Knowing the gems in the fourth round of your rookie drafts can completely change the outlook and foundation of your dynasty teams. While the hit rate is the lowest compared to other rounds, I wanted to dive deeper into some of the lesser pedigree 2024 NFL rookies and identify the exciting profiles to take a low risk on with the potential of high upside at their respective positions.
Javon Baker, WR UCF
The glaring question with Javon Baker’s profile is, “Why couldn’t he break out his first two years at Alabama?” In his defense, he was in the most talented receiving room in college football, sitting behind current NFL WRs DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle in 2020 and Jameson Williams and John Metchie in 2021. With that context, it’s understandable why he transferred to UCF. In 2022, Javon’s junior season, he was finally able to sustain a stable role and gather 56 receptions for 796 yards with 5 TDs. In his senior season, he caught four fewer passes (52) but had 1139 yards for an insane 21.9 yards per catch. Although he had a frustratingly slow start to his collegiate career, he was able to bounce back in the latter two years at UCF.
NFL Player Comps – Jalen Tolbert WR DAL, Rashee Rice WR KC, and Michael Wilson WR ARI
Luke McCaffrey, WR Rice
Committing to play for Nebraska for the 2019 season, Luke McCaffrey played quarterback for 11 games in his first two seasons. Transferring to Rice in 2021, he played nine more games at QB before transitioning to WR during the 2022 season. Showcasing dual-threat capabilities on the ground and catching passes, versatility is the enamoring aspect of Luke McCaffrey’s game. There’s a higher chance that his rookie draft ADP could sneak into the 3rd round as the offseason proceeds, more than any other player I mention here. Of course, he is the younger brother of 49ers star RB Christian McCaffrey, which will lead to increased popularity through the rookie draft process.
NFL Player Comps – Romeo Doubs WR GB, Puka Nacua WR LAR
Cody Schrader, RB Missouri
One of the biggest stories in college football during the 2023 season. Starting his collegiate career in Division II at Trumann State, Schrader was the national Division II rushing leader in 2021 with 2,074 yards. He walked on at Missouri for the 2022 season and had 745 rush yards and 9 TDs, earning him a scholarship offer in 2023. Schrader then capped off his collegiate career by leading the SEC in rushing with 1627 rush yards. In the 4th round of rookie drafts, this is an exemplary profile with which I’d like to take my chances. Be aware that he injured his hamstring during the 40-yard dash at the combine, a situation to monitor going forward.
NFL Player Comparisons – Jerome Ford RB CLE, Kevin Harris RB NE, Tyler Badie RB DEN
Theo Johnson, TE Penn State
One of the more sneaky yet huge winners at the NFL Combine. Johnson has been creeping up TE ranks post-combine with a near-perfect Relative Athletic Score of 9.99/10 combined with his size (6’6, 259 lbs). His production at Penn State is a glaring issue, but he was used more as a blocking tight end with the Nittany Lions run-heavy scheme. In the 4th round of rookie drafts or possibly a waiver wire pickup after your rookie draft, it’s the perfect price to pick a developmental TE to stash in your Taxi squad in dynasty leagues.
NFL Player Comps – Cole Kmet TE CHI, Mike Gesicki TE CIN
Re’Mahn ‘Ray’ Davis, RB Kentucky
A 5-year starter and entering the league as a 24-year-old rookie are prominent reasons why Davis isn’t projected to go higher in the NFL Draft and, consequently, dynasty rookie drafts. Starting his college career at Temple in 2019, Davis rushed 193 times, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and totaling 936 rush yards in 12 games, with a shortened season in 2020 due to COVID. Davis then transferred to Vanderbilt to play in the SEC before the 2021 season, where he battled injuries. He could only suit up for seven games in these two seasons. Davis returned to action in 2022 and eclipsed 1000 rush yards (1042 yards) on 232 carries. An underrated aspect of his statistical profile was his 29 and 33 receptions over his last two college seasons, showcasing the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Davis continued improving this past season at Kentucky, where he totaled 21 TDs (14 rushing and 7 receiving TDs) on 199 carries with a career-best 1129 rushing yards. Ray Davis‘s path to the NFL screams resilience, and he will be precious to an NFL team in the later rounds of April’s draft. With the continuous rotation of RBs on nearly every NFL team, drafting rookie RBs in the right teams and schemes is essential. With a likely early fourth-round price tag, I like Davis as one of the stashes of the 2024 RB Class.
NFL Player Comps – Tyjae Spears RB TEN, Mohamed Ibrahim RB DET
Conclusion
Navigating the later rounds of dynasty drafts requires a keen eye for untapped potential and hidden gems. In this article, we’ve delved into five intriguing sleepers who, if drafted wisely in the fourth round, could redefine the fortunes of your dynasty team. From Javon Baker’s resurgence at UCF to Re’Mahn ‘Ray’ Davis’s journey of resilience, each prospect offers a unique blend of talent, opportunity, and upside. Luke McCaffrey’s versatility, Cody Schrader’s meteoric rise, and Theo Johnson’s athletic prowess underscore the depth of talent available in the later rounds. While these prospects may come with their share of risks and uncertainties, the potential rewards far outweigh the costs, making them enticing targets for savvy dynasty managers. Whether you’re looking to bolster your receiving corps, shore up your backfield, or invest in future TE talent, these sleepers represent opportunities to strike gold in the draft.
YO, thank you for reading my article! I appreciate your support and time. If you’re interested in more devy and dynasty content like this, come check me out! Follow me on Twitter/X @DFF_Woody. #DFFArmy #FantasyFootball #AlwaysBeBuilding #NFL #NFLDraft #NFLTransactions #NFLTrades #AlwaysBeScouting
