You smell that? You know what that is? No, it’s not fish, Marv. That’s the scent of football and opportunities on the horizon. With the 2023 NFL Draft wrapped up and summer approaching, we are just a few short months away from the 2023-2024 NFL season.

And with that new football season comes new excitement and the continuation of dynasty leagues that have been building for years. For many, rookie drafts are the pinnacle of the offseason in dynasty fantasy football. Outside of trades and waiver pick-ups, it’s the one time of the year that you’re able to add legitimate talent and depth to your squad.

Rookie drafts are an unavoidable minefield, though. Once you get outside of the first round, it becomes more of a crapshoot. You’re more likely to find a dud than a game-changing talent, but the fun is in the unknown! The minefield carries an even higher bust rate in a top-heavy, depth-lacking draft class like this one.

If you’re having difficulties filtering through the duds and the potential stars, have no fear. We’re here to help. Here are three rookie draft value picks to help you win your dynasty leagues.

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Dynasty Rookie Draft Value Picks

Here are three rookie draft value picks to help you win your dynasty leagues.

Kendre Miller (RB – NO)

Considering Kendre Miller is going in the late first round of 2023 1QB rookie drafts, this might be cheating. However, I can’t help but think that Miller outplays that draft capital as early as year one.

The running back depth chart in New Orleans looks daunting on paper, but perspective is often needed in these situations. Starting running back Alvin Kamara is likely to receive a multi-game suspension for his alleged role in a Las Vegas brawl. New Orleans did sign Jamaal Williams in free agency, but regression from his league-leading 17 rushing touchdowns in 2022 is a given.

Honestly, Miller’s year one situation isn’t all that different from Kamara’s rookie season. Kamara began the year third on the depth chart behind Mark Ingram and Adrian Peterson, but it didn’t take long for the coaching staff to realize what they had in the rookie. Don’t be surprised if Kendre Miller takes a similar path at some point this season.

Roschon Johnson (RB – CHI)

You don’t often see prospects enter the NFL with an easier path to playing time than they had in college, but Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson is one of those rarities.

After backing up generational talent Bijan Robinson at Texas, Johnson has the opportunity to severely outproduce his collegiate output in the NFL. Entering the process as every draft analyst’s sleeper running back, you couldn’t have asked for a better landing spot.

Johnson joins a pretty wide-open Bears backfield looking to replace the 200+ touches left behind by David Montgomery‘s deflection to Detroit in free agency. Khalil Herbert is widely expected to begin the season as Chicago’s 1A, but don’t be surprised if Johnson jumps free agent signee D’Onta Foreman for that 1B role as early as Week 1.

Sam LaPorta (TE – DET)

Despite slightly higher draft capital, more athleticism, and a much-better offensive system around him, Lions tight end Sam LaPorta remains significantly behind Michael Mayer in the majority of dynasty rookie rankings.

For example, the FantasyPros Consensus Rankings have Mayer at No. 14 overall in 1QB dynasty rankings. LaPorta is all the way down at No. 22 overall. It’s similar at Dynasty League Football, where they also have Mayer (No. 13 overall) ranked eight spots ahead of LaPorta (No. 21 overall).

LaPorta was drafted only one spot higher than Mayer, so draft capital is a wash. However, the athleticism can’t be overlooked here.

LaPorta’s Relative Athletic Score of 9.01 is one of the higher tight end marks in the class, while Mayer finished with a pedestrian RAS score of 7.66. That’s far from a death blow to Mayer, but it shouldn’t be ignored either.

While I appreciate Mayer’s film and completely understand if you like him more as a prospect, I can’t fathom the perceived gap between the two prospects. They’re in the same tier as far as I’m concerned and I think they should be drafted accordingly. If you like Mayer, why not take LaPorta eight spots lower?

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