Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice: Devontez Walker, Ja’Lynn Polk, Adonai Mitchell (2024)

The NFL offseason is nearly upon us. While others (and myself in the coming weeks) focus on 2024 way-too-early fantasy football rankings, 2024 free agency, and NFL team needs, let’s take a look ahead to the 2024 NFL draft and what it has to offer in terms of dynasty fantasy football talent.

Throughout the draft season, I’ll be delivering prospect overviews at every fantasy position to keep tabs on the top dynasty prospects. For those looking to dig deeper, check out the highly-coveted FantasyPros Dynasty Draft Kit and the fully-fledged 2024 NFL Draft Guide.

Be sure to check out all the individual 2024 NFL Draft prospect profiles for all positions written by FantasyPros’ Matthew Jones. I cross-referenced a lot of my player notes with Jones’ great scouting breakdowns of the WRs in this class.

Let’s dig into the top incoming rookie wide receivers for dynasty fantasy football leagues in 2024 to get familiar with names we will be overly obsessing about over the next three months. Here are my takeaways on all the top 2024 dynasty rookie draft wide receivers. Below we dive into a few notable names.

• Erickson’s Fantasy Football Forecast: Recap & Takeaways for 2024
• Erickson’s Early Fantasy Football Rankings, Tiers & Notes: QB | WR
• 2024 Dynasty Fantasy Football Draft Kit
• 2024 NFL Draft Guide

Top Dynasty Rookie Wide Receivers

Adonai Mitchell (WR – Texas)

After transferring from Georgia to Texas, Adonai Mitchell made a significant impact in his junior year, showcasing his talents as a more featured piece in his team’s offense. As a Longhorn, Mitchell posted a breakout season en route to a 32 percent dominator rating with 11 TD scores on 55 receptions. His ability to consistently create separation and his prowess in high-pressure situations were notable.

His final year playing at Georgia in 2022 was capped off by a second national championship, but his production was limited due to a high ankle sprain. The ankle injury likely prevented him from achieving a “true” sophomore season breakout.

Standing at 6’4″ with a lanky frame at 196 pounds, Mitchell offers an ideal build for an outside receiver. Mitchell reminded me a lot of a lighter Michael Pittman Jr. while watching him on film.

Ja’Lynn Polk (WR – Washington)

Ja’Lynn Polk, the talented No. 2 wide receiver from Washington, made a notable mark in college football with his performances, particularly shining in his junior year. With a height of 6’2″ and weighing in at 204 lbs, Polk has the ideal build for a versatile receiver capable of playing both on the outside and in the slot.

In his time at Washington, Polk demonstrated significant growth, culminating in a senior year after suffering an injury as a sophomore. He recorded impressive stats with 69 receptions for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns, boasting an average of 16.8 yards per catch. He also started the 2023 season on absolute fire, scoring eight TDs in the first 10 weeks of the season alongside a teammate and fellow 2024 draft-eligible WR, Rome Odunze.

Polk’s blend of speed, agility, and size makes him a compelling prospect. His quickness off the line and ability to gain separation through precise route running is complemented by his strong hands and body control, enabling him to make challenging catches in traffic. He’s extremely well-rounded.

Reminded me of Mohamed Sanu and Tyler Boyd.

Devontez Walker (WR – North Carolina)

Devontez Walker, the North Carolina standout wide receiver, made significant waves in the college football landscape with his explosive play and consistent performances, particularly in his junior year after transferring from Kent State.

Note that he posted bonkers numbers at Kent State with a 50% dominator rating in 2022 with 11 TD and nearly 1,000 receiving yards. That single-season dominator rating was the BEST among any WR in the class.

At 6’2″ and weighing 200 lbs, Walker possesses the agility, speed, and long-stride ideal for a receiver who can excel both on the outside and in the slot, offering versatility to any offensive scheme as a big-play merchant.

Walker showcased his dynamic playmaking ability, culminating in a junior year that saw him amass impressive statistics with 41 receptions for 699 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 17 yards per catch in just eight games.

He earned a 22% dominator rating for his efforts, but over the games he was eligible to play, Tez Walker hung at a prorated 33% dominator rating with future NFL QB Drake Maye under center. He has a top-5 overall prorated dominator rating among his draft-eligible teammates.

His ability to consistently produce big plays downfield made him a focal point of the Tar Heels’ offense and a nightmare for opposing defenses.

Shows signs of Marvin Jones in his game. There’s an upside in his profile.