Most Dynasty managers are aware of all the big-name players like Caleb Williams, Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Jonathon Brooks when starting their rookie drafts. Still, those who can identify the late-round rookie sleepers outside of the first two rounds can dramatically alter their Dynasty team’s short and long-term outlooks. To help you with this, below are some Dynasty rookie sleepers to keep an eye on and target later in your drafts.
The statistics in this article were pulled from ESPN and Sleeper.
Kimani Vidal
While Jonathan Brooks, Trey Benson, Jaylen Wright, and Blake Corum are the top rookie running backs, the rest of the class is mainly filled with guys who could be diamonds in the rough. So, if you’re looking to take a shot at a rookie running back who could have a great return on investment, I would look at Vidal. He was a highly productive player during his time at Troy, and he flashed how dynamic he could be during his senior season. He rushed for 1,661 yards with 14 touchdowns, adding 201 receiving yards on 18 receptions and one touchdown.
Not only are these statistics impressive during his last season, but he also landed in a great situation with the Los Angeles Chargers, who now have coach Jim Harbough, who has historically consistently implemented a run-heavy game plan. In addition, he might not face too much competition on the depth chart. They lost Austin Ekeler, so the backfield looks to be a mix of a couple of former Ravens, Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. The Chargers developed Ekeler, an undrafted free agent from Western Colorado, so who says Vidal wouldn’t be the next? If he can impress during training camp, Vidal could be a great sleeper in a high-scoring Justin Herbert-led offense. Vidal is being drafted very late in Dynasty rookie drafts, typically in the mid to late third or early fourth round. At that price, based on his talent and opportunity, he’s worth drafting and hoping he might be the Chargers’ next version of Ekeler.
Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Like Vidal, Tyrone Tracy Jr. enters a running back room on the New York Giants with a prime opportunity for a significant role if he can seize it. They just lost Saquon Barkley in free agency and only replaced him with now journeyman Devin Singletary. Then, to take into account, Tracy Jr. is a dynamic talent who, in college, was recruited to Iowa as a wide receiver until he converted to a running back his last year after transferring to Purdue. At the NFL Combine, he showed off his athleticism and did nothing but help himself, showing that he was one of the most explosive running backs in the draft. Watching his tape, he looks like an NFL running back and has excellent vision, burst, and contact balance, which is very impressive for someone who only played the position for one year.
The main downside is that he’s almost twenty-five, which could limit his further development. However, if he can make a favorable impression on the coaching staff, his only competition will be Singletary and Eric Gray. He’s an intriguing talent with a potential opportunity in front of him. Not to mention that on Sleeper, he’s typically being drafted in the fourth round or as one of the last picks in Dynasty rookie drafts. I’d take a chance on him, as you might be rewarded handsomely.
Javon Baker
The New England Patriots completely retooled their wide-receiving core after selecting Drake Maye with the third overall pick. Most are highlighting second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk but do not sleep on their fourth-round pick, Javon Baker. He didn’t produce much during his two years at Alabama, but in his last two years of collegiate experience at UCF, he started making a name for himself.
He can line up on the outside like most top receivers, and all he does is make plays. At 6’1″ 202, he’s got great NFL size, and in his last year at UCF, he had 52 receptions for 1,139 yards and seven touchdowns. On tape, his route-running, above-average strength, and acrobatic catches all stick out to me. The main knocks on him are consistency and the fact that he needs to clean up some of his drops. Ultimately, he’s got the physical tools and should have every opportunity to earn a role early in his career, as the Patriots don’t have a deep wide receiver room. Add in that they just took a young potential franchise quarterback starting right away, and he’s got a chance to surprise a lot of people. Baker is being drafted in the third round of Dynasty rookie drafts, and at that price, based on his talent and opportunity, he’s most certainly worth your selection.
Malik Washington
The Miami Dolphins’ head coach, Mike McDaniel, loves his speedsters and playmakers. When they selected Malik Washington, it was a perfect landing spot for him. His 4.47 40-yard dash time fits perfectly into a wide receiver room that already is one of the fastest in the league with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. His production during his first four collegiate seasons at Northwestern was nothing eye-popping, but in his last season, after transferring to Virginia, he caught many scouts’ eyes. He finished with 110 receptions for 1,426 yards and nine touchdowns, as he caught the attention of many teams.
His landing spot is the perfect long-term fit, as the Dolphins are great at using speed impactfully. While his immediate future potential is capped with Hill, Waddle, and now Odell Beckham Jr. on a one-year contract in front of him, the rumors of Hill possibly retiring early or Waddle perhaps leaving after his rookie contract is up made Washington even more appealing, along with his game-changing talent. Washington is being drafted in the late third or early fourth round of Dynasty rookie drafts and with this cost of acquiring him it makes him very appealing as a stash and boom type prospect for the future.
In Conclusion
All four of these players are talented rookies, and adding them in the later rounds of your Dynasty rookie drafts has the potential to pay off for your team. They are all talented players in landing spots that can either have an immediate or future successful impact. In addition, all four of these players have the potential to contribute to your team significantly at some point, so add to your Dynasty scouting credentials and select them so these players can help you add to your league’s trophy shelf.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and I hope you gained some valuable information. If you have any questions or you’d like additional insight and analysis, please follow me on Twitter/X at @MonicasHubby. #DFFArmy #AlwaysBeBuilding
