Fantasy Football Rookies: Ricky Pearsall, Luke McCaffrey, Ben Sinnott (2024)

Rookies are one of the last remaining edges to exploit in all of your drafts in 2024. ADPs lag. Upside is hard to contextualize for some, and plenty of people will shy away from drafting them because “they haven’t seen them produce yet.” Not me. Give me all the late-season rookie hammers I can get ahold of, especially the undervalued one. These are my favorite undervalued rookies to target in fantasy football in 2024.

DBro’s Undervalued Rookies to Target in 2024

Ricky Pearsall (WR – SF) – WR74

Pearsall Jr. could easily get squeezed for playing time and volume in year one, but he’s one injury or Deebo Samuel trade away from being an exquisite value. Pearsall Jr. became one of my favorite players during the NFL Draft cycle. His film was fantastic as he oozes high-end route running prowess with the athleticism to stretch the field. In his final season at Florida, he finished in the 89th percentile in receiving grade, the 91st percentile in receiving grade against single coverage, and the 90th percentile in separation percentage. Pearsall Jr. could be a player that is dropped to waivers by Week 4, but the upside is there for him to absolutely crush as well in his rookie season.

Luke McCaffrey (WR – WAS) – WR110

Another NFL Draft cycle crush has crept into redraft season, with McCaffrey making this list. McCaffrey crushed every part of the process. He flashed big time at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, and then he opened a ton of eyes during his athletic testing. Despite his last name, I don’t think many people were expecting him to walk away with a 4.46 forty time and a 96th percentile agility score. Don’t be blown away when McCaffrey is starting in two wide receiver sets over Jahan Dotson. McCaffrey is still honing his game, especially against man coverage, but he already has a good feel for and understanding of how to beat zone coverage. In a league where every team utilizes zone coverage on at least 54.5% of their defensive snaps and 23 teams run it on at least 66% of their snaps, McCaffrey should be able to hit the ground running. Last year against zone among 111 qualifying FBS wide receivers, he ranked sixth in receiving grade and 28th in YPRR against zone. McCaffrey is a magnificent dart to toss in as many drafts as possible.

Ben Sinnott (TE – WAS) – TE25

In deeper leagues or leagues with premiums on tight ends, Sinnott is a strong late-round pick. Yes, if you’re combing through this article looking for Jahan Dotson‘s name, you won’t find it. After two massively disappointing campaigns, Dotson has given little reason to hope for a third-year breakout, which is why I’m mentioning Sinnott and, subsequently, Luke McCaffrey next. This offense has the potential to surprise people in 2024. If that does happen, not only could Terry McLaurin and Brian Robinson pop among skill players, but Jayden Daniels is likely taking another player along for the ride. The fossilized remains of Zach Ertz are all that stand between Sinnott and a banner rookie season. Sinnott checks all the boxes that I look for with a tight end with massive upside. He’s an electric athlete (9.7 RAS) and a widely underrated receiving threat. In 2023, he was ninth in YPRR and receiving grade while also checking in at fourth in missed tackles forced. If there’s a rookie tight end that could pop in year one not named Brock Bowers, it’s Sinnott.