Dynasty Rookie Draft Advice: Jaylen Wright, MarShawn Lloyd, Ladd McConkey (Fantasy Football)

The fantasy football season has come to an end, but that doesn’t mean the NFL stops. It’s time to start getting excited for the 2024 NFL Draft. Dynasty fantasy football managers and redraft players alike can dive into the upcoming class of fantasy football rookies to prepare for the 2024 NFL season. We’ll take a look at players to know from the 2024 NFL Draft class.

Dynasty Rookie Draft Prospects

Ladd McConkey (Georgia)

Stats:

2023 (among all FBS WRs, minimum 35 targets)
- Yards per route run: 8th
- PFF receiving grade: 34th
- YAC per reception: 95th

Scouting Report:

McConkey is a solid underneath option but lacks the extra gear to take the top off a defense. Corners, even when beat off the line, can close on him downfield. He likely ends up as a 50/50 receiver, with half of his snaps coming as a slot receiver in the NFL.
His route-running prowess allows him to get open in the short and intermediate, as he is sudden in his movements and crisp at the top of his stem. He plays through contact well in his routes, using a good swipe and upper body strength to work through press coverage.
McConkey runs like a running back in traffic. Good vision in chaos with the shiftiness to break some tackles and provide YAC. He offers some run game utility with 13 collegiate carries for 216 rushing yards (16.6 yards per carry) and four scores.

Player Comp: Jordan Addison

MarShawn Lloyd (USC)

Stats:

2023 (minimum 100 carries, 18 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 20th
- Breakaway percentage: 3rd
- PFF elusive rating: 4th
- Yards per route run: 48th

2022 (minimum 100 carries, 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 16th
- Breakaway percentage: 18th
- PFF elusive rating: 15th
- Yards per route run: 41st
Career
- Former 5 star recruit
- Torn ACL in 2020
- 7 fumbles across the last two seasons (225 carries)

Scouting report:

Lloyd runs like a Tasmanian devil. He has an every-down tenacity and a mean streak to him. He has the requisite functional strength and temperament to become a strong pass protector. He just needs to improve his pass-pro technique and gain consistency there. He’ll have one rep where he stands up a free rushing blitzer and then gets blown back on the next. The leg drive he exhibits on rushing plays combined with some strong reps in pass pro lead me to believe that if he gains more consistency in this area, he can develop into a trusted passing down back in the NFL.
Lloyd is a functional receiver. He was utilized mainly as a checkdown specialist. He did motion out to the occasional snap as an outside receiver, but rarely was he asked to run routes from this alignment. He did have the occasional stop or curl route. Lloyd does have soft hands, and he is a QB-friendly target adjusting to space when his quarterback is in scramble mode.
Lloyd is a scheme versatile rusher. He has the lateral agility, vision, and speed to operate in stretch zone as well as inside zone. Lloyd’s burst is above average but not elite, so you wouldn’t want him operating in a heavy outside zone scheme, but that’s not to say that he doesn’t have the speed to gain the edge.
He runs with a profound mean streak. Lloyd isn’t seeking out contact, but that doesn’t mean that he can’t drop the hammer when needed. Rarely does the first defender bring him down, and it’s nothing for him to body bag a corner with a stiff arm. Lloyd also has plenty of plays on film where he’s asked to create yards on his own. He has more than a handful of runs I watched on film where he had to reverse course when the gap was clogged and create a play on his own, and he did marvelously.
Lloyd is a more physical rusher than his size would lead many to believe. He has strong legs to finish runs well and push the pile. Lloyd can be a tone-setting back.

Player Comp: Tre Mason

let's put jaylen wright in a jahmyr gibbs type role and see what happens pic.twitter.com/y5pJMgiOIZ

— Danny Kelly (@DannyBKelly) March 6, 2024

Jaylen Wright (Tennessee)

Stats:

2023 (minimum 100 carries, 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 5th
- Breakaway percentage: 11th
- PFF elusive rating: 13th
- Yards per route run: 35th

2022 (minimum 100 carries, 20 targets)
- Yards after contact per attempt: 26th
- Breakaway percentage: 71st
- PFF elusive rating: 48th
- Yards per route run: N/A* (only two targets)

Scouting report:

Wright has “run away from you” type of speed. A downhill bowling ball that consistently looks like he has been shot out of a cannon. He pauses at the line as he surveys the scene and finds a crease. While that could appear to be indecision, I think it’s more of a watered-down version of Le’Veon Bell’s style. Wright has the immediate burst to more than makeup for the quick pause.
Wright pin balls off defenders in the second level. Once he gets to the second level of a defense, it’s usually game over. He offers more finishing power to his runs than maybe his stature would suggest. He consistently falls forward and earns every blade of grass.
Wright holds up well in pass pro. With a solid, strong base, he has no problem upending pass-rushing defenders. He had 59 pass-pro snaps last season and only allowed one QB hit and zero sacks. His skill in this area will allow him to earn more passing down reps than his route running chops would suggest.
He’s a check-down option only in the passing game. Wright has solid enough hands with an 88.2% catch rate and only two drops from his 34 collegiate targets.

Player Comp: J.K. Dobbins