Week 2 has officially come and gone. We saw some bounce-back performances, some horrible performances, and some encouraging signs that made us excited for a long-term outlook. Overall, this 2024 class has shown much promise, particularly the skill position players. This class gave us Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Brock Bowers. But are there any other players who should be on the radar? Let’s dive in!
Jayden Daniels
So last week, I said, “It was great to see the rushing upside on display in Week 1, but Jayden Daniels left a lot to be desired as a passer.” Now, fast forward to Week 2, and that narrative has changed. The biggest difference was that instead of checking the ball down, he wanted to push the ball down the field. Five receivers had receptions of 12 yards or more. This led to 226 passing yards. You may say that’s not impressive by any means, but throw that in with 44 rushing yards, and Jayden Daniels had a solid day. The only knock was this offense didn’t produce a touchdown. Lastly, Terry McLaurin led the receiving core with eight targets. Once those two are on the same page, we could see many QB1 weeks for Jayden Daniels. His Dynasty stock is up. He currently sits at Dynasty QB10 for me.
Caleb Williams
These first two weeks have been rough for the Chicago Bears offense. When you look at the stat line from Week 2, you are probably wondering what the hell Caleb Williams was doing. After watching every single snap from that game, I’ll say that this game was lost because of the Bears’ offensive line. Seven sacks allowed 23 pressures on 48 dropbacks and sloppy football. The Bears are on pace for 119 accepted penalties. That will not get it done. There were things I saw from Caleb that I liked. He deciphered where the blitz was coming from and made the correct audible, he showed the ability to extend plays with his legs even with all of the pressure he saw, and the loss was on him. I like the accountability he showed. He acted like a pro’s pro. The elite talent is there, but the Bears must do a better job protecting their young QB. Caleb Williams has dropped to my Dynasty QB9, but he’s still a hold at value.
Marvin Harrison Jr.
What a difference one week makes. Week 1 had all Marvin Harrison Jr. owners in a panic. But like Aaron Rodgers would say, R-E-L-A-X. In the first half of the game against the Los Angeles Rams, Marvin Harrison Jr had four catches, 130 receiving yards, and two scores. Yes, he didn’t produce in the second half, but the game was a blowout from the jump. The lesson here is don’t panic about these young superstars early. It takes time for them to build a report with their QBs and get their feet wet in the offense. Marvin Harrison Jr. is my Dynasty WR5 moving forward. The buy window is closing fast.
Malik Nabers
After two weeks in the NFL, Malik Nabers is second in targets. In Week 2 alone, he earned a 62% target share. That is unheard of. It speaks volumes about just how elite this kid is. He is the best offensive weapon on the New York Giants by far. He had a crucial drop on third down that cost the Giants the game, but he took that on the chin and stated,” I don’t want to let the veterans on this team down. I will be better.” I love his confidence. He is currently my dynasty WR6, and there is no buy window. It would take a lot for a Malik Nabers owner to sell. If you snagged him in your rookie drafts – congratulations.
Brock Bowers
I saw all I needed to see. Brock Bowers is the Dynasty TE1. Through two weeks in his NFL career, he has 15 receptions for 156 yards. This is the most all-time for any rookie TE through their first two weeks. Yes, it’s early, but Brock Bowers is a generational talent, and he’s playing elite-level football. He is my dynasty TE1 and there is no buy window. He’s an essential piece to any roster.
Trey Benson
Before I start with the positives, I want to say this. For the 2024 season, Trey Benson is nothing more than a high-upside handcuff. This backfield belongs to James Conner. In Week 1, Trey Benson was on the field for 13% of the offensive snaps. Last week, he was on the field for 33% of the offensive snaps. Yes, that was due to the blowout, and there was no reason to play the first-team starters. Now, to the negative. With those 11 carries, he only gained 10 yards in rushing. That’s good for under one yard per carry. That won’t get it done. Still, it’s good that he is firmly locked into the Cardinals’ RB2 role. He is my Dynasty RB27 and offers a great buy-low window. You can get him for a future second-round pick, and you could reap the benefits next year.
Braelon Allen
Braelon Allen shocked the world in Week 2. He had nine touches for 56 yards and two scores. The biggest thing I saw was his snap share percentage rose from 18% in Week 1 to 35% in Week 2. One of the best Big Ten running backs since Jonathan Taylor, and he’s only twenty years old. Yes, he is a clear handcuff to Breece Hall. Yes, he is merely a stash on your Dynasty benches. But he put the NFL world on notice in Week 2. Send out a future third-round pick and stash him on your bench.
Players I want to see more of
Some players have yet to make their mark this season. It’s hard to gauge their value with little to no playing time. Those players include Jonathon Brooks, Ben Sinnott, Xavier Legette, Ja’Lynn Polk, Javon Baker, and Blake Corum.
Thank you for tuning in to another week of Dynasty Rookie Stock Market. This article will be coming out weekly, and I hope you gain some insight into these rookies and how to gauge their values moving forward. If you have any questions, follow me on Twitter/X @FFChalmers. My DMs are always open. Always Be Building!
