The best way to find value in your fantasy draft is to pluck a rookie who'll put up big numbers in the later rounds. That provides extra star power and, vitally, important insurance should one of your premier picks bust.
In recent years, we've seen studs like Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, Puka Nacua and Brock Bowers emerge as fantasy stars from modest preseason draft positions. This year will drop another blanket of young difference makers into leagues across the world. The tough part is figuring out which first-year players will shine, and which will need more seasoning as they make their way on Sundays.
Fortunately, we've got a good idea of the guys who can emerge from the mid- to late rounds and give you the scoring necessary to make a deep
playoff run. Which wideouts are primed to thrive? Which burly fourth round running back is ready to make an immediate impact?
We've got some ideas.
Here are the rookies who can backfill early round draft busts and lift your fantasy team to glory.
Christian: WR KC Concepcion, Cleveland Browns
Concepcion’s early ADP pegs him as a 12th round pick – which, since he’s a Brown, feels fair. But we’ve already seen one dynamic run-after-catch short range target thrive as a rookie in the midst of Cleveland’s truly putrid quarterback competition. Harold Fannin Jr. shined, gaining the bulk of his 700-plus yards after the catch. That worked so well the franchise opted to spend more draft capital on a higher profile, do-it-yourself star.
Concepcion averaged 7.2 yards after catch (YAC) per reception in 2025 at Texas A&M. He forced a missed tackle on better than one in every five catches. He’s exactly the balm a burned quarterback platoon needs – the kind of player who can make bad passers look better by taking a five yard target and turning it into a 15 yard gain. Expect him to see plenty of targets in Cleveland’s broken down spitfire of an aerial attack.
Yaj: WR Denzel Boston, Cleveland Browns
I’ll take the other Browns wide receiver as my first rookie to reach for. Boston’s ADP is actually more depressed than Concepcion’s (14th round vs. 12th round), so you get to wait even later on him! They are completely different types of wideouts, but Boston’s chances to make an impact immediately are definitely worth his draft price. He’s much more of your typical X receiver, something the Browns’ offense has lacked for some time now.
Boston should find himself with one on one opportunities both down the sidelines and in the red zone. With his frame (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) and uncanny ability to high point a ball, Boston could easily eclipse his current projections of around 700 yards and 3 touchdowns, especially if the Browns’ offense takes a step forward from last season (massive IF, I know). With a healthy Quinshon Judkins and Harold Fannin Jr. to go along with the new targets in the receiving room, Boston should take advantage of his matchups with ease and emerge as a young and promising talent.
Christian: WR Caleb Douglas, Miami Dolphins
Douglas isn’t the most interesting rookie wideout on his roster – that title belongs to Chris Bell. But while Bell has more overall upside, he’s also coming back from a torn ACL that means he could start the season slowly. That leaves Douglas to leap at the opportunity that comes when the veteran receivers on your team are Malik Washington, Terrace Marshall (well, until cutdown day at least), Jalen Tolbert and hah, no way, Jalen Reagor is still in the league? Neat.
Douglas has been practicing with the first team, which isn’t especially impressive given the competition. He’s also earned rave reviews from his teammates, which is nice but could be a mixture of empty, pump-up platitudes and the fact he’s facing off against one of the league’s least talented secondaries every day. Still, Malik Willis thrives in a simple gameplan where he runs down a couple reads, then takes off if nothing is there. Douglas has elite speed, a massive wingspan and the ability to be Willis’ huckleberry if he can get a step ahead of defenders on his go routes.
Yaj: RB Jonah Coleman, Denver Broncos
As previously discussed, Jonah Coleman is someone who really interests me this season. As of now, he still has to deal with JK Dobbins and RJ Harvey. However, even with both of them involved, he could still carve out a role as the short yardage/goal line back for the Broncos in 2026. That in itself could provide standalone value.
However, I’m looking towards later in the season when it comes to Coleman. No amount of pinkie promises can prevent the inevitable absence of Dobbins. Harvey didn’t exactly blow away the coaching staff with his audition as RB1 when Dobbins went down last season.
Harvey also struggles running between the tackles, something Coleman brings as a strength. In his preseason debut, he ripped off 24 yards on a paltry four carries, often fighting through contact for extra yardage. Reports are he’s also been on point in terms of pass protection, something many rookies struggle with, showing he could potentially play a three-down role if needed. I’ll gladly scoop Coleman in the late rounds and hope for the best.
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This article originally appeared on For The Win: 4 fantasy football rookies worth reaching for, including a pair of sleepers
