3 Rookies With Fantasy Football Value After Minicamp
With most of the offseason behind us, the 2024 NFL season is rapidly approaching. Preparation for the upcoming fantasy season begins now, especially with training camp starting at the end of the month.
We've seen some offseason work thanks to minicamps that took place in June. These are often useful for assessing rookies as potential roles are previewed while the first-year players have their chance to make some noise.
A handful of rookies are standing out ahead of training camp, carrying intriguing fantasy football value. Here's which rookies should be on our radar following minicamp.
Ben Sinnott, Washington Commanders
Let's start with Ben Sinnott of the Washington Commanders. He was selected in the second round with the 53rd pick. However, the first-year tight end has been a bit overshadowed by the signing of Zach Ertz.
According to FantasyPros' average draft position (ADP) data, Sinnott is being selected ahead of Ertz in most fantasy drafts as he is currently the 27th tight end taken versus Ertz at 33. This makes perfect sense considering Ertz's steady decline over the last few seasons.
In 2018, Ertz finished with the second-most fantasy points in half-PPR scoring among tight ends. He followed this with the fifth-most in 2019. Since, it's been a constant decline with Ertz finishing 32nd in 2020, 6th in 2021, 19th in 2022, and 46th last season. Outside of 2021, there's been a lot of disappointment during the four-season stretch. Injuries have played a role with the vet tight end playing in only 10 and 7 games over the previous two seasons.
Pair Ertz's decline with Sinnott drawing some heads at minicamp and we have some good fantasy value. The upside is there as a second-round pick with a RAS score of 9.49 out of 10.00. For reference, this is the 57th-best score out of 1,105 tight ends since 1987 -- not too shabby.
Sinnott also made things happen after the catch with Kansas State; he forced the fourth-most missed tackles among tight ends in 2023. If Sinnott can surpass Ertz -- which looks likely considering his decline -- the Commanders' rookie tight end could bring good value as a late pick.
Braelon Allen, New York Jets
Braelon Allen is another rookie falling late on draft boards. FantasyPros currently has him as the 58th running back in ADP -- which points to going undrafted.
There's a huge hurdle between Allen and rookie success -- his name is Breece Hall. The New York Jets' starting tailback has been nothing but impressive through his first two seasons in the league. Hall is the second or third running back off of fantasy boards and has the second-most projected FanDuel Points (FDP) via numberFire.
Despite carrying high expectations, Hall has yet to reach 1,000 rushing yards in a season. We've seen most teams steer away from putting an entire workload on one running back as it typically leads to a shortened prime. Allen could be the answer for spelling some of Hall's work.
ESPN named Allen one of the biggest surprises of spring minicamps. The reports said that Allen's receiving ability stood out, which is especially useful in half and/or full PPR leagues. Scouting reports mostly highlighted Allen's ability as a ball carrier. If he has added a receiving element, we could see a new one-two punch in New York.
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
First-round quarterbacks are often given the keys to the franchise rather quickly. That's not the case for Bo Nix as he's currently in a battle for the Denver Broncos' starting quarterback position.
Nix is currently the 31st QB off of the board, which is nine spots above Jarrett Stidham -- another signal-caller competing for the spot.
Most of the news regarding Nix has been positive. Some news have claimed Nix will either be the starting QB or the first signal-caller off of the bench. This has been advertised as a three-man competition between Nix, Stidham, and Zach Wilson. It seems that Nix is in a position to completely avoid the third string spot, providing more fantasy upside.
Minicamps only helped Nix's cause as Zac Stevens of The Dnvr highlighted his impressive accuracy and command of the offense. Nix is on the right path to start, and finding a starting QB this late with upside as a first-round selection has plenty of intrigue.
Take your sports betting to the next level with the FanDuel Parlay Hub! Explore a curated selection of popular parlays for trending games on FanDuel Sportsbook. Learn about today’s other offers at FanDuel Sportsbook Promos.
Looking for the latest NFL odds? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook and check out all of the NFL betting options.
Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Daily Fantasy today!
The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.