Every year we see a late-round draft choice catapult their way into fantasy football relevance. In 2021 it was Elijah Mitchell, who earned a starting role for the 49ers and finished the season as RB26. Success isn’t always that immediate, but there is nearly always value to be found in the later rounds. Here are five rookies that you should stash in your dynasty leagues.
Zamir White – RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Ahead of the draft it was announced that the Raiders would not be exercising Josh Jacobs’ fifth-year option, meaning that he will hit free agency after the 2022 season. There is of course the chance that they look to re-sign him on a short term deal, but this move suggests that they are likely planning for a backfield makeover in 2023. If that is the case then White is the prime candidate to benefit from this approach.
The Raiders drafted White with the first of their two fourth round picks. He will now sit behind Jacobs and Kenyan Drake as the team’s RB3 in 2022. Given how Josh McDaniels likes to rotate his backfield, it wouldn’t be surprising to see White earn some carries as a rookie, particularly around the goal line where his explosiveness and physicality make him an ideal weapon. Things look even more promising in the long term. The 32 year old Brandon Bolden is the only other running back under contract for 2023, so don’t be surprised if White earns starting reps next season.
Chigoziem Okonkwo – TE, Tennessee Titans
The Titans selected Okonkwo in the fourth round and it feels like a natural fit. There are a lot of parallels between Okonkwo and former Titan Jonnu Smith, who was a key part of their passing attack for a number of years. He is a dynamic receiving tight end, with outstanding athletic traits and some hugely impressive YAC ability. Tennessee did sign Austin Hooper this offseason so Okonkwo’s opportunities as a rookie might be a little limited, but there is reason to be hopeful for long-term success.
For starters, the Titans have historically employed a lot of two tight end sets. This means that even if Okonkwo isn’t getting a tonne of volume, he should at least see the field early in his career. Hooper is also only on a one-year deal in Tennessee, meaning that in the long run, Okonkwo has the opportunity to carve out a much larger role in the passing game. Another benefit of picking him up now is that he comes fairly cheap. He is rarely taken in rookie drafts, so you should be able to acquire him without spending any draft capital.
Hassan Haskins – RB, Tennessee Titans
From one new Titan to another. At first this might seem like an odd pick. Derrick Henry is still in town and this offense is built around his rushing ability. As long as he stays healthy it is difficult to see the Titans taking the ball out of his hands in favour of a fourth round rookie. That said, if you look at the long-term outlook, things look much more favourable for Haskins. Henry is coming off a foot injury that saw him miss most of the 2021 season. He’s also 28 years old and is difficult to expect him to continue his top tier production for much longer.
As a 6’2″ and 228 lbs power back, Haskins fits a similar mould to Henry. He has also shown he can produce to a high level, averaging 4.9 yards per carry in his final college season. He is also comfortable working with the high workload that Tennessee likes to give their backs, averaging almost 20 carries per game in 2021. It is difficult not to see this selection as one made with an eye on a post-Henry Titans team. With Henry a potential cut candidate after 2022, Haskins could legitimately earn a starting role in that backfield next season.
Daniel Bellinger – TE, New York Giants
As everyone who plays fantasy football knows, opportunity is key with rookies. It is therefore always difficult to find players with legitimate chances of starting who don’t go fairly early on in rookie drafts. In Daniel Bellinger, you have one of those rare exceptions. Bellinger is going under the radar as the TE5 in rookie drafts, behind players like Jelani Woods who are entering crowded tight end rooms.
As things stand, Bellinger joins the likes of Ricky Seals-Jones and Jordan Akins in New York. Both are on veteran minimum contracts and neither have exceeded 40 receptions in a single season throughout their careers. They are also both hitting free agency next summer. This gives Bellinger an ideal opportunity to earn some starting reps as a rookie. It is also worth remembering that Brian Daboll helped turn Dawson Knox into a top ten fantasy tight end. It isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that he could have a similar effect on Bellinger.
Khalil Shakir – WR, Buffalo Bills
The Bills already boast one of the NFL’s most explosive passing attacks in the NFL and they used the draft to add even more weapons. The most notable came with Georgia running back James Cook in the second round, but Shakir in the fifth has the potential to contribute beyond what his draft position might suggest. At the time of writing he is the WR16 in rookie drafts and is typically still available well into the third round.
The Bills love to utilise three or ever four wide receiver sets and it isn’t difficult to see how Shakir has a path to the field as a rookie. Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis have the two boundary roles locked down, but he should be able to provide competition for Jamison Crowder in the slot even as a rookie. To improve his fantasy value further is the fact that Crowder hits free agency in 2023, leaving Shakir as the heir apparent in the slot. The chance to get a potential starter on this offense this late in rookie drafts is well worth the gamble.
