Hype is fickle. Just like potential will get you fired, hype is as volatile as plutonium. Some NFL rookies enter the league already anointed and hoisted above the cobblestones, adorned with feathers and solid gold potential.

Just like in the Hunger Games, there are also the unheralded few who rise to greatness from the squalor of relative anonymity. Those rookies are the league-winners who outperform their average draft position (ADP) in fantasy drafts and leave their humble origin stories behind for the historians to piece together and share with future generations. Here are those rookies, relative to FantasyPros ADP.

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Early Undervalued Rookies

Here are a few rookies that are currently undervalued in fantasy football circles.

Zach Charbonnet (RB – SEA)

It certainly wasn’t ideal that one of the best RBs in the 2023 class went to a team who already had a burgeoning star at the position. On the other hand, Zach Charbonnet’s (and Ken Walker‘s) value has been driven too far down this offseason.

Seattle figures to have a very balanced and effective offensive attack, with a much-improved offensive line. Walker has obviously made it clear he is capable of handling an early-down workload and can take any carry to the end zone.

Charbonnet is a more physical runner who is also infinitely more useful in the passing game. I picture alternating series for the two Seahawks backs, where they can both be used as the “hot hand” and showcase their skills without a great deal of cannibalism. Charbonnet is a lot more valuable than his current ADP as RB33.

Sam LaPorta (TE – DET)

I bet you can’t name any of the other TEs on the Detroit Lions, so why is anyone hesitating when it comes to drafting Sam LaPorta? The next in an historic TE lineage from the University of Iowa, LaPorta figures to waltz right into a starting role in a very explosive offense under Ben Johnson.

Even at a position that resembles the Wild West for fantasy football, LaPorta is still going as TE19 off the board. Judging by his insane metrics after the catch and a stellar all-around production on tape, I can’t help but project him to be closer to top-12 territory at the position.

Jayden Reed (WR – GB)

The Packers receiving corps is an utter mess. Their “new” QB is a shaky, unproven player entering his fourth season in the league. Christian Watson flashed just enough wild production in a snapshot last season to sail off into the ADP sky like a hot air balloon. Romeo Doubs was good in spots, but only relative to his Day 3 draft capital.

The team only had glorified fullback Josiah Deguara left at TE until they drafted two this year. I trust no one except the RBs on this team.

If there was a player in Green Bay I could envision turning Jordan Love into a serviceable, winning signal caller at this point, it would probably be Michigan State rookie Jayden Reed. He is the only WR on the roster who I would remotely consider a route-running technician, especially from the slot.

Watson is a gazelle who preys on soft coverage. Doubs runs a nice go ball. Reed can do it all from any of the three WR positions. Love needs someone who can get open regularly, or he will take his rightful place as one of the worst first-round picks in NFL history. Reed’s ADP is comically still down near 150 (WR71). That will change dramatically once the season begins.

Bryce Young (QB – CAR)

The weird part about Bryce Young’s redraft ADP is the list of QBs going before him. Young was the first overall pick and went to a team with an outstanding offensive line and respected head coach. He’s QB24. That’s behind a QB allergic to scoring touchdowns (Kenny Pickett) and another who might miss half the season (Kyler Murray). It’s behind the atrocious-so-far Love and barely ahead of Brock Purdy, who might not be his team’s starter after elbow surgery.

Young’s peculiar group of receiving weapons, along with his diminutive stature, are tanking his value in fantasy drafts. It’s as if nobody saw this man completely eviscerate the toughest conference in college football for two years.

As a passer, Young has truly elite attributes. He is also a capable scrambler and otherworldly creativity. Drafting scared has never won anyone a championship, so bet on talent. Bryce Young is a screaming value at this stage.

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