3 rookies with fantasy football value after minicamp

Most of the offseason is behind us and the 2024 NFL season is fast approaching. Preparations for the upcoming fantasy season begin now, especially with training camp starting later this month.

We were able to see some offseason work thanks to the minicamps held in June, which are often useful for evaluating rookies as potential roles are introduced while first-year players get a chance to make a name for themselves.

A handful of rookies stand out before training camp and have interesting fantasy football value. Here’s which rookies we should keep on our radar after minicamp.

Ben Sinnott, Washington Commanders

Let’s start with Ben Sinnott of the Washington Commanders. He was selected in the second round with the 53rd overall pick. However, the first-year tight end was somewhat overshadowed by the signing of Zach Ertz.

According to FantasyPros’ Average Draft Position (ADP) data, Sinnott is selected ahead of Ertz in most fantasy drafts, as he is currently ranked 27th tight end, compared to Ertz at 33rd. This makes perfect sense considering Ertz’s steady decline in performance over the past few seasons.

In 2018, Ertz scored the second most fantasy points in half-PPR among tight ends. In 2019, he scored the fifth most. Since then, it’s been a steady decline: Ertz finished 32nd in 2020, 6th in 2021, 19th in 2022, and 46th last season. Aside from 2021, there was a lot of disappointment during the four seasons. Injuries played a role, as the veteran tight end only played in 10 and 7 games in the last two seasons.

Combine Ertz’s decline with Sinnott turning some heads in minicamp and we have some good fantasy value. The upside is there as he’s a second-round pick with a RAS score of 9.49 out of 10.00. For comparison, that’s the 57th best score out of 1,105 tight ends since 1987 – not too bad.

Even after the catch at Kansas State, Sinnott made a big impact: In 2023, he forced the fourth-most missed tackles among tight ends. If Sinnott can overtake Ertz – which is likely given his decline in performance – the Commanders’ rookie tight end could represent good value as a late pick.

Braelon Allen, New York Jets

Braelon Allen is another rookie who is coming in late on draft lists. FantasyPros currently has him as the 58th running back in ADP – suggesting he will go undrafted.

There is one big hurdle standing between Allen and his rookie success – his name is Breece Hall. The New York Jets’ starting tailback has been nothing short of impressive in his first two seasons in the league. Hall is the second or third running back according to fantasy boards and has the second most projected FanDuel Points (FDP) via numberFire.

Despite the high expectations, Hall has yet to reach 1,000 rushing yards in a season. We’ve seen that most teams avoid putting all the work on one running back, as it usually results in a shortened record. Allen could be the solution to replace some of Hall’s work.

ESPN called Allen one of the biggest surprises of spring minicamp. Reports said Allen’s ability as a pass receiver is outstanding, which is especially useful in half and/or full PPR leagues. Scouting reports particularly highlighted Allen’s ability as a ball carrier. If he has added a pass receiver element, we could see a new one-two punch in New York.

Bo Nix, Denver Broncos

First-round quarterbacks often get the keys to the franchise pretty quickly. That’s not the case with Bo Nix, as he’s currently battling for the starting quarterback position with the Denver Broncos.

Nix is ​​currently the 31st QB on the list, nine spots ahead of Jarrett Stidham – another signal-caller competing for that spot.

Most of the news about Nix has been positive. Some news stories claimed Nix would be either the starting quarterback or the first signal-caller off the bench. This was announced as a three-way competition between Nix, Stidham, and Zach Wilson. It appears Nix is ​​able to avoid the third spot entirely, giving him more fantasy potential.

Minicamps have only helped Nix, with Zac Stevens of The Dnvr highlighting his impressive accuracy and command of the offense. Nix is ​​on track to start, and finding a starting quarterback with first-round pick potential this late is very appealing.

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The author named above is an employee of FanDuel and is not authorized to participate in public daily fantasy contests or place sports bets on FanDuel. Advice provided by the author does not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel. Following the author’s advice does not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports bets.