's offense operates primarily with a run-based approach and there are concerns with Dobbins injured with a torn Achilles tendon.

As with any third-day draft pick, it's incredibly rare to get a chance to start right away, and you have to earn it over time, so it's not just Vidal, but the sleepers mentioned here. A lot of patience will be the key. Vidal has the experience and pedigree to emerge as a fantasy-relevant option in this offense, as evidenced by his strong metrics coming out of college, as highlighted in the chart below.

Kimani Vidal's career rushing results and rankings:

R.B. Tyrone Tracy, new york giants – FP consensus ADP: 42nd overall (RB13)

I also made Tracy Pre-draft sleeper list There was never a chance he would land anywhere as a clear-cut RB1 after the draft, but this spot in New York was one of the best available for him to emerge as a fantasy-relevant rookie. The Giants brought in a stable and reliable starter. Devin Singletarythis offseason after a loss. Saquon Barkley Although a free agent, there isn't much else on the Giants' roster that would prevent a prospect like Tracy from being involved in the offense as a rookie.

One of the key areas Tracy can contribute will be as a pass catcher out of the backfield thanks to his experience as a wide receiver in college, but Singletary has a proven track record in that regard during his NFL career. This is also because there was no such thing. Despite producing decent volume as a receiver during his NFL career, Singletary never topped a 65.0 receiving grade and never had fewer than 45 targets (including the playoffs). . For Tracy and a Giants offense that has relied heavily on Barkley's receiving ability for years, he should be able to carve out a role as a receiver early while waiting for carry time to increase his workload.

Tyrone Tracy career marks and ranks:

R.B. Dylan Laube, las vegas raiders – FP consensus ADP: 43rd overall (RB14)

A path to snaps on the thin depth chart is always going to be key for these sleeper running backs, and Laube, who landed with the Raiders, is no exception. Josh Jacobs. zamir white While he's been the clear winner this offseason in fantasy circles so far, that doesn't mean there's no room for Laube to contribute, and he could step in if White doesn't work out. Laube's main competition for that handcuff role is currently alexander mattisonhe was one of the least efficient fullbacks in the league last year and lost his starting job. Ameer Abdullahwill be 31 years old at the start of the season, making him more likely to contribute to the succession.

Laube has come out of the FCS with encouraging numbers as a receiver and could support Abdullah's use early in his career. Laube has earned a receiving grade of at least 81.1 in each of the last three seasons, and last season he posted a 90.5. He has nearly 200 targets heading into his college career, with 1,654 receiving yards per route run, 14 receiving touchdowns, and 1.81 career yards per route run, the most of any running back since 2018. 92nd percentile mark among candidates.

Laube's career rushing grade as a runner is just 88.1 points, and a fantastic manager would like to get a higher grade out of the FCS. However, his number of missed tackles is high at 0.27 per attempt (71st percentile), making him one of the more consistent metrics for the Bucs from college to the NFL. Laube has the potential to earn a role on early or late downs, given his skill set and relatively thin depth chart. This is exactly what fantasy managers are looking for in the later rounds of the rookie draft.

W.R. Devontez Walker, baltimore ravens – FP consensus ADP: 41st overall (WR20)

Walker is drake mayMost talented wide receiver last season north carolina, it was his first year with the team. He led the team with 2.28 yards per route run and 87.4 receiving yards per game, appearing in only eight games on the year after missing his first five weeks.

Despite approaching the biggest year of his career. kent state With 921 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns in 2022, Walker's efficiency on the field allows him to gain 2.52 yards per route run over his career, which is the highest in this year's wide receiver class. tied for 72nd place among all players. Walker is his first prospect since 2019. Walker should have an opportunity to contribute as the Ravens' outside wide receiver after the game. odell beckham jr.departure, It is a perfect role for him to share time with Rashod Bateman.

When lined up wide, Walker has gained 2.51 yards per route run in his career, which is good for the 70th percentile mark among prospects since 2019, compared to 3.53 yards per route run. In single coverage, he posted a 62nd percentile mark in that span. Those numbers aren't surprising by any means, but Walker's speed and ability to separate downfield should help him find targets. lamar jackson He was instrumental in this offense early in his NFL career. Walker could earn a bigger role in the future if he can be as efficient as he was in college.

W.R. Jacob Cowing, san francisco 49ers – FP consensus ADP: 44th overall (WR21)

Cowing was the second receiver drafted by the 49ers after the team selected him. Ricky Pearsall But he would be a great fit in Kyle Shanahan's offense as a player who moves around the pre-snap and takes advantage of tight areas of the field like the red zone, where he was particularly effective at the time. arizona and Utep.

Cowing had 56 targets in the red zone during his career, the second-most in this class, and helped him score 33 touchdowns in his career. Cowing is an undersized receiver who will likely be used more near the line of scrimmage as a low ADoT option in Shanahan's offense. arizona For the past two years. Cowing has confirmed his targets with 59 screens, the third most in this class since 2022, but his average depth of target is only 7.6, which ranks him fourth in the class. It was low. Since 2017, Shanahan's 49ers have tied for the lowest average target depth (7.9) in the NFL, which should be a perfect fit for Cowing's skill set.Trade rumors surrounding both Brandon Aiyuk and deebo samuel These days, Cowing's time may come soon, but for now he's a target to keep the dynasty's taxi squad hidden.