Round 4: Unveiling Potential Diamonds
As the fantasy football dynasty league rookie draft progresses into Round 4, the landscape shifts towards uncovering potential diamonds in the rough. With Rounds 1 through 3 setting the stage and revealing promising prospects, Round 4 offers astute owners the opportunity to find hidden gems that could shape their team's future. Let's delve into the analysis of Round 4 picks from the 2024 rookie draft, exploring the rationale behind each selection and the potential impact on team rosters.
In case you need missed it, Rounds 1 - 3 were covered here:
Now on to Round 4!
4.01 - Jacob Cowing - WR
With the first pick of Round 4, Jacob Cowing emerges as an intriguing prospect for fantasy owners in search of wide receiver depth. Blessed with excellent speed and route-running ability, Cowing has the potential to be a vertical threat at the next level. Landing with the San Francisco 49ers, Cowing joins an offense known for its creativity and explosiveness, presenting him with ample opportunities to make an impact. Expect him to develop into a valuable deep threat with the potential for even greater production as he gains experience. This was my pick, and even though Cowing's path to viability is currently slim with Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and 1st Round pick Ricky Pearsall in the fold, it is possible that Cowing makes a fantasy impact at some point this season. My rationale included the fact that I also needed another WR in that spot. To that end, many fantasy analysts have him going in the 4th round of most drafts. Pick Score: 3 (Close To Projection)
4.02 - Bucky Irving - RB
As Round 4 unfolded, Bucky Irving emerged as a potential steal for fantasy owners in need of running back depth. A powerful runner with excellent vision and tackle-breaking ability, Irving has the ability to be a goal-line and short-yardage specialist at the next level. Landing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Irving joins an offense known for its RB pass catching prowess, presenting him with ample opportunities to make an impact. While he may initially serve as a complementary back behind incumbent Rachaad White, Irving's talent should earn him a significant role in the offense. Expect him to emerge as a valuable touchdown vulture with the potential for even greater production if he can carve out a larger share of touches in the Tampa backfield. This was an astute pick for the owner at this stage of the draft, as Irving currently projects to be the #2 behind White on the Tampa depth chart. With White coming off a career year in terms of touches, it’s possible the Buccaneer coaching staff will want to get Irving more involved. If so, this could end up being one of the top steals of the rookie draft. Pick Score: 5 (A Steal, especially considering the situation)
4.03 - Brenden Rice - WR
In a draft class loaded with talent at the wide receiver position, Brenden Rice stands out as a potential sleeper pick in Round 4. A dynamic playmaker with excellent size and athleticism, Rice has the ability to be a red-zone threat and possession receiver at the next level. Landing with the Los Angeles Chargers, Rice joins an offense known for its pound the rock on the ground philosophy. However, this isn’t necessarily a death knell to his fantasy value, as Rice does have the skills to usurp incumbents Josh Palmer and/or Quentin Johnson if everything goes right. While he may face some challenges adjusting to the nuances of the NFL game, Rice's upside makes him a worthy investment for fantasy owners. Expect him to develop into a reliable red-zone target with the potential for even greater production as he earns the trust of quarterback Justin Herbert. However, the odds are a bit long that he does much his rookie year since he's currently buried on the depth chart on a team that likes to run the ball. Additionally, there were better players available at this stage of the rookie draft with higher upside that this owner could’ve selected, and some analysts think Rice could be a bust. Pick Score: 2 (A bit of a reach)
4.04 - Braelon Allen - RB
As Round 4 progressed, RB Braelon Allen slowly fell down the draft board until the 4.04 pick arrived. A physical runner with excellent size and power, Allen has the ability to be a workhorse back at the next level. However, his landing spot with the New York Jets behind stud starter Breece Hall isn’t ideal. Despite this, while he may initially serve as a depth option behind Hall, Allen's talent should earn him a significant role in the offense. Expect him to emerge as a valuable goal-line and short-yardage specialist with the potential for even greater production if he can carve out a larger share of touches in the Jet’s backfield. It’s also worth noting that as of this writing Allen has looked VERY good at minicamp and in OTA’s, with local media outlets reporting that he has been excellent at catching passes out of the backfield and looks like the clear frontrunner to be the RB2 behind Hall. Assuming Allen makes the team as the primary backup, he immediately vaults up these standings, and the owner who drafted him will be very happy. Despite this, most analysts have Allen going around this spot in the 4th round in rookie drafts. Pick Score: 3 (Close To Projection)
4.05 - Luke McCaffrey - WR
As Round 4 unfolded, Luke McCaffrey emerged as a potential sleeper pick for fantasy owners in need of wide receiver depth. Blessed with excellent athleticism and versatility, McCaffrey has the ability to line up all over the field and create mismatches at the next level. Landing with the Washington Commanders, McCaffrey joins an offense in transition, presenting him with ample opportunities to make an impact. While he may face some challenges adjusting to the nuances of the NFL game, McCaffrey's upside makes him a worthy investment for fantasy owners. Expect him to develop into a Swiss Army knife type player, contributing as a receiver, runner, and returner while providing a spark whenever he touches the ball. As of this writing, McCaffrey is apparently standing out at offseason OTAs, jelling well with rookie QB Jayden Daniels and coming in early and staying late putting in the work to succeed. Local media outlets are raving at his work ethic, and should he make team, McCaffrey has a very good shot at being the WR#3 in the offense almost immediately behind incumbents Terry McLaurin and Johan Dotson. That said, similar to Allen before him, most analysts expected McCaffrey to be drafted around the middle of the 4th round in rookie drafts, and this 4.05 is no exception. Pick Score: 3 (Close To Projection)
4.06 - Spencer Rattler - QB
With the sixth pick of Round 4, Spencer Rattler became a fascinating prospect for the fantasy owner eyeing quarterback depth. A talented passer with a strong arm and playmaking ability, Rattler has the potential to be a franchise quarterback at the next level. Landing with the New Orleans Saints, Rattler joins an offense known for its creativity and innovation, presenting him with ample opportunities to make an impact. While he may face some challenges adjusting to the speed and complexity of the NFL game, Rattler's upside makes him a worthy investment for fantasy owners. Expect him to develop into a reliable QB2 with the potential for even greater production if he can refine his decision-making and develop chemistry with his receivers. The owner who drafted him also has starter Derek Carr, and given Carr’s injury history, this pick makes sense. There are also some who believe Rattler could easily be the future starter in New Orleans within the next year or two, and if so, his value will skyrocket. In that regard and with this being a Superflex league, the argument could be made that this pick was a bit of a steal, and many analysts tend to agreej, despite the fact that Rattler is currently 3rd on the Saints depth chart. Pick Score: 4 (A Bit Of A Steal)
4.07 - Jordan Travis - QB
Near the middle of Round 4, Jordan Travis emerged as a potential sleeper pick for the owner that drafted him. A dual-threat quarterback with excellent athleticism and playmaking ability, Travis has the ability to make plays with his arm and his legs at the next level. Landing with the New York Jets, Travis joins an offense looking to find its identity in 2024. While he may face some challenges adjusting to the nuances of the NFL game, Travis' upside makes him a worthy investment for fantasy owners. Expect him to develop into a high-upside QB3 with the potential for even greater production if he can refine his passing mechanics and decision-making. Currently buried on the Jets’ depth chart behind Aaron Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor, the opportunity could be there in a year or two for him to become the starter, as Rodgers is on the verge of retirement and Taylor is nothing more than a backup. This is a classic boom or bust pick, but the owner who drafted him had nothing to lose, and these are good risks to take near the end of the 4th round. Pick Score: 3 (Close To Projection)
4.08 - Erick All - TE
As Round 4 continued, Erick All emerged as a potential sleeper. Blessed with excellent size and athleticism, All has the ability to be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses at the next level. Landing with the Cincinnati Bengals, All joins an offense where he could quickly ascend the depth chart. While he may face some challenges adjusting to the physicality of the NFL game, All's upside makes him a worthy investment for fantasy owners. Expect him to develop into a reliable red-zone target and possession receiver with the potential for even greater production as he refines his route running and develops chemistry with QB Joe Burrow. The owner who picked him only had three picks in the entire rookie draft, and used two of them on TE’s, taking Brock Bowers in the first round and now All in the 4th. While it remains to be seen how well these moves will work out, All in the 4th isn’t a bad pick. While there were other potential sleepers on the board, he could end up making an impact, as the Bengals are a bit thin at the TE position. Pick Score: 3 (Close To Projection)
4.09 - Frank Gore Jr - RB
RB Frank Gore Jr is a prime example of a rookie 4th round draft pick, where it’s a good place to draft rookies who have potential and a chance to see the field. Landing with the Buffalo Bills, Gore joins an offense known for its explosive playmakers and creative scheming, presenting him with ample opportunities to make an impact. Currently Gore is projected to be far down on the RB depth chart for Buffalo, but there is a chance if he has a good camp he could end up as the RB#3 for the team, and if that occurs, may receive some playing time during the season. The owner who picked up Gore at 4.09 only had three picks in the entire draft, and having used his first two on Jonathon Brooks and Ricky Pearsall, clearly felt Gore was the best player available for him at this stage in the draft. When all is said and done, Gore was projected to go around this area in most rookie drafts, as he has the potential outperform this draft capital. Pick Score: 3 (Close To Projection)
4.10 - Tyrone Tracy Jr - WR
With pick 4.10, Tyrone Tracy Jr became an intriguing prospect for the owner in search of running back depth. Blessed with excellent speed and route-running ability, Tracy Jr has the ability to be both a WR and pass-catching RB. Landing with the New York Giants, Tracy is presented with a unique opportunity, as there’s really no one ahead of him on the depth chart at the RB position except for veteran Devin Singletary. While he may face some challenges adjusting to the physicality of the NFL game, Tracy Jr's upside makes him a worthy investment for fantasy owners. Expect him to develop into a valuable change of pace back for the G-men, who will be looking to utilize his pass catching skills and speed n their offense. The owner who drafted him was also able to obtain both J.J. McCarthy and Xaiver Worthy, and taking a high upside player this late in the 4th round is quite the steal. This pick could arguably be the steal of the round, mainly due to the fact that Tracy has one of the clearer paths to playing time and is already being viewed as the #2 RB on the Giants depth chart. Additionally, some fantasy analysts had him going as high as the early 3rd round in rookie drafts, especially in PPR formats. Pick Score: 5 (Steal)
4.11 - Dylan Laube - RB
Acquired in a draft day trade, this was my last and final pick of the draft. Being able to add Laube to a talented rookie class that includes Jayden Daniels, Brian Thomas, Kimani Vidal, and Jacob Cowing has set me up for long-term success. Laube himself landed with the Las Vegas Raiders during the NFL draft, and while he is a bit old for an RB (24), he does possess a bit of upside as a pass-catching specialist. The Raiders currently only have Zamir White and Alexander Mattison ahead of him on the depth chart, and Laube is by far the best receiving back of all three. To that end, there is a scenario where he receives more playing time as the season goes along, and he’s already expected to start the season for the team on the field in special teams and 3rd down situations. With that in mind, most fantasy analysts agree that Laube is a solid pick in the 4th round of rookie drafts, where many owners should be looking for players with upside and the potential to see the field. While not possessing quite the same potential as Tyrone Tracy, Laube has a semi-clear path to playing time, thus making him a slight steal. Pick Score: 4 (A Bit Of A Steal)
4.12 - Theo Johnson - TE
With the final pick of Round 4, Theo Johnson became an intriguing prospect for the owner in need of tight end depth. Blessed with excellent size and athleticism, Johnson has the ability to be a red-zone threat and seam-stretcher at the next level. Landing with the New York Giants, Johnson joins an offense known for its creativity and innovation, presenting him with ample opportunities to make an impact. While he may face some challenges adjusting to the speed and physicality of the NFL game, Johnson's upside makes him a worthy investment for fantasy owners. Expect him to develop into a reliable red-zone target and possession receiver with the potential for even greater production as he refines his route running and develops chemistry with QB Daniel Jones. Additionally, there are some who believe Johnson has higher potential at the TE position than anyone in this class other than Brock Bowers, as his RAS scores from the combine were over 9.5, which is VERY good. Additionally, with the retirement of veteran Darren Waller, his path to consistent playing time has quickly increased, and there is a chance he could overtake incumbent Daniel Bellinger as the starting option at the position. While uncertainty with play time is currently the only thing keeping him from being the steal of the round, it’s clear Johnson will be a factor in the Giants passing game at some point this year. To that end, he’s undoubtedly a steal as the last pick of this league’s 2024 rookie draft, as he has the potential to easily outperform this draft capital. Pick Score: 5 (Steal)
Round 4 of this fantasy rookie draft offered a unique opportunity for savvy owners to uncover potential diamonds in the rough and acquire valuable assets for their teams. While Rounds 1 through 3 may grab the headlines with their high-profile selections, Round 4 is where championships can be truly won, as astute owners identify overlooked talents ready to make an impact. The careful selection of players like Jacob Cowing, Bucky Irving, and Brenden Rice demonstrated the potential to find game-changers even at this stage of the draft. These picks can often provide the depth and upside needed to push a fantasy team over the edge.
As these rookies embark on their NFL careers, fantasy owners will eagerly monitor their progress, hoping to strike gold with their selections and propel their teams to glory. The analysis of each pick, from Cowing’s speed and route-running ability to Irving’s power and vision, highlights the diverse talents available in Round 4. Owners who can spot these hidden gems and patiently nurture their development may find themselves rewarded with significant returns on their investments. Each pick carries the potential to outperform their draft position, making Round 4 a crucial component of a successful dynasty strategy.
Ultimately, the excitement of Round 4 lies in the blend of speculation and strategy, as owners balance immediate needs with long-term potential. This round is a testament to the depth of the rookie class and the importance of thorough scouting and bold decision-making. By identifying players with the right mix of talent, opportunity, and team fit, fantasy owners can unearth true gems that contribute to their teams' success for years to come. As these rookies take the field, the anticipation of their impact will keep fantasy leagues buzzing with excitement and strategic maneuvering. Best of luck in your drafts!
