Featured Pros analysts have identified the best late-round draft steals for running backs and wide receivers in the 2024 fantasy football season. Finding these little-known gems could be the game-changer that takes you from a good season to a championship run. These deep sleepers have a chance to overperform their draft positions and give amazing value to your team in fantasy leagues. Continue reading to find out which players you should be going after in later rounds in order to maximize your team’s chances of winning.

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Late-Round Draft Steals: Running Backs

Which one RB outside the top 55 in half-PPR RB ADP do you plan to target in all drafts as a late-round steal and why?

Roschon Johnson (RB – CHI)

“I can’t help but think the best fantasy value in the Chicago backfield is second-year RB Roschon Johnson, who should/could emerge as the primary receiving back/third-down RB for the Bears with his excellent pass-blocking chops. The only rookie RB who had more pass-blocking snaps than Johnson last season was Tyjae Spears (who played two more games). I like the chances of Johnson at 219 pounds to be the Bears’ goal-line back in 2024 – an easy access point to fantasy production. D’Andre Swift has been an afterthought as a red-zone rusher on his last TWO teams, but his backfield teammates between Jamaal Williams and Jalen Hurts have averaged 16 rushing TDs. And typically…second-year RBs that fail to fire as rookies are the best bets to see BOOMs in value the following season.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)

Elijah Mitchell (RB – SF)

“If Christian McCaffrey were to miss time, Elijah Mitchell would be an auto-start with high weekly upside in one of the NFL’s most ruthlessly efficient running games. Some drafters in deeper leagues might shy away from Mitchell because the 49ers seemingly muddied the RB waters behind McCaffrey by spending a fourth-round pick on the ultra-athletic Isaac Guerendo. But reports from the 49ers’ offseason program suggest that Mitchell is entrenched as the No. 2 and that Guerendo, who has fewer than 250 college carries on his resume, is on a developmental track. Mitchell demonstrated his potential value as a rookie in 2021 when Raheem Mostert went down with a season-ending injury in Week 1 and fellow rookie Trey Sermon didn’t pan out, rolling up five 100-yard rushing days in 11 games. Mitchell makes sense as a high-upside dart throw late in deeper drafts.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

“Elijah Mitchell It wasn’t that long ago when fantasy drafters had major concerns about drafting Christian McCaffrey in the early rounds because of his injury risk. Fortunately, Christian stayed healthy, but fate is a fickle s.o.b., my friend. And if McCaffrey were to pull up hobbling with a hamstring injury, Mitchell (aka nickname Trash Man because of how violently he hits tacklers) would most likely be the next man up. Also, if the rumors are true about Deebo Samuel getting traded, that would be one less competitor for those coveted goal-line carries. Bottom line- if anything happens to CMac, the Trash Man could become a golden gate ticket for fantasy players. Unfortunately, for Mark Ringo’s readers, garbage day isn’t until Friday, so his terrible puns/jokes will stink up the joint until the Trash Man can pick them up later this week, haha!”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)

Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB – NYG)

“In March, the New York Giants lost Saquon Barkley to the Eagles in free agency. A month later, they drafted Tyrone Tracy Jr., who is going to be an excellent late-round steal for both the Giants and fantasy owners! All he has to do is beat out Devin Singletary to get the featured role on the team. Tracy is already working with the first-team offense and appears to be starting the season with a passing-down role. He comes into the league with good size (5’11″/210 lbs.), and in his senior year, he was third in the nation with a 30% forced miss tackle rate. Tracy will reward fantasy owners as the season progresses when he earns more carries and possibly takes over the Giants backfield, carrying fantasy teams into and through the playoffs!”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)

“Tyrone Tracy Jr. is my favorite late-round running back to draft this year. The New York Giants swapped out Saquon Barkley for Devin Singletary this offseason. While the veteran is a solid player, he could lose the starting job to the fifth-round rookie. Tracy earned the 10th-highest rushing grade in the rookie class from PFF last season (90.5). Furthermore, he ranked first in yards after contact per attempt in the rookie class among running backs with at least 90 attempts in 2023, per PFF (4.44). Tracy is also a threat in the passing game, giving the Giants a weapon out of the backfield with Barkley in Philadelphia. Don’t be surprised if he turns into this year’s Isiah Pacheco.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)

“Tyrone Tracy Jr. of the New York Giants is currently going off the board as RB57 and 182nd overall. With only the likes of Devin Singletary and Eric Gray on the running back depth chart above him, it’s easy to see a scenario where the rookie could with the RB1 job in New York out of training camp. He is a free shot at a potentially useful running.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Football Universe)

“Tyrone Tracy Jr. Tracy lasted until Round 5, but consider that decent draft capital. The 24-year-old spent only one college season at RB (2023). While his production wasn’t eye-popping, the converted WR brings high-end athleticism and the ability to contribute as a pass catcher (113 career grabs). Tracy has a chance to enter Week 1 as Devin Singletary‘s handcuff — with potential for more.”
– Kevin English (Draft Sharks)

Rachaad White (RB – TB)

“The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking to take some of the heavy run off of Rachaad White’s shoulders in 2024, that we know. Bucky Irving seems to be the best bet to help compliment White, with Irving already receiving praise for his burst and acceleration from Tampa coaches. Irving could potentially profile as a better between-the-tackles runner than White, given his ability to shrug off tackles in college, which would lead to more work and even red-zone chances for the former Oregon Duck.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)

Audric Estime (RB – DEN)

“Audric Estime is here, and he is a truck. In an ambiguous backfield with Javonte Williams and Jaleel Mclaughliun, Estime has the upside to move up quickly in the depth chart. In his last season, he averaged 6.4 yards per carry. He is also a red zone machine, something that the other two backs have proven they are awful at.”
– Alejandro Orellana (Estadio Fantasy)

Rasheen Ali (RB – BAL) | Justice Hill (RB – BAL)

“I’m pushing my chips in on the Baltimore backfield and taking Rasheen Ali and/or Justice Hill. Both are appealing, free options at the end of drafts where one should earn a complimentary role and passing down work right away in a great offense. Keaton Mitchell suffered his devastating knee injury in the middle of last season and will not be ready by Week 1. That opens the path for either Ali or Hill, so I’m picking my poison and stashing one behind the 30-year-old Derrick Henry. If I’m pressed, I’ll take the unknown Ali over the known and mostly mediocre Hill.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)

D’Onta Foreman (RB – CLE)

“D’Onta Foreman in Cleveland. At RB62 in current rankings, there is still a world of uncertainty surrounding Cleveland with the Nick Chubb injury. Getting Foreman on a team that uses two running backs in a timeshare is a slam dunk. He’s likely to have goalline work, which can dictate some easy fantasy points.”
– Rhett Manuel (Fantasy In Frames)

“D’Onta Foreman keeps finding himself in situations that garner fantasy consideration. After tearing his Achilles in 2017, he had a resurgence on the Carolina Panthers and followed it up with an inspiring season on the Bears. With these late-round picks, I target players who will be able to show their role in Week 1 and can drop them right away. Foreman could be this team’s early-down back with Nick Chubb out. We know this team wants to run the ball, and there’s a world he takes substantial touches from Jerome Ford.”
– Ellis Johnson (RotoBaller)

Blake Watson (RB – DEN)

“At this point in the draft, I am looking to take a flyer on a guy I believe in. That guy is Broncos RB Blake Watson. As a UDFA, he is the ultimate late-round flyer pick, and his receiving upside could have him see the field sooner rather than later. During his collegiate career, he had over 100 receptions in 4 years. He has a great initial burst, something lacking in the Broncos backfield, and good contact balance. It is a shame he was not invited to the combine. But Watson truly shows everything you want in a pro RB, and I am willing to take the shot on him as the last RB ranked at RB94.”
– Miguel ‘SC’ Romero (Fantasy Football Universe)

Kimani Vidal (RB – LAC)

“Kimani Vidal is a popular name in the dynasty community, but apparently not in redraft. RB70 is just way too much value for a guy who could easily find himself as the RB2 on the Chargers depth chart soon. On this “Run The Damn Ball” offense, he could have flex-worthy appeal very early as a Week 1 Waiver add. Don’t draft that WR12; go draft Kimani with your last pick.”
– David Heilman (Sports Gambling Podcast Network)

Tank Bigsby (RB – JAC)

“I’m going back to the well on this one in Tank Bigsby. Bigsby is in the same offensive system for the first time since high school. Bigsby struggled to get traction last year with his 2.6 YPC on 50 touches. Bigsby has the talent to step up in year two to provide a change of pace to Travis Etienne in 2024. The coaching staff said they want to get Bigsby more involved in the offense. Etienne struggled down the stretch last season, giving away for Bigsby to steal more opportunities in 2024.”
– Steven Pintado (The Fantasy Coaches)

Late-Round Draft Steals: Wide Receivers

Which one WR outside the top 60 in half-PPR WR ADP do you plan to target in all drafts as a late-round steal and why?

Dontayvion Wicks (WR – GB)

“While Christian Watson missed time, 2023 5th-round rookie Dontayvion Wicks stepped up. He caught 39 passes from 58 targets for 581 yards at 14.9 yards per reception during the regular season. The 6-foot-1 and 206-pound WR averaged nearly 2.0 yards per route run – which ranked 27th among all WRs and 5th among all rookie WRs (also identical to Jayden Reed). Per True Media, Wicks’ first downs per route run tied Davante Adams for 18th among all players. Given Jordan Love‘s tendency to spread the “love” between his pass-catchers displayed in 2023…Wicks could emerge as one of the top pass-catchers in this ascending Packers offense.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)

“Dontayvion Wicks enters his sophomore season as part of a very crowded wide receiver group in Green Bay! Last year, Jordan Love broke out without a true WR1, and this year, Wicks is poised to take that role! He finished 2023 with 6+ targets in three of his last four games (closing the seasons with a 6/61/2 TD performance in Week 18!). This offseason, he has been putting in the work to the point that coach Matt LeFluer is raving about his growth and comparing him to DeVante Adams. Managers who take a late-round flier on Wicks will be rewarded with a player who will be a difference maker in an ascending Green Bay passing offense!”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)

“Dontayvion Wicks is a stud with amazing route running. In a WR room with a lot of questions, he could establish himself as the number 2 guy for Jordan Love. He has the upside to being the WR1 in this team, even if it is a crowded room.”
– Alejandro Orellana (Estadio Fantasy)

Jahan Dotson (WR – WAS)

“Honestly, I don’t know if there’s a wide receiver ranked outside the positional top 60 who looks like a potential steal, but Jahan Dotson is my highest-ranked player from that group. There’s plausible upside for Dotson, a 2022 first-round draft pick who scored seven touchdowns in 12 games as a rookie. Dotson wasn’t much of a factor last year, but that may have had more to do with erratic QB Sam Howell than with Dotson himself. No. 2 overall draft pick Jayden Daniels threw 40 TD passes in 12 games for LSU last season, and if Daniels is the rising tide that lifts all ships in the Washington offense, Dotson could provide a nice payoff on a modest investment.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)

“Let’s try and say Jahan Dotson’s 2023 was based around the lackluster QB play in Washington. Dotson had moments, but it was not enough for someone who was talked about as a potential breakout candidate a year ago. Now very much in the post-hype category, I love taking Dotson as a swing for the fences pick at the end of drafts. Curtis Samuel is gone, and Jayden Daniels is now the man in Washington. The equation I see is simple: more snaps + better QB play = who knows. But the formula for a Dotson 3rd-year breakout is there, and at WR62, I am all in on that.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)

Javon Baker (WR – NE)

“The New England Patriots have arguably the most underwhelming wide receiver core in the NFL. However, I picked Javon Baker in nearly every dynasty rookie draft and will aggressively target him in redraft leagues. We have seen NFL Draft Day 3 picks turn into fantasy stars as a rookie, including Puka Nacua and Amon-Ra St. Brown. More importantly, Baker had the 11th-high PFF receiving grade in the draft class last season and posted a higher yards per route run average than Rome Odunze (3.21 vs. 2.93). Furthermore, he ranked in the 97th percentile in college target share. Don’t be surprised if he turns into Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye‘s go-to target.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)

Demarcus Robinson (WR – LAR)

“I just can’t get enough of Demarcus Robinson late in drafts. He re-signed with the Rams on a 1-year deal that pairs him once again with Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay. When relied upon down the stretch last season, Robinson posted four usable WR2 weeks in a row, posting at least 40 yards and a score in every one of them. Stafford trusts Robinson, which could result in flex usage out of the gate. But, he’s a nice stash to have since he’s got a solid WR2 floor if either of Puka Nacua or Cooper Kupp get injured.”
– Jeremy Shulman (Fantasy Football Universe)

“Demarcus Robinson had the best five-game stretch of his NFL career to finish the 2023 season. His consecutive finishes of WR21, WR22, WR26, WR15, and WR29 have him as a potential flex offense. Tyler Higbee suffered a devastating knee injury and late. Robinson could end up being the 3rd option on this offense. He is dirt cheap at WR78 and is the perfect wait-and-see guy for the first two weeks of the season. If he continues to stay hot, you saved a lot of FAAB. If not, cut bait at little to no cost.”
– David Heilman (Sports Gambling Podcast Network)

DeMario Douglas (WR – NE)

“DeMario Douglas in New England. Currently going off at WR72, it’s insane to think that the guy who led the team in targets last season is going this low. Ignore his low touchdown total last year. It happens. I can see a path to his being the target leader in New England and, therefore, is almost a lock to outperform his current ADP no matter what.”
– Rhett Manuel (Fantasy In Frames)

Troy Franklin (WR – DEN)

“Denver Broncos’ rookie wide receiver Troy Franklin is being drafted as WR74 and the 175th pick overall. Denver has the oft-injured Courtland Sutton and the disappointing sophomore Marvin Mims on the wide receiver depth chart, and it’s easy to see a world where Franklin is the WR1 on this squad. With rookie quarterback Bo Nix set to take over under center for the Broncos, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him instantly make his former Oregon Ducks teammate his go-to guy. Franklin has sneaky upside as the potential WR1 in the Denver offense.”
– Aaron St Denis (Fantasy Football Universe)

“I’m sticking with the rookies here at going Troy Franklin at WR73. The competition is minimal in Denver. Plus, he has his college QB throwing to him. The only thing Franklin needs to do is show the coaches that the talent they saw on film is legit. Look, I had Franklin as my WR3 in this rookie class & he landed a prime opportunity to emerge as a top rookie WR in year one. He has the speed and techniques to gain separation. Sutton will start the season as the WR1, but Franklin will take that role before mid-season. DO NOT SLEEP on Troy Franklin.”
– Miguel ‘SC’ Romero (Fantasy Football Universe)

Adonai Mitchell (WR – IND)

“Adonai Mitchell could be a big play machine in this Colts’ offense. Drafted with the 20th pick of the second round, his 4.34-second 40-yard dash and 6’2″ 205lbs frame should find plenty of opportunity in Shane Steichen’s offense. With a healthy Anthony Richardson and Jonathan Taylor, defenses will have their hands full with Mitchell and Michael Pittman Jr. outside. Richardson has a cannon of an arm, and if his health scares you, gun-slinging Joe Flacco is ready to step in. With late-round picks, take a swing on players with the physical attributes to break out with their limited opportunities.”
– Ellis Johnson (RotoBaller)

“Adonai Mitchell – What if I told you you could draft a WR late in your draft (current consensus ranking WR 64) who is big (6’4″ 205 lbs.), fast (ran a 4.35 forty), knows how to run good routes, and plays for a good offense, with a talented, young QB, who has a cannon for an arm, would you be interested? Adonai Michell, also known as A.D., ripped through the Crimson Tide’s defense last season like Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast. And now he’s paired with Anthony Richardson, who has a rocket for an arm and is arguably one of the most athletic QBs in the NFL. Even though the Colts figure to emphasize the run, the threat of Richardson and Jonathan Taylor running should provide plenty of one-on-one matchups for Mitchell to flourish for some big plays. If this pick hits, you can just call me A.D. Ringo, aka Awesome Draft Ringo or as my readers would say, ADJ Ringo, aka another dumb joke Ringo haha!”
– Mark Ringo (Sleepers and Busts)

Marvin Mims Jr. (WR – DEN)

“Marvin Mims Jr.: As a 21-year-old rookie, Mims flashed in limited opportunities (22-377-1, 17.1 YPC). There’s room for a boosted role this year with Jerry Jeudy in Cleveland. Plus, we’ll see if Courtland Sutton – a trade candidate – sticks around.”
– Kevin English (Draft Sharks)

Darnell Mooney (WR – ATL)

“I’m all in on Darnell Mooney to rebound in fantasy this season. He goes to an offense that expects a significant increase in passing compared to what Mooney saw the last few years in Chicago. Cousins, over the previous few seasons in a similar offensive scheme, has had four different receivers with 80-plus targets in a season. Outside of Drake London and Kyle Pitts, Mooney should be next in line for targets. He has that deep-threat approach and can create yards after the catch in an improved offense for 2024. Mooney could finish as high as a WR3 in fantasy after being drafted in the later rounds.”
– Steven Pintado (The Fantasy Coaches)

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