Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice: Jonathon Brooks, Adonai Mitchell, Ben Sinnott (2024 Fantasy Football)

The 2024 NFL Draft has come and gone. While the real NFL draft is over, the fantasy football drafts are just beginning! That’s especially true when it comes to dynasty rookie drafts. NFL Draft landing spots allow us to start to zero in on fantasy football and dynasty rookie draft pick values. Let’s dive into our dynasty rookie draft outlook and advice for a few rookies.

Fantasy Football Rookie Draft Outlook

Here’s what Fitz expects for a few rookies selected during the 2024 NFL Draft.

Panthers Draft Jonathon Brooks

The Carolina Panthers have injected a dose of talent into their backfield, selecting University of Texas RB Jonathon Brooks with the 46th overall pick of the draft.

Perhaps the biggest drawback with Brooks is that he’s coming off a major knee injury. He tore his right ACL against TCU On Nov. 11. Early reports indicate that Brooks will be ready for training camp, though it’s unclear if Brooks will be able to participate in contact drills.

Even if Jonathon Brooks is deemed to be fully healthy, it’s possible the Panthers will exercise an abundance of caution with their new RB in his rookie year, limiting his workload. It’s also possible Brooks won’t be at the height of his powers less than a year removed from knee surgery — which wouldn’t be the first time a running back was at less than 100% immediately upon returning from a torn ACL.

Were it not for the knee injury, Brooks may have been the near-unanimous RB1 in this rookie class. He served a two-year apprenticeship behind star Texas RB Bijan Robinson and primary backup Roschon Johnson, but when Brooks got his chance to start in 2023, he was ready.

Brooks ran for 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns in 11 games for the Longhorns, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. He added 25 receptions for 286 yards and one touchdown.

The 6-0, 216 pound Brooks is quick-footed and slippery, and his jump cuts can leave defenders grasping at air. Although he may not having blazing straight-line speed, Brooks has impressive acceleration and can dart around like a water bug. Jonathon Brooks demonstrated proficiency as a pass catcher in his 11 games as a starter at Texas, and he has room for growth in that area.

There are few, if any, glaring weaknesses in Brooks’ game. He doesn’t run with a great deal of power, and it’s possible he’ll start the season closer to his college playing weight of 207 pounds rather than his combine weight of 216. With only one year as a college starter, Brooks can’t match the experience of some of the other running backs in the class.

Jonathon Brooks could quickly ascend a Panthers RB depth chart that currently has Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders at the top. He’s a better prospect than either Hubbard or Sanders was, and Sanders was considered a major disappointment last season. Carolina is a good landing spot in terms of opportunity, but it’s not the healthiest offensive ecosystem. The Panthers ranked dead last in offensive yardage last season and tied the Patriots for last in points scored.

Before the draft, Brooks had a FantasyPros Expert Consensus Ranking of RB51 in half-point PPR redraft leagues, and he had an Underdog best-ball ADP of RB33. I tentatively have him ranked RB38 for redraft.

If Brooks gets a clean bill of health before your fantasy draft, he’s worth something close to his Underdog ADP, which would put him in midrange RB3 territory. Obviously, potential investors will have to carefully monitor his health status in late July and August.

For dynasty, I have Brooks ranked RB23 overall and RB1 in the rookie class. In 1QB rookie drafts, Brooks is likely to go somewhere from the middle of the first round to the early part of the second round. In superflex rookie drafts, it’s possible Brooks will sneak into the back end of the first round, but he’s more likely to go in the early to middle part of the second round.

Check out his full dynasty rookie draft profile

Colts Draft Adonai Mitchell

The Indianapolis Colts have added one of the most intriguing wide receivers in the 2024 rookie class, selecting Adonai Mitchell of Texas with the 20th pick of the second round.

Mitchell had 55 catches for 845 yards and 11 touchdowns in 14 games for the Longhorns last season after transferring from Georgia. He’s a size-speed freak, with a 6-2, 205-pound frame and 4.34 wheels, giving Mitchell a 97th percentile speed score, according to PlayerProfiler.com. Mitchell posted a 9.99 Relative Athletic Score, fifth-best among all wide receivers to have posted a RAS since 1987, per RAS pioneer Kent Lee Platte.

Adonai Mitchell’s speed and athleticism give him immense potential. He’s also shown reliable hands, with only one drop over his final two seasons in Austin.

While Mitchell hit some impressive home runs for the Longhorns, he didn’t bang out a lot of singles and doubles. He hasn’t shown much in contested-catch situations, and he hasn’t gained a lot of yardage after the catch. Mitchell’s effort can be inconsistent at times.

The Colts already have a high-volume possession receiver and a quick slot receiver in Josh Downs. What they need is a vertical threat, since Alec Pierce hasn’t been particularly effective in that role. It’s unlikely Adonai Mitchell gets a substantial target share right away as the No. 3 or No. 4 receiver in what should be a fairly run-heavy offense with Anthony Richardson at quarterback and Jonathan Taylor as the lead running back. But Mitchell could be the Colts’ designated lid lifter, providing the occasional big play.

Mitchell figures to be an early-second-round pick in 1QB dynasty rookie drafts and a late second-rounder or early third-rounder in most superflex rookie drafts. I’m relatively bearish on Mitchell in dynasty, ranking him WR10 among the rookies and WR44 overall.

For redraft, Mitchell had a predraft FantasyPros Expert Consensus Ranking of RB63 in half-point PPR redraft leagues. Adonai Mitchell’s predraft Underdog best-ball ADP was RB55. I have Mitchell ranked WR68in redraft and won’t be targeting him in my drafts, though I wouldn’t be opposed to taking a late-round flyer on him if he slid.

Check out his full dynasty rookie draft profile

Commanders Draft Ben Sinnott

The Washington Commanders have selected Kansas State’s Ben Sinnott with the 21st pick of the second round.

Sinnott became an important component of the K-State passing attack over his final two college seasons. He had 31 catches for 447 yards and four touchdowns in 2022, and 49 catches for 676 yards and six touchdowns in 2023.

Ben Sinnott is a terrific athlete who ran a 4.68 at the combine, recorded a 40-inch vertical jump, and posted a Relative Athletic Score of 9.73. He’s a solid route-runner who isn’t afraid to do the dirty work over the middle of the field, and he’s a beast after the catch. Sinnott broke 14 tackles last season. Sinnott also has reliable hands.

The biggest issue with Sinnott is size. At 6-3½, 250 pounds, he might not be an effective inline blocker at the NFL level, even though he was an effective blocker in college.

The Commanders needed a good young tight end. They added Zach Ertz in free agency, but Ertz is 33 years old and has lost 17 games to injury over the last two years. Washington now has reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels at quarterback, and the Commanders aren’t exactly loaded at wide receiver, with Terry McLaurin the only proven blue chipper at the position.

In dynasty, I have Ben Sinnott ranked TE2 among rookies and TE21 overall. He’s likely to come off the board somewhere in the third round of 1QB rookie drafts and in the fourth round of superflex rookie drafts.

Sinnott’s predraft FantasyPros Expert Consensus ranking was TE50 in half-point PPR formats, and he had a predraft Underdog best-ball ADP of TE33. I have Sinnott ranked TE35 for redraft.

Check out his full dynasty rookie draft profile